Days with the Dorans

So I really didn't think we'd see the day when our home was free of diapers!  After all, it will be ten years in September since we STARTED diapers at the Dorans!  Sean had made it clear that he liked his diapers and at 3 and a half showed no interest in underwear or having "Potty Power" or even any awareness of what was going on with his body!  Ali got Potty Power pretty early, but both Joe and Z got it around 3 so when we were passing the 3 and a half mark I felt like it might as well have been five. I couldn't figure out what I was doing wrong... We made big deals about our own undies, called Sean to the bathroom to see how the "Bigs" did it... but nothing seemed to work! I should have known that it WOULD happen.  Once summer hit, we told Sean that we were giving TZ all his diapers and bought him some special undies.  After a couple accidents, he realized we weren't putting the diapers back on him so decided to use the potty.  We weren...

So, having had three children already, I am not the sort that "trains" my children how to use the potty.  It has been my experience (and a lot less painful for me), that the best way is to just wait and follow their lead.  For all of them (the three that are currently embracing the joys of wearing underwear), they decided when they were ready, we didn't have accidents and the 'training' was painless (since there really wasn't any). I am feeling a little less patient with Sean recently... like maybe I should try to push it more.  I don't know if this is because I see the light at the end of the (almost decade long) tunnel of changing diapers, or because I don't see him having any awareness to what happens in his diaper. In recent days though, he has been telling us when he's pooped in his diaper so I am starting to feel like maybe this will (one day) happen!!  The other day he was reading one of his favorite books on the potty and it wa...

It was as if one morning Zach woke up and decided it was time. Looking back, I have to chuckle because the other Bigs were just the same way and I wonder why we call it 'potty training' when really once they make up their minds... they'll do it! Zach has been wearing underwear for four days now and has been going when he needs to, without us suggesting it. While at times he's been busy and has had a few wet 'accidents,' he's always made it to the potty when his folks would like him too- as in for those all-important 'big' jobs! It's kind of funny because he'll go by himself and he insists on flushing twice! Though this isn't the most eco -friendly thing, it is better than diapers so we allow it! The first flush is so he can watch his 'snake' go down the potty. The second is so that the toilet paper can join the 'snake'. It's something we chuckle at and something that I had to put down here because as time goes on,...

Zach. Our loose cannon. Our Silly Goose. Our Charmer. Our 3 year old who still wears diapers... though perhaps not for long... Yesterday we told Zach that if he wanted a cookie, chocolate or a movie he would have to poop and pee on the potty and to our surprise he did! All day long! We handed out the sweets and lots of hugs and cheers. It was a great day and I was so excited at the prospect of only having one in diapers! And then this morning he had a diaper on and I asked him if he had to go potty and he said no. Two seconds later he pooped. (A lot!) I was so bummed and he knew it. He wrapped his little arms around me and said he was sorry. I wrapped my arms around him and told him I forgave him (that's what we do in our house) and that I knew he'd poop on the potty next time. I went downstairs and was doing Pilates when he told me that he wanted a cookie. I smiled and told him that he could have one when he went to the potty. I continued my workout when in walks Za...