Peace and potty training.
I’ve decided these two things must go hand in hand for success.
As you know, I have a ton going on right now. I mean, really, who doesn’t? Lots of travel, a huge move, life as a mama to two busy little presidents, etc. Out of the blue, I decided to order a princess potty last week when I ordered diapers…kind of ironic now that I think about it. Anywho, I just figured that I would put it out in the corner of our kitchen (like I did when I was potty training Teddy), just to have it there, in case Reagan decided she wanted to try. But, I really wasn’t going to push it. I kind of thought it would be easier to just wait until we got to Texas, but I figured if she saw the potty then she could kind of get used to seeing it, etc…
Sunday am, I was finally going through two weeks worth of mail and packages and I opened up some colored m&ms that I had ordered for an upcoming project. I ordered some fancy GOLD m&ms. I mean, why not? A fancy m&m. Seriously the concept! So, Reagan asks me for one and before I could even stop the words from coming out of my mouth, I said “you can have one if you go peepees in the toilet.” So, she responds with “otay!” and walks over to the toilet, we take off her pants and diaper, she sits down and says “it’s toming (coming) out!” and went! I was shocked! Teddy and I were jumping around like crazy people telling her how awesome she was and singing “GO Reagan! It’s your birthday! Have a party!” Haha! And of course I gave her the m&m and LOTS of praise and lots of high fives. She was so excited!
I have expressed the importance to Teddy of him being Reagan’s biggest cheerleader. He’s been an awesome and supportive big bro!!
So, my Mr. Fancy walks in later that day and I tell him what happened and how I’m just not ready for it. He said “You just have to keep going! She is showing an interest! This is the time to do it!” All I could think is how this changes everything. She’s turning into a big girl and she’s no longer my baby. She’s my last baby. I think it’s so bittersweet how fast she wants to grow up. But, also, I now have to watch her like a hawk to make sure she doesn’t wet her pants all over my couches or my floors. Now, I have to take her to the bathroom when we are out at restaurants, shopping, etc. All I could think of was all the selfish reasons why I didn’t want her to be potty-trained.
You probably think I’m nuts. I probably am.
I know most moms would be ecstatic over her interest in the toilet! I just feel like I’m not ready for this in a lot of aspects.
Yet, here we are, four days into potty-training. I can still remember the frustration that I felt during this time with Teddy. As, I mentioned yesterday, it was just not a good day. I couldn’t snap out of it. Well, Reagan woke up from her nap and used the toilet. Then an hour later, I was trying to get her to go and she refused. Five minutes later, she was standing on my hardwood floors in a big puddle of pee. So, I told her we really needed to try to get to the toilet sooner next time and we put on new undies. So, fast forward to after dinner, I ask her if she needs to go and she says no. (My biggest mistake both of these times was not just taking her over and trying to get her to sit on the toilet) Within a couple of minutes, she was standing in a huge puddle of pee…again.
And I lost it.
I just started crying.
I was thinking in my head, “I’m done! She is too young! She doesn’t understand! I can’t do this!!!!!”
We were both in tears and she knew I was upset.
I think I started to cry because the day was just not good and this was just the moment that threw me over the edge, so to speak.
Immediately, I felt awful for being upset with her. She’s barely two. She’s been doing great so far. And for crying out loud, it was three days in! That is a huge concept to expect her to grasp in a short time.
Immediately I thought of Peace.
Funny how Peace keeps popping into my head during stressful times, now.
I keep thinking that there is clearly a reason that the Lord put it on my heart to write about Finding Peace for 31 days. Not only did I need to write about this topic because I need more Peace in my everyday, but, there was also going to be some struggles that were in my plan during this 31 day period and I needed to write about them to deal and cope with those struggles.
Potty-training is one of them.
We are learning as we go. It’s no easy feat for her. And it’s no easy feat for me.
We are both trying our best.
She is doing amazing and I am so proud of her.
Well, after two accidents in a row last night, she told me she needed to go poopoo on the big toilet, right before her bath and guess what!!!!
She did! Her first poopoo on the toilet (TMI? I am thrilled!)
We both needed that accomplishment.
We needed to end the day on that positive note and I’m really thankful that we did.
I felt a sense of relief as I got into bed last night. It’s so amazing to me that a day that was utterly trying and testing me to my limits, can end on a such a happy note.
Potty training is not easy.
Neither is finding Peace in every situation.
We are working on both.
This is the 16th post in a 31 day series about Finding Peace. You can see all of the posts in this series, here.
