Bug is showing more and more of an interest in going on the potty these days. It helps that she now has the incentive of an electric bubble making machine in the bathroom; whenever she goes, she gets some bubble action. It also helps that her teachers at school are extremely supportive of her efforts; even though she's still in diapers, they'll send her to the potty regularly with the other kids.
Bug usually doesn't think about going to the potty on her own. If we walk past a bathroom, though, she's all over it. She's even done this in public a couple times now. For a couple weekends now and on weeknights if there's time, Bug has worn big girl underwear and we've sent her to the potty every half hour. So much success! (Is anything funnier than hearing, "The big, brown poopy is coming out of my butt!"?)
To try to help her figure out how to get herself to the potty in time, without the constant reminders, last weekend we tried something new: Pull Ups over the underwear. A friend suggested this, saying it was a charm for getting her daughter potty trained. It didn't work at all with Bug. You know the old saying, "If it looks like a duck?" Well, she knew the Pull Up was just a fancy diaper and didn't treat it any differently. Just as when she's wearing a regular diaper, she was resistant to go potty on command. In theory it sounded wonderful. Oh well.
As I said, school has been great about Bug's potty training efforts. And while I wouldn't have requested it, knowing that with a full class it would be a tall order, her teacher (Miss D) the other day suggested we start bringing her into school in her big girl underwear. They will send her to the potty every half hour. Monday we'll be taking in several changes of clothes to get that ball rolling.
Another topic of conversation -- which came after the big girl underwear decision was made -- was about moving Bug to the preschool room. Miss D asked how open we were to the thought of doing this sooner than they typically allow. Usually it isn't considered till a kid is at least a couple months from turning three.
As it is, Bug's verbal and comprehensive skills are pretty far beyond her current classmates'. For example, when assessed for color knowledge, Bug and one other kid knew all ten given; the other kid was close to -- if not already -- three years old. (Bug is 2 1/2 now.) She also knows at least eight of those colors in Spanish, although that wasn't assessed. And while many of the kids in her class are grunting, using physical violence or tears, or using single to few words to express themselves, Miss D says that Bug is the only kid she can have a conversation with (and no, she isn't the oldest in the room). Yeah, we so don't have a problem with moving her early. The preschool room has a more structured learning environment that will provide the challenge and enrichment Bug needs. It's too bad the teachers can't go with her.
It'll also be nice for Bug to have other kids to talk to. We've been told that her classmates now pretty much leave her alone. "They don't mess with" Bug. I'm guessing that it's because of her language (Bug is very assertive -- at many times demanding -- in telling others what she wants), and that she's one of the few -- currently two -- girls in the class.
Sounds great, right? Problem is that she's not potty trained. That's a prerequisite.
They're willing to move Bug in as little as two weeks. Will she be ready? Only Bug can answer that question. The last thing we want to do is pressure her. Pressuring her, much like rushing her, is not effective; she's very much like her Momma in her stubborn resistance, regardless of the payoff for her. Exercise in futility.
Stay tuned!
