Perhaps you read it on the front page of The New York Times, or heard the news on CNN: Max is toilet-trained. It's like things often go in Max's life—it may have taken him awhile to get there, but he did it.
Weekend Boot Camp training back in April was a good start, but Max still resisted going at home even though he regularly went at school. The hardest part of potty training was carving out the time—you basically need a repeated series of days at home, life centered around the toilet. As devastating as Superstorm Sandy generally was, it did the trick for this; we devoted ourselves to potty training while we were cooped up inside a hotel.
Max had a whole lot of accidents, but they've dwindled in the weeks that have followed. Now he regularly tells us when he has to go (no. 1 and no. 2!), whether we're at home or out running errands. He's loving his Cars potty seat. We're working on timing because he tends to let us know approximately a minute before he really needs to go, and he doesn't always make it. At night, he's still wearing Pull-ups.
He is sooooo proud of himself. Dave and I are even prouder. And seriously thankful, a major milestone close to Max's 10th birthday.
We took him to Toys 'R Us to check out the Cars 2 electric ride-on car we promised him when he aced toilet training, but he was too big for it. He had his eye on some ATV type vehicle that fits two kids, only we'd practically have to take out a car loan to get it. I'm pretty sure he'll find some other Cars 2 object of desire.
It's still a little hard to believe, so long have we waited for this.
It's another one of those times when I'd like to go back to those grim doctors at the NICU and say: See? Look at my boy now.
See also:
Kamikaze potty training
Potty training a kid with special needs: Yet more inspiration
Potty training kids with special needs: Weekend Boot Camp, Day 1
Potty training kids with special needs: Weekend Boot Camp, Day 2
Image/etsy
Congratulations to you and Max.
ReplyDeleteYay for Max! Relief for you. And, yup, it was totally a link on the New York Times that led me here.
ReplyDeleteHey Ellen--go over to Amazon and type in "Disney Pixar Cars Decal" and watch what pops up! You could buy Max a bunch of small decals to put on some sort of pedal car or recumbent trike that would fit him, or you could buy him a giant Lightning McQueen decal for his wall in his room (they're peel and stick so you won't ruin the paint or paper). I am so happy for you guys, I know that potty training was the "Big Step" that Max had yet to take at home, so this really is the dawn of a new era! Who knew that doggone hurricane could do a good thing? Yee haw!
ReplyDeleteMax is so going to kill you for this (sharing his potty training adventures with the world) when he gets older LOL :) Congratulations Max!
ReplyDeleteMazal Tov!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to all!
ReplyDeleteWTG MAX!!! (you too Ellen and Dave!)
ReplyDeleteIt's big - you have every reason to be super PROUD!!!!!
Yahoo!! Congratulations to all of you...quite an achievement, you should all be really proud. :-)
ReplyDeleteYAY! Congratulations! That's so awesome! :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats! WTG Max, and WTG mom and dad!
ReplyDeleteAs for night dryness, even for "neurotypical" kids (not a great term, but it will have to suffice...) 7 is considered within "normal" range for staying dry at night. We're still mostly in pullups at 5.5. We have friends who get their kids up to pee around midnight.
Our setup is this -- if J has 2 nights dry in the pullup, he can choose underwear the next night (and he doesn't always...) Then I also make the bed like so: waterproof mattress pad, sheet, waterproof mattress pad, sheet -- so when he wets at night, I don't have to fuss with making the bed -- just peel off the top 2 layers, dip the wet boy in the tub, re-jammy and everyone goes back to sleep :-)
For Max, who has muscle issues related to CP, it may take longer... or forever, but that's what pullups/underjams are for!
Way to go Max!!! What an awesome milestone , thrilled for all of you! I regularly have those wanting to go back to nicu moments!
ReplyDeleteWay to go Max! You rock! And trust me, I know a lot about grim doctors. When I was born, a doctor told my mom "Something is wrong with your child but we don't know what it is. There is nothing we can do about it."
ReplyDeleteCongratulations, Max! And yes, Ellen, those NICU doctors need to read this so you can say SO THERE! :)
ReplyDeleteCongratulations!!! And Happy Belated Birthday to you Ellen!
ReplyDeleteGo Max!!! Woohooo!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! Go Max! This is wonderful news!
ReplyDeleteAmazing news!
ReplyDeleteWay to go Max!!! And to congrats to you mom for your dedication. Enjoy this wonderful milestone!!
ReplyDeleteThe BEST news to come out of Super Storm Sandy! SOOOO happy for you!
ReplyDeletewow! go max! go ellen!
ReplyDeletehopefully we'll be there too someday! perhaps i should show my son the Cars 2 inflatable. ;)
Thank you for sharing, you gave me hope tonight...when I really needed it.
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