Just like the title says. I feel like I can't handle my son and it's driving me to consider something self-destructive just from the frustration.
My son (almost 4 in 5 days) refuses to potty train. We've done so much: The weekend without pull-ups, going entirely without them at all, stickers, prizes.
I'm considering calling a specialist because he is actively holding his pee and poop until he can't. We go to the potty on a schedule, I give time-limit warnings so he's not feeling like I just sprung it up on him, bringing in a book, bringing in a toy, letting the toy "go potty". I don't know what to do anymore. He's driving me insane at this point. I feel like I can't talk to anyone about this or they'll condemn me or make me feel like I'm a failure. My husband is deployed and I've tricked myself into thinking that maybe he'll finally be proud of me about something if I can get this kid potty trained before it's time to sign him up for pre-school, but my son is fighting me every step of the way. I'm losing sleep over it, I'm constantly cleaning messes and taking away toys and privileges, but it's like he doesn't understand why I'm doing it. I tell him, "no games today because you refuse to potty like a big boy", and he just laughs in my face.
I don't know what to do anymore, and I'm crying as I type this out now because I'm seeing all the other kids in our neighborhood and I'm wondering, "Why isn't my child normal, too?" I hate thinking this way, and I don't know what to do anymore. Please, if anyone has advice or something, please give it to me. Please, don't kick me while I'm already down.