The P word
I didn't want to say anything before because I might jinx it, but the G-man is potty trained. It went surprising well. Almost too well? For starters, there was no drama. He hasn't had an accident yet. He accepted the new rule of going to the potty without question. He woke up one day, was told to use the potty and simply transitioned to a new world order without fanfare. Hooray, no more diapers!
I'm supposed to be jumping for joy, right?
But, um, I kind of miss diapers. Apparently way more than he does.
That's like blasphemous, right? I mean, some moms are desperately trying to train kids as young as 18 months. Online forums are filled with questions about when to start and how someone's precious snowflake will be scarred for life if she's not trained by 27 months. It's portrayed as a battle and one that should be fought hard and won early. Personally, I was going to wait until summer and just do a whole free-range-baby in the backyard kind of thing. But then G-man's teacher said he was ready, and it snowed so all of our stuff was canceled, and well, we needed something to do. Honestly, I thought it was going to be a big deal and since it wasn't, we still needed something to do.
So how can I not love this amazing milestone?
Diapers are easy! Let's face it. Maybe not a ton of fun to change and damn expensive to buy, but oh my god, they are convenient. I've actually been dreading this time. I've noticed that the parents of G-man's potty trained friends are on constant alert, questioning whether someone needs to use the potty every 60 seconds, abruptly leaving to go find a potty. But with G-man in diapers, I was in control. He could go anywhere, anytime.
And I could change him anywhere, anytime. I mean that.
I've done it in the trunk of my car. Poolside. Watching the sea lion show at the zoo. He's been changed on a blanket at the park, on a bench outside of Macy's, and on the desk of a used car salesman. The G-man can't be modest at this point since he's been on, uh, full display in his stroller, the harvest garden at the botanical gardens and an airplane seat. Nowhere has been off-limits and I never had to think twice about it. Now, I have to plan where potties are and keep an eye on G-man to make sure he remembers where to go, too.
And that's not even the worse part. The G-man has mastered procrastination, but this is a whole new level of being late for everything. Whipping a fresh diaper on him before we leave the house is no longer all I need to do. We have to visit the potty before going anywhere - our house to an activity, the activity back to our house, and any and every stop in between. This alone takes time even if he goes right away, but if thinks he needs to go and there is a wait, well, that's why we have books in the bathroom.
He's also already figured out that the phrase, "Mommy, I want to go potty" brings immediate results. If I'm busy doing something, he can say this and I'll drop it all to come to him. If he's in quiet time, this is the magic key to getting out of bed. When he doesn't want to go somewhere, the potential for a future pee can set us back a long time.
The forums are right, this IS a battle. Not in the way they mean about a strong-willed child refusing to use the potty or do everything in there, but in a logistical attack way. Map out where the bathroom is (and if there is a stool for him to stand on b/c he'll only pee standing up), monitor the troops for signs of movement, and try not to lose all patience when there is a lull in the action and the whole plan stalls because we cannot ever get out the door.
