Okay, we've created a "potty monster." If you're not sure what I mean, please...let me explain.
Scenario 1:
Little Lewie and I are on our way out the door. I'm late for work and call daycare to let them know that I will be dropping him off later than expected (again). As I go to lock the door, Little Lewie annouces...
"Potty Mommy, Potty."
"What? Now? Are you sure you need to go potty now?"
"Yes, pee pee Mommy, pee pee."
I unlock the door, bring Little Lewie to the bathroom, and help him pull down his pants and pull up. We stand there for three minutes. Nothing happens, but Lewie proceeds to tell me that he's done, so he can flush the toilet and celebrate...
Scenario 2:
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We're at the park. We just finish playing on the swings and instead of being interested in going on the slides, Lewie announces...
"Potty Mommy, Potty."
Well, what do you know? Way out younder, yes beyond the parking lot and the ball fields, there's a pavillion that most likely has a potty. If not, next to the pavillion are porta potties. Well it must be our lucky day!
"Are you sure you have to go potty, Lewie?"
"Yes Mommy, poopy. Go poopy Mommy. Go poopy."
I hold his hand, and we walk through the playground, across the parking lot, across several ball fields, and arrive at the pavillion. There's a bathroom that's open at the pavillion; although Little Lewie has his eyes on the porta potty. (Even though it's stinky, evidently it's way cooler because it has a swivel lock.)
"No Lewie. We're not doing the porta potty. It's stinky. Let's go to the regular bathroom."
"No Mommy. No!" he screams grabbing onto the porta potty door and not letting go.
"We're going to the other bathroom Lewie," I say sternly, trying to release his grasp on the door.
Now my kid is really screaming. Fortunately, we're not making too much of a scene since we're pretty far away from the park. (Although I'm sure some moms can see us out in the distance--me yanking my little boy, and my little boy grabbing onto the porta potty for dear life.)
After what feels like a ten minute struggle, Mommy finally wins, and we get to the regular bathroom. I proceed to pull down Lewie's pants and realize he's more interested in playing with the stall door.
"Lewie. I thought you said you have to go potty."
He looks at me and continues playing with the lock on the door.
"I'm not kidding Lewie. No more playing with the door. If you have to go potty, we need to go NOW."
The potty never happens; instead my little boy is fixated on playing with the doors, and going potty was just an excuse to get here.
* * *
Now don't get me wrong. I'm very excited that Little Lewie has been doing pee pee on the potty. He's really trying, and I don't want to discourage or reverse his efforts. Still, since I made going potty into this fun celebration, Little Lewie wants to do it all the time, even when he really doesn't have to go, just to receive the praise, flush the toilet, or if we're out somewhere, to play with the bathroom stall/lock. It's become way too fun for him...to the point that I'm battling with him over the difference of using the porta potty vs. playing with the porta potty lock. Ugh!
Oh yes, and in case you were wondering what eventually happened in Scenario 2...let's just say I ended up carrying my little 45 lb. boy to the car since he still wanted to play with the bathroom doors...Sometimes it's better to go to a park that doesn't have any toilets...at least for now.
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