Spotlight on Hope: Overcoming What Feels Impossible

contributed by Sheri Mills

Potty training…It’s a big milestone, and one that is hard for our kids.

We started at 2, and Lyra just couldn’t “feel” to let go or even that her bladder was full. That’s low muscle tone for you. We stopped and came back to it again at three. We found the same issue. We stopped and came back to it at four. You guessed it! Stopped and came back to it at five. This time with the help of our private occupational therapist, who helped Lyra by pictures and actions. “This week we are just going to sit on the potty, with clothes on.” The next week, we’d try something else. It also didn’t stick. So, we stopped again. All these times were not a waste though. They all helped Lyra build a foundation. She just wasn’t ready.

We also struggled with her wanting to do other milestones first. If there is one thing I know, it’s that she can only truly focus on one thing at a time. We couldn’t do potty training and advances in her speech. So, we pushed it off. Sure we wanted her potty trained, but we wanted her to communicate with us more.

Then at six, we heard about a potty parent lead trial led by a grad student working with Dr. Kasey Bedard, BCBA. We’ve done parent led trials with Dr. Bedard for ABA and repetitive asking. We signed up! But we needed Lyra’s verbal consent. Something that didn’t come easily. So we hung it up for a few months, and talked about it more openly at home.

Suddenly it all clicked. Seriously, she was just ready. There was nothing I could have done before that would have made her consent sooner. That’s also the thing about our kids. They are stubborn, and do things when they are ready. Here’s the other thing… the milestones are always hit. It’s just on their own time.

In 31 days, she was potty trained!

I’m sharing that the program is amazing. I’m sharing that pushing doesn’t always help. I’m sharing that milestones always happen.

Hope.

We just have to hope someday it happens.
It always does!

Now the student is the teacher! Teaching her baby dolls how to go.

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