Potty Training

Two years ago, I first embarked on this lovely little fact of life, we lovingly refer to as Potty training. It was my first time and I followed the advice of all the parenting books. I constantly , from the age of 18 months, stalked my daughter for any indication that she was ready to start the dreaded Potty training regime. So, as soon as I noticed that she 1) absolutely hated her diaper being wet 2) told me that her diaper was wet 3)did not want to wear diapers anymore; I got right on the potty training. So, at first I tried the whole "take her diaper off and let her run around commando", all that did was let her pee all over my carpet. I thought it was embarrassing the first time I caught myself sniffing her butt in public to see if she pooped, holy guacamole, that was nothing compared to the fact that her urinating on my floor didn't even phase me. I simply thought to myself, "Yeah, that's going to have to be shampooed tomorrow!" When did I devolve into this butt sniffing, urinating not caring, vomit and spit up wearing person? Anyways, back to the task at hand.."potty training". Yeah, the peeing on the carpet was working for either of us. She was wet and irritated, I was annoyed and somewhat grossed out and I felt really bad for her. Next, I tried the "put on some panties and take her to the potty every 15 minutes" approach.All attempts and approaches were coupled with lots and lots of praise, her Dad and I would jump for joy and sing the "Go,Bella! Go, Bella!" song. She loved it and squealed with delight and pride, asking for more, each and every time we did it This seemed to work and after only a couple of mishaps and near misses, she totally got the hang of it. We were so proud. So, of course, the Diaper fairy had to pay a visit. I stole this gem from Jo Frost of "the Nanny"..but hers was a pacifier Fairy, luckily, we had no need for that Fairy. In effect what happened next was my husband and I had our dear, sweet almost 2 year old put all her "daytime" diapers in a Fed Ex box and mailed them off to the "Diaper Fairy". Well, that was our story and we are sticking to it. It just so happens that the Diaper Fairy is one of my other alter egos. And the next day, the Diaper Fairy sent our girl a Fed Ex box full of goodies for her accomplishment. All was good in our household. Baby # 2 was coming in a couple months and baby #1 was on her way to making life, for Mommy, a little easier.What a little rock star she was to me.
Fast forward 2 months, Baby #2 is here.Life is fantastic.Baby #1 decides that "No, not feeling this potty training stuff.That baby's not stealing my thunder." She completely regressed. I knew it was too easy.So, fast forward almost an entire year and finally, it stuck! It was a long haul but totally worth it!It's always worth it not to have to change diapers or shampoo pee out of the carpet, thank God that we never had the privilege of having to shampoo a "poo" out of the carpet, or she still may have been wearing diapers to this day.
Now here we are, two years later and guess what? Baby #2, that awesome, rock star Gabs, is ready to be trained. But the most amazing thing has happened.Having learned from my previous fiasco and the "Year of the potty", I have decided that I will just wait until she is ready... really ready . Well, she follows her sister everywhere, to the ends of the earth and that includes to the potty. So, one day she just comes to us, rips off her diaper, "Mamma, potty!" and she takes my hand into her little hand and pulls me to the potty. She sits on the potty and promptly pees. A huge smile, ear to ear, and she is beaming with pride.We are shocked and amazed.I was seriously expecting to fall over and pass out from shock. But in true Truthful Mommy fashion, I scream for my husband, who rushes into the bathroom ( probably thinking that one of the girls has fallen in the tub or maimed herself in some horrible accident) only to find me smiling from ear to ear. I point to my little genius on the potty and we immediately break into that old familiar chorus of "Woohoo!Go Gabi!Go, Gabi!" and we clap and tell her how proud of her we are and her sister tells her what a big girl she is .We are ecstatic, the thought of no longer having to buy or use diapers, thrills us all, beyond fathomable belief but it has to be a fluke. Then the next day, she does it again, and then so on and so forth. Now, 2 weeks into her doing this on her own and her big sister constantly reminding us, the Diaper Fairy is finally making an appearance at our house again.She'll be 2 tomorrow and she's potty trained, all by herself.Oh my God, SHE IS POTTY TRAINED!!! Seriously, there is a silver lining to every cloud. Life is good.Diapers be gone, come again no more!!!