I strive to be a dedicated parent. I try so hard to do what I know I should be doing for my children. Today, I feel like I have failed again as a good parent.I have failed at potty training Savannah again. For the past month I have felt like I have been on the boot camp patrol, making sure that every 20 to 30 minutes Savannah is sitting to the potty, and dreading it every minute in between. Yes, some parts of the day I have gone longer in between bathroom visits for her. Most of the day she has been in panties but, after filling her hamper to the top every other day of damp clothes, at the end of the night she is back in her diaper. When she is in her panties she screams for a diaper. About 5 minutes after she is done sitting on the potty and hasn't gone, she usually has an accident. I am having to drag her to the potty and bribe her to sit on it most every time. She doesn't know when she needs to go and always tells me NO! when I ask her if she needs to go. I don't know why I even ask. When she has an accident she doesn't even realize that her clothes are wet. She wants to keep playing.
I just about had a melt down today after she had wet her fifth pair of bottoms this afternoon. I can't do this anymore. I want to tare my hair out. How do those perfect mothers do it? I feel like I just keep failing her. Savannah is four! In this world, society says that she should be potty trained by now but, I'm just so tired, tired of being frustrated, tired of feeling like a horrible, none consistent mom, tired of fighting with my daughter over something that she just might not be ready for and can't handle yet. I am tired of trying all of the little tricks that other mothers have told me work, and then failing. Why is it that Savnnah can't understand it or want to do it when other kids the little tricks work. I'm embarrassed to say that I've even started bribing her with candy, something I told myself I'd never do. But, I'm just that desperate. I think we'll have her sit on the potty in the mornings and night and then try hard core when school gets out. I just don't know what to do anymore.
Why don't children come with handbooks? Things would definitely be much easier. How do I know when she is ready?
Potty training has to be one of the worst things that we, as parents, have to do...for now. I hear it gets worse. But I have to say it's my least favorite of all the parenting jobs I've had so far. I've never had an easy time with it. Alexis was doing well for awhile but has suddenly decided it's just not her thing-she had at least 4 accidents today. It's so frustrating. My friend, whose daughter is a month younger than Alexis, just potty trained her daughter in a week and hasn't had any accidents with her. Some moms just get a break! Don't beat yourself up and be patient with both yourself & Savannah. Remember that she isn't a text book case and books don't know everything anyway! She'll get there....someday. :) Good luck!!!
ReplyDeleteI havent potty trained yet but all of my neices and nephews have been different. I have a neice who potty trained herself at 18 months! Taking herself all the time and asking to wear panties, my sister never pushed it, she just wanted it. I also have another neice who is almost six and still has accidents almost everyday. I think each kid is different. Good luck and hang in there! Maybe she just isn't ready yet. Don't be so hard on yourself, you are a great mom!
ReplyDeleteDon't be so hard on yourself my sweet friend. Remember your little Savannah has extra challenges that are making it harder for her to potty train. Don't worry that society thinks she should be potty trained. If she isn't ready, she just isn't ready. You are doing a great job!
ReplyDeleteIt's not the mother's fault... we try out best. Potty training is not an easy battle to win. You do your best, give yourself credit. You only see the easy things when it comes to other people, every mother has break downs over it. Potty training is, i think, the worst part of motherhood. Remember that some kids are easier to train than others. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteHi Nicole, This is Mary, You emailed the kids' story to me for the BBS website - I have to tell you not to despair and worry about potty training. I just keep the pull-ups around. Carly is 10 and is still wearing pull ups with multiple accidents every day. By golly, if it were possible to potty train her...she would be trained. Let it go - potty training is really NOT the way to judge who the good mommies are. You ARE a good mommy - pull-ups included!
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