Mojo has just turned 3, and I know there’s still a good chance that he won’t start kindergarten in diapers.
But, I gotta say, his attitude about the potty is starting to get me down.
His response when asked if he’s going to use the potty? He says, “I just don’t want to do that.”
How am I supposed to counter that kind of logic? I mean, obviously, if it was something he needed to do immediately – like, say, brushing his teeth or washing his hands before dinner – I would let him know that not wanting to wasn’t going to set him free. I’m pretty sure this is one of those things I can’t force him to do, no matter how much I might wish I could. That’s why I haven’t even tried.
I’ve read that it’s never a good idea to force a kid to potty-train, that it simply won’t work unless it’s something they want to do from the bottoms of their little hearts and the seats of their little pants, and I get that.
But oh, what I wouldn’t give for some good advice on how to respond to that plain a refusal!
For that, I would almost give up a chance to go to the potty by myself. Except … well, I already gave that up. Really, what mom hasn’t given that up? Sometimes I try to sneak up the stairs when Mojo isn’t looking so I can have a mere two minutes of privacy, but he has potty radar and he always knows what I’m up to. And then, even though he motors up and down the stairs on his own steam several times every day, he will fling himself onto the bottom three steps and wail at the top of his little lungs, “Mama!!! Come back!!! Maaaamaaaaa!!!”
Oh, yeah, I’ve tried ignoring the melodrama, but that eventually leads to his dejectedly climbing said stairs and sobbing like I have abandoned him in the middle of Wal-Mart, and too far from the toy section.
Someday, I know, we’ll all potty in peace. I’ll wish I had these days back.
