The Thing No One Tells You About Potty Training

I am writing this moments after my two year old son has fallen asleep. We have just completed day two of the very intensive 3 Day Potty Training method. (I plan on writing a review after day three to let you know how it worked for us.) So far, there have been the usual challenges – lots of accidents, cleaning, potty talk, frustration, exhaustion. I expected all of that after hearing stories and advice from family and friends. What I didn’t expect was how emotional of an experience it would be…in a good way.

pottytrainingI have never felt more loved, trusted, or needed as I have today. I have experienced some of the most special moments I have ever had with my son – moments that make me wish Hogwarts were real, and I could collect memories to relive in Dumbeldore’s pensieve time and again.

I would revisit the joy of cheering him on and seeing the pride in his face when he was successful. I would revisit the warmth of his embrace  and the weight of his little body when he said, “Mama, I want to snuggle,” after a trying period of the day. I would revisit his expression when I softly blew air on his face to make him laugh and distract him from running from the potty.

Most of all, I would revisit tonight’s bedtime over and over and over again. The training method instructed me to have him try to use the potty, then brush his teeth, then get dressed, and then try to use the potty again before bed. On his second attempt at using the potty, he was a little distracted and wanted to get up right away so I started singing some of our usual lullabies which involve choreographed kisses at certain points in the songs. I usually sing them in the glider with him in my arms, but tonight, I sat in front of him and we were face to face. The look of pure love and adoration that radiated back at me as I gave him kisses was so beautiful that it made me feel like the luckiest mom in the world. And then he leaned his forehead into mine and started giving me the sweetest Eskimo kisses.

Potty training is hard. It is especially hard during the three days of this method because you have to stay home for three days and are glued to your child’s side, constantly looking out for every sign that he needs to go to the bathroom. The thing I wasn’t expecting about this experience – the thing no one told me about – was the wonder and irrepressible adoration I would feel staring at my child every moment of the day. The thing I wasn’t expecting was all of the happiness this dirty little potty-training business would bring to me.

Marie
Marie is the owner of Little Hometown, a company specializing in locally themed baby swaddles and apparel. Prior to opening her business, Marie was a professional event planner turned stay-at-home mom. She spent nearly a decade living in New York City, where she met her husband, Jeff (a New England native). Early in their relationship, Marie told Jeff that New Orleans is the only place where she would want to raise her children. As soon as she got pregnant, they started shopping for houses. They moved back in December of 2012, welcomed their son in 2013 and their daughter in 2015. Marie now spends her days entertaining her kids with silly songs, desperately attempting to stay organized, and balance her life as a work-at-home mom.

2 COMMENTS

  1. What a heartwarming story. Something that could have been very stressful turned into pure love. You kept a positive out look and reaped the rewards….beautiful.

  2. I love your story. It is well written and a good reminder to everyone keeping an open heart and mind even in the most stress parenting moments can bring some of the most cherished moments. Good job, Marie.

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