In an effort to get Eli potty trained before school starts, we have gone hard core. We started Monday. No diapers or pull ups, only real underwear during the day. And since he was dry this morning, he’s going to bed tonight in undies.

This process has been very hard for me because I’ve not wanted to deal with the mess. I didn’t want it on my floors and I didn’t want to have to clean it up. I know I’ve been cleaning up his diapers all this time but that’s different, I didn’t have to actually touch the pee or poo. My own bodily fluids gross me out, even more so someone else’s. So because of my squeamishness I’ve kept him in pull-ups. But this past weekend I realized that unless I gave up both his pull-ups and my squeamishness he wasn’t going to get trained. The pull-up has been a safety net for all of us.

He gets positive reinforcement for correct behavior (he gets to watch a show of his choice, play on the computer, or save it for playing PS2 games when Dad gets home) and negative reinforcement for incorrect behavior (He has to clean up his own mess, all of it. He goes into the tub with a container of baby wipes and wipes himself down and then takes out his trash and puts his clothes in the washing machine, followed by a time out on his couch and no play time with mom for about 30 minutes). After all the time we’ve messed with M&Ms and treats and trying to go to Chuck E. Cheese’s, his lever was really the tv. I don’t know why I didn’t think about it before. So yesterday and today he’s watched a lot of tv. But you know what? I don’t care. I’ve seen more progress in the past two days than in the past two months combined.

I bought him a box of Kandoo Wipes this afternoon at Wal-Mart. He only gets to use the flip top box when he goes to the toilet and poos. He promptly sat down and did his business so he could play with the box. Okaaay. Who knew that was all it was going to take?

He still has accidents. One yesterday and one today. He tanked up on water earlier today and I didn’t realize I needed to remind him sooner than usual. He started to pee and called me and said he was leaking. That’s what he says, “Moooommmm! I’m leaking!” I got him into the tub and he had stopped peeing. He started again and I told him to stop and go to the potty. So he did. He can control it! Let me say it again because I never thought this day would get here…

My kid can go to the toilet! Yippeee!!

I really thought that I might have to send this kid to Kindergarten in a diaper. This is a really big deal and the very hardest challenge I’ve faced as a parent. I have yelled at him way too much over this and I’m glad to see the light at the end of what I thought was the never-ending tunnel.

All we have to do now is to be down to zero accidents by August 20. Wish us luck.