Whether you have 1 child or 10, potty training is not usually something that fills parents with excitement and joy. As much as you want to be done with changing diapers, there's a side to potty training that most first time parents don't think about.
You still have to help them wipe. And put clothes back on. And wash hands. But before that, you'll have to perch on the edge of the bathtub and wait with your crotch fruit, erm uh, I mean child, for approximately forever while they pee.
Ok, all jokes aside, how do you stay sane?
Cannabis
(Or wine, whichever you prefer)
Not joking. For real. You gotta be in an altered state to deal with shit smears and pee puddles.
A lot of importance is placed upon potty training for children once they reach about age 3 it seems. Everyone will ask if your child is potty trained and they will all tell you that you need to jump start that shit and get them trained. They'll tell you a million tips that are sure to have your kid pissing in the potty in no time. Put cheerios in the toilet for boys to aim at. Buy them paw patrol underwear. Give them candy.
And you'll just be there like....
But the reality is, kids will learn how to use the toilet when they're ready. Every child is different. It's hard to remember sometimes that this is all new for little ones. We've been doing it for as long as we can remember, but its not always that easy and we need to have patience.
My advice is to ignore the outside voices telling you when and how to do it. Listen to your kids. Know the physical signs for when a child is nearing readiness for potty training.
When your children are ready and begin the process, they'll have some set backs and there will be tears a plenty. Be ready with lots of tp and open arms. Celebrate each victory on the potty and reassure them when accidents happen.
Beyond that, each experience is going to be different so I won't pretend like any of the minutia of what we did will help you. Trial and error. Love and patience. They will get it eventually. There's no secret. It's all just love and learning. You do the best you can and get through it.
This picture is the first time I got to hold both my babies. They were born 7 weeks early and needed to be in the nicu. This is the moment that I first truly felt like a "twin mom". My heart had already felt full, but now my arms were too. Today was a rough day for them. They were over tired when they got home from pre school and both wanted me to hold them close.
there wasn't enough room for them both in my lap anymore
It goes so fast. It really does. I know everyone says that. But they say it because it's true.
My babies are growing up and honestly, I couldn't be prouder of them. The sadness of letting go of them being babies is a solemn sadness for me. I struggled a lot with feeling overwhelmed with them as babies. I'm ready for that part to be over. I can always look at that picture and remember that day and that feeling.
I'm excited to see these 2 remarkable humans become whatever they desire!
And shit in the toilet. 😁😂😂
Love and light! Thanks for reading my toilet training thoughts! 💜💜
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