Special Needs Potty Training

Here we are, friends. The time has come. We cannot put it off any longer. While every bone in my body wants to resist, resist I cannot.

Clara starts intensive potty training on Monday. 

I am typically a go-getter in this whole special needs thing. I have never been one to shy away from a challenge as it relates to Clara's care. Occupational therapy three times a week at age 7 months? Sure thing. I'm all over it. Full time school at age 2.5 years to get her the type of therapy she needs to thrive? Totally. Hours upon hours of research and trial and error for just the everyday, little things that go on behind the scenes, behind these closed doors? Check. Tests upon tests and multiple "labels" to get her the type of services she needs? Yes please. Endless conversations and moments of advocacy with insurance to, for the love, provide an adequate allocation of yearly therapy sessions, because we all know thirty ain't going to cut it for a child who has never said a word. Done and done. The glass is half full is typically my default approach.

But you guys, this next thing, this daunting task of POTTY TRAINING . . . I just want to run and hide in my closet with a spoon and pint of Ben and Jerry's Chocolate Therapy and some type of sappy playlist on my iPhone and never emerge. For real. But since Brandon says I can't do that . . .

The underwear has been bought . . .

The endless pairs of shorts are packed (there is more than this) . . .

And the protocol reviewed . . . (We originally were starting on a Friday, not a Monday, thus days of the week on this protocol will shift a little. Also, since Clara does not speak at all, we will most likely train her with a picture of a toilet that will eventually be part of her PECS book.)

So this is what we need, friends. . .

Prayers: Please join us in prayer as we head into Monday and as these weeks go on. Specifically that Clara will learn quickly (we've been told not to expect too much progress at all the first week) and that despite her compromised intellectual functioning and lack of spoken language, she will somehow come to understand the process and come up with her own way of telling us when she needs to use the potty. Please also pray for me and Brandon, that God will grant us with peace and wisdom and patience and stamina and a positive attitude even if progress proves extremly slow.

Tips: If there are any special needs parents out there reading this that have tips on what worked/did not work for your child when potty training, please share! Even parents of typical kiddos, we are all ears, and while the specifics of our situation are different, there is still wisdom to be gained from those that have gone before us.

So here goes nothing . . .

T-minus three days until it's bye bye diapers for our almost four year old (that's a whole different sob fest)! While I am anxious, I am beyond grateful to her school who is taking the lead and holding our hand every step of the way. (They will even come home with us one day next week to show us the ropes.)

(And yes, she will still wear a diaper at night or on long car trips/plane rides, etc.)

Sure do love this girl!! Even if she is about to cover me in pee . . .