Here is Chapter 3 of "Training" I hope you all enjoy this chapter! Please review.
The three soon arrived at Charlie's.
"Is Mommy going to bring my new potty in?" asked Jesse.
"Mommy won't be able to open the box until we get home." Declan told Jesse.
Amanda smiled.
"I know you aren't going to have an accident." said Amanda, so I'm not going to bring it in because it won't be easy to open it without a scissor."
"Okay." said Jesse.
They went inside the restaurant.
Jesse sat in a booster seat, and she ordered a glass of tropical juice, and spaghetti and meatballs off the kids menu, all by herself.
"We are so proud of you, Jesse." said Amanda. "You are growing up so fast, and now that we are going to potty train you so you can go to preschool, we are even more proud of you."
"You wanna be a big girl like Mommy?" Declan asked.
Jesse smiled and nodded her head yes.
Soon, the food came out, and everyone ate.
But soon, Jesse was talking about how she would really like to go to preschool and play with other kids besides Noah.
"Noah is a little older than you, Jesse." said Amanda, "but there are tons of kids your age that you can begin playing with at preschool, and make friends with."
"And invite to my birthday parties?" asked Jesse.
Declan and Amanda laughed.
"Kids grow up so fast." said Declan, kissing his wife Amanda on the cheek and rubbing her pregnant belly.
"I so can't wait to start a family." said Amanda sweetly to her husband. "One just ain't enough for us."
As the three ate, Jesse suddenly felt the urge to use the bathroom.
"Sweetie, do you need to use the bathroom?" asked Amanda.
"No, Mommy." replied Jesse.
"Are you sure?" Amanda asked.
But Jesse really did have to use the bathroom, and this unfortunately led to an accident.
Amanda took Jesse into the bathroom, placed Jesse on a changing table, and changed Jesse's diaper. Her diaper was only wet. Amanda realized that if Jesse wasn't potty trained before the new baby was born, she would have two babies in diapers. Jesse won't be able to go to preschool if she wasn't potty trained.
"Sooner than later, you'll be using the potty all by yourself." said Amanda. "Then, you won't have any more accidents."
"Really, Mommy?" asked Jesse.
"Yes, so that you can be a big girl." said Jesse. "Now, let's finish up our meal, so we can get desert."
Jesse loved desert.
In fact, while Declan and Amanda treated themselves to a nice piece of strawberry shortcake, Jesse ordered a brownie sundae.
Soon, it was time to head back home.
While walking to the car, Amanda ran into their neighbor Candace.
"Hi, Amanda." said Candace. "When are we having book club again?"
"Soon." said Amanda. "I'm pregnant, remember?"
"Is it going to be a boy or girl?" asked Candace.
"Not sure yet. I'm going for an ultrasound in a few days."
Candace noticed the potty in the back seat of the car.
"Are you potty-training Jesse?" she asked.
"I'm sure am." said Amanda. "My friend Olivia from the Special Victims Unit is helping me too."
"That's good." said Candace. "I got to run, see you later."
"Bye." said Amanda.
Then, Amanda got into the car, and they drove back home.
As planned the next morning, Olivia arrived at 10am.
"Busy morning in the SVU?" asked Amanda.
"You bet." said Olivia. "Is Jesse ready to be potty trained?"
"Jesse!" called Amanda. "Liv is here!"
Jesse loved seeing Olivia. In fact, sometimes, Jesse liked to call Olivia "auntie" sometimes.
"Hi, auntie Liv!" said Jesse.
"Sweetie, are you ready to be a big girl and use the potty so that you can go to preschool?" Amanda asked.
"Yes, Mommy." said Jesse.
"That's a good girl." said Amanda. "I just need to run to the bathroom, and then we can get started."
Just then, Amanda had an idea.
"Jesse, why don't you follow Mommy to the bathroom, so you can see what it's sort of like?" suggested Amanda.
"Okay, Mommy." said Jesse.
And so that's what they did.
Olivia brought the potty into the bathroom, and after Amanda was done using the bathroom, she placed the potty on the floor and her new potty seat on the toilet.
"Now what, Mommy?" asked Jesse
"You sit on the potty." said Amanda.
Jesse sat on the potty, but soon, she started getting bored of just sitting down and doing nothing.
She then walked away from the potty.
"Sweetie, did you go?" asked Amanda.
"No, Mommy." replied Jesse. "It's hard to use the potty. I'm bored just sitting there."
Amanda picked up Jesse.
"It's alright, sweetie. It's hard for everyone to use the potty when they begin. But soon, you are going to be a big girl, and be able to use the potty all by yourself." Amanda said.
"I'll try again, Mommy." Jesse said.
Soon, Olivia suggested that they bring the potty training books into the bathroom. Amanda and Jesse went back into the bathroom with the potty training books and Jesse sat back down on the potty. Amanda handed Jesse her favorite book, "Green Eggs and Ham" as she was about to read the potty training book.
"Here, Jesse. There are some days that Mommy reads a book when she has to use the potty." Amanda said as she handed Jesse the book.
"Okay, Mommy." Jesse replied.
"Would you like Mommy to read you the book?" asked Jesse.
"No thank you." said Jesse.
Amanda smiled, and walked away.
About 20 minutes later, Olivia and Amanda were enjoying some tea, when Jesse came in.
"I can't do it, Mommy." said Jesse. "I'm scared."
"But, Jesse, you watched Mommy use the potty." Amanda said.
"You can do it Jesse." said Olivia. "We all know you can."
"But I don't want to use the potty." Jesse said.
"Sweetie, if you can't use the potty, then you can't go to preschool." Amanda explained. "It's very important that we teach you how to use the potty, so we can send you to preschool, and you can be a big girl."
"I don't want to use the potty." said Jesse as she walked away.
Amanda now knew that potty-training Jesse was going to be harder than she thought. She knew that she had to get Jesse excited about potty training so that she can go to preschool like a big girl.
"But, don't you want to be a big girl like Mommy?" Amanda asked.
"Yes, Mommy." Jesse said.
"Then I'll get you excited about potty training so that you'll want to use the potty." Amanda said.
Then, Declan came into the room.
"Time for your nap, Jesse." he said, and brought Jesse into her toddler bed, so she could take a nap.
Olivia suggested that Amanda should make potty training fun.
"Do you have a laptop, Amanda?" asked Olivia.
"Yeah, over here." said Amanda, as she took her laptop out of it's case.
Olivia took the laptop, and did a Google search for "potty training tips"
She came upon a link on a website called Kandoo Kids which had lots of potty training tips and ideas for rewards.
"This is perfect!" said Amanda. "Maybe if we can encourage Jesse a little more to use the potty, then she'll actually start using the potty."
They agreed on using the sticker chart to track Jesse's progress, but they would let Jesse decide what she wanted to earn for using the potty.
Amanda now knew that if they used rewards and motivation, they would be able to potty-train Jesse.