• Home
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact
    • Collaborate
  • Blog
  • Parties
    • Children’s Parties Ideas
    • Holiday Parties
    • Adult Party Ideas
  • Holiday Ideas
    • Christmas
    • Easter
    • Fourth of July
    • Spring
    • Thanksgiving
    • Valentine’s Day
  • Seasons
    • Winter
    • Spring
    • Summer
    • Autumn
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers
    • Beverages
    • Desserts
    • Main Dishes
    • Side Dishes
    • Soups
  • Project Gallery
    • Crafts
    • Decorating
    • DIY
    • Good Ideas
    • Tutorials
  • Shop My Home
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

At The Picket Fence with Vanessa Hunt

Where Ideas for your Home Meet Inspiration for your Heart

  • Book
  • Speaking
  • Meet Vanessa
    • Featured

February 1, 2011

Potty-Training…Oh Good Grief

The Latest in Potty-Training Techniques

The experts will tell you, “only use positive reinforcement” as you potty train your child. Well, I’m hear to annouce a new technique. It’s called,

 “Threatening”.
Have you heard of it? Some say it is part of the ancient practices of parenting that also include things like “discipline” and “obedience”.
All I know is that after I had tried every other kind of trick of the trade, my daughter still refused to go on the potty.
We’ve had sticker charts. We’ve offered candy and cookies. We’ve made promises of a Princess Party and going to pick out a new toy. When our Pediatrician said, “let her take the lead”, we did! “You don’t want to go potty sweetie? Ok, no problem.”
Except…
It WAS a problem!
She knew how to control herself. She would wear panties for hours on end and then wait until I would put her in a diaper for a nap or bedtime and then let it all flow!
Then one day, I reached my breaking point.
It was bath-time and she had been wearing panties for 4 hours. I knew she had to go. I told her, “you need to try and go potty before you get in the bathtub.” She said, “NO!”
Something in me snapped.
I said, “if you don’t sit on the potty right now, young lady, I will take away that Pink Dinosaur you are holding in your hand and every other toy you own until you SIT DOWN ON THIS POTTY!!!”
She said, “ok Mommy.”
And she promptly sat down and went.

Here are some lessons we can learn here:
1. Pink Dinosaurs are more valuable than you might think.
2. They will try to break you down and wear you out, but YOU can prevail!
3. Negative Reinforcement shouldn’t be minimized as a training tool.
And
4. When all else fails, try some Threatening.

10 Comments Filed Under: Good Grief, Kids

Subscribe

Get the latest goodness straight to your inbox!

Previous Post: « The Super Bowl…it’s all about the food! BBQ Chicken Pouches
Next Post: Open House »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Christy says

    February 1, 2011 at 7:10 PM

    Hahaha, I love it V!

    Reply
  2. Sarah @ Modern Country Style says

    February 1, 2011 at 7:48 PM

    LOVE this!!! And do you know what?

    I did *exactly* the same with my twins….only it was with a yellow car!!

    This made me laugh my head off…..I’m TOTALLY your new subscriber!

    Sarahx

    Reply
  3. Pam - diy Design Fanatic says

    February 1, 2011 at 8:06 PM

    You never know what will work- it really depends on the child. For my oldest daughter, it was having one of her “older” (by 1 year) friends over. They went to the bathroom together (girls, go figure!. My daughter’s friend used the big potty & then she used iher little potty too. No more diapers or pull ups during the day after that. Staying dry all night was another story, but several years later, she did that on her own, too. My youngest was nearly 3 & I didn’t enroll her in preschool because I didn’t want to lose my deposit since she had to be potty trained in 2 months before school. Wouldn’t you know, 2 weeks before school started she started using the potty and no more diapers after that- not even at night.
    I totally believe in threatening! Just wait til yours are teenagers! LOL!!!

    Reply
  4. Judy says

    February 1, 2011 at 8:19 PM

    That is so hilarious. When my daughter was 2 1/2 I picked her up from pre-school one day and her teacher told me I should start sending her to school in panties instead of a diaper. I asked why would I ever do that…she’s not even potty trained? They said, oh yes she is. Apparently she had potty trained herself. Who knew?

    Reply
  5. Yanick says

    February 1, 2011 at 11:35 PM

    I’ve been there and i’m sure with my 2.5 year old I will be there again!

    I still have your old blog as a fav btw, can’t make myself delete it even though you have the new blog, lol.

    Reply
  6. Lynn Richards says

    February 2, 2011 at 1:58 AM

    Oh, Vanessa, do you ever bring back memories….the best was when I was babysitting my dad’s dog and we were outside with my eldest, who was in the middle of potty-training with the running around with out panties method. I found poop on the garage floor and blamed the dog,(and so did my eldest) until my darling daughter sat on my lap and left me what should have been on the toilet paper…….

    Reply
  7. JodieMo says

    February 2, 2011 at 12:42 PM

    Preach on sister! Preach on! I am all about some threatening. You know why? ‘Cause I’m the boss, not my child.

    Reply
  8. Debbie says

    February 2, 2011 at 1:19 PM

    You made me smile. I smiled at the little Mom Victory, but most of all I smiled because for a rare and fleeting moment, I was glad my little girls are 18 and 21!

    My mom’s best advice to me about potty training was, “Once you start, don’t look back.”

    She was right, as usual. It’s the wishy washy that gets us every time.

    Reply
  9. Blessed Mommy of 2 says

    February 2, 2011 at 1:30 PM

    Ha, ha! I love it! =)

    Reply
  10. Michelle says

    February 3, 2011 at 6:11 AM

    Amen! More parents need to stop being quite so nice. Love and discipline are not opposites, the reverse is actually true.

    Thanks for stopping by The Executive Mom!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Search This Blog

Get the book!

Invite Vanessa to speak at your event!

Stay updated!

  • A New Look for the Family Room

    A New Look for the Family Room
  • Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

    Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze
  • The Slow Exit

    The Slow Exit
  • Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

    Honed Quartzite Kitchen Counters Reveal

Sign Up and Never Miss A Post!

Must Reads

Latest Recipes

Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze

Honey Tea Cake Loaf with Lemon Glaze

Apple Bread Pudding

view more recent recipes

Recent Posts

  • Strawberry Muffins with Lemon Glaze April 19, 2023
  • Console Table Refresh March 24, 2023
  • Laundry Room Makeover February 23, 2023
  • Winter Decorating Ideas January 27, 2023
  • Nostalgic Christmas Home Tour December 10, 2022

Footer

Stay Connected!

Instagram

“No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom “No man is entitled to the blessings of freedom unless he be vigilant in its preservation.”
General Douglas MacArthur

Grateful today and every day for those who were vigilant to the point of death in the preservation of our freedom and the principles upon which our country was founded. May we honor their sacrifice by being vigilant too. #memorialday
I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables t I’ve been on the lookout for small side tables to pit next to our outdoor couch and when I spotted these plant stands at @walmart from their @betterhomesandgardens line I knew they would be perfect…and they are!! 👏🏻 This is not a sponsored post. I’m just happily sharing this great find and why we should always be open to thinking outside of the box when it comes finding solutions for our decorating dilemmas.

Now we’re ready to head into this beautiful weekend! ☀️
What do you do when you want to use a bunch of boo What do you do when you want to use a bunch of books in your decorating but it can cost $50 or more for just ONE brand new book? Head to the secondhand bookstore of course! I’m so excited about this new look in my family room and this easy, inexpensive decorating tip I’m bringing to you for this #tiptuesday
Today feels like one of those days that is worthy Today feels like one of those days that is worthy of a chef’s kiss. Blue sky with nary a cloud in sight, perfect mid-70’s temps, a gentle breeze blowing through my hair as I walk around my yard to see the status of my flowering plants.

This morning I was running errands and the weight of hard things that are happening in the world, the culture, my own community and even in our circle of friends just felt so heavy.

But, as I was exiting a store, I passed a couple who were in their late 60’s/early 70’s and holding hands as they walked through the parking lot. I happened to glance over just as the husband lifted his wife’s hand up and planted a kiss right on it. It was a moment that reflected such love and tenderness and it was made sweeter by the fact that they weren’t spring chickens. I felt honored that I had been the one to observe and appreciate that moment.

What an incredible thing it is that as humans we are able to hold so many emotions in our souls all at once. To feel sorrow for the pain a friend is enduring, grieve the decline of a culture drifting further from the Lord, ponder how to navigate a challenging school situation, marvel at and enjoy the beauty of creation right outside my door and feel joy at getting to see a tangible example of lasting love while walking through a parking lot.

I truly believe that as we mature in our lives and in our faith, we learn to embrace the tension that comes with the collision of different emotions and recognize that they can all coexist at the same time without one taking something away from another. Simple joys make the hard stuff a bit easier and hard stuff makes us appreciate those simple joys even more.

What’s a simple joy that you are thankful for today?
Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here Oh what an absolutely lovely weekend we had!! Here are some highlights…

*Friday night I joined some wonderful ladies at church for a time of fellowship and yummy desserts. I made a strawberry lemon coffee cake and it was amazing if I do say so myself. ☺️ We are new-ish to this church and have just felt so warmly welcomed and folded in which has been very healing.

*Saturday was filled with getting our outdoor spaces spiffed up and my guys got our new table put together!

*Sitting outside for lunch with a yummy salad and iced tea felt like a little slice of heaven.

*Sunday we went to the iris gardens with my in-laws and then came home for naps and the most mouth watering ribs that my sweet husband had on the smoker all day.

*This glorious weekend ended with some ferocious rounds of UNO-corn (a hilarious version of UNO) and brownies my sweet daughter made for our dessert.

How was your weekend sweet friends? 🌸
I am absolutely and completely a better version of I am absolutely and completely a better version of myself when the sun is shining! Raise your hand if this is true for you too.

And, not only do I feel myself seeming to physically rise up from a slumbered state to greet the sunshine we've been longing for, I find that it seems like my house is rising up too. Every room, every nook and cranny (even though I now see dust bunnies that I missed during my cleaning on the dreary days), every leaf and flower outside...it's all coming to life and breathing fresh hope into my spirit. What a gift it is to be able to enjoy this home in all of the seasons of the year and of our lives. Now, I'm going to head outside and clean our deck and maybe there will be some time leftover for those dust bunnies!
I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispenser I’m slightly obsessed with these glass dispensers! They come with pre-made labels for SO many different options and would make a great Mother’s Day gift! I love how they add a bit of pizzazz to my kitchen. And they go perfectly with some of my antique accessories like the little dish my mother in law gave me for salt and pepper and the tiny toothpick holder which belonged to my great grandmother. 

If you’d like the link to order them, just leave a comment with the word ‘bottles’ and I’ll send it your way. They’re even on sale right now! 🙌🏻
The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This The lilacs are coming! The lilacs are coming! This is what I’m thinking (and sometimes saying out loud) every time I pass my dining room window and see my lilac tree bursting forth. I should probably just go full Paul Revere and ring a bell while I shout the news for all to hear. I’m sure my family would love that!

Lilac season is so bittersweet because it’s over way too soon but, fortunately, I’ve figured out how to capture the deliciousness of the fragrance by making my own lilac scented room spray. It’s SO simple!

Directions: Fill spray bottle with 50/50 ratio of water to vodka.

Add 12 drops of lilac oil. Give it a shake, spray and if the scent isn’t strong enough, simply add a few more drops of lilac oil.

This sweet little project was first featured in my book Life in Season and is definitely one of my favorites.

Have the lilacs started blooming where you live?
The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard ar The cherry blossoms on the tree in our backyard are at their peak and I’m here for it!
It’s time for another #tiptuesday! One of the gr It’s time for another #tiptuesday! One of the greatest joys of this stage in my parenting journey is getting to see the results of the years spent pouring into my children. The worry, the sleepless nights, praying, questioning our decisions and learning to trust in the Lord Who loves them even more than we do. We definitely didn’t do everything right, but what an an amazing experience it is to watch them become these incredible teens/young adults. My tip this week might seem simple, but I believe it can make a major difference in the lives of our children, in our homes and maybe, just maybe, in the culture too. 🌸
Load More... Follow
Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 At The Picket Fence