Ahhhh, how life is bittersweet to see your little babies grow up up up up up with or without you.
Monday night we decided that Owen was ready. Ready for what? For going to school in Underwear. He'd been doing 99% fine at home wearing undies, that we said, you know what, let's do it. It also didn't hurt that we were about to buy him a baseball glove, but had the ingenious idea to use that as a reward: The first full day you can go at school without having an accident, we will buy you your very own baseball glove.
So Tuesday morning, we woke up and I proceeded to dress him up in his underwear ... actually following thru with a plan, I couldn't believe it. He went on the potty in the morning, before school and I reminded him of his goal - the first day at school w/no accidents and he could get his own glove. "My own glub, mama?" Yes, Owen, your own glove. "A big one?" Yes, honey, whichever one you want, as long as you stay dry at school today.
Keep reading for the results
So I rode my bike over to pick him up that day. I walk in and his teacher is there and she says "Owen did good all day ..." and I said, "Except ....." just waiting for it. But there was no except! She said, NO! He did good ALL Day! And then my little guy comes running out in the same clothes I sent him to school in. !!!!! He went the entire day w/no accidents. He got two prizes from his teachers for doing so well. So he was already thrilled by the first presents, he was over the moon when he saw we could ride home from school on a bike. Now *that's* fun. Although I was pretty out of shape that day and he kept yelling at me from the back, like a jockey does to his racehorse, "faster, mama!" Oh dear.
Anyway, Ryan got home from work and Owen barely let us eat dinner, but we did go out to Target to buy his glove. (I so did not expect to be buying that thing on the first day.) He picked it out. Only 9.99 and it's a cute little thing. Green/black camo. Glad he didn't go for the pink camo one this time. But he did have his eye on a pink and white baseball. I told him that if he could go this whole week w/out making an accident, we'd swing by and pick up a two pack of baseballs (both white) before Hailey's party on Saturday.
Another quick story about this - I picked him up a smidgeon early on Wednesday and he was in a different room. So the teacher and owner are like, wait a minute, he was just here. We look into the bathroom and little mister has taken off his shorts and underwear and climbed up onto the toilet (they are much shorter there) and peed all by himself. When he saw that we found him and were just floored by his ease with going to the bathroom by himself, he was soooooo pleased with himself. We swung by my friend Paulette's house after work to say hi and we were sitting outside. She had bought some sushi (cooked salmon rolls) and he would run inside and grab one to eat it (I can't believe my kid likes sushi rolls) (Heck, I'm just thrilled he's eating anything) every now and then. One time he ran inside and didn't come out within 20 seconds, so I went to look for him, and he was in the bathroom, pulling down his pants and underwear. The toilet is way too high for him to climb on, so I offered to help him, but he wanted to be Mr. Independent and do things his own pay. Point is, he went straight to the bathroom and didn't even let me know he had to go. He was SO SO proud of himself.
So anyway, it's been several days now, with no accidents (knock on wood) and I'm going to have to buy him some baseballs. I'm just proud of my little guy.
Oh, and another thing - we do put him in diapers when he goes to bed at night, because I don't expect him to hold it in all night. He has woken up the past four mornings DRY. Maybe he really is ready for this. Lord knows I was! :) So about 2 and a half years for us to move totally to underwear.
