Monday, April 12, 2010

potty training

this morning, H declared she wanted to wear big girl unders (that's what we call them, to avoid the over-sexualized term 'panties' that no dad or grandpa or man is ever really comfortable asking their little girl to pull down...), and since we're hanging at home, for the morning at least, i agreed. just 5 minutes ago, H yells, "i've gotta go potty!" as a little puddle is forming at the bottom of her leg. but she ran to the toilet, and used it - she managed to stop her flow, hold it as she went to the bathroom, and release it in the proper place! I know this sounds silly to communicate, but I have learned over the last 12 months, that kids will do this themselves. Or at least my kid. I have felt pressure since H was 18 months old to train her - 'she's ready, just do it!' but no matter the effort I put into it, it hasn't mattered, she wasn't willing to put in the equal effort, and it always stalled. I read something once somewhere that was so great, especially when I realized that my child had turned 19 months old and wasn't trained. It said that your child is prepared to train at a specific time. Let's say 3 years old. You can start training her at 18 months, or 2 years, or 2 3/4, but she will not be completely sucessful until her internal clock that was set in utero, clicks on. Basically, parents, do you want to be fighting training for 18 months, or 1 week? It's not about your method, it's about your individual, unique, specially designed child.
So, today, H showed me she knew how to hold and release. Does this mean she'll train herself this week? this month? before preschool starts in the fall? I don't know, and frankly, I don't care - because when it does happen, it is something she can be proud of and know that she really did it "all by herself."