I really felt the pressure when my oldest son’s teacher told me he’d have to be potty-trained within two weeks because he was switching groups, and in that group, all the kids are potty-trained. Of course, I’d heard moms of now-adult children tell me that back in their day, kids were potty-trained by age two, but for me, “back in my day”... that’s never based on any solid scientific facts. Plus, everything related to motherhood, parenting, and kids changes so often! It’s no wonder that the Ministry of Health and Social Services is changing its Better Living.
To be honest, I found that a little insulting coming from her teacher. My child is now three and a half years old. I realize it’s a little late for a child who isn’t potty-trained yet, but does she really think I haven’t already tried every trick in the book? Does she think I enjoy having two kids in diapers?
Like any mom who feels judged, I felt compelled to tell her what I’d tried, so I wouldn’t come across as the mom who doesn’t do anything. I tried the reward chart: he loses interest in it way too quickly. I let him wear just his underwear so he’d wet himself: he doesn’t even notice—I’m the one who realizes it when I see the stains on my fabric sofa. I tried having him go to the bathroom at set times: he never wants to go.
Yes, I was told it’s because he’s not ready. That’s a nice, encouraging thing to say, but it doesn’t help me make progress. So today, I decided to try two things: let him wear just his underwear and take him to the bathroom every 30 minutes. I didn’t think a kid could pee that much. Before 3 p.m., I’ve already changed his underwear and shorts six times because he pees every 20 minutes… 20 MINUTES. And when we go to the bathroom, he still pees. How can there be so much pee in such a tiny bladder?
My day took me through the whole range of emotions. I know they say you shouldn’t do that so the child doesn’t hold back, but yes, I nagged him. I’m not proud of it, but when a mom is at her wit’s end... At 6e Wet pants—I cried, thinking my child had a malformed bladder and that I should see a doctor. In the midst of all this, I thought about stopping him from drinking, telling myself that if he didn’t drink, he wouldn’t pee, but I resigned myself to the idea, thinking that child protective services would step in. The temporary solution to preserve my sanity, at least a little: an impromptu nap for my son in the early evening and a good RHmm & Coke For me. Cheers, moms!