Years back, Brantley participated in an Intensive Behavioral Treatment Program rooted in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy. I vividly recall watching him from behind a two-way mirror as a Registered Behavior Technician worked with him. The Board Certified Behavioral Analyst (BCBA) who took data beside me summed up their defeat and Brantley’s whit when she said "and just like that, Brantley is doing ABA on us."
Yesterday, that same feeling of defeat resurfaced for me after one week of trying to toilet train my clever 8-year-old, who had discovered the correlation between peeing and the reinforcement cookie’s he was receiving. Brantley peed a whopping 52 times in 10 hours yesterday, officially outsmarting us with ABA tactics.
However, today I met with with one of his current BCBA’s and we have turned the tide. We strategized and settled on a new approach: shifting the focus to rewarding dry underwear rather than just peeing. Offering half a mini Oreo for staying dry proved to be the perfect incentive for my clever son.
Today, Brantley only peed 16 times, with just one accident.
Tonight I don’t feel defeat. Instead, I'm filled with pride for my Oreo-motivated little boy, gratitude for the supportive team, and a sense of optimism that Brantley will soon be able to bid diapers a farewell.
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