If you follow me on instagram you probably have noticed the potty training posts. We started potty training the second week of September, and it hasn't been the easiest or the hardest thing in parenting. I would mostly describe it as annoying. Mostly annoying because I haven't felt like I can go about my life normally until she gets this one down pat.
I kind of went with a modified version of the 3 day potty training method. We had pants off and basically I watched her like a hawk the first two days to try and catch her going so that I could sit her on the potty. By day 3 we had some mild success but then our schedule got busy so we weren't quite as focused for 4 days. We started back up the following week and she was peeing and pooping like a champ at home. I will say I introduced candy rewards that day, and it really helped!
Then we were doing great at going potty at home with minimal accidents but we remained pants off. I was doing pull ups out and about because they weren't short trips, and if she wasn't with me no one would have known to take her to the bathroom. You can't ask Noelle, "do you need to go potty?" - the answer will always be no right now. So I don't ask, I take her to sit on it and remind her that if she makes peepies then she gets candy. It works some of the time.
Then I noticed she seemed to HATE going to the bathroom outside of the home. She really really protested. If I had a pull up on her though she wouldn't go on the toilet and she would conveniently wait until I was driving to mention "potty" and by then it was too late...into the pull up it went. Sigh.
So I was telling my mom friends about the situation who have successfully potty trained one or more. They told me I have to rip the band aid off. No more pull ups while out and about. Time for the real deal, and if she makes a mess - well then I just have to have back up clothing. That is the only way she is going to get it. Yikes.
It was scary to me because I don't want to set her up to fail! And yet, for her to learn control, there has to be some failing (and some being upset about failing). It's a hard reality, and seriously very minor in the big scheme of things, but as parents we have to let our kids fail sometimes. It's the only way they will become who they were meant to be - we just have to love them through the whole process.
So we are doing it. And I will be doing more laundry possibly. But who knows - maybe by the end of October we will be done with most of the messes!! A mom can dream, right?
Next on the list is the crib to bed transition. That one doesn't scare me as much as the end of sleep time pacifiers. I keep thinking once THIS milestone is reached, then it will be super easy....oh wait - except there will always be another milestone. And I'm learning that mostly, parenting doesn't get easier...maybe after she's 18. We'll see :)
