Please someone give me some hope in the middle of this hell that is potty training......

[Washersaurus]

I started potty training DS1 (3.8) when he turned 3 last year. After many months perfecting the art, he finally mastered it and was clean and dry for months.

Over the past two weeks he has totally given up - I have put him back in a washable nappy this afternoon, as he isn't bothering at all in the pull ups (I had resorted to putting him after changing several pairs of pants/trousers AGAIN today) AAAAAAAARGH!

I can't do this anymore...why oh why won't he just use the goddam toilet/potty....AAAAAAARGH!

Holy moly that sounds dreadful - poor you!
I have absolutely no advice to offer as I haven't got there yet myself but could he have a bladder infection or something?

I've just had a similar thing happen with my ds (3.5) after training in September. I think it may have been triggered in his case by picking up on our stress as my grandad has been really ill and passed away recently. But aware it may be just that I'd relaxed abit. I've gone right back to how I started with stickers resulting in a small treat and pants only as i did use pull ups on long journeys just in case. He hasn't had an accident for a few days now. It's just such hard work isn't it!

Oh what a nightmare! Have there been any significant changes to his routine recently?

Not sure if you can, but have you asked him why?

We tried resorting back to stickers as rewards which worked for about a week, before he got bored. I have asked him why he keeps weeing himself and he just says its because he doesn't go to the toilet...

I totally lost my temper last night and felt awful afterwards. We had a chat and I apologised to him this morning; we have agreed he can stay in pull-ups for the time being and that I will leave it up to him to decide to use the toilet. I think we both need a few days for the situation to diffuse a little.

I have requested that he continues using the toilet to poo though

I know I shouldn't get so worked up about it, but potty training has been the one thing (so far) about parenting DS1 that has nearly driven to the edge of my sanity, and it never seems to end