Adventures In Pottyland

There are a lot of trials and tribulations when children come into your life. One of the biggest milestones in your child's life is potty training. I was always really spoiled with my son, Brody. He has always been an easy kid, and to be honest, it's not nearly as trying as I thought it was going to be. There weren't many sleepless nights, he got tired of using a pacifier after about three months, he had no troubles learning to crawl, sit up, walk, or talk. He smoothly migrated from the world of bottles and formula to regular milk, sippy cups, and real food with zero issues of weaning from the bottle. I really expected for mama Karma to test my sanity when the time came to potty train. I was wrong again. I had heard from everybody that it is best to wait until your child makes the choice to go on the toilet when they were ready. I was scared that that moment would ever come. I mean who wants to trade in the ability to go to the bathroom at any given moment you pleased without having to wait until you located a restroom? But this was not the case. My son started showing the classic signs that he was ready for the big boy potty by letting me know when he had used the bathroom, and then later notifying me beforehand. He would take his diaper off and tell me it was showtime. So I went out and got him his very own throne and got to work. I read that offering incentives (which is just a fancy way of saying bribery) would encourage my child to make the positive choice to go on his toilet. I made him a treat jar, and everytime he made it to his potty on time he was rewarded with a piece of candy. So far it's working. We have certainly had our share of mishaps though. For instance, his great grandpa was watching him for a total of about 15 minutes when my son managed to evade his gramps and tear his diaper off, then proceed to leave a Hansel and Gretel-style trail of pee and poo throughout the house. And during this excursion he managed to taste test some of his own stool. Boy that was a fun clean up. As well as the time he decided to shed his diaper and let the urine flow right on the living room floor, after which he promptly demanded that I clean it up and give him candy. So, while we have those little situations, potty training on the whole has been really easy. All those parenting books aren't lying when they say the best time to give the toilet the ol college try when the kids decide themselves. That made life a lot easier because we didn't have to force him to do something he wasn't comfortable doing. He decided and so it shall be. Forcing them to do it causes the child to associate the porcelin god with negative feelings and that makes the whole process a lot longer and harder than it should be. We are still going at it, and he is doing wonderfully. The best thing to remember is not to expect too much, and not to get frustrated. As long as your kid receives praise and is comfortable it will be a piece of cake. Happy training, folks!