Dreaded Days of Potty Training

These are two of my least favorite things. I despise them, but they are necessary evils:

I can't wait for the day that I can throw these putrid plastic pails away!

Nathan has been showing some interest in going potty (probably from the jar of Starbursts on our bathroom shelf that we use for bribery) and I am sick of changing his diapers so I think that the dreaded days of potty training are upon me. I have already gone through this with 2 other kids...and no, it does not get any easier...I only know what I am in for - cleaning up pee and poop off the carpet, becoming a hermit for about a week, and spending countless minutes singing songs and saying rediculous things like "keep pushing, it will make your potty SO happy to have some poo-poo in it" while I sit and wait for Nathan to do his thing.

Wish me luck! Potty training will officially commence this week...sigh, deep breath...  I am going to try this method that I found over at 71 Toes:

1) buy the most appealing panties/underwear at the store for the particular child you are potty training. (Elmo, Spiderman, Dora, etc.)

2) ooooo and ahhhhh over how amazing they are (yes, the underwear)

3) put them in a special place until the designated "potty day" (show the child the upcoming date on the calendar, count down the days, talk about how excited you are, etc....and don't schedule ANYTHING else for that day or the few days after...that's of course where it gets tricky...but I try my best)

4) on the designated day, say goodbye to diapers and get ready for lots of accidents

5) have said potty-trainee sit on toilet for endless hours and drink gallons of liquids

6) give stickers on a sticker chart AND a skittle or m&m every time there is a success

7) talk excitedly about the reward (decided together beforehand) that comes after the sticker chart is filled

8) try not to freak out more than completely necessary at the messes involved

9) enjoy your newly potty-trained child

One extra note: once potty training starts there's NO GOING BACK. Diapers are gone (except at night and for naps). No matter how hard and frustrating it gets, I've found the longest it really takes if you're serious is three days, and to me it's worth it to have a few agonizing days to get results.


If you have any other great potty training ideas, please share. I need all the help (and ice cream) I can get :)