Potty Training Perspective

One of the challenges of motherhood is trying to determine when your child is “ready” for something. Is she old enough to sleep through the night? Will she choke on these cheerios? Is she old enough to understand the word “no?” Should I start potty training?

Meet Your New Potty

About this time last year, she became very interested in what I was doing each time I went to the bathroom. She would find a place to sit nearby and watch my every move…totally mesmerized. I didn’t know I had such entertainment value 💁‍♀️. Sometimes, she would ask to sit on the potty too.

She seemed too young to start understanding potty training, but we did decide to get her her very own potty. It’s never too early to practice at least sitting on it, right? We would ask her occasionally if she needed to go potty, and sometimes caught a lucky break.

Right around her 2nd birthday, we switched into full-on potty training mode. She caught on really quickly! We had very few accidents that first week…and then she got sick. The kind of sick where she knew what she was supposed to do, but honestly couldn’t control her sweet little body to make it to the potty on time.

Right around her 2nd birthday, we switched into full-on potty training mode. She caught on really quickly! We had very few accidents that first week…and then she got sick. The kind of sick where she knew what she was supposed to do, but honestly couldn’t control her sweet little body to make it to the potty on time.

Once she felt better, it took her a little while to get back in the swing of things, but it’s amazing what an incentive of Tic-Tacs (or M&Ms) will do. We of course had our share of accidents, being caught without a change of clothes, and wet sheets in the morning, but she was still a potty training champ.

The #2 Blues

Our biggest challenge has been those pesky #2’s. I know that’s not uncommon, but sometimes I just want to get in her little mind and be like “you know what it feels like and what you need to do…why didn’t you say something?!” Without making you think this post is giving out TMI, she has a certain face she makes that totally gives her away. When you ask if she needs to potty, the normal response is “no, I’m just tooting.” Of course, that’s not always the case.

She goes through phases. Sometimes, we’ll go weeks without any accidents, and others (like this week), it seems as if she’s never been potty trained.

This may surprise you, but this post is not actually about potty training.

Potty Party Pooper

On the way home last Wednesday, we were talking and singing along to the radio when I hear “I pooped in my panties.” You did WHAT?? No warning. No emotion. Just a straight-up “guess what you get to deal with when we get home.”

Now listen, at nearly 9 months pregnant, my patience threshold and physical stamina for dealing with such shenanigans is wearing pretty thin. With a couple deep breaths, I try my hardest to keep myself together and hope that this is not a carseat-needs-cleaning type of accident.

We get inside and to the bathroom, and start talking about why she pottied in her pants, asking if she is a big girl or a baby, reminding how she knows what it feels like when she needs to potty, etc.

I was feeling pretty proud of myself for not flipping out on her…until she reached back to touch her hiney. NOOOO! Do NOT touch that!

She starts to cry and I can feel my face flush and heart rate go up.

One thing about my daughter is that she HATES being in trouble. We do spank when appropriate, but the worst part for her is knowing that she’s in trouble or that you’re upset. 

Accidents Happen

On this particular Wednesday, I knew this would be the last time I saw her until Friday afternoon. She was planning to spend the night with her “Florida Grandma” on Thursday night, and because of my job, I hardly ever see her in the mornings anyways. 

The last time she had a sleepover, I remember I lost my patience with her the night before and it just about killed me to wait so long to see her afterwards.

I was determined to not let this particular event leave me feeling so rotten.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Kelcey, she is only a toddler. Accidents happen. She does so many other things extremely well and above average for her age. Surely she’ll be potty trained by the time she graduates high school, right?  

She stood obediently as I got our things ready for our shower and asked if I was angry. I told her no, and continued washing her hair and thoroughly soaping up her little hiney. When we were done, we snuggled while she drank her milk and I was able to send her to bed with a big hug and kiss and my mommy heart at peace.

The Mom I Want To Be

I have this image of the “ideal mom” I want to be, but I guess we all do. I want my girls to remember me as being faithful, patient, not afraid to look goofy, calm, and comforting. Patience is the one I struggle with the most.

Motherhood is such a roller coaster of emotions, and sometimes, I handle it better than others. But by learning from my mistakes and trying to be more mindful of my reactions, I can slowly become more of the mom I want to be, that my girls deserve me to be, and that God calls me to be.

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.”

Psalm 127:3