Potty Training

I finally decided it was time to start potty training Finn on Sunday, November 23rd.  We had no doctor's appointments or anywhere we needed to go that week so we knew it was time.  I was really worried about how it was going to go considering Finn's little stubborn personality.  Some days he's the sweetest little guy.  So patient with me and rolls with whatever we have to get done that day.  Some days, however, he is a stubborn mule and it seems like he spends most of the day on time out for yelling at me or throwing a fit of just straight up refusing to obey.  And the trickiest part of this little phase he's in is that I have yet to figure out a motivation that works for him.  Stickers?  He couldn't care less.  Treats?  Not interested.  Prizes?  Nope.  He's fine with the toys he has, thanks.  So as long as he wants to do something that we want him to do, we're golden.  But if he doesn't, there's not much I can do to convince him that it's a good idea.

The major plusses of this situation going in were that all of our floors here are either tile or laminate so clean up is super easy, and all of the furniture is not mine.  So if there was an accident on a couch or something, I don't have to stress too much about it!  Ha!

Luckily, miraculously, potty training turned out to be a huge success and he took to it immediately.

We started on Sunday morning and he had a few accidents and a few successes within the first few hours.  The first time he had an accident, he looked at the floor and said, "Mom!  I peed on the floor!"  We ran to the bathroom and he started crying and said, "I'm so sad that I peed on the floor."  Within the first few hours he started saying, "Mom!  I stopped the pee!  I need to go potty!"  It was amazing.  This kid has always had pretty incredible control over his body, but I did not expect potty training to click the same way that shooting baskets or playing catch clicked with him.  But it did.  The entire afternoon he was dry and clean.  He had one accident that first night, but hasn't had once since.  Including bed time and nap time.  It's a miracle.  Seriously.

He had one morning of accidents and then just figured out how to hold it.  He seems to take such pride in stopping it and holding it until he runs to the potty.  I'm baffled and also incredibly grateful.  I feel like this is probably a tender mercy, just for me, that this process has gone so ridiculously smoothly.  I hope he continues to do well because thus far he's been a champ.  We've already ventured out on long outings and he's done great.  It's so great not to feel chained to the house for weeks because he can't last very long between potty breaks.  Amazing.

Plus, he looks SO stinkin' cute in big boy underpants.