Susan Fitch, Potty training my special needs daughter.

I have been dreading this post.
Mostly because I dread potty training, and with this child it's been at least a 7 year project so far. If you recall, last month I explained that my daughter Emma is 9 and has cerebral palsy.  She was nearly potty trained until we moved.  Then she regressed almost entirely. So this month, we kind of started over....again.

Since this is all potty talk, I wont go into a lot of detail.  I'm sure you all appreciate that.  So, in an attempt to be appropriate and not gross, here is the cliff notes version of what I've done this month.

• I have met with her teacher at school to discuss her physical challenges in using the specific facilities that the school has.  We have brainstormed and tried a few different things.  (using a toilet lower to the ground, a potty seat, etc.) 
• We have decided that she seems to have lost the ability to feel whether she is wet or not. So, while trying to increase her awareness in this area, I am also looking for products to help her notice when she goes.  The pull ups that claim to do that don't work for her.  I heard once about a product that will play music when the pull up gets wet, but I don't know what it's called or how to find it. Google has not been helpful yet.
• I have also tried another form of motivation in the form of a potty chart/game.  Since my 4 year old has still been in that potty phase of being 98% trained, I thought it might work to let them encourage each other.  This is the game board I made:

Each time they go potty successfully, they get to move their face one square.  We use hersheys kisses for potty treats, so they get a treat too.  There is a double treats square that they can land on, or one that says surprise treat, where they get a little dollar store toy or some such thing.  The grand prize is a date with Mom & Dad.  I know you are not supposed to do negative or punishment type things so I have never done that before.  But since this is a 'game' I thought I might be able to get away with making them go back a square if I have to change their pull up and still have it be a positive and fun experience.  after all, they can hit the double treat square over and over that way - though I did not point that out to them.
Mary, my 4 year old responded like a champ and is 100% potty trained now. (hooray!)
And while Emma only responded so-so to it all, she's made a small amount of progress both at home and school over the past month.

I must admit that I am discouraged.  I had it in my head that if I could just really really focus on it, we could get back to where we were before we moved.  That did not happen.  I know she can do it. I know she can.  She was so close before! But this process has been going on for so long.  I do feel discouraged, and I don't quite know what to do anymore.  I have prayed and prayed about it, and I firmly believe in the power of combined faith.  So if you all don't think it's too weird - perhaps you wouldn't mind saying a prayer or two for Emma and her potty training.

Her mental capacities are not at all affected by her CP and right now, kids are able (for the most part) to look past her physical disabilities.  But as time goes on, and they get older I think it will become more difficult.  My biggest worry is that she will become 'gross' to them, and that they will be repelled by her despite her sparkling and sweet personality.  It breaks my heart, but I can't help but worry about it....

Anyway, I am pleased to report that I did finally finish January's goal of illustrating my sister's book.  I am just getting it all set up and ready to publish on Blurb.  If you're interested, it's called "Super Sarah" and will be in the blurb bookstore. 

AS FOR NEXT MONTH, I have a two-part goal.  First off, and through the whole month, I'd like to focus on being more consistent with my personal and family scripture study.  But also, I want to do one day - just one day- of being exactly the kind of Mom I want to be.  It will take some planning, but my sister pointed out to me that if you really look at the things you beat yourself up over, they aren't necessarily big or difficult things.  For me it's a matter of preparing for the day the night before, (I'm always to tired and ornery by the end of the day to do that) waking up earlier to take a walk, read scriptures, write in my journal or say coherent prayers.  You know, stuff like that.  Setting a goal to do all that for a month would be way overwhelming for me and I know I'd be setting myself up to fail. But one day is doable.  And I'm curious to see and feel what that one day will feel like. But for the entire month, I'm focusing on the first baby step of that, and making an effort to consistently get in scripture study.