What I have dreaded has begun

***Updated to add: Several of you have asked me what book I use. It was recommended by a friend (shout out to Danielle) who used it with her daughter and it worked like a charm. Unfortunately, we have not experienced the same stellar results that she had (FIVE accidents already today...I may lose my mind!). Anyway the book is Toilet Training in Less Than a Day. It was originally published in 1974. Some of the language is old-fashioned and the drawings are rather outdated, but it's still a good book. Although, I think I will use a Sharpie to change the name of mine to: Toilet Training in a Week...Please God, just a week!***

I never have understood why some parents are so eager to potty-train their children. It makes NO sense to me. Don't they realize how much easier it is to keep the kid in diapers?

The only thinking ahead that is required with diapers is "did I put one in the diaper bag?".

When potty training, you have to think "Okay, if she goes to the potty immediately before we leave to go (insert location) then when we get there, I can rush her to the bathroom and hopefully we will avert any accidents".

Then, while at said location, you are constantly on your toes, checking your watch, asking your child, "Do you have to go to the potty?" one million times, watching for the "tee-tee dance".

And then, before you leave, you have to go to the bathroom, pray for SOMETHING to come out, and then rush home before a wet carseat has to be cleaned.

Sigh. It's exhausting just typing it.

Well, today was potty-training day number one at our house. And really, potty-training did not even begin until 4:30pm.

BUT, during the 4 hour time frame before bed, Nora tee-teed in the potty 4 times (each success rewarded with a peanut butter M&M...tomorrow, she is rewarded with stickers...I don't want to cause childhood obesity with potty-training) and had 1 accident. And, I'm not so sure she would have had the accident had she been indoors.

She was playing outside with Matthew and got to laughing really hard and just couldn't control her bladder. At least the accident was outside!

Even though she was laughing hysterically and probably would have wet all over herself even if she had been potty-trained for a year, we still went through the steps that our book told us to go through.

We (Matthew) made her walk from the site of the accident to her potty 6 times (the book says to do it 10), telling her the whole way, "We tee-tee in the potty, not on the grass". She was crying by the end of it. I'm sure this won't be the last time we do the "potty walk".

So, it's begun. She will be 2 1/2 this month and has shown some interest sporadically.

Maybe my days of buying size 3 and 4 diapers are drawing to a close.

But, it's easier.