Three day potty training. Again.

Sometimes when I don’t write, it’s because I am busy.

Confession: I am of the opinion that a woman should have at least a year or two to recover from one potty training experience before launching into the next.

But that is not how it happened in the Zook household.

A mere half year ago, we potty trained Jenny with our now-famous three-day Jensen method, an experience from which I developed PTSD and a noticeable eye twitch. She was our most compliant child, and since we had already potty trained twins with the same method, I thought Jenny would be a piece of cake.

Let’s just say there was no cake involved in that story.

But now, with bio family applying pressure to get potty training for Small Son underway, and the 2^nd birthday coming up soon, we looked over our schedule and said NOW. We have three free days, let’s do this thing.

Only I could have timed our training to coincide exactly with

1. The first three days of summer vacation – more kids, less time
2. An ear infection in the child being potty trained (again!)…
3. The antibiotics for which he reacted to, with a flaming diaper rash…
4. Which led to a hasty doctor appointment during training
5. Five routine dental visits
6. A dinner invitation (outdoor, so we went)
7. Intense personal stress from a situation I don’t want to discuss
8. Landing briefly on the hot seat in the fostering department because we failed to reschedule a visit someone else cancelled
9. A craft project I promised to beta test for a friend
10. An overnight stay in a sleep clinic on Day Four

No, I am not joking. And no, he did not once soil the clinic’s bedding. This child, whom I was sure would not get it, was a boss at training, and rebuilt my faith in the method. (But FYI – I still hate it. I’ve potty trained seven children so far, four with this method, and so help me if I ever do it again.)

The three-day program involves throwing away all the diapers, launching straight into underwear, serving lots of beverages, and using the frequent accidents as positive training on rushing to the bathroom. YOU MUST CATCH EVERY ACCIDENT AS IT HAPPENS.

Well, guess where Shari Zook was during her son’s first two accidents? On the phone with medical providers, trying to sort out the antibiotic complications.

But he learned!!

And now the Zook home is officially diaper free!!!*

Hurray!!!!

* Though we’re still addicted to other things, like coffee and sleep and random potty accidents. And chocolate. And yelling. And exclamation points.

Here is the e-book that we use. Yes, that was an affiliate link. The method is not as surefire guaranteed as the author insists, but it is a great method, and she will teach you everything you need to know about potty training!