I find myself once again at the potty training junction.  I am full of emotion concerning this monumental event.  She is my youngest, so I'm a little sad that she is growing up so quickly, yet I am excited that she is interested and showing the signs that she is ready.

    I guess what scares me the most is the ghost of potty training past that haunts me.  Yes, you guessed it, my oldest child and her potty training woes.  My oldest is very smart, loving, friendly, but has a strong will.  I was a pre-school teacher in college and had potty trained many children so I expected this to be a piece of cake.  I bought the potty that really flushes and plays music. I bought an assortment of books and videos for back-up and, of course, I bought M&M's for rewards. I had cleared my schedule for the week so that I could be focused on my mission.  I was a soilder ready for war and potty training would not overtake me.  I would be victorious.

    Needless to say, it did not go as well as expected.  Fours months later, I was stressed, she was stressed, and I probably couldn't name more that three places in the house that had not suffered due to an accident.  The culminating event was when my two and a half year old came to me and told me that she wanted to talk about potty. My heart raced with excitement because I thought that she was really ready this time.  Instead she said "Mommy I have been thinking 'bout potty and I not like it.  I found diaper and I wear it.  OK ! Bye!" She then opened my hand, placed the Elmo panties inside my palm, and folded my fingers around them.  Next she proceeded to pull up her dress and show me the diaper that she got gotten from the top of the closet and put on perfectly. I stood there speechless thinking to myself that I have just been had by a two year old. I turned in my weapons and gave up on my mission.  I told my husband that I would send her to college with a pack of pull-ups.   

    Three months later she was completely potty-trained both day and night.  I would like to take the credit, but she basically made up her mind that she wanted to do it and that was it.  It actuallly was a piece of cake, but not until she was ready.  If you are a mom reading this and you are on the front line of the potty training battle just remember it's not about you, it's just about them being ready.  I promise that they won't go to college in a pull-up!