So I'm posting from my bathroom this morning. This may sound like more information than you really need but I promise there is nothing too gross going on. I am fully clothed and even sitting in an easy chair. (yes we have a very large bathroom, lol). I'm addressing Z's potty training this weekend and we have made the upstairs bathroom potty training central.
We have been potty training Z since he's been 3 with not so great results until this last year. It's interesting how autism plays into this. Z hit age three and I went into potty training mode. EPIC FAIL. It was horrible. I was in tears, he was confused and nothing worked. It was a mess, literally. We decided to wait although we would talk about how we go to the bathroom and encourage him to change his pants and sit on the toilet but he really didn't understand the whole bathroom idea.
Looking back now I totally get it. Z stayed at about a 10mo level socially and verbally for about 3 years. He continued to develop growth wise and would walk, climb, move around, etc but his speech and how he interacted was really how a 10mo would interact. By the time he was 3 he was able to get to about an 12-18mo age level for another several years until he was about 5-6. When he was about 7 we saw him become much more aware of us. He, for the first time, actually seemed to notice we were there and look for us when separated which was not something we had had before. This was also the beginning of more verbal language from Z and echolalia or repeating of words or phrases that he hears. At this point he was testing at about a 2 to 2 1/2 year level. We are still at that level. If you think about it, Z is just now getting to the point that he is actually ready for potty training. Go figure. Wish I had known that back when he was two!
So this year we began potty training. He rocked it with learning how to pee in the toilet! Whoo Hoo. We have, however, hit the wall when it comes to doing the other part in the toilet. It's just been 9 years of being able to to go a quite place and be alone and lay in whatever position is comfortable for him and to change now to sitting on a hard, cold, white thing is not an easy transition. So after trying multiple approaches and doing multiple loads of laundry every day we are now at the camping in the bathroom phase.
I super cleaned the bathroom first and then moved in an easy chair and an Ikea kids table and chair for Z. We have a computer, ipad, snacks, drinks, zhu zhu pets, blankets, pillows, and music to keep us entertained. We are working on getting him to go in the pull-up first and then once he goes in the pull-up in the bathroom only we'll work on sitting on the potty. It's all about baby steps.
So, here I am. Never thought I'd be here but it's not so bad. I love spending time with Z and I'm getting lots of kisses. Brandon and J are keeping us supplied with food and drinks and Brandon gives me a break from the bathroom when he can, which I am truly thankful for.
So it begins. Z is a pretty smart kid so I think we will pick up on this quickly. That is my hope, anyways. Until then I am truly grateful for a large bathroom!
