Aye, Potty Training Matey

I have to start by saying that we attempted potty training 4 months ago (read it here). Got all the accoutrements for the deed. Did it for one day and then said "forget about it". Fast forward to November. Athena turns three. She should be moving up to the class above her in her school.....she can't because she isn't potty trained (insert shamed emoticon here). I choose to wait until after Thanksgiving, Xmas, Family Visiting, and Saylor's birthday...Needless to say she is now 3.16 and we need to finally get her trained. I start to think well what will I do, how will I do it and who is going to tell me how. I start to look online and find this guaranteed "3 day potty training" technique. I am excited, I am intrigued, I am sold. I mean I have heard of people starting when their child is two and they are doing it up until three! This was the main reason why I didn't start earlier, I didn't want to be doing it forever. I had also had Saylor and wasn't in the mood. The problem is that now it was affecting Athena and her learning, soooooo after having said all that I still wait and procrastinate about forking out the money for it (a mere drop in the bucket but I still procrastinate).

Cue in accomplice. I am talking to my friend (who shall remain nameless) about my brainiac and how she desperately needs to be in a different classroom. She looks to her left and to her right and then says to me in a hushed tone "I have a copy of that training manual that another mom gave me...do you want it?" I say "Ahoy Matey, I do! A pirated copy of the training manual is all the booty I be needin'...Arrrrrrg".

I bring it home, read it over and realize I need to get Michael involved. I say to him "read this" thump. He obliges. We are now ready to do this.

Cue in 3 day weekend (coincidence? I think not.) Saturday morning we do what the lady tells us, and we are now in. We are in this 'till the end. We were homebound FOR THREE COMPLETE DAYS. No car rides, no going outside, no having friends and distractions around. We (either michael or I) sat next to Athena all. day. long. and played, read, puzzled, colored, whatever....as long as it was near her and we had to repeat the same thing to her over and over and over again. The forgotten one (aka..Saylor)was fine. She just watched as we obssessed over the damn potty the entire weekend (long at that).

Do you know what?

She was potty trained...in three days. It is an intense three days, but, if you are committed and consistent, you WILL have a potty trained toddler (or preschooler in our case).
Our daughter is incredible and because this technique involves purely positive reinforcement it was a real pleasure for her and therefore for us.

There you have it folks. The skinny on our experience with potty training Athena.

I really could go on and on about the incredibly funny weekend we've had with her and how she reacted to all sorts of stuff coming out of her, but, I will save it for your imagination and save the potty mouthed tales for another time. For those of you who read this blog that don't have kids, you are missing out on great material ;)

Oh and the answer is Yes. To what you ask? Only if you are asking the question do you understand the answer.