Potty updates...

We've been trying to potty train Ash for months now... he goes just fine at home, but at daycare he REFUSES to go. He told his teacher he would "NEVER" go there.

What worked well at home is to just let him roam naked and fancy free. He peed once on the floor and I made such a fuss about it that he never did it again. He made sure to get to the potty everytime. Now I can put him underwear and pants during the day at home and he does just fine. No problems.

He has an issue with loud noises. He hates them. No fireworks. No sirens (we barely made it through half the parade). He freaks out if he sees someone blowing up balloons and starts yelling "don't pop it!" We saw a little boy holding a balloon the other day and we had to leave the store he was freaking out so bad about the kid popping it.

I don't think its something we've done to cause the fear. He had it before he was born. Whenever we went to movies while I was pregnant I always thought I was going into labor because he would just roll and roll in my tummy. As soon as we walked out into the quiet, he was back to normal.

What does this have to do with going potty at daycare? Well... Ash had just started trying to use the potty at daycare, and it was like his second or third time in the bathroom when they have a fire drill and the FREAKING FIRE ALARM goes off. Oh... and the alarm is IN THE BATHROOM (two big rooms separated by an open bathroom in the middle with low walls... so the alarm is in the middle of the two rooms). Now all he thinks about when he goes in that bathroom is that damn loud noise.

I've been working on it with him. I have to literally pick him up and carry him in the bathroom kicking and screaming. Even though I've promised him (and the daycare promised him) that it would not go off again, he's terrified.

It took about a week. Starting with me just getting him used to going back in there. Then progressing to me trying to take his pants off (while he screamed bloody murder... they think I'm a *great* mom). I bought a special treat... a Batman pez dispenser (combining Ash's love of superheros and pez) and offered it as a prize for going. I finally left work an hour early yesterday and told him he could come back to work with me if he tried. I took him to the big kids bathroom (private) and pulled off the diaper as he whimpered. Then held him on the potty while he went. I must have timed it just right for him needing to go. I can't image the joy of coming to my work is so great that it encouraged it... but you never know.

Everyone at my work congratulated him on this and it must have made a big impression because now he is EXCITED to try again. When I dropped him off this morning he tried on both potties (the big kids and little kids). I think we might finally be headed towards no more diapers!!!

I have no idea how to get him through the night still... but that will come. Everything is done in steps with this kid.

Then there's still the matter of that damn binkie...
{only at night now... but it's still hanging around}