Where we are

After my last post, it's hard to transition back to our minuscule, daily struggles of potty training. Receiving news about Richie's battery and his injured friends, forced me to put my levels of frustration back into perspective. With that said, if you're interested in the area of potty training, continue reading.

I've always believed this, but more than ever before, I truly believe that every child is different. After talking to a few awesome friends today(thanks everyone for taking the time to chat with me!!), I just want to clarify some things from my last posts for your understanding of my perspective. I am totally doing this on my own initiative just to clarify some vague/unclear areas. I didn't have much time to really think through and explain in depth every single thing I was typing out this past week. I feel the need to explain to my readers that I am not as tunnel-visioned as you think I am. The reason I sounded so black and white in my potty training method was because I was desiring to follow the "strict orders" of Lora Jensen. When I started potty training Laney last Wednesday, I had read ONE article...ONE! Lora Jensen's article. Ha! I did not read lots books (heck, not even one book) and decide which method I agreed with MOST. Nope. I just read one article, felt like it was totally do-able and aimed to follow it in it's entirety, purposefully not doing some things that other methods encourage, only because Lora asked us not to do these things. I now KNOW that there are A MILLION different ways to potty train, just as there are a MILLION different ways to discipline a child, and we as parents are the ones discerning which way is best for our fam. I have thoroughly enjoyed hearing lots and lots of success stories from people who potty trained using methods Lora Jensen didn't endorse: using M & M's, camping out on the potty and reading books , using discipline, moving the potty OUT of the bathroom and into the kitchen, using dolls, having huge parties, etc... I TOTALLY think these methods work, and they have proven to work. The question that remains is will it work for YOUR child. I simply was following Lora's orders. I should have mentioned this in my last few posts.

Example: Lora does not agree with bribing. I took on her viewpoint because she asks us to for her "3 day method" to work. All I knew was her way; thus, I didn't want to bribe Laney because Lora said it will backfire. Do I know this for sure? No, not by personal experience, but I just took it for what it's worth and ran with it because who has time to try all these ways out?? I sho nuff don't! BUT....I have talked with SO MANY of my friends who have offered ice cream, M & M's, jelly beans, toys galore and nothing backfired.

Another example: I have so many friends who camp out and read LOTS of books to their kiddos while they sit on the potty or watch their favorite movie. I heard THREE testimonies of that way just today from close friends! I TOTALLY respect their way of doing things because like I said, it worked for their child. I talked to a friend today who has four boys. Three of them were easy peasy to potty train, but the fourth was completely different so she had to alter some things to get the job done. Get this,... I even gave Laney a thousand M & M's today to add in another incentive for Laney to go, now that the three days had passed. Now, I was cringing inside, knowing I NEVER EVER feed sugar to Laney. She's got enough energy on her own, but I say all of this so that you know I am open to many ways to potty train, now that my "3 Lora Jensen days" are over and done with. But Viva Lora Jensen! Seriously, it works! Please try it with your child! There are sooo many success stories.

Now, after I reached our three days of potty training and not being "there" like I thought we would be, I somehow mustered up enough energy to try for a few more days doing it Lora's way. Again, let me repeat myself here: I believe Lora Jensen's way works. We had a bump in the road, a hiccup if you will, therefore, muffling all of my hard work and stunting Laney's improvements. She is so terrified to go poopie that she was unhealthily holding it in as well as, holding her urine, as long as she physically can hold onto it. When her body was doing what it should and prompted her to use #2, she cried out from day 3 - 6, and these are fearful cries my friends. She has not progressed since day 2, where she really "got it" before her painful episode with Mr. Poopy Pants. Knowing the stress that is on her now, that there's been no advancement despite the fact that she truly understands what to do(and as her Mommy, I know she does), that I am the one to obey the Lord's command to "not exasperate" our children, as Ephesians says and knowing that we will be traveling both Thanksgiving and Christmas to LOTS of places, I am making an executive decision to pick back up after her 2nd birthday and after we return from our Christmas travels in January. Laney will be 25 months, which I think is still a great age.

Do I regret trying this training for six days? Not a bit. I know Laney so much more now. We have grown that much closer, having to focus completely on her for six days in a row, not leaving the house. I also know my heart more, my weaknesses and where I need refining in my levels of frustration toward things out of my control. To quote Jeff Doyle, our discipleship pastor at our church, "It's a beautiful thing." I know Laney. I know how much she can handle. I know that Hugh and I as her parents, have the responsibility to shepherd her well, and when she's not showing improvement in something that I'm experimenting with, then by all means, we're DUN-done with it until the time is right. I have been chewing on this since Saturday, "Should we go back to diapers and try after vacation? Should we push through? What will life look like for us during vacation with a half-potty trained child? Will it be stressful? Am I a failure for stopping? Will I be a disappointment to others? Let's keep the main thing, the main thing here. I need to be sure that I keep the goal at the forefront of my mind: paving a successful experience for Laney to be potty trained. Am I focused on the method itself or the needs of my child? These thoughts and more have plagued me for DAYS and after talking with SO SO many amazing, godly friends/mothers in my life, and receiving great godly counsel, I'm confident I'm making the right decision for Laney. Whew! Is that a load off my back or what?!

I will not be going back to cloth diapers since I packed them all up, but mainly because we will be traveling so much. Thanks so much for joining me in my drama! Hee-hee! :) What will I blog about now? It's hard to think past potty training! I'm just praying that my little one will find relief tomorrow in ALL areas.