ten things i want to tell you about potty training.

our first ever potty success caught on cam

1. do not have expectations. of yourself. or most importantly, of your kid. expectations with any person in your life [not just your pint-sized co-pilot] only encourage disappointment, and really don't give you room to be surprised. and with potty training, this is crazy important. at least to me. and marcus.
2. shit happens. me: marcus, why don't you just go poo on your potty? marcus: my poop doesn't know how. he just took his first number two on the potty by himself yesterday. this is huge. because for the first two weeks, he either held it in or waited until his diaper was safe and secure for a nap or bedtime before unloading.
3. raising an independent child means some days, there is going to be pee ALL OVER YOUR BATHROOM WALLS. so keep your safe organic non-bleach bathroom cleaner real nearby, or even stock up when you find a coupon. and continue to remind your wildly independent 2-year-and-5-month-old of the important of tucking his fire hose in and holding it down with one finger. please. and. thank. you.
4. do not ever show stress. or disappointment. or frustration. killer. only ever show pride. excitement. encouragement. support. if you aren't there yet, how could you expect your little one to be?
5. you will find random tiny puddles of pee all over your house. you might judge me but i think this is beyond adorable. one day this week marcus did the funniest little wiggle dance around the kitchen in his birthday suit, and i looked down and realized his [fire hose] was [leaking]. and he was legit just trying to see how long he could hold it in. i just laughed and said: oh my goodness child run to the potty! and if you've never seen a two-year-and-five-month-old try to run down the hall and keep his legs crossed at the same time so as not to LOSE IT: that is comedy. he made it. he tucked it. we were happy.
6. do make up some sort of ridiculous victory dance. ours is so hip we would likely get a signed deal if people heard it. it is like a conga line meets lady gaga. we have mad style over here. marcus has made me sing it in front of a select few visitors. i'm fine with it. if you don't know by now, i have no shame. it looks like this:

7. reward success. reward effort. reward it all. your child is awesome. tell them that no matter where you find the puddle. they are trying. and they are awesome.
8. laugh. a lot. not at them. with them.
9. work out how much money you are saving by not buying [as many] diapers. and add that to your monthly deposit into their university/first car/first house/wedding/spring break/o.m.goodness this kid is going places and i need to back him every.single.step.of.the.way savings account. don't even think about it. you were already spending the money on diapers so you know you can afford it and it will add up to a thousand dollars a year to their bank account. that ALONE will buy their first car when they get their licence.
10. you know that saying 'this too shall pass'? the saying that likely was your sole survival mantra during the first 6 weeks/teething/first fever/separation anxiety/the second round of separation anxiety/when they started walking and kept giving you heart attacks because all of a sudden nothing was safe? this too shall pass. and if you don't stay positive, you will miss the best parts of potty training. the legs crossed run down the hall with his little bum jiggling behind him while his [fire hose] dribbled the entire way to the bathroom. the specific fancy pants requests in the morning [lightning mcqueen mondays. weenew wednesdays.] the first time he said to me: no, i going to the potty by myself. and walked  into the bathroom, sat down, tucked, peed, and best of anything the look on his face as he came running out the washroom to grab me by the hand and take me back in to show me what he did. with more pride in that moment, in himself, than i had ever seen. [i'm crying right now]. do not miss this. because each of these moments too, will pass.

happy tucking!

-kare