The Joys of Potty Training

Why do we use toilets?

I started potty training this summer, and have asked myself that question more times than I can count.  Why can't we all just wear diapers and save ourselves the time and effort?  I am at my wits end with trying to teach my 3 year old to use the potty.

I started over the summer, and it was going really well.  I used the rewards chart (that I made myself), I patiently put him on the potty every 30 mintues and cleaned up pee and poop from the floor all day long.  I encouraged and spun everything positively. . . and then it happened.  He started to go to the potty on his own, we went days at a time without accidents. . . for the most part, he was potty trained.  The only time we had accidents was if he couldn't make it to the potty in time, or if he couldn't find a bathroom.  Even on our across-province trip, we made it without any accidents.

Now, 3 months later, I'm finding him hiding in corners to pee and poop.  I am again cleaning pee and poop up off the floor, the toilet seat, etc.  I am completely out of ideas as to how to handle this.  I've tried the advice I've read from all of the 'experts', telling me to clean it up matter-of-factly and not punish him, but to encourage him and remind him to use the potty.  However, this is not working.  It's embarrassing, because we hired a sitter and told her that he was mostly potty trained, but he's had an accident nearly every day since he's been there!  I'm out of patience. 

I think the most frustrating this is that my child is very intelligent.  I know that a lot of mothers' say that about their children, and think their children are so smart and handsome and perfect.  I, however, do not have perfect child syndrome.  I can admit the faults of my children, however I am proud of their strengths.  My child is very smart, always has been.  I KNOW that he knows the difference.  He will even sometimes do it just for spite, if we put him in time-out for example.  I feel like it's just about him showing us that he can and will pee and poop wherever he wants to.  How do I even BEGIN to deal with this. 

Maybe we'll just become a family that uses diapers. . .