I bought an additional potty chair and potty seat (Dora the Explorer) for the toliet. Of course, the girls had to ratoate and go potty a little bit in each chair/seat. So, now we have 2 potty chairs and one potty seat in the bathroom. I have yet to get the other potty chair out and put it in the bathroom downstairs. I can see this will definitely be a long process.
Izzy has been dealing with constipation since she was born. She is on a laxative but still struggles at times. At first it appeared that this wouldn’t cause much problem when it comes to potty training but now I see that it does. She doesn’t want to go near the potty when she is struggling.
I’m also beginning to wonder if their interest in potty training is some type of ploy to stay up longer from bedtime and nap. Those two times seem to generate the most interest. In about 6 weeks, I think we’re going to try to start a potty boot camp.
Unfortunately my fears and apprehension have materialized. It’s crazy. Other triplet moms that I have spoken to have waited to their children are older to start this process - I guess I understand why now. It can be like a 3 ring circus. One daughter is on the potty. Another has gotten a hold of the tooth paste and is trying to squirt it into their sister’s mouth. While my other daughter (who is waiting her turn) is pulling out panty liners and sticking them to her sister’s leg who is sitting on the toliet. And no I’m not just sitting back watching all of this, I’m going from one to the next trying to stop whatever behavior is going on at that moment. Time to re-group and do something different.
It’s become pretty apparhent that we need to have three potty seats in the bathroom. So, that we can get right down to business and focus on going potty not all the interesting things in the bathroom.
Sometimes the girls want “privacy”. This works out fine when no one else is waiting in the wings. But, when everyone else is waiting for their turn, too many tantrums arrupt.
I was avoiding using additional potty chairs because of the challenges that they impose (we had one in the bathroom for Ben for quite awhile - the girls would remove the potty cup in the chair and dump (try to at least) it in the toliet even when there was nothing in it. Then they would scoop up toliet water with it. Unfortunately, I don’t think we have a choice - the potty chairs have to come back.
The girls have been using the potty every day (about 3-4 times a day). Their diapers are still wet. I’m just not quite ready to go hard core potty training yet. I’m thinking that maybe after Ben’s summer camp is over. We can stay home for a week or two and see if we can make any true progress with some serious concentrated effort. I must say though - we were at a play date at someone else’s house last week. The girls asked to go on the potty and did!
I belive we are making progress - obviously we have a way to go - but we’re on the right track.
The opportunity has presented itself and I can no longer remain in a happy state of denial. The girls have been sitting on the potty periodically and actually using it for both number 1 and number 2. They are also all aware of when they are about to wet or dirty their diapers. I wasn’t sure how this was all going to happen. I thought maybe one or two of the girls would be ready - but all three are there and very interested. I see that this will definitely be a different process than it was with my son. He also should interest around this age - actually he was 19 months old when he started to use the potty. He used it once a day consistently for quite awhile. I didn’t push it though. I was on bedrest pregnant with the girls. I was afraid of regression. He continued his pattern for a couple months and completely stopped using the potty after the girls were born. I was afraid to push it with all the changes in his life - so I let it slide. Then one day it was more than obvious that he was ready - I put him in underwear (no transitional pull ups) and that was that. He did go through a couple of phases - but for the most part it was a truly painless process. Ben was 2 1/2 years old almost 3.
I guess some of my aprehension lies in the idea that potty training will limit our mobility and add an extra layer of activity onto our day. I know that sounds selfish in many ways. But, potty training will definitely add to the workload. It also adds some safety and hygiene issues - gathering everyone to get them into the restroom while we’re out in public can be a challenge as well as trying to limit what they touch in the restroom - yuck!!!
With all that being said, we are beginning this new chapter. I know it will be a process. The summer time is as good a time as any to start potty training.
The girls all stand around the toliet cheering each other on - clapping and cheering when they hear the tinkles. They seem to want to out do each other. I’m not encouraging any type of competition between them, it’s completely unhealthy on so many levels. The girls are 2 yrs. old and very much in the phase of wanting to show what they can do and how independent they can be.
So, we are going to start off slowly. Any time anyone announces that potty or poopies are coming I ask them if they want to sit on the potty. If we are playing outside and staying home, I’m putting pull-ups on them (they feel the wettness a bit more).
We have to start somewhere. Just think of all the $$$ we will be saving once they are diaper free.
Sometimes I wonder what in the world I am “suppose” to be doing. Before having children, I had grand delusions of fund little craft times, story times, nature walks - you get the picture. While this does happen, it doesn’t exactly happen as stress-free as I had once envisioned. Story times usually involve a least 3 fights (book selection, where are we going to sit (some what floor, some want couch, some want the over-sized chair, etc.) and the who is squishing who great debate) before we can start reading. Once we start reading, someone inevitably has to get up for something and re-join the group causing the whole who is squishing who debate once again. Sometimes, we just have tears the entire time because they didn’t have the choice seat. Not exactly the quiet little stories times that break out into a round of songs and finger plays at the end. I must admit we do have our moments when everyone seems content and we have one of those idyllic story times - I hold onto those moments hoping to replicate them every time. Craft times - oh craft times - those are good for at least 5 fights. Some times I just have to step back and remind myself that sibling rivalry and fighting is very natural and can be part of healthy development. Their early experiences are preparing them for their adult life. So in my estimates if we stay the course, we’re bound to have a few Supreme Court justices, a prize fighter or two, 4 captains of the debate team, and track and field stars.
To dress alike or not? That is a good question. Obviously both sides to the argument can make some compelling points. Some of the disadvantages sited in books point out that if the general public sees twins, triplets, etc. dressed alike they will start to believe that all multiples are alike. Others argue that multiples themselves lose a sense of identity when dressed alike over time.
Most commonly the advantages discussed touch on how “cute” they look dressed the same and that really is the only reason to dress multiples the same.
There are other advantages to similar clothing. When playing in a group of children (open gym, play center, etc.) similar clothing makes them easy to find. In the physically demanding early months/years of life with multiples, similar clothing simplifies life. Sometimes it is hard to even think straight let alone pick out 2 or 3 non-clashing outfits during the morning rush.
I do have a few matching outfits and a few similar outfits (same clothing just different colors/patterns, etc.). Most of the time they are not dressed alike. When we do go to open gyms, etc., I dress everyone (including Ben) in the same color or pattern(stripes, etc.) so that I can locate everyone with a glance. I see this practice being phased out over the next 6 months or so, as they develop their own clothing preferences and styles. I don’t believe dressing them alike during the first couple years of their life has affected their individuality. They are as different as different can be. People do not look at them or treat them the same. Even when they are dressed completely differently, people still ask if they are triplets (not because they look anything alike - just because it pretty obvious how similar they are in age).
It’s clearly a personal preference.
“Welcome to Motherhood”
“A Happy Mom is a Happy Baby”
Both statements seems pretty benign. However, one is probably the worst advice/statement someone could say to a new mom. The other can be truly freeing when embraced.
During pregnancy your body can change more than you realize. After my son was born, I was tired. Which of course is usually par for the course. But I was really tired and told a co-worker just how I was feeling. She said “welcome to motherhood”. I did internalize that statement. I figured this was how it was and I wold just have to find a way to cope. I went about my normal day trying desperately to act as if everything was okay. I felt like a walking zombie. I often would have to look in the mirror just to figure out if I was doing what I thought I was doing (i.e. I thought I was holding my son but it was hard to tell). Still not thinking anything was truly wrong and this was just motherhood, just by chance I had a complete physical with blood work. The dr.’s office called immediately with the results, my thyroid had completely stopped functioning. They had never seen a level like this on someone that wasn’t hospitalized. I wept. I was so happy. I wasn’t a complete failure as a new mother (for not adjusting well to motherhood) - something was physically wrong. I spent about 7 months walking around as a zombie. It was truly painful. A little medication changed all of it. So many changes occur to a women’s body during pregnancy. Physical and emotional issues should not be just dismissed as a common occurence that all mothers experience. Talk with your doctor. Get a physical with blood work.
“A Happy Mom is a Happy Baby”
This statement can be absolutely liberating. New mothers often strongly feel that they should sacrifice everything for the health and well-being of their child. Of course, the health and well-being of their children should be their top priority. However, taking care of your child means taking care of you. I’m not going to digress into all the “sleep when they sleep” advice (which never seems to work). Ask for help or allow help to happen. Motherhood is not a contest to see who can sacrifice the most. It doesn’t matter if you have one baby or three babies, infants require a lot of time and attention. It can be physically and emotionally draining. New moms often go without showers and eating in the early weeks. But if you embrace the “happy mom/happy baby” advice, you can find a way to take that shower, brush your teeth, and eat a meal every day (if not three meals). It’s for your well being and the babies as well.
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