Potty-Time

I know it sounds cliché, but having a child really does change your outlook on life. It’s wonderful how the smallest things can mean so much. Reaching the top of a mole-hill is really reaching the top of a mountain, especially for an 18 month old.

One of the next big milestones for Abbie will be potty training. Now usually, doctors estimate that children are ready for toilet training at around 24-30 months. That is about the time that children are both mentally and physically capable of determining when they need to go, and have the muscles to hold on until they can go.

But Abbie is a true go-getter. She doesn’t know the meaning of the word “can’t”. So she loves to push the envelope of her abilities.

Knowing this milestone is approaching, we decided to get Abbie a little training toilet. It sits on the floor and has a cute little padded pink seat for her. We put it in the bathroom next to the real toilet and explained to her that it was her potty – for when she needed to pee-pee or poo-poo.

Knowing that it was hers, she loved it right away. She was proud of her little potty, even though she wasn’t sure what it was for – other than for a comfortable sit.

I somehow got into the habit of asking her, “Do you have to go potty?” every time she’d get ready for her bath at night. It didn’t take long before she actually got fussy with anticipation while she got undressed, yelling, “Powwy! Powwy!” She'd run over to it, lift the lid, and position herself squarely on it. There she’d sit, swinging her legs with a big proud grin on her face. She looked so natural, I later decided to give her a little book to read while she sat on it.

Now I didn’t logically expect anything to happen while she sat there. I know she’s still too young to “go” on command. But there was a tiny part of me hoping to see a little golden treasure in the bottom of the potty when she got up. Each time she stood up, she and I would peek in the bottom but see nothing but clean plastic (I’m not sure what she expected to find). But, that’d be OK and I’d praise her using her potty.

Tonight after her bath, as usual, she sat on my lap while I dried her off. She saw her little potty and yelled, “POWWY! POWWY!” She was a little more anxious about it than normal. When she was dry, she hopped down and scooted herself onto the seat. After a few seconds, or so, I could have sworn I’d heard something going on in there. When she finally stood up, we both peered into the little bowl. There, in the bottom was a little pool of piddle. I couldn’t have been more proud!

“YAY!” I said. “Abbie went pee-pee in the potty!” I squeezed her, kissed her on the head and pointed at the bowl. “Abbie went pee-pee in the potty! YAY!” Abbie got a big grin on her face and I think she was even surprised herself to see something there. Then she turned and ran into her bedroom to do a little dance.

It may have been a fluke. Or she may really have had to go. Time will tell. But she loves it when she knows she did something good. She may not understand it, or the gravity of the situation. But she is definitely eager to find the next taller hill and get to the top before you know it.