Potty Training

Like almost everything he does, Cael has made potty training an adventure. We began a year and a half ago, and we are finishing now. Why did it take so long? Well, he went through a long period of toilet-fright, so that made it difficult. He also formed quite an attachment to his diapers, crying alligator tears at the mere mention of underwear. When Mom finally decided to buckle down and do this, come what may, it actually worked. Perhaps she should have slapped herself into reality earlier. Oh well. All my friends kept telling me not to worry about it: "He'll do it when he's ready." I didn't see any of them coughing up the twenty bucks for a box of diapers, though.

Cael going potty while playing his IXL

Cael has decided he likes to go George Costanza with his bathroom exploits, so he sits now in our bedroom, on the Cars' portable toilet, in his birthday suit, eating Apple Jacks and watching Dora. Blackmail for the teenage years? You betcha. The refrigerator repairman just left, and Cael came out buck naked to tell him goodbye. The kind man averted his eyes and said, "Have a good day, ma'am," probably wondering why my kid is running around with no clothes on when it is forty degrees outside. We do have a warm fire inside, lest peradventure you worry that his little tush is cold.

Throughout this ordeal, we have bribed and begged with all the energy of our souls. This potty chart went up a few months ago, with Cael quickly earning four stickers and quitting after that. As of Sunday afternoon, however, he had filled it. Monday Dad brought home the promised Buzz Lightyear, which has yet to leave Cael's sight. When this chart was full, he wouldn't go again until we had another chart up. He is now earning more stickers on a Blue's Clues' potty chart, with the promise of a new coloring book at the end (hey, Buzz was expensive). Also, he gets two stickers on the new chart for going pee pee or poo poo in the big toilet - only one sticker for going in the Cars' toilet. Cleaning out that thing is gross, especially when he goes number two. I gagged yesterday when he proudly showed me his present. How do you parents out there do this more than one time?

I cannot fathom.

A happy boy who accomplished a goal (his parents, not pictured, are smiling just as big)