- Before using this book. You have tried potty training in any way, shape, or form,
and you have a disaster on your hands. Or even just a hot mess. So you heard from
a friend about my book and you ran to the computer to buy it. You are gung-ho to
start, but you have this writhing mess on your hands. RESET. - After getting this book and giving a really solid effort. Either your child never got it
or got it and her behavior suddenly flipped and she’s crazy every time you mention
the potty. Also looks like a hot mess, and you cannot figure out what happened.
RESET.
The Reset should never be used with a child over three. If you
refer to chapter 15, “Younger Than Twenty Months, Older Than
Three Years,” you will see that any child over three who’s “not
getting it” is most likely showing behavior, not a glitch in learning.
The reasoning behind the Reset is this: first and foremost, it gives
you and your household a big breather. We need you sane to be
effective. If you are crying over potty training, there’s just no way you
are going to able to keep firm and consistent. You will slip into
bribery and negotiation. I know this. Much like a torturer, your
toddler will break you. And you’ll be all over the map, which sends
the signal that you are not in control. If you are not in control, your
child is. And that’s unsafe for your child.
The other thing the Reset does is it gives your child a chance to
collect himself with a status quo he knows (diapers). Potty training is
a lot to learn. But if he is resisting you, he is stuck in a rut. Much as
during a tantrum, nothing can be learned from this place. (You ever
try to reason with a tantrumming toddler? Yeah . . . right?). If your
child is stuck in a rut, there’s really no point in continuing. The days
where there are fights are not days that count toward good potty
training. Nothing was learned.
Finally, the Reset lets your toddler “win” a little bit, which is a