Potty Training Blues

Every parent faces challenges with their young...which I am now convinced is why some species actually eat their young! It's all starting to make sense to me now! I try to convince myself that my challenges are no better nor worse than anyone else's...but some days are harder than others! Take for instance this whole potty training issue...a battle I imagined having been won long before now! I always said I didn't mind diapers...and I still don't, however I do have a limit as to the number of consecutive years one should have to change them per child!!! I am fast exceeding mine!

When he was 1 I thought sometime while he was 2 he'd be out of diapers...that was just an unrealistic dream! Then as I watched him turn 2 I figured by his 3rd birthday for sure we would have this mastered....still a nice dream! Now we are approaching 4 and still no sign of him using the potty. However, I set a goal of no more than 4 ~ at 4 he HAS to be trained....doesn't he?! I guess there is no official age limit according to the rest of the world, however I have one and have arbitrarily picked 4. Ok it's not that arbitrary at this point, more a process of elimination! (nice segway there hey?!) If he's not potty trained at 4 he's moving out, or I am!

He will use it at bath time just before getting into the tub, but that is the only time so far. He still refuses at each diaper change when offered and won't tell me when he has to go. They say they will start feeling uncomfortable at some point and ask you to change them. Really? At what age does that happen, cuz I'm still waiting!!!

I have tried everything to intice him to use the potty on his own. I have sat with him and read stories and offered candy. I upped the ante and took him shopping to pick out a huge poster board of his choosing (red) and hung it up on the bathroom door with a title that reads Harrison's Big Boy Potty Chart (although he can't read so I guess that doesn't help any does it!?) and told him he gets to put up a sticker every time he uses the potty. He continued to show little interest and is strangely attached to his diapers, which is weird for a couple of reasons: 1) being that it's a strange thing to be attached to: 2) he's never formed an attachment to any security object ever, including a bottle (which he never would take!) his thumb, a soother, a blankie or a stuffed toy, so why diapers?! I resorted to the full out bribe and dragged him to the dollar store to pick a basket full of toys that he loves, and now gets to pick a toy, but only when he comes to me to tell me he has to go. He has only put up 3 stickers and all the toys remain in the basket untouched!!!

I realized I had a real problem the other day, when he had clearly pooped but refused to admit it, and my mom told him to go and get a new diaper ~ meaning of course go and fetch a new diaper and take it to your mom, who will then change you. Well he went into his room and didn't come out, so I went in looking for him, and what do you suppose I found?! Harrison laying on the floor, with his diaper off, poop everywhere, all the wipes pulled out of the tub and him attempting to change his own diaper!!!! You could imagine my frustration as I sat there looking at him thinking....you can change your own diaper but you can't use the potty?!

PS I am reserving the comments section for this one for any advice any of you may have to help me along! I have tried everything and nothing seems to be working...so whatever tidbits you have to offer I'm willing to try! If you don't have any good old-fashioned advice, then simply moral support will do!!!