Toilet Training Success (and Frustration)

Inspiring potty training moment.

I am happy to report that Narra now knows what's going on. She tells us when she needs to go, and we take her to her potty.  Haha, I say it so simply. But let me paint the two scenarios involved - let me put that sentence to life. "She tells us when she needs to go, and we take her to the potty" Part 1 (the inspiring version). "Mama, weewee ako" she says. I help her out of her pants, she does her business, she smiles proudly "look mama" and points to her achievement. An appreciative audience applauds her. Neat, quick, even elegant. Happy potty training moment! Woohoo!

Now let's do that sentence again. "She tells us when she needs to go, and we take her to the potty" Part 2 (the horrifying version). "Mama, poopoo ako" she says. I rush to take her to the potty, and we make it there on time, I am halfway done pulling her pants down when she shouts "not sa potty, sa toilet, I want sa toilet", she gestures frantically to the bathroom a few steps away, I lift her and run to the toilet - it is soooo close, just a few steps!... but we don't make it to the finish line and lose the battle mid-way. Sigh. Her pants are mid-way down her legs. We were midway between her room and the bathroom. Yaya Ruby is mid-way through her day-off - she's a good helper for sure - that is, when she's around.  Narra's poop was mid-way between solid and liquid - eeeeew! It was the kind of mess to test one's mettle. I was mid-way between regret and pride;  frustration and elation.   Regret and frustration: why am I wallowing in waste? ...in my daughter's waste matter; and my wasted opportunity - I have a PhD for crying out loud - why am I Dr. Nikki Poop Cleaner PhD now? Get me out of this house now! Wah! I only want the cute parts of motherhood - the greeting card - picture perfect - fuzzy feeling moments! I want none of the crap! (literally). Hahahaha. 

But of course, there's that other part, the Pride and Elation part that understands that I've just taught my daughter something complex and she understood her body and what it needs to do. She demanded I move her from her little potty to the grown-up toilet - and that makes me proud! She wants to take the next step, to go to the next stage, to graduate from her training camp to go join the big leagues. I can get past the yucky stuff to celebrate the fact that I WAS HERE TO WITNESS HER MILESTONES.  Potty training was a long and protracted process, a journey that sometimes felt directionless and endless. But not now, not anymore. We're getting there. Like a city that appears on the horizon after hours of driving on the freeway, our goal is within reach. We're at the city limits, we've just about arrived! We're not just getting there, we're almost there - I could smell it!!!!! Something's clicked in her brain. The necessary neural connections have been established for a lifetime's worth of "comfort". And when it comes to being a mother - no job is beneath me. I embrace all the tasks involved and in the process, I am mother made real. Not this tutti fruity cutesy mom who shrinks at the sight of the less desirable baby stuff (read: poop, puke, boogers and blood), but the sturdy mom with the intestinal fortitude to match. 

So, I am happy to report that Narra now knows what's going on. She tells us when she needs to go, and we take her to the potty. Whew!

Related Post:

Diaper Free Before 3: Should Potty Training Be Started Early?

http://nikki-mama.blogspot.com/2011/09/diaper-free-before-3-should-potty.html