Potty Training
The time has come for our little one to take a rite of passage. He and or she were once an infant, then a baby, and now a toddler. The time of being a toddler is exciting with crawling, walking, and climbing on the horizon to learning to use a potty and becoming a young child.
This week, instead of handing off to you my best Potty Training tips, I'd like to simply offer my support.
This is me, Lauren. I've been peed on, pooped on, and had princess underpants thrown at me. I've scrubbed wee out of my cousin's carpet. I still keep embarassingly meticulous track of how much koolaid my toddler drinks before we got out in public. I've done emergency laundry loads because my child soaked 7 pairs of undies in one day. I've danced my hiney off at more Potty Parties than I can count and cleaned confetti out of the bathroom sink. And the first thing I did when we got to Disneyland was find every bathroom on the park map and burn their locations into my memory.
I'm the mom of two spirited children, each who have had potty training triumphs and challenges. I know what you're going through! I know how daunting the job is and I know how depressing it can be to turn your life temporarily inside out to spend hours and hours sitting on your bathroom floor.
But I also know that Potty Training is important. VERY important. Not just because you don't want to change a 15 yr. old's diapers, but because this is the first major step your child takes towards independence and you are their guide. Your patience, compassion, persistence and love are important. Your confidence in your child (and in yourself) is important.
So don't give up and don't despair! When you step in yet another puddle just inches from the toilet, know that I (and many mothers like me) have done the same. Look to others who have been through the potty training years and lived to tell about it. Laugh at their stories, learn from their experiences and let their support help you and your little one navigate this necessary and ultimately rewarding task.
We're loading up the ol' minivan next week and taking a road trip! I'm very excited, but also a bit anxious. I can almost guarantee that no matter how many pitstops we make, the words "I need to go potty!" will not be spoken until we are diriving through the middle of the desert, with no restroom in a hundred mile radius. That's just how my kids roll.
I'm a firm believer that knowledge is power, especially when it comes to parenting! So before you throw yourself head-long into the wonderful world of potty training, let me suggest that you properly prepare yourself by hitting the books.
Read more: Great Books to Prepare Yourself for Potty Training
Have you ever heard the saying "If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy?" I think it's more true than we sometimes realize. The influence our attitudes have over our child's emotions is powerful and can have long-lasting effects.
Read more: Positive Potty Training Means Put On a Happy Face
The day my little boy said goodbye to diapers was a proud moment for all of us. It was a glorious feeling of freedom and empowerment for my husband and I as we packed away our Desitin and unrolled the Elmo undies. He was ready, we were ready, it just felt right. There was cheering and high-fiving, even a few happy tears.
Read more: Choosing the Right Training Potty - Because It Matters!
