Potty training for boys

I hate to keep talking about W's bodily functions but I am at the end of my rope. He. will. not. poo. in. the. potty. I have gotten advice from everyone-from feign indifference, to put him in time out, to telling him it's just not acceptable and nothing works. Whatever you are thinking, I have tried it. Up to yesterday, I don't think I had tried everything until I had lunch with my old friend. She has three boys so I know she knows her stuff not to mention the fact that her middle son is 2 1/2 and potty trained. Completely crazy, I know. Anyway, she told me about her friend who's son was 4 1/2 and still not pooping in the potty. This friend finally got to the point where I am, soooo tired of cleaning it up and said, "Fine. You can poo in your pants but you are going to clean it up." and proceeded to put him in an empty bathtub with wipes and told him to go for.

I thought it was brilliant. I did it this morning. I gave him a box of wipes and a trashcan and shut the door. A few minutes later I went to check on him expecting to hear him crying. I was wrong. If he knew how to whistle, he would have been whistling a tune. There he was wiping his hiney with 80 wipes all of which he was setting every so gingerly on the side of the tub. Only when it came time to dump the poop did he ever show any kind of disgust. "It's yucky," he said. and that was it.

We went about our day. We went swimming at the pool and went to have a late afternoon coffee and cookie. We ran into a family friend (my parents age) who took him to the bookstore and bought him a book. He had a ball with his friend and was in great spirits. and then it was time to go and I realized that he had a deuce while in the bookstore with this friend. Golly, I hope she didn't notice.

We got home and we went through the same drill as in the morning. This time I heard him singing. I kid you not. I think he's starting to enjoy this new system and the alone time that comes with it. So all I can say is, and I am sorry for cursing, but SH--!

Not so little anymore

I have a new kind of leverage around here with W. I have to admit that I thought it was really cute last night when he said it for the first time. and I got kind of weepy. It was just yet another moment in time that reminded me that my baby is growing up.

W climbed out of his bath and I wrapped him up in the towel. I don't remember exactly what I said but it was something like, "you are my cute little baby".

"I am not little!" he snapped. "I am big. P is your little baby."

He's right. He's not little anymore...although he will always be my little baby. So, yes, I was sad and it still makes me sad thinking that he is old enough to not want to be my little boy anymore. But oh, the leverage it gives me. My mind is racing. How can I use this to my advantage? The first thing that came to mind was using it to convince him to poo poo in the potty. Only little babies poo poo in their underwear. Big boys poo poo in the potty. Right? Are you with me?