consistency pays off

Potty training has proved to be another area of parenting where consistency will make your life much easier. Alan and i have talked and planned how we want to raise our children and how we plan to help them be good listeners and good people. We are very consistent in how we discipline her and how we talk to her as we are trying to help her understand why she is being disciplined.

We can take her anywhere and we NEVER worry about her throwing a fit or having a screaming spasm haha she is always so polite and loves to tell everybody "hi sweetie" and watch them smile back are her. She understands when our tone changes and we ask her to not do something , i have had to take her out of the store one time and she has never thrown a fit since.

We are also very consistent in the way we praise her, she hears and endless stream of " good job" " big girl" and "so proud of you" delivered with hugs and kisses and i love yous. I think it is super important she knows how loved she is and i believe that is why she is such a kind polite amazing little girl. She loves to please everyone around her especially her mommy :) Her little face just breaks apart if she sees that im upset with her in anyway.

With potty training on day one she had about 7-8 accidents and every time she had one i would say it was ok and gently remind her that she needed to tell me when she had to go potty i have probably told her this a thousand times. On the second day she had about 5-6 accidents, but i responded the same way i would take her to the potty and praise her like crazy when she went she just loved it she claps for her self and says yey i did it! :) on the third day i saw some real progress she only had 3-4 accidents and i could tell she was really trying to tell me before hand.

Day four we finally made a break through!!!! i was in the bedroom and she started to go a little in her undies and she stopped and looked at me and said potty and i encouraged her by saying " hold it were almost there" and she did hold and made it to the potty. I was so relieved because that meant she was starting to recognize that she had to go. Later that evening we were in the living room where her little pink potty is and i asked her if she needed to go and she lifted up the lid pulled her undies down on her own ( which is another accomplishment) and she went and she pulled the pot out of the potty and headed for the toilet all by herself! Yey it is finally starting to sink it. Whew four days of constant reminding and encouragement. So today on day five we finish the day with only two accidents one early in the morning, and one during nap time. After that it has been smooth sailing all day she lets me know when she has to go and if i ask and she has to she will tell me the truth hahaha im so proud of her and im so glad i finally got my butt in gear and decided to give it my full attention and really try to make this work. I think another three solid days and she will have it down.

The one thing im not sure about is how to teach her about going potty at night and not having to wear diapers at night anymore but i will tackle that when it comes right now just one step at a time. :)