Even More Tales From the Potty

Success!

Ethan! Has! Finally! Done it!

Last night at our Bible study group I bravely asked for prayer. Most of the other requests were for friends and family members who are sick or going through trials. When I sensed the lull that would carry us over into the actual task of prayer, I made the “ahem” noise and all eyes shifted to me.

“I know this may not seem important,” I began, “but would you all mind praying for Ethan and I in the task of potty training? It’s very frustrating to us both.”

I then launched into the condensed version of a tale so brutally true, I almost hated my transparence. It goes a little something like this…

A few days ago Ethan and I started into our ritual of every 30 minute bathroom visits. I’ll be honest: my mood wasn’t great. It seemed like I would put Ethan in the appropriate situation to be successful, only to have him be UNsuccessful minutes after removing him. Everything I have read about potty training says that this stage is a very sensitive one – one wrong move from me and the kid may never go correctly. So, I have had the inner war of really wanting to blow my top, yet asking the Lord to help me refrain for the sake of my child and my time management. I think I fell somewhere in the middle, probably a little closer to where I shouldn’t have been.

I explained to Ethan very “firmly” that only babies go poo-poo in their pants…you are a big boy…if you ever want to play with another toy again you’d better get this right…I’ll give you m&ms if you go…etc.

I know – I sound like a complete witch.

After several mishaps that day, I sighed in resignation and reached for a Pull Up. After jerking it up over his fanny he looked up at me with those big blue eyes, put his hands on my cheeks, gave me a kiss and said, “Thank you for not yelling at me, mommy…”

I grabbed him and cried and kissed him all over and told him how sorry I was for being so impatient. (Oh, my goodness! I’m tearing up now!) I told him that I loved him and that I make many of my own messes (not the same kind, of course) almost every day. I asked him to forgive me for loving my to-do list and my schedule and my clean bathroom too, too much.

He said he forgave me, then in typical Ethan fashion asked me, “Mommy, can we be tigers now?”

Ethan has had 2 successful attempts since last night. A big thanks to my Bible study group for praying, and for knowing that no thing is too small or too insignificant to ask of the Father.

Bless ya!