Potty Training? Continued...

I sit here today... tired exhausted. After two full weeks of potty training, Anthony first, then Daniel.

• Every morning as the day begins, the boys sit on the potty until they go. Sometimes it happens within minutes, other times it seems like we're in the bathroom forever.
• Day 1 for each of them... pretty good, not perfect, but very encouraging.
• Day 2 - us "Let's go pee-pee in the potty, and you get to play with your toy..." (one specifically picked out for motivation) each one on there respective 2nd day, "oh, you mean yesterday wasn't a game? Well then... let's see how long I can hold it..."

I had help from ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) for the 1st 3 days with Anthony, and then for Daniel - to get them going (so to speak). Somehow I think the boys initially saw the toilet like this:

So maybe they were a scared into complying???

Now I think it's more like this:

I have to admit, I'm not sure at this point who's training who. After all, for the last 5 years they've used a diaper as their "personal outlet" and now we're asking them to change that. They absolutely love the "big boy" underwear, however, they really don't care if they get wet or dirty. They fight against having a pull up over the underwear before going somewhere. They're not absolutely thrilled to have the nighttime pull ups either. But, we're getting there.

It's very interesting how the boys have handled potty training at this point though. Being autistic they need a certain amount of a routine every day. Even if they have a free day, it has to have certain things that are the same every day. They have to watch certain shows on T.V. for a short while, (around 7 - 8 a.m.) or at least have those shows on - even if they aren't watching the T.V. (Usually the shows they "sort of" watch before school). They have to have their medication in a certain order, at a certain time, if we forget or are late - they let us know. They have to have certain foods every day and access to others that they may want to "choose" from. So, we've worked "potty time" into the routine - I'm very glad that most days they have taken to it very well.

The kiddos I've heard about (read about and talked to other parents about) - say that the only difference between an ASD (autism spectrum disorder) child and a neurotypical child is the amount of repetitions it takes to get the hang of using the potty. I've also noticed that there is a certain amount of stubbornness that goes with this whole new adventure (which I think all kiddos have - not just autistic or neurotypical).

All in all the potty training is going a little better every day. We've have a few times when the boys have actually initiated going to the bathroom. The best time for us has been first thing in the morning, the boys are much more receptive to "that" room. Then as the morning progresses, I get help from the ABA staff to keep the boys on task. Evening and weekends are the hardest. You know, when you need to do the 100's of other things that didn't get done during the week. Occasionally I get some help from my wonderful sister, a total Godsend, when it seems like I can't take anymore - she finds a way to come and help.

From a mother's heart - God Bless all of you who have already gotten past potty training - I never realized how challenging it is. For those who are my brothers and sisters in potty training right now - Hang in there! For those who have yet to get there - good luck and just look forward to the prize...  NO MORE DIAPERS!!!