Toilet learning

Toilet training, toilet learning, potty training, potty learning.. and throw in elimination communication, we can safely say that children urination and defecation is a source of major stress for their parents. For the unmarried or children-less, I can understand your disgust for bird poo on your windscreen (especially the loose, diarrhea-y type), lizard poo on your dining table or dog poo in your back yard. I was just like you. I went to Niah Cave years ago and literally tiptoed the whole way because of layer upon layer upon layer of swiflet poos.

Now with two kids, let's just say that I walk sure-footed on bird poo (not dog poo yet though).

Ok, let the confession begins. My 3 years 8 months son is not yet fully toilet trained, or toilet learnt, if you like. He still wears diapers during bedtime. He just recently go without diapers in his afternoon naps but accidents still happen from time to time. And the most frustrating thing is, he only poops in diapers. He complies if we ask him to use the toilet for the big biz but "Cannot, nothing comes out", he cries.

I hardened my heart and refused to put diapers for him when he wanted to poo, hoping that the urge would make him defecate in the toilet. No luck,  he would just hold and be constipated until "explosion" (in diaper, at night, sigh) happened a few days later.

I'm at my wit's end. I don't know how other kids do it. Their parents must have some superpower or something. You guys are really awesome! Can you train my son?

(Photo credit: a fellow mom who has a fully-toilet-trained 2 year-old daughter. You rock!)