Thank you to those of you who commented on my potty woes post. I honestly will take any suggestions or thoughts because I am going out of my mind! Literally this very moment we are in the midst of another huge battle, as I listen to Elijah scream as if someone is cutting off his toes...just because I am making him sit on the toilet after another accident.
We have tried "removing" ourselves and acting as if we don't care one bit whether he goes on the toilet or not. In fact, we still do that. It is TOUGH, but it doesn't seem to affect him. It is so unbelievably hard to stay calm during these hour-long (sometimes more, and sometimes multiple times per day) episodes. It is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do as a parent. All I want to do is scream my head off!
As for the tethered spinal cord, we have considered that. But...he has shown us that he CAN hold it in when he wants to (when he has a raw, sore bottom and it hurts to go). It's worth getting checked, though, and it's something we were planning to do this summer if the chaos continued (which it appears to be doing).
I think it's behavioral, and I just don't feel there is anything more we can try! I am considering consulting a specialist beyond his special ed teachers and OT/PT. It causes such major disharmony for our entire family! I'm at my wit's end!
4 comments:
Did you remember about the worries of Elijah's walking back to a few years ago?
Look at him now he is walking and running around all over the places. Try not to worry too much, everything will be fine very soon.
Yeah...don't worry about the pooping. It'll come.
Look, if it makes you feel better, Isaac is the same age as Elijah...and still PEES on me when I change his diaper. I don't even like thinking about when he'll be ready...but, one day he will be...and I'll be doing the potty dance with a tutu on!!!
You guys are the most awesome parents...you've turned him into the most wonderful little man so far, whatever you're doing works....keep it up (and don't stress out!)
Hug those cutie pies!
Oh it must be so frustrating! I don't look forward to that at all. But a friend once told me about her own son, "well there aren't many adults who walk around pooping their pants, so he'll get there". Kind of humorous but true!
I think you are right on the money with this being mostly a behavioral issue. There are very few things a child can control in their lives: eating, sleeping, and pottying. If they draw battle lines with these, they will always win.
I have potty-trained 5 kids and with each one what worked was different. The best method I found was to take small brown paper lunch bags and put little surprises in each one. Place them in a visible but not accessible site. Each successful poop earns a bag to open. Failures are not mentioned or punished, just calmly cleaned up. I put small toys, a piece of gum, candy, markers, etc in the bags. Talk about them a lot. Oooh, the excitement! Let him decide if and when he tries to go. Let him take control. (Actually you are getting him to take control in the right direction. He already is in control. LOL!)
Sit back and relax. If he doesn't have you to battle against then it is no fun anymore.
Post a Comment