Becoming a parent has been one of my proudest achievements, but it has also tested my patience and resolve more times than I can count. Potty training was one of those challenges that I thought would be a walk in the park. After all, every other toddler seems to be getting rave reviews on social media for their potty prowess.
When my daughter turned 2½, we casually broached the topic of potty training. It was all laid-back conversation—no pressure, just a gentle introduction. She would sit on the potty occasionally, but there were no successes to speak of. I had heard the age-old saying, “One day it’ll just click,” so I waited for that magical moment.
As her third birthday approached, I began to doubt myself when she still showed little interest in the potty. Anxiety crept in, and I started wondering if I should be doing more. I revisited my initial strategy:
- Discuss the potty
- Read potty-themed books
- Invest in an overpriced potty chair
- Stock up on character underwear
We had enough superhero-themed underwear to decorate a small room. There was no way my kid wasn’t going to conquer potty training. But then, she didn’t.
After months of anticipation with no breakthrough, I took matters into my own hands. Like any slightly neurotic mom, I turned to the internet for advice. The “Potty Train Your Child in 3 Days” method popped up as the top search result, with numerous testimonials claiming miraculous success. Three days? Really? I had been trying for months!
I read glowing reviews from parents who swore by this method. “Little Timmy was a lost cause until we tried the 3-day approach. By the end of day two, he was ready for Harvard Law!” I was sold.
The plan was simple: cover your furniture in plastic, put your child in underwear, and take them to the potty every 20 minutes. Set a timer, grab a bag of Smarties, and voilà! No way this could fail. For two solid days, I took my daughter to the bathroom every 20 minutes, which added up to around 70 trips. And out of those 70 attempts? Zero successes. I ended up tossing my living room rug and even had to get my dog some anxiety meds. It was chaos.
By the end of day two, I threw in the towel and poured myself a glass of wine. I called my friend, recounting the drama of the previous days. She laughed—one of those “bless your heart” chuckles—and advised me to put my daughter back in diapers and stop stressing. “She won’t be wearing diapers in kindergarten, I promise,” she said, and she usually had sound advice.
Taking her words to heart, I put my kid back in a diaper and let go of my fixation on her potty habits. A month passed with no mention of the potty, until one day she asked about it. I told her she could use it whenever she felt ready. To my surprise, she replied, “Okay, I want to use it now.”
I braced myself for the inevitable mess as I helped her into a pair of Anna and Elsa underwear. To my astonishment, she walked into the bathroom and used the potty like a champ. I could hardly believe it! From that day forward, she was fully potty trained. I swear on a stack of Eric Carle books, that’s the honest truth.
Fast-forward a few years, and I now have one potty-trained superstar and a diaper-wearing 2-year-old. I have another chance to redeem myself in the potty training department, but this time, I’m ditching rigid plans and unrealistic expectations. I’m letting my son take the lead. He’s shown some interest in the potty, which is great, but I’m okay with him staying in diapers for a while longer. I haven’t bought any character underwear, nor do I plan to anytime soon. I trust that when he’s ready, he’ll let me know, and I’ll celebrate every successful tinkle along the way.
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Summary
Potty training can be a challenging yet humorous journey for parents. My experience taught me that every child is different, and sometimes, letting go of expectations is the key to success. With patience and understanding, your little one will figure it out when they’re ready.
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