After months of meticulous planning, endless motivation sessions, and countless readings of quirky lift-the-flap books with delightful flushing sounds, it seems my son is finally making strides in his potty training journey. We’ve navigated through tears, spent over $20 on cute little boy underwear that somehow ended up in the trash instead of the laundry, and dealt with all kinds of accidents—some genuinely accidental, and others, well, let’s just say they were intentional.
At this point, I’m cautiously hopeful that we’ve cracked the code of “urge = big boy chair.” My son now dashes to the bathroom when the urge strikes, following the basic steps of independent toileting, which is quite the milestone.
However, we’re grappling with one major hurdle: technique and execution. Imagine the perfect free-throw form at the championship game with only half a second left on the clock—only in our case, there’s no perfect form, and he never wins the game. We’ve experienced nothing but air balls. “Sorry kid, you’re benched for the season,” I often tell him. “No offense, but you need a little more practice!”
The amusing part is that he’s determined to replicate the “stand up routine” just like his dad. It’s adorable, but he just doesn’t have the height or the balance to pull it off successfully. If only he would consider sitting on the potty designed specifically for his small stature—an investment of forty bucks that remains clean and unused beside the toilet. Ironically, it’s the only thing in the bathroom that doesn’t get showered with his “weapon of mass destruction.”
Teaching aim? That’s a challenge for me. As a woman, I’m accustomed to the seated approach, where the chaos is contained. I wipe everything down and move on with my day. Quite frankly, the standing method seems inefficient at best. The pee never quite makes it where it should, and honestly, I’d prefer if the men in my life found a tree in the yard instead of making me reach for my rubber gloves and disinfectant wipes yet again. “Sorry, neighbors, but you can deal with that mess now!”
We’ve tried various tactics, and I must give my husband credit for his brilliant “target practice” idea. He suggested tossing something into the toilet as a target, whether it’s a piece of toilet paper, a cheerio, or even a marshmallow, and cheering, “Hit it!” But alas, it’s like directing a fire hose with no one behind it to guide the flow. “The house is burning down! Redirect!” I joke. My son may never be a fireman, but who knows? Perhaps he’ll turn into a famous abstract artist known for his splashes of color!
At the end of the day, I’ll be proud of my son, no matter what he becomes—unless he turns out to be one of those guys who can’t be bothered to lift the seat or clean up after himself. Then all bets are off!
If you’re interested in more parenting insights, check out this article from our blog. For those considering the at-home insemination journey, this reputable online retailer offers excellent syringe kits that make the process smoother. For further resources on pregnancy and home insemination, you might find this blog helpful.
In summary, potty training is undoubtedly a journey filled with humor, challenges, and a whole lot of mess, but with patience and creativity, we’ll get through it together!
Leave a Reply