Sweet sweet victories

Today is my 33rd birthday. It's been a good day, but some big things have happened with potty training that made it great.

My son is 2 years and 3 months old, which is 27 months for you non-math people out there. We've been working on potty training since he turned 2, and up till this point have had little victories but overall he was consistently not using the potty. He'd sit on it and we'd talk about it a lot, but yeah, he wasn't really using the potty. This afternoon however he used it several times, on purpose, with telling us he wanted to go! He went both pee and poop in the potty and got out of bed twice to go more. It is finally clicking. He is getting it.

I am so excited for him. We want him to know he can do it. The transition from baby to big boy is one he is starting to make on his own and it is absolutely worth celebrating.

What would have happened if we had just stopped potty training because he wasn't having instant success? I don't know, but it isn't fun to think about. Each child needs to be allowed to take as long as they need to get through the process. You can't rush it. You can't assume they will be potty trained in a weekend, a week, a month, or even a few months. It takes time. Some will literally be potty trained after one accident, but that is not the norm. They need to be free of adult timelines so that they can really succeed.

Some of you reading this may be thinking "I don't have 3 months to potty train! That woman is crazy!" and I can fully understand and appreciate the thought since I might be a little crazy. Non-crazy people don't become potty training consultants. But I am one. And I guarantee success, just not on a timeline. There are many factors that determine when a child will become potty trained, and anyone who promises a timeline is ignoring the individuality of each child. I want to work you, the parents and experts on your child, to help you learn ways you can help your child. Won't you let me help you? Won't you let me encourage you to keep at it rather than giving up and labeling your child as "hard to potty train"?

There is no shame in needing help. The real shame is needing help and not asking for it. Ask. I'm here!

And for now I'll just keep doing my happy dance for my sweet boy's "gift" to me on my birthday!