I See the Light

Because of the way our kids are spaced, I have been changing diapers every single day for over 14 years. In hindsight, I should have bought stock in Huggies.

I've had this potty training theory that I formulated when Becky was almost 2. I was due with Josh a few months after her second birthday and figured it would be so very nice to get her potty trained before he came along. She showed interest in all things potty, so we took the next step. Turns out, she wasn't as ready for that step as I was. It was then that I formulated a potty training theory of my own.

It's easier to wait until a child is ready than to fight them until they're ready.

In reality, kids will potty train when they're good and ready to potty train. You can fight them for months (or years) until they come to the conclusion that it's better to sit on the throne to do their business, or you can simply keep changing diapers while you're waiting for them to have that revelation.

It's the fourth kid that tested me on that theory. Would he ever grasp the concept? How can you convey vague ideas like "feeling like you have to pee" to a kid who lives in a very concrete world? And we won't even discuss his level of stubborn, which goes hand in hand with his fierce independence. That indy streak screams "I'll do it my way or I won't do it at all!" It's not fun to deal with on a daily basis.

So, between my loathing of the potty training business, my procrastination on the issue, my laziness, and the fact that I'm too tired to fight the boy in my old age (there's a reason the baby of the family is spoiled), I just changed Micah's diapers daily. For over 6 years.

Over summer we made great strides in the potty department, but only after I introduced the idea, let him rebel, continued with the Pull-Up option, and then let him decide all on his own that potty training was a grand idea. And then just as suddenly as it started, it stopped.

Over Christmas break Micah decided that Pull-Ups were so 2009. He refused to wear them. And he stayed dry every day that he chose to go the underpants option. Tuesday was his first day back at school (thanks, snow day!) and I sent him in underpants. He came home in the same dry underpants.

While the end is certainly not here yet (but we're well on our way!), I am reminded of my potty training theory once again. If I wait long enough, the boy will potty train himself. Fingers crossed that he doesn't catch onto my little scheme.