Potty training is one of those parenting milestones that feels more like a necessary evil than a joyous occasion. Sure, the idea of eliminating diaper expenses and the hassle of constant changes is appealing, but the reality can be quite daunting. We kicked off potty training with our first child, Mia, at just 18 months, thinking we’d get ahead of the game. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t until she was nearly 3 that she was fully trained. That year and a half felt like a never-ending nightmare, and I’m pretty sure I still have some lingering trauma from the experience.
Now, with my second child, Leo, at the age of 2, you’d assume I’d be eager to introduce him to the potty. But in reality, I’m avoiding this rite of passage like the plague. Here are my top reasons:
- It’s Disgusting. Any parent who’s been through it knows what I’m talking about. You’ll end up cleaning messes that you never thought you’d have to deal with, and some things will haunt you forever.
- Pee Cleanup Never Ends. Once Leo is trained, I’ll still have to clean up after him for years to come. I’m not exactly thrilled at the idea of dealing with that added mess.
- Wiping Is a Chore. Even post-potty training, there are still countless years of wiping little behinds. Sure, I can teach him to do it himself, but let’s be honest: it’s a game of poop stain roulette.
- Life Can’t Pause Every 20 Minutes. Diapers may be pricey, but they are infinitely more convenient during outings. Without them, our trips become a scavenger hunt for the nearest restroom, complete with frantic dashes and panic.
- Public Restrooms Are a Nightmare. Trying to maneuver into a stall with two kids is like a contortionist act. I’m just praying one doesn’t touch anything while I help the other. And let’s not even talk about the trauma from automatic flushers.
- Flushing Phobias or Fascination. Mia is terrified of the toilet flushing and will let her business sit until someone else comes along. Meanwhile, some kids are so enamored with the flush that they experiment by trying to flush all sorts of things. There are no winners in this scenario.
- Reward Expectations Skyrocket. Once you start rewarding your child for using the potty, you open the floodgates for a tiny monster that expects praise for every little thing. No matter what you offer them, they’ll want more.
- Laundry Mountain Grows Taller. I can’t think of anything worse than adding to the piles of laundry, especially when it’s all soiled. No thanks!
- Sleep Deprivation Is Real. If potty training only happened during the day, life would be simpler. But ditching nighttime pull-ups means either waking up for bathroom trips or cleaning up the aftermath of accidents. Just thinking about it makes me want to curl up in a ball.
- Toddler Life is Already Chaotic. Tasks that should be simple, like getting dressed or eating, are already a challenge with a toddler. I can’t imagine the added stress of coaxing them to the bathroom too — I’d likely need a glass of wine just to cope!
So while others may judge me for having Leo in diapers, I’m not ready to hit pause on our lives for potty training just yet. I have faith we’ll figure it out before kindergarten, but for now, I simply lack the time and patience for this endeavor.
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In summary, potty training can wait while I focus on surviving the daily chaos of parenting. One day at a time is my mantra, and I trust we’ll get there eventually.
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