They're Smarter Than We Think They Are

I'm convinced this whole potty-training rigamarole is just a precursor to the teenage years. I was (and probably maybe possibly still am) convinced that if I leave Blondie alone she will, in essence, teach herself to use the potty. Potty training Lulu was a nightmare. In retrospect, it was probably US who were learning. I remember staying up until 1:00am one night googling "potty training" trying to figure out why she was almost 3 years old and still not getting it. I tried everything. I cried. I called the pediatrician. I made Kevin come home early one afternoon because I was convinced I was going to have a nervous breakdown if she ruined another pair of panties. In the end, she did it by herself. After we stopped nagging, begging, pleading, threatening, and buying tons of "rewards". And the frustration was simply not worth it. When I was pregnant was Blondie, Kevin and I pledged not to even think about potty training until the kid could walk up to the potty, take her diaper off, and get up on the potty herself. And we have. And guess what? Blondie can walk up to the potty, take her diaper off and get on the potty herself. She's tricky, though, and i'm convinced it's God reminding me of what Kevin and I pledged. She hates to have a wet diaper and she'll come up to me throughout the day and say, "Mama, change me." Or, if I don't get there fast enough, she'll just take the thing off and either go get some panties on or walk around naked. So I started telling her that diapers were too expensive to be changing her every time she went. If she didn't like it, she could just go on the potty. But, she won't. She'll squat in the grass (right where they play), in the living room, or sometimes if she's feeling gracious, she'll go on the kitchen tile where it's easier to clean. Or, she'll just stand there and soak her beloved Elmo panties. BUT, if I say nothing at all to her and only spell p-o-t-t-y to Kevin when we talk about it, she'll stop playing and run to the bathroom and go without leaking a single drop. The other day, we were leisurely walking around Target and she she stood up in the basket to reveal she had taken her diaper off when I wasn't looking and put panties on before we left the house. And we had been gone for almost an hour! I of course panicked and rushed her to the potty where she refused to go and then soaked her car seat on the way home. If I had not said anything, she would have probably told me she had to go and THEN we could have rushed to the potty. So, our theory is that of Little Bo Peep--leave them alone and they'll come home, wagging their tails behind them. And you know, come to think of it, our theory works with alot of other things as well. Mealtimes, for instance. "Here's what we're having for dinner. If you're hungry, eat. If not, well, breakfast will be served at 7:00am." And they eat. Most of the time. Clothes, too. "Here's an outfit to wear. If you're cold, put it on. If not, you can run around naked until we have to leave the house." And they have learned to dress themselves. You know, we should have a third one. It would be a walk in the park. (Don't get your hopes up, though).