Mommy went with her instincts and gave milk, chocolate milk, water bottles, juice boxes and their regular water/juice cups. And, then just put them on the potty every 30 minutes. And, well, there have been some successes with both- Clara's peed four time and had two accidents. Emma's peed twice and had one accident. They both get very excited! They each say things like "oh, I hear it" or "I did it." They light up with huge smiles too. M&Ms and stickers are helping and Mommy promised a party.
When Daddy got home, Mommy went out and got some pull ups, more underwear, stickers and presents. For the first night, Clara and Emma got a Snow White and Cinderella doll- they are little figurines and they love changing their outfits- they each came with an extra set of clothes.
Day 2, the girls got up and asked for their princess dolls right away. Mommy and Daddy (now back on Saturdays post tax season) put the kids on their pottys. And, then put their underwear on. The underwear is exciting because Mommy made sure to get Dora, Minnie and even Gabba. Mommy and Daddy took the ladies for their first outing. Mommy got the bag packed and put a towel on their car seats. The destination was Lakeshore Learning, close to the house and hosting an event around Earth Day where the kids could color bags and plant seeds in a cup that they could take home and watch grow. When the car pulled in to the parking lot, Clara announced she needed to pee, so Mommy took her to the public restroom and put the portable potty seat down and she did it! Of course, Mommy made a big deal! And, then Emma tried but didn't go. After the activity, the gals tried one more time to go and didn't need to. Daddy had to take them in the men's room- a first for him- because the other restroom was closed.
Mommy had to head out in the afternoon to drop off and set up stuff for the twin sale. And, Mommy came home to see that the ladies were dry and doing well! For their present, they got Kai Lan bubbles.
Today, Mommy had to be at the Lower Westchester Mothers of Multiples tag sale to volunteer, so Daddy was with the ladies. Emma actually made her first poop in the potty! With Daddy, the kids had a few accidents and Mommy went to get some more underwear- and found Kai Lan, and Fancy Nancy! Anything to get them to be excited.
When the kids woke up from their nap, it was straight to the potty and to take off the pull up and put on the underwear. Emma peed, Clara didn't. Daddy wanted to go to Best Buy, so off the gang went, packed with extra underwear, pants, socks, paper towels and of course, the pink/purple potty travel seat. Mommy tried to get Clara to go again before leaving and she sat on the potty, but didn't go. At Best Buy, the first thing Mommy did was find the bathroom and took the ladies in. Emma went on the potty, with the travel seat- her first time! And, Clara sat and didn't go. They downed a chocolate milk while playing Guitar Hero- their favorite activity at Best Buy. Before leaving, it was off to the potty. Emma didn't go, but Clara did. Good news- both went on the potty out of the house!
After a short trip home, Mommy made Clara and Emma sit again. Emma went and got her M&M. Clara didn't go but both kept drinking. Before dinner, Mommy and Daddy made them sit and they went. Before bedtime, one last trip and both kids went to the potty. Both were very excited to pick up the seat and bring it to the toilet, dump it in a flush. Tonight's present was little truck sand toys. Yes, Mommy feels like it is Hanukkah or something, but it is working. Mommy does question when the present giving/chocolate bribing will end, but for now, it is okay.
Three days in and it feels like progress is being made. Bribery by chocolate and presents, but they are going on the potty! And, they've been out twice and gone on the potty in a public restroom. They are still getting the "telling Mommy and Daddy that they have to go" part and it is mostly still making them sit down, but it is getting quicker- now they sit and if they have to go, they go right away, vs just sitting and waiting.
The next few days with ballet class and school in the mix should be a good test to see how it is going. There is no turning back.
All in all, so far so good. Life has changed.
