The Potty Training Finals

The boys have been in big boys undies since December, and I was putting up with dirty pants multiple times a day as we went through the worst stage of potty training. It's what I refer to as the "please-please-I'm-begging-you-to-poop-in-the-potty stage." Emphasis on the "please-please-I'm-BEGGING-you."

They were doing pretty well when it came to peeing in the potty and I hated to use pull ups and confuse them, so we trudged onward, even after the day they pooped together on the floor.

On Mother's Day two of three boys pooped in the potty, causing me to celebrate that as the best Mother's Day gift ever. (Sad, but true.)

Not long after that came a day when everyone seemed to have forgotten everything they knew. I had a dozen pairs of wet and/or dirty undies in the wash by noon. I'd had it. And then the boys came up from the basement playroom and proudly announced, "We went downstairs and pooped together."

WHAT?!?

Sure enough, every last one of them was poopy. Who knew pooping in your pants was a team sport?

It was the end of the line for me. Jeff called about that time and got a download of crazy from me that he didn't even know what to do with. I later told him he could have legitimately hung up on me. He'd have had to sleep in the garage for a week, but it would have been legit.

Mama needed a break, so I gave in and bought pull ups. A one week break stretched to almost three weeks, but we're back in undies again, and everyone is doing great. We've been venturing out in our big boys pants with only one minor accident. (Note to the shoe store lady: Seriously, carpet? All you sell are kids' shoes. I'm sure we aren't the first to pee on your floor.)

Alex has the pooping thing down now. Something he likes to prove about six times a day just so he can get a Tootsie Roll. I may have the first two-year-old with hemorrhoids if he keeps this up.

And Sam has become obsessed with a pair of red Lightning McQueen undies. In fact, he has them on over the top of a diaper tonight. Since I didn't get to wash them, I'll have to battle him out of the them in the morning. But that's a battle I'm willing to fight!

Here's hoping that this time the end truly is in sight.

Trippin' Mama 2011