Potty Training Mommy

My 2-year-old is a precocious and independent little soul. She has very strong opinions, a fierce sense of self and can be quite demanding.

So, when she decided 3 weeks or so ago that it was time to potty train – it was TIME TO POTTY TRAIN.

crop1

But wait! Don’t I get to decide when it’s time to potty train? Don’t I get to be the one who makes charts and buys stickers or sets up a jelly bean jar in the bathroom? Wasn’t I supposed to read something about this? There are METHODS to follow and a TIMELINE to stick to and WHO IS IN CHARGE HERE?

Silly, mommy. It’s time to potty train! Petite said so!

Truly, potty training wasn’t really on my radar. Petite accompanied me to the toilet regularly (what walking child doesn’t track mommy down in the bathroom regularly?), liked to flush for any and everyone, and (my biggest clue that I completely missed) has been bringing me diapers to change her for the last 6 months. Yup. She’d go get the changing pad and a diaper when she was wet. Hello, giant neon sign that said “I’m ready to potty train!”.

But diapers are SO convenient! No leaving the cart in the grocery store to find the bathroom, no pausing just inside the doors scoping out a restaurant or unfamiliar store to know which direction I need to sprint when Petite so much as whispers “Pee pee, Mama?”, and who wants to drag around a back-of-the-car potty? Thankfully, since we started so suddenly, Petite is perfectly content to just sit on a regular toilet without any adaptations – but I know not all parents are so lucky!

vivibighairfb

But still. Selfishly, I wasn’t ready for this. Potty training to me signifies the official end of her babyhood. More than walking, more than talking, more than dressing herself, being potty trained is one of the last things she REALLY NEEDS me for. It’s like the last holdover from her newborn days. It’s gut wrenching to know I’m giving up a little more control.

All selfishness and ulterior motives aside, I’m pretty proud that my kiddo decided she’d like to be potty trained and took action. That has to bode well for future endeavors, right? I love that she’s continuing to find ways to exert her independence – after all, we raise them to send the out into the world as self-sufficient adults. The biggest perk so far? Since my attendance is mandatory at each “try” but I’m not allowed to help OR sing OR talk OR anything but be there should I be needed, my social media presence has been in the rock star status. I’m completely caught up on all of my Facebook friend’s lives from countless minutes of sitting on the bathroom floor.

So, my kiddo exerted her independence and potty trained herself. That makes me a proud (and potty trained) Mom… who will NEVER teach her child how to drive. At least not until she’s 30.

Amanda
A fifth-generation San Antonionian - who happened to spend her formative years in Austin - Amanda loves the SAT from the confetti in her hair to the bluebonnets under her feet. Never one to miss a reason to host a party or decorate for a theme, Amanda revels in the 'mas Fiesta' attitude of the city. She's mom to Vivi (2012) aka #HurricaneVivi, Mac (2020) and wife to Francois, whom she met at Texas A&M (FTAC '05). She has a Masters in Early Childhood Education and a Doctorate in Making it Up As She Goes - which means she's a sometimes-fun-mom. You can find her on Instagram . She loves confetti, croissants, and a cold Ranch Water. Favorite Restaurant: Piatti's Favorite Landmark: Johnson Street footbridge in King William Favorite San Antonio Tradition: Fiesta Medals

1 COMMENT

Comments are closed.