Friday, April 22, 2016

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 . . .

12 comments

  1. I am seriously so, so impressed with the school and how proactive and helpful they are about this! Combine that with the fact that I know you will give this your 100% effort (though I know you're terrified) and Clara has so much going for her already! That said, I will be praying and wish you the best of luck :) I have no good advice other than to stock up on plenty of rewards for yourself, ha!

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  2. Oh my goodness, I had never even considered how challenging this would be. How awesome that your school is such a wealth of help, though!! I will be praying for you guys!!

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  3. Absolutely will be praying over the above big stuff!! Funny story- I remember potty training Maddison B. And getting covered in her pee on the run to the toilet. But more than that, I remember starting to feel like a weirdo constantly pushing fluids. Nothing was off limits but she mad maxed out on all liquids and we were begging her to drink anything. Just funny memories. You will make it through this, your plan looks solid. Remember Galatians 5:22, I'll pray that the fruits of the Spirit are present in all involved. Go get em!!

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    1. I remember that!! You have more experience than me in this area so just let me know if you want to come hang out next week!! :)

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  4. Wow!! Good luck, praying all goes well!

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  5. I hate than the anticipation of this has been weighing so heavily on you! I will keep praying, praying, praying and look forward to hearing how it's going next week! Oh and I'm with Amanda on keeping around some rewards for YOU ;) this is just as much training for you and Brandon as it is for sweet Clara, so I hope you will extend the same amount of grace to yourselves as you will surely extend to her in the coming weeks. You can do this!!!

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  6. We have had some potty training...adventures...for many months. We had to do A LOT of adjusting and troubleshooting. I read books and Googled and crowdsourced solutions... I'd be glad to share info if it would be helpful.

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    1. Thank you so much!! I will def take whatever advice you have to offer!! :)

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  7. Praying! I am thankful you have all of this support as you begin this hard step!

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  8. My son has ADHD and it was a total challenge to potty train but we survived and you will too. We used a book called Ready, Set, Potty. It is a method specially for special needs children and we found it to be very helpful. We did not follow all the tips but picked out the tips that worked best for our son. We used a social story that the school created for us and that was super helpful. My son is very rewards driven so we had to find something that he was willing to work for. It turned out to be cookie dough (not the most practical reward but whatever works). My son doesn't respond well to negative energy and punishment so we really tried to focus on the successes and praise as much as possible. Good Luck!

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  9. Good luck! Levi wasn't potty trained until almost 3.5, and that simply because HE decided he was ready 😬 Took about 2 days

    So yeah basically no tips, other than yes, REWARD yourself! Seems like your school sees readiness, so you're good. My big advice for people is wait until they're ready! Good luck!!!!

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