Wuthering Hyders

The Joys of Potty-Training

Since having two kids in diapers can get pricey, we ( I ) have decided it's time to get Princess Abby potty-trained. She has been showing the usual signs of being ready, but I've been afraid to start. Why, you ask? Not because I LIKE buying diapers, let me assure you. I just knew it would be a messy process. Of course, so are diapers when you think about it.

Anyway, she's a very strong-willed child and, as our pediatrician says, a "great problem-solver". Which translated means, she lies. Not with malicious intent, mind you, but it's still not the truth she's telling you. For example, if she and I both have a snack, she will want some of mine. I will tell her she can have some of mine when she finishes her own. Her solution? She'll go dump hers out and come back telling me it's all gone. I ask if she ate it all and she happily says " Yes, Mommy!". Never trust a two year-old. I have to admit, she IS a great problem-solver and sometimes, it's really hard not to crack up laughing. She's using her brain and I love that. I just wish her using it didn't end in my having to vacuum the floor several times a day.

This "problem-solving" carries over into the potty-training, too. She's figured out that she can move her potty around the room. This, in itself, wouldn't be a problem. It's the way she does it. She grabs onto the sides and stands up while holding it on her bottom. This can get messy. I've lost count of the number of times I've cleaned spots on the carpet. Funny how it's always the carpet and never the tiled areas of the house. She also likes to disappear and come back with no diaper on. This signals the beginning of my least favorite kind of treasure hunt. Find the Poopy Diaper. Anyone who has potty-trained a child probably understands this game quite well. The child comes into the room no diaper and poo on their bottom ( if not on their legs and feet and several other places, too ) and the adult must, as quickly as possible, clean the child, put a fresh diaper on them and search for the discarded diaper. Usually, following the smell is good enough, but if the child has tracked poo all through the house, this can be a bit more challenging. You will find the diaper, but you never "win" this game.

At least Abby is making some progress. She likes to sit on the potty and she's even gone in it several times. I think she'd do better if I could give her more attention, but Perrin doesn't really allow for that. I know she'll get there someday. I just hope it's sooner rather than later.