"You didn't clap for me!"

Wailed the boy Niki after he went potty. Lately we have been attempting to teach Jenna to use the potty (soon I can't get a bigger size diaper than 6 on the German economy).

Before we found out the extent of Jenna's problems I had planned to train her between age 2-3 when I saw she was getting ready, but that never happened. She never was interested, in fact she resisted so much when I tried (when Niki learned it) that I was worried it would start a power struggle and I saw in therapy when discouraged parents came in because their child wouldn't potty train just to show they were in control. I backed down and hoped I would know when to try with Jenna.

I had serious reservations and wondered if, like her drooling and food all over her face, she doesn't seem to have sensory feedback and it would also be the case with sensing her bladder and bowels.

A few weeks ago when she didn't want to go to bed she would pee and take off her diaper and get out of bed and bring it to me (and a few times poop too). I thought "This MUST be the sign!"

About 6 weeks ago the binki "flew away" and I got rid of the bottles before that, so I thought I just have to push a bit and try. I made a big deal of what a big girl she is etc. I made charts, I had potty bookes and I had rewards. When I told her that she wasn't going to have diapers any more she told me no and ran and got a diaper and tried to put it on herself! Then I had to bribe her to sit on the toliet. I read books and I talked to her and sang to her...but no pee came. Then, just as I was about to give up she peed! I clapped and Niki ran in and clapped and we both told her we were proud of her. I told Günter and he got excited for her. We sent her off in undies on her little bus with a note in her book about helping.

That day she came home with another child's clothes and 4 complete outfits (of her own I stock there) all wet. I wondered how this will work if they don't take her and enforce her to sit long enough to relax and pee. I know they are short staffed but...it needs to happen. Now I worry we will lose the window of opportunity. I sent to her school a package of pull-ups and sent her the next day in pull ups. Well the same thing happened. She wet several sets of clothes (other childrens) and I was so frustrated. We wrote a note in her book asking about what system they were using and no note came home. By Friday I was tired of all the laundry and put her in daipers. Then a note came home that they would work with her.

This week I send her in pull-up but she comes home in another child's undies and today she came home with NO undies, no pull-ups and NO diaper under her pants! ARRRGGGHHH!

To top it off, Niki is getting jealous and is upset when I don't clap for him (he pretty well trained himself 6 months ago) or give him a reward. It even goes to far when I am going potty both Jenna and Niki come in and clap and tell me they are proud of me.

Now if I can get Jenna to want to at least learn the peeing part I will be greatly relieved!

Posted by Krista at September 18, 2008 07:47 PM