Skip to main content

In the Throes of Potty Training

Well, it's time to update on the wonderful world of potty training. I finally decided to put my college education into use and reverted back to behavior modification. What I wonder, though, is if B.F. Skinner ever tried to potty train a three year old boy or was he simply content to run mice through a maze, administering shock or food. I tried the food avenue. Little treats every time he goes in the potty. This has been quite successful in the pee arena. As for the poop arena... I finally decided that, after cleaning poopie underpants day after day, it was time for B.F. Skinner to enter our house in spirit. Positive reinforcement was not working for THAT type of accident so what about negative reinforcement?

Those of you who are faint of heart, be assured that I did not literally SHOCK my little one. I'd heard of people trying cold showers after a poopie accident but I couldn't stomach that. I tried a tepid shower. Much to my horror, my little guy squealed with glee. He then danced around in the shower and sang songs. I finally turned it to a little colder and got him to not giggle as he told me the correct place to poop is the potty.

Is cognitive behavior therapy effective when cognition is that of a three year old? I'm thinking not.

Comments

  1. TOO FUNNY!!! All I can say is this---When they're ready they'll do it! Steven (the 16th of August to be exact) came to me and asked to wear underpants--that was that--he was ready and really has not had an accident day or night! Luke on the other hand tells me "oh mom, I just LOVE my diaper". So I asked him when he was going to stop being a baby and be a big boy and wear underpants instead of diapers his response "umm, probably some time next week". I'm still waiting for that "next week" : )

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Most Dreaded Words

 Everybody knows that Christmas is about keeping the Santa Secret and pleasing your children. Therefore, the most dreaded words are uttered on Christmas Eve. "I changed my mind, I want a [pony, scooter, bike, Red Rider BB gun]" A close second place winner is, "Can I have a New Year's Eve party?" Then, "Me, too?"

Too Sick to be Sick

I am sick.  Really and truly sick.  I even took a sick day and felt no guilt whatsoever that maybe I wasn't sick enough to have a "sick day."  Because I am.  My 5 year old was sick, too so I took him to the doctor.  I refuse to acknowledge that I'm sick because I don't get sick.  So with absolute glee, my little boy climbed up onto the table, stuck out his tongue and conversed with the doctor.  I heard something about cloudy ears and antibiotics and then I just turned it off. It hurts when sound reaches my eardrums. We drove back home, I turned on the television, brought in the dog, and let the babysitting begin.  I crawled back into bed and swam somewhere between consciousness and unconsciousness.  The kids came home from school.  I might have acknowledged them.  I made chicken noodle soup from scratch.  I couldn't even think.  My husband caught me in a sway and asked what he could do.  I grunted some terse instructi...

What We Eat

Check out the good looking crew.  Just to clarify.  I'm the pretty one. There's a little mountain resort in Northern Utah that is invaded every July by this group of people. We are an intimidating bunch. 5 years ago my brother brought his Nepalese bride to the United States.  She lived in a country where she had no expectation to ever drive a car.  She bought her food daily from the market and ate it.  She taught English, although her accent was so strong when she arrived I questioned her grasp of the language.  We tried to be friendly and accepting.  We ended up scaring the daylights out of her. She thought we were crazy.  Her words, not mine. Although I think she tolerated me a little better than the others because I had the brand new fair-haired baby that she continued to steal.  She wanted a blond haired, blue eyed baby and wondered what her chances were now that she married an American. We take turns cooking for the family dinners. ...