The Art of Potty Training Bargaining and Bribery

What once began life as a simple M&M is now referred to as a “potty bean” and no visit to the potty would be complete without a poo poo toy surprise just waiting to be unwrapped. Yes, we parents have bartered, begged and pleaded with our little ones to comply with our requests by sitting down upon that shiny white throne we called “Mr. Potty”.   It’s a simple task really, or is it?  At least that’s how we as parents see it. 

For our children it is a different matter entirely.  Mr. Potty doesn’t look and sound too friendly with his wide gaping mouth just waiting to swallow them up.  Just the sound of that royal flush can send a child screaming in the opposite direction.  It can be a daunting and challenging feat for kids to say the least.  It’s nothing though that a little time, patience, love and constant supply of never-ending treats can’t fix.   What works for one child, might not work for the next.  Hone in on what works for your child and add a sprinkling of praise and admiration.  This will get you halfway to achieving the next step to toddler independence and your potty rock star will emerge victorious.    

A tiresome process, we trudge our children faithfully to the great white bowl of beyond filled with disappointment and a host of empty promises.  We become one with the actual flush lever and can relate to its exhaustive effort in flushing what it is not there.  You begin to ask yourself how many false alarms we can handle in one day.

Placing them upon the cold hard seat of doom and telling them to do their bodily business is about as effective as a sensor powered toilet that won’t flush automatically even after you wave your hind parts in front of it to get it inspired and motivated about the project at hand. 

At this point, you stand a better chance of success by breaking out the big guns of brightly colored toy packages, bobbles, stickers, snacks and whatever else you can find out of sheer desperation.  This is referred to as the bargaining and bribery stage.  It’s a place where a series of strategic moves are played out between mother and child.  Some might say it’s a tactical rule based system that affords the exchange of goods between you and your little prince or princess.  In the land of Mommy Hood and Sir Pottiness it can be viewed as an evil and corrupt bargaining chip between the two parties involved.

So I say “Parents don’t be afraid, raise your goody bags high and present them with pride in the face of adversity. Relax, it’s not like your setting up a framework of successive paying bribes for the rest of their lives and with no uncertainty I can surely say you won’t scar them for life.