Potty Training

Oh, Peyton Layne. I could write an infinite amount about you.

Your spirit, life, and eagerness are - hmmmm, shall we say - God's idea of a good challenge.

And my mom's idea of payback.

I mean, we are talking about the child who can do this..... And this....

all within a five second span.

The day I brought home your very own potty, and exclaimed with much enthusiasm that you were going to "potty in the big girl potty, just like your big sister!"

You gave me one of those ornery looks and simply said, "nah, mom, I don't have the time."

Burst.My.Bubble.

But if she thinks she's one tough cookie, then you haven't met her mama. Because I was determined to get her little tooshy out of those money-grabbing, budget-deflating, don't-grow-on-trees diapers.

So I insisted - to say the least.

And it backfired. Tremendously.

She not only refused to potty like a big girl, she proceeded to cry like a baby every time I put her on it.

People told me not to push it. They repeatedly told me that when she was ready, she'd let me know.

But we are talking about the child who climbed in my lap, turned off the TV, put my head in her hands, looked me square in the eye, and said, "Mommy, let's just sit and talk about life."

Not ready? What are you talking about? She talks like she's 30!

But I finally caved in. Well, more like gave up really, but either way, I put the potty training to rest. Until Christmas Break rolled around, and then I whipped that sucker out again. Of course, looks of panic immediately emerged - from both of our faces - but I knew I had to give it a try.

And I am so glad I did. She went. Got rewarded. And BOOM! she has been pottying ever since.


It was so easy, I seriously wondered if it had been a bit TOO easy. I'm sort of waiting for the inevitable ball to drop and her to revert backwards. But then I knock on wood every time I have that though, so I think we will be ok.

When we made it through the first whole week without a single accident. We celebrated.

Got us some princess panties.

And in my 4 years of parenting, I have learned a valuable lesson. Any success of your child's is a success of your own. And you should accept it, relish in it, and enjoy it. Oh, and don't forget to reward yourself too.

God me a new coat.

Happy potty training to me. Phew, I'm exhausted.