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Northern Mum

Crossfitting, pancreas acting, single mum to three

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Parenting: Potty Training: Keep them incontinent ~ northernmum

A good friend of mine texted me today to tell me her son had christened the potty for the first time.  I hasten to add her that she was also texting to say hi and wasn’t just regaling me with more poo stories.  However, whilst remaining proud of her adorable little lad for firmly ‘dropping one’ in the pot; it was all I could do to not text back shouting; 

“Noooooo don’t do it.  Potty training is the devils work.”

 

I can pin point when I began to find parenting a challenge; and it began about the time I tried to cure my two year old twins of their incontinence.

 Up until then life had been idyllic; the twins and I had moved through life in sheer happiness, skipping through fields of flowers and coasting on a rainbow.

 Then potty training came along.

 Two big ugly pink beasts with yellow inserts that could be washed and emptied easily into the toilet.

Once we had cracked the first hurdle, which was not, as Gina promised me, achieved in a week; and the nappies were banished life took on a whole new style.

 Dancing through daffodils was replaced by bending behind bushes holding a bare bottom as far away from oneself as possible as a little present emerged and my need for a chiropractor increased.

 We no longer coasted on a rainbow, instead we would slip over on little puddles left on the floor.

 The days of leaving the house armed with a handbag, two nappies, and a packet of wipes were behind us.  Replaced by a backpack full of wipes, six pairs of pants, two pairs of jeans, four pairs of socks, extra shoes and a couple of t shirts, plus a weird contraption called a travel potty (which had a design fault in that it couldn’t be opened quick enough to catch anything falling from the twins’ bottoms.)

 I was always proud that the twins slept through from 4 months.  Once my night time nappies moved out of our happy home so did uninterrupted sleep.  Calls of ‘I need a wee’ punctuated my dozing. Calls of “I’ve done a wee” pretty much destroyed all kip as the art of changing a bed without waking the second sleeping twin became a sought after art form.

 Car journeys have been at least doubled in length by incessant toilet breaks (most by the side of the road in sheet rain). Plus we shrunk the car seat covers after having to boil wash them after one particularly messy ‘accident’.

 So I miss the incontinent days and I urge all parents to heed my words carefully.  Little Johnny down the road may have left the nappies behind at 18 months but trust me his mummy will be wiping up wee and picking up random bits of poo for years to come.

 If you need more convincing to live a life of incontinence, imagine going out on a girls night, drinking a tad too much gin and diving out of a cab, hurtling to the loo, to sit down gratefully on the throne to only find your arse cheeks trapped in a child’s seat loo seat. (I’m not saying this happened to me, I’m just saying it could happen…)

 This never happened with incontinent children.

Potty training: it should be banned

Comments

  1. Pampered Mummy says

    July 19, 2011 at 5:43 am

    We had all the same issues with my older two and I’m about to embark on the potty training again with my little man. Now you’ve reminded me of the bits i’d forgotten think I might leave it a bit longer!

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 19, 2011 at 6:30 am

      If I help just one person……

      Reply
  2. butwhymummywhy says

    July 19, 2011 at 7:03 am

    Oof potty training is a nightmare! Nodded my head emphatically whilst reading this post – totally agree with you!

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 20, 2011 at 3:37 pm

      I think I have touched a nerve for many with this post!

      Reply
  3. Helen says

    July 19, 2011 at 7:04 am

    This made me laugh so much! So so familiar. We’ve just done our first long car journey sans nappies and I’m stunned by the lack of the expected trauma. HOWEVER, “I need a wee!” was replaced by “I feel icky!” – and she was …

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 20, 2011 at 3:36 pm

      Nightmare!

      Reply
  4. Mother Bloggin' Guilt says

    July 19, 2011 at 7:30 am

    Hilarious! I had a nightmare experience when I tried to potty train my son too early. He ‘christened’ all sorts of places in the house! I can’t imagine how you do it with twins! Stress! Luckily, when I tried to train my son again at 2 and a half, it just clicked. Still, I won’t be rushing to potty train my daughter! X

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 20, 2011 at 3:36 pm

      Very wise. I did mine ‘late’ at 2.5 and felt under pressure to do so. I will be doing the baby “later….”

      Reply
  5. I'm So Fancy says

    July 19, 2011 at 7:39 am

    Oh no! The Princess went in the potty for the first time last night! Just when we’d gotten sleep where I needed it. Sigh.

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 20, 2011 at 3:34 pm

      Lol! Keep me updated with progress… Am sure it will give blog content and sleepless nights x

      Reply
  6. HELEN JESSUP says

    July 19, 2011 at 10:21 am

    I’m with you on this, happy to leave Jack to fill his nappies to his hearts content for as long as he wants…..I’m not mentally prepared to go through 18 months of pant pooing that we did with his sister…….

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 20, 2011 at 3:33 pm

      Wise lady x

      Reply
  7. Blue sky says

    July 19, 2011 at 3:57 pm

    Of course if you come home after a night out and too much gin and they’re still incontinent, you may be faced with cleaning up a very messy bum! And I do speak from experience. Except not gin-related….

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 20, 2011 at 3:33 pm

      One word: “urgh”

      Reply
  8. Jacq says

    July 19, 2011 at 6:09 pm

    If I say we’ve finished with toilet training FOREVER, would you hate me?

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 20, 2011 at 3:32 pm

      That’s not nice Jacq….

      Reply
  9. charliewells80 says

    July 19, 2011 at 6:28 pm

    Brilliant! We’re trying to introduce the concept at the moment and although lo understands the concept he simply can’t be bothered most of the time! Having read this, there’ll definitely be no rushing him in this house…

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 20, 2011 at 3:29 pm

      Hurrah! Rejoining the nappy brigade!

      Reply
  10. Evey@PolythenePram says

    July 19, 2011 at 8:29 pm

    Oh God this made me laugh! I have actually sat on my daughters pink toliet seat in a half-dazed state and it is a bit of a shock to the buttock!
    I too loathe potty training and am dreading going through it again with number two….

    Evey @ PolythenePram

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 20, 2011 at 3:28 pm

      Just don’t do it. X

      Reply
  11. Kate says

    July 19, 2011 at 8:50 pm

    Hahaha! Oh dear! I’m just starting to potty train the dude and we’ve had more accidents this week than my cream carpet cares to mention!

    I’m not looking forward to going OUT while training. I’m thinking, food deliveries and ASOS, who needs to leave the house?

    It gets easier though. Doesn’t it….?!

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 20, 2011 at 3:25 pm

      Really, do you want me to answer that…

      I have heard when they are in their thirties and no longer a financial bind it gets easier…

      Reply
  12. teawithonesugarplease says

    July 19, 2011 at 9:00 pm

    I am waiting for the whole ordeal to blow over with my two…maybe by 18 when they can leave home…

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 20, 2011 at 3:24 pm

      Wise words mrs wise words! How the heck are you anyway? X

      Reply
  13. mummymummymum says

    July 20, 2011 at 8:18 am

    I am laughing…so agree with you. Z is great he never needs to go. Little S however is the puddle queen! 🙂

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 20, 2011 at 3:23 pm

      Bloody hate puddles!

      Reply
  14. Heidi says

    July 20, 2011 at 10:12 am

    Damn I was going to give this Gina woman a go with potty training since I learned the hard way that I probably should have bought the sleep book. I have been asked so many times when I’m going to start and I confidently annouce that it will commence on Sep 3rd and will be done and dusted by the 10th. Maybe I am owed a lucky break and Dylan will be different, or maybe that is wishful thinking. Wish me luck!

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 20, 2011 at 3:23 pm

      Heidi trust me; don’t bother, eventually he will crave Ben 10 pants and all will happen naturally…

      Reply
  15. helloitsgemma says

    July 20, 2011 at 11:05 am

    Maybe Gina gave the wrong advice – imagine?? Didn’t read a book and it all went absolutely fine here….. I have such a lovely imagine of you with a child’s loo seat attached to your butt but I’m sure that never happened!

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 20, 2011 at 3:22 pm

      Never…

      Reply
  16. nickimumof5 says

    July 20, 2011 at 2:40 pm

    I really,really dislike Potty training.I am a mum of 5 and my 2 year old that is no 4 used the Potty for the first time this week,it seems to scare him a bit though and he prefers using the toilet seat on the big toilet,my others preferred this too. Good luck and I hope you finish this horrible stage of parenting soon.

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 20, 2011 at 3:21 pm

      Oh don’t worry this is a “memory” post, my older two are done and I intend on never potty training the baby!

      Reply
  17. mothersalwaysright says

    July 20, 2011 at 8:18 pm

    Howling with laughter at the image of (not you) a woman with her bum cheeks trapped in a child’s toilet seat. Please stop being so damn funny. My pelvic floor can’t take it.

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 20, 2011 at 8:26 pm

      neither could me arse

      Reply
      • janeblackmore says

        July 20, 2011 at 8:26 pm

        sorry not my arse *coughs* my friends arse

        Reply
  18. Katie says

    July 20, 2011 at 8:26 pm

    Hehe this made me giggle, it took a peppa pig playground set to stop my little angle pooing behind the curtain, but the wee thing was mastered quickly so didn’t get many slippy puddles lol

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 20, 2011 at 8:54 pm

      Poo or wee – what is worse? debate? x

      Reply
  19. Midlife Singlemum says

    July 22, 2011 at 10:59 am

    Found you through tots100 10 best of the week. Very timely as DD went to nursery today in knickers for the first time. I totally agreed with you and was ignoring all notions of toilet training. However, DD (2yrs 7 months) took off her nappy yesterday afternoon and announced “Knickers!”. That was it – not my choice. So far today has been OK but I’m too scared to go shopping so no food for the weekend!

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 22, 2011 at 11:31 am

      Oh good luck to you lady!

      Reply
  20. Alexander Residence says

    July 22, 2011 at 6:12 pm

    Spot on post. Potty training is right at the back of my mind when it comes to my second, along with the hideous memories of training my first. I’m kind of hoping he might teach himself, or his big sister will.

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 22, 2011 at 6:16 pm

      go with the sister…… x

      Reply
  21. richmondmummy says

    July 26, 2011 at 8:53 am

    aha ha ha ha ha this made me laugh so much, hee hee hee. I shall take heed at your advice, my little one is only 5 months old – I shall put off potty training until she’s about 10 then! x

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 26, 2011 at 12:20 pm

      very good plan!

      Reply
  22. Jana says

    July 26, 2011 at 12:39 pm

    I dont think think I should have read this, just bought potty this week and still catching dust as I cant push myself to start potty training with my 18 month old son. Unfortunately my mum WILL BE asking me this Sunday yet again “how is he doing” and I run out of excuses as according to her I was potty trained by the age of 14 month. For the one who dont know my mum I recited poems at the age of two and got driving licence at the age of 5:)

    Reply
    • janeblackmore says

      July 26, 2011 at 5:11 pm

      lol!

      I was the same!

      Reply
  23. sarsm says

    July 28, 2011 at 9:46 am

    My 4yo still needs to go in every shop we enter on a shopping trip. We spend so much time in toilets, we only get to a couple of shops. My husband is pleased though.

    Then they develop a fascination with toilets and need to visit everybody’s bathroom, even if you’re just handing out Christmas cards.

    Reply
  24. Mike says

    January 3, 2015 at 7:03 am

    I don’t really remember my potty training but I do remember that I didn’t like it. At 4 years of age I asked mom to put me back in diapers, to which she said ‘no’. So I begged and pleaded, eventually throwing a temper tantrum before finally having my request granted and being returned to diapers 24/7 until shortly before my 7th birthday..and I loved every minute of it.

    Reply

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