Potty Training

Guess who is potty training?

Yes, it's Bernadette.  She just turned 3 and I'm being ambitious and starting now rather than close to 4.  I loath potty training and would rather change diapers.  However, once it's done, it's great.

I've been changing diapers for almost 10 years now.  I've potty trained 4 children and each of them were different.  I've talked to other mothers and some have told me it only took their 3 year old 3 days to learn to use the potty.  Really?  I have not had that experience. 

Potty training brings out the worst in me.  Beware - it sucks the patience out of me.  I know I wasn't easy to be trained, myself.  I actually have memories of having many accidents, so I must have graduated late from Potty School.  I remember, now, how my parents didn't enjoy it either.  It's payback!

I never liked the word "potty".  Ever since I was a kid and a teacher would ask me, "Do you want to use the potty?"  I just cringed at the word.  That word wasn't used in my house.  It was called the toilet or the bathroom.  Who came up with potty?  However, I am using the word now with my kids. 

I also wonder if it is really necessary to use the Baby Bjorne potty seat.  I've always started with it, but I transition to the toilet soon after they kinda get used to the potty seat.  I don't like cleaning the potty seat.

Also, it's about this time that some of my kids all of a sudden don't like to go #2.  They start to hide from you and then you find yourself begging them to go because it's been almost a week since they last went.  This happened with two of my kids.  I don't like that! 

Perhaps, it's me?  Does my impatience delay the process?  Do my kids sense my negative energy?  This is my purgatory - suck it up, Jana!  Put a smile on your face and get it done.

I had high hopes for Bernadette because she is very aware of her plumbing.  However, she hasn't caught on as quickly as I was hoping, but she's very cheerful through it all.  It is contagious - perhaps, this will be a quick training and I'll have only one kid in diapers?

Wish us luck!

You know, I just remembered my grandmother asking me if I had to "jingle".  LOL!!  I didn't like that either.  I pondered how that word came to be used for going #1.  I came up with nothing.  I'm using "#1" in this post rather than what it is.  Hmph...