Potty Training...
A milestone we look forward to and dread with the greatest of intensity. I remember when I had my daughter Olivia I wondered how in the world will I accomplish all these milestones in the future? Every mom wants to give advice or has the tried and true method. I mean do you ever really know how to start? I thought when she was 2 or so that we could start. “Yes!” I thought to myself today is the day we move on from the diapers (mind you we cloth diapered so it wasn’t a huge financial burden).
I took Olivia to the local store and told her she would get to pick out her big girl panties. She stared at all the cartoon characters, Mickey, Dora, Princesses, too many for my 2 year old to even comprehend. She finally selected an assortment of Disney princesses. As we took our new found prize to the front cashier, Olivia was pointing out and telling me every princess that was on that package (she had and still has a slight obsession with Disney Princesses). We payed for our purchase and politely told the employee “Olivia is going to be a big girl today and we got big girl panties so we can go on the potty.” Olivia just nodded and continued to stare in awe at the 7 rolled tiny panties in the packaging.
While in the car we over communicated the going on the potty scenario, how she would tell me, what we would do, how it makes mommy happy if she goes on the potty. All the while, she still stared in awe at those panties. We get home with all the tools necessary to start this journey. Panties, check. Little potty, check. Talk with daughter, double check. Okay. We can do this I think to myself. I then walk Olivia through every step of taking her diaper off, and putting the big girl panties in. One leg in the first hole, she can hardly contain herself. Second leg in, we pull them up. It’s as if the world no longer exists and only princesses on panties exist. The only thing that matters in this world at this moment is Cinderella is on the front of her panties. She proudly walks around with only panties and socks on pointing out to everything (living or doll like) that she has Cinderella on her panties and she is going to be a big girl. “Mommy, I a big girl” she says over and over.
I am thinking to myself, “This is going to be a breeze! Sweet!” 30 minutes go by.
Tick tock tick tock.
“Olivia, do you need to use the potty”
“Nooooo, I have Cinderella.”
15 more minutes.
“Olivia, do you need to use the potty”
“Nooooo, I have Cinderella.”
15 more minutes.
“Olivia, do you need to use the potty”
Silence…..
“Olivia, what are you doing?”
Silence……..
“Olivia???”
Nothing. I go to check on her, a puddle stands below her legs, on the carpet, oozing down into the cracks of the floor. She had the first accident. Okay, I knew this was going to happen. Its okay, I tell myself. We clean the floor, change Olivia. Round two will be better. ……
Round 2 was not better, we had #2 mixed with round 2. Round 3-43 were the same as rounds 1 and 2. Round 44, slight success. Round 45-60, just as bad as round 2.
A year later and we are still working on potty training. My moral of my story is do not judge your child against what others say or tell you to do. Trust your instincts and don’t ever give up on your child. It will be difficult, but remember they won’t go to college in diapers. When you decide to start potty training keep this first rule in mind.
Lora founded Bippy Diapers in 2010. With two children under two, a full time job and earning her master's, she decided that enough was enough and it was time to work for herself. Thus, Bippy Diapers was born. After toying with cloth diapering with her oldest daughter Olivia she decided to cloth diaper her second child, a son named Lucas, full time. She began to enjoy the cloth experience and wanted to share her knowledge and tips with others.
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