| Wed, Nov 2 2011 05:05pm EDT 1 |

herdad
90 Posts
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Today was it. I lost it for the last time.
My daughter who will be 4 in Decmember will not use the potty to
go poop. Well, she did. About a month ago she was trained. She
did everything on the potty every day everytime. She called out
that she had to go or just ran and did her thing all on her own.
Now, and for the last few weeks she stopped. She still goes pee
fine but its #2 that is the problem. She knows better. As soon as
I can tell she pooped in her underwear, she says that shes sorry.
Or she will come out of her room in different clothes and I will
ask why she changed and she will smile and say she is sorry.
I have tried EVERYTHING. Yelling, ignoring, hugs and kisses,
spanking, star charts, toys, candy... you name it.
Today is my last straw and I feel horrible about it. She was in
her room playing and I checked in and saw her standing and
playing then i noticed the lump in her pants and I lost it. I
took away her tv and cable, dvd player, blackberry, and Compaq
laptop...(yes she is spoiled).
I dont know what to do anymore. Im so mad Im not saying a word
and she knows it. I feel like its out of my power cause I cant
force her to go. I can only sit back and wait for her to do it on
her own I guess.
.....*someone grant me some patients.
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| Wed, Nov 2 2011 05:32pm EDT 2 |

mom2identicaltwingirls+1
98 Posts
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What if, only while around the house, you didn't allow her to wear
any underwear or pants. Only clothing on top? Perhaps turn the heat
up a tad lol? I trained my girls the "nakie-style," though this was
June/July lol. My mom taught me how to potty train, she trained all
4 of us (2 boys 2 girls) within days and before the age of 2! Your
daughter would probably mess up a couple times but REALLY detest
the sensation of her bowel movement not having anywhere to "land"
(sorry, I know that sounds gross). Just a thought because it worked
for me....fast! GL!
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| Wed, Nov 2 2011 06:04pm EDT 3 |

herdad
90 Posts
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I did try that for a bit. I dont mind cleaning up as long as the
reward is worth it. But she'll run into her room and put on pants
anyway.
A big problem I have is my lifes schedule. I work nights. She
spends the night at a friends house and she has one set of rules
there. Then I have her during the day and I have my rules around
the house. Then Ive been allowing her mom to come around on the
weekend and her mom does what she wants. I feel bad that this
little girl is on such a messed up schedule and Im wondering if
that has an effect on her. I bet it does.
I, and everyone else knows how hyper she is and that she wont
stop doing whatever shes doing to go potty. Even when shes on the
potty she will not sit still....EVER!!
Another problem I know is me. I sleep very little and have been
on edge lately so my temper is getting short. She will just not
listen to anyone but me and I need to raise my voice to get her
to do so.... I hate being mean. It really pains me. It does
but... Im just lost as what to do. Its hard being a single father
on our own.
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| Wed, Nov 2 2011 06:08pm EDT 4 |

mi3suns
1534 Posts
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Did anything happen/change a couple of weeks ago that could have
caused the back tracking? You might want to try increasing the
fiber foods (plus extra water/juice) to make sure she isn't
constipated in anyway that it would "hurt".
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| Wed, Nov 2 2011 06:15pm EDT 5 |

herdad
90 Posts
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her movements are fine. They're solid most of the time. She eats
well. When she gets caught, she laughs. She thinks its funny and
smiles unles she gets yelled at. Sometimes i just point to the
bathroom and she runs in there and changes.
In the last 2 months Ive allowed her mom to come around. I have
full custody of daughter and I have to approver if her mom comes
around or not. Daughter likes seeing mom so I do it for her. I
dont know if thats it or not. Mom tries whatever she can think of
also to get her to go.
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| Wed, Nov 2 2011 06:24pm EDT 6 |

mom2identicaltwingirls+1
98 Posts
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Well I don't know what your magical "answer" is but consistency is
key. You, mom and the sitter/friend need a battle plan. Whether
it's positive reinforcement, negative reinforcement, ignoring, etc.
she needs to be responded to the exact same way every single time.
It doesn't matter who's potty she's on, the rules must transcend
all households and caaretakers. My husband and I co-parent with our
sitter. She spends a lot of time with the kids, so she was integral
when it came time to potty training. So was my mom as the kids
spend a lot of time at her house as well. We literally had a
makeshift sit down and determined how to go about things - not like
a hard-core contract or anything but you get the idea. I would
highly recommend you do the same. Take their input into
consideration, they may notice things that you don't. They're your
allies. So make a plan to be consistent, then make up the plan
together lol if that makes sense. Your child has a lifestyle where
she has to be shuffled around a little bit and that's OK, a lot of
kids are in that category. They can have consistent lives too it
just takes teamwork.
IMO it sounds behavioral, especially the joking bit. So it will
likely pass and you'll forget about this blip on the radar in no
time. I know it's tough right now. Trust me! And don't feel bad
about losing it. We all do, and those who claim otherwise are
either liars or live in la-la land and just think
everything's always peachy. I prefer the realists
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| Wed, Nov 2 2011 10:37pm EDT 7 |

Chris093
335 Posts
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I agree that everyone needs to be on the same page, whatever page
that is. It seems like she might be reacting to something that you
don't see as a big deal. That's okay, but until you figure that
part out, everyone needs to help her with the potty thing. If you
talk to everyone and say you want to do what is best for your
daughter then they should all be willing to make and stick to a
plan. Perhaps even the negative attention with potty issues is
encouraging her. I have trouble understanding why negative
attention works, but it does.
Also, you aren't the only one who is impatient with their child.
I've found that when I end up feeling totally guilty or I know
I've not done what I should or could, I'm honest with my kids.
It's good for them to know that adults aren't perfect. I go to my
kids and tell them what I'm sorry for and ask that they forgive
me. There's nothing like being a good example. Often, it was over
an issue that still needs to be resolved, so I might say that I
was sorry for the way I handled it (in kid terms) and add that we
still need to deal with the issue (again kid terms).
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| Thu, Nov 3 2011 04:17am EDT 8 |

herdad
90 Posts
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Thank you for your input. My sitter, who has 3 kids, 2 of which are
older than mine is a great help. I do heed her advice. My mom tries
hard to stick to what I ask. We have had a game plan and it was
working. The only real change in the life style is her mom coming
back around and thats only 2 days a week. Like I said, she was
doing great and thought she was a big girl and ready to go to
school. (her words). Now it seems Im back at square one. I guess
she'll get it when shes ready. Yesterday was just a boiling point
for me I guess.
It felt good to get that off my chest and at the same time have
some input on what others have done.
THANK YOU AGAIN.
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| Thu, Nov 3 2011 08:50am EDT 9 |

ERkat
140 Posts
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I'm a little late on this post, but I wanted to say "hang in
there!" Being a single parent is tough, but it sounds like you're
doing a great job with your daughter. I was a single parent for a
long time and I understand what you're going through. Her recent
regression on potty training could just be due to two big changes
in the past two months: school and mom being more involved. She may
not even know why she's doing it. Like Chris093 said, it could just
be a negative reinforcement thing. She may just be a little scared
of the recent changes and is seeking more of your attention. I
don't have any quick tips for you, but just talk to her, encourage
her, and take lots of deep breaths....it'll pass. Good luck to you!
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| Thu, Nov 3 2011 09:55am EDT 10 |

rlm_becky
518 Posts
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It might be a control thing also. I am having the same issue w/3
yrold son right now. He is very independent and is trying to work
the system as much as he can. He is adamant that he can pee on the
potty but no poop unless daddy at home. He switches the game at
preschool too. He will pee on potty but will go in pull up too. I
think at school he doesnt say anything or go himself bc he doesnt
want to stop what he doing to go down hall (no potty in room
unfortunately). Just something simple (like visiting mom sometimes)
will throw a kid off schedule sometimes and make them regress just
bc it is "different" to the reg schedule they usually have going
on. I know that in my case my 3 yr old son is an 80 yr old man
trapped in a 3 yr olds body for sure! lol Good luck to you!
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| Thu, Nov 3 2011 10:26am EDT 11 |

SMJMmom
550 Posts
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Chris093 hit the nail on the head with the "losing it" thing. I
absolutely agree with her that a little humility goes a long way
with your kids. When I lose it, I always talk to my kids about it
when the dust settles. We have all been there, and most times look
back and feel bad for the way we reacted. I grew up in a household
where there was way too much yelling, guilting, screaming,
emotional abuse, etc. I promised myself I would never do that to my
kids, but alas, none of us are perfect. Now, I never go to the
extent that my parents did, but once in a blue moon when I yell at
my kids, I apologize and explain to them why I got so upset. I
really make an effort to handle things with respect and talk to my
kids in a firm tone, with no yelling when they are in trouble. But
I am not perfect and they should no that no one is and learn how to
apologize from an example that I set.
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| Thu, Nov 3 2011 05:15pm EDT 12 |

herdad
90 Posts
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My daughter is very indepented too. When she goes in the bathroom,
God help you if your in there with her. She will yell at you to get
out cause she wants her privacy. I usually leave and when I hear
the flush I ask if she needs help. She says no but I help wipe
anyway.
I know that the other day, right before this all happened, she
was in her room watching a movie. I went in and checked on her
and she was all coverd up and laying down just relaxing. Then a
few minutes later when I checked again she was standing up
against the dresser watching the movie. As soon as I saw the lump
in her pants and she saw my face she said she was sorry. So she
knew what she did. My guess is she just didnt want to stop the
dvd. She knows how to work the dvr and dvd players very well. She
knows she can pause it and come back later. She just doesnt ever
want to stop. I dont know how to slow her down. She lives at 100
mph.
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| Thu, Nov 3 2011 10:29pm EDT 13 |

rlm_becky
518 Posts
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So I decided that I need to live at your house! I dont even have
cable, heaven forbid! I dont know how to fully work my cell phone
besides text and calls, I can pretty much only play mariokart on
the wii (and maybe netflix if the 3 and 7 yr old sets me up). Do
you have a spare room? I am potty trained (lol), can order pizza
w/a passion on discount nights, pump my own gas, and can chaufer
you around in my kickass Town and Country (all blinged out w/the
scratches my 3 yr old but in it when he was pissed off at me this
summer!)! Hope that made you giggle! GL! lol
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| Fri, Nov 4 2011 01:47am EDT 14 |

herdad
90 Posts
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hahahaha....*giggle smile.. i do have a spare room with cable. you
can use one of the laptops around the house if youd like. my suv is
great in the snow and in mint condition. and if you have any
problems with anything then my daughter will show you how to work
things....hahahaah
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