Tag: #pottytraining

We’re now about three weeks into the wonderful world of potty training with Teddy. Let me tell you, it’s a rollercoaster ride of high-fives and facepalms! We’ve had some glorious successes, like those golden moments when poop actually lands in the toilet. And we’ve officially banished pee from the carpet realm, which feels like a victory almost as monumental as landing on the moon.

It’s funny—cleaning up after Teddy sometimes feels like puppy training, though I assure you, there’s no nose-rubbing involved! Instead, it’s more of an “Oh no!” followed by a gentle sprint to the bathroom. I strive for zen-like expressions, trying not to let my face give away the inner, “Really? Again?” It’s like acting 101, where your face must radiate, “I’m proud of you!” even if internally you’re finding your inner calm.

Yesterday was a classic “I refuse to acknowledge the toilet exists” kind of day for Teddy. My mom—bless her heart—attempted the underwear negotiations, but eventually, diapers won that round. In a bid to turn the tides, I got him a nifty little watch that times his potty breaks. Instagram influencers make it look so easy with their three-day potty training miracles, all happy snaps and triumphant smiles. Meanwhile, behind the scenes, they skip the episodes of toilet-rebellion and accidental mom-soakings.

Our dogs have hilariously become involved in the process, tailing Teddy like potty-training sentinels and giving me the heads up when a “situation” is about to unfold. It’s like a family potty patrol!

As for seeing the pot of gold at the end of the potty-training rainbow, I’m mentally preparing for at least another week or two on this journey. If any of you seasoned moms have pearls of wisdom to share, please do! I gave the “Potty Train Your Toddler in Three Days” manual a whirl, and it’s full of great advice, but as a working mom, I’m juggling a circus. My mom, who’s a rockstar, has her hands full with my dad, my other son, and her own doggo crew. While she is absolutely incredible, any tips or tricks would be a godsend. Here’s to conquering the potty frontier, one day at a time!

So, we embarked on the adventure of potty training my oldest son, Ted. Picture this: I’m still on maternity leave, and my mom, bless her, looks after the kids while I work. Childcare costs these days could make anyone cry, and let’s face it, who can you trust more than your mom? Anyway, day one of potty training started with a bang—or should I say, a flush. The first two pees hit the target, and I even intercepted a potential disaster before it happened. I was ushering Ted to the bathroom every thirty minutes like clockwork, tablet in tow for a bit of entertainment.

I’ve decided not to move the potty to any other room, because plumbing isn’t optional—it’s not a traveling act. But by the third bathroom trip, Ted was over it. Bored out of his little mind, he found his mischievous streak. While I was in the midst of feeding my other son, Ted somehow Houdini-ed his way out of his romper and diaper, and peed on the carpet by the back door. All this happened just five feet away, with me blissfully unaware thanks to the cacophony of tablets, TVs, barking dogs, and Ted’s adorable gibberish. No biggie, I thought, just another day in the life of a multitasking mom. Cleaned him up, changed him, and tackled the rug like a champ—though I did suspect the dogs of egging him on with some sort of secret dog-baby alliance.

Next up: another misfire. This time, Ted’s aim was a bit off, resulting in a foot soak for me. I couldn’t help but laugh while trying not to cry as I congratulated him on hitting at least part of the target. But the pièce de résistance was the grande finale: the diaper blowout. The sight of that chunky masterpiece almost made me toss the underwear altogether. In a moment of “What would Grandma do?”, I threw Ted back into a fresh diaper and headed straight for the toilet with the offending garment, scrubbing and rinsing while simultaneously trying to cry and laugh my way through it.

Finally, with one hour left until Dad returned to tag in, I was ready to surrender. And there you have it—a day in the glamorous life of potty training. Stay tuned for the next thrilling episode!