Givens2NOLA: Oh No....Potty Training Time!

Recently, I made the decision that I needed to start potty training James before Noah (baby #4) arrives. I knew that James was ready because he knew when he went & did not like to stay in his mess. So, I planned it all out & got the supplies needed. That morning, Micah left for school & Brent went off to work at the church. So, James, Abbie & I went to the bathroom to start the "potty training." I took out a pull up, gave it to James and explained to him that he is a big boy & will now wear pull ups & go to the bathroom. He looked at me and said 'pull up for Micah, Jimmy wears diaper.' So, I thought..........minor stumbling block, we can get over that. Next, Abbie & I took turn showing James how to sit on the potty and then it was James' turn. My Jimmy looked at me, screamed 'no,' jumped off the potty and refused to come back in the bathroom. Now that is a major stumbling block......I knew that we could not move forward if he is afraid of the potty & won't even come in to the bathroom.

I know that I've potty trained the other two kids, but I cannot remember all that I did then (pregnancy causes me to be very forgetful). I went online and looked for ways to help him with this fear. I even tried some of them (i.e. decorating the potty seat with his favorite stickers). Nothing was working. When my husband called that afternoon, I told him about my problem. He calmly said to me 'I can get him to sit on the potty.' I am not a betting person, but I told him no way & I bet that he couldn't do it either. Later that evening and after family dinner, my husband picked up James and carried him off to the bathroom. I heard him telling James that he is a big boy now & that he needs to start using the potty. I heard James objecting and seconds later I heard the two of them singing. I thought no way! Minutes later, my husband walked back into the kitchen without James. I asked where is James....he replied proudly 'sitting on the potty.' I was dumbfounded.........I don't know how he did it, but I was and still am very thankful for my sweet husband. I am also very thankful to God for His wisdom. He instituted marriage because He understood that we needed one another. Where I may be weak my husband may be stronger and vice versa. I gladly lost a bet that day....but I sure wish that he would finish what he started with James and fully potty train him for me.

Pray for me as we continue on this journey of potty training. Take care!