Work at Home Success By Jill Hart
Mom Laughs By Cheryl Moeller
Simplifying Motherhood By Trish Berg
Ask A Twin Mommy By Cheryl Lage
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Parent to Parent By Jodie Lynn
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Making the Most of Marriage By Paula Friedrichsen
Poop Art and Potty Training
May 2004
By Cheryl Lage
QUESTION:
My twins are in the terrible twos. One is potty trained - the other enjoys creating art with fecal matter. Now- I know I just grossed out a bunch of people and I am truly sorry (you have no idea how sorry). This tradition of artistry began with their now 3-year old sister and has apparently become a ritual.
My question is- and yes I have tried everything even duct tape to keep the diaper on- is there any way to expedite the potty training on the second twin? I get giddy at the thought of not watching like a hawk for signs of creativity. As of now I have not pressured her at all and offer her treats as I did her sister. I do not want to turn her off to potty training. Twins are so different than singletons! Any hints or suggestions?
ANSWER:
You are too funny! (And your situation all too familiar!)
Before I can answer your question fully, are you in the process of potty training your little artist? Or have you trained the first, and now the poo fascination has caused a delay in training twin #2?
If you really haven't started potty training the creative girl, and really just want to keep her refuse "contained" for now, have you tried snap-crotch shirts? Duct tape would have been no challenge for our girl either. As long as she could adequately "reach" the challenge, it was surmountable. However, our abstract expressionist did her best work pre-potty training...so your situation may be different.
If you are indeed trying to get your artist to use the potty, then you certainly don't want to add to the encumbrance of a snap-crotch shirt and potentially miss that "window" of success time in getting to the potty!
Here is what I would try (you can take it or leave it!):
At age two, and especially since you reference the adjective "terrible", I assume you have some type of disciplinary consequences that you impose on "no-no's".
Fecal art would be declared a "no-no", and would be punishable by law...but only AFTER I had warned her of the new sheriff in town! ;)
I'd pull her aside, and explain that poo-poo is not a crayon, paint, or marker, and that playing with poo-poo is a "no-no" . Explain to her carefully if she does it again, she'll go in "time-out" or whatever is effective in your house. If she does poo play again, stick by your word. Repeat offenses? Same corrective response (maybe intensified, eg longer in time-out) each and every time. My thought is, she'll catch on quickly if the right privilege is revoked.
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If you are potty-training your little Frida Kahlo, you should explain that poo-poo goes in the potty, or a diaper. But I would try to clarify that the poo-play and potty-process are distinctly separate activities...one is something babies do, the other something big girls do.....even though poo is an active participant in both!
Expediting potty-training? Despite my ever-positive attitude, I don't think there is any way to speed the process. It's a test of commitment and patience on the part of parents! (Do check out my article posted on the Christian-Mommies.com site on potty-training twins for a more developed explanation of my potty perspective)
Even if the potty training can't be expedited, I strongly believe that the doo-doo artworks are an act that can & should be isolated from the potty process. At two, I think your Picasso will understand!
Heck, maybe even offer some "real" art supplies as a dangled carrot once she masters the potty for a week or more! (Heaven forbid we limit true creativity just because she's working in the wrong medium! ;) )
Wishing you quick resolution, and a cleaner household!
Feel free to contact me with your experiences in twin potty-training, or with any twin parenting dilemnas you may have at http://www.twinsights.com. I hope to hear from you!
© Cheryl Lage, 2004-
Author of "Twinspiration: Real-Life Advice From Pregnancy Through the First Year" from Taylor Trade Publishing (2006), Cheryl is a fully-mobile, full-time mom to four-year-old fraternal twins, Darren and Sarah. Cheryl's unabashed honesty, vigilantly supportive style, and willingness to share "what works" have made her a requested speaker on a broad range of topics, twin-related, and otherwise. Check out her website @ twinsights.com.