I’ve come to the conclusion that potty training isn’t about my child’s spirituality, but about mine. No other challenge can fill me with such weariness, despair, and sometimes anger, than potty training. I come to a conclusion that it’s not that big of a deal, and then the next day I’m worried about the cost of diapers. I know full well that it’s not going to harm my child not to be potty trained right now, but when I’m tired of changing multiple diapers from two children, I wonder why can’t it be right now. After all, Sue potty trained her son six months ago, and so did Mary with her twins. Isobel’s child potty trained herself. I’m not sure exactly what that means, but I like the idea and wish it would happen with me. And I’ve read a bunch of authors that say there is no reason that a two year old cannot be potty trained. Even the American Association of Pediatrics says that kids can be potty trained early (just takes them longer to learn, as a rule). And then my heart is in turmoil. What’s a tired mom to do?
Once again, of course, I must turn it over to the Lord. If I’m too tired to work on it, then I’m too tired. There’s no potty-training deadline. Don’t be weary in well-doing (like changing diapers), because you will reap in due season if you faint not (I’d like to think that’s a potty trained child). Seek God’s kingdom first, delight myself also in the Lord, and God will give me my desires and needs (or change them, of course). Understand that my lack of patience and contentment is sin that must be confessed. My tiredness, or having a child in diapers is not a sin. And don’t be alarmed when next week comes and I need the same pep talk I needed yesterday.
In light of all this, I’ve seen some changes in my daughter that indicate she’s taken a few steps in the potty training arena. She’s wanting to wear underwear. I put her on the potty and she went right away. And yesterday, she said she had to go potty, and ended up going all over the bathroom floor. This is the first time she’s noticed she had to go potty before the fact. So I can rejoice in those things. I can rejoice that unlike my first child, this one seems to want to learn to go potty, although she gets weary in well doing too. It’s an overwhelming task for a little one. Maybe I’ll share Galatians 6:9 with her next time we’re in the bathroom together. It will come. And when it does, don’t come to me for potty training advice. I really don’t know.
This brings be great hope. I am a weary one, too in the area of potty training. It seems that it will never happen but I do know it will. I’ll greatly rejoice. But wait, aren’t we to rejoice in the midst of this too? Yes, I just forgot. 🙁 I’ll be praying for us both.
No progress over the chaotic weekend. Hoping the week is better, but if not, this is the day that the Lord has made. 😉 Learning from you! ME
I’m weary too. Leah is 3 1/2. Sigh… Daniel turned 2 in April and I thought I’d wait until Leah was trained to start him. But he’s showing interest now. We sat on the potty for about 15 minutes before nap time today, and he didn’t want to get off. 🙂 I’m a little scared of having, what feels to me like, two failures at once if I work on both of them at the same time. On days when I feel like saving money is important, I put Leah in underwear and plastic pants. On days when sanity is more important, we go with pull-ups. Anyway, we’re praying that God will help Leah to be potty-trained…soon! (And that Daniel’s training won’t take this long!!!)
Well… at least you have an excuse. Moving is such a traumatic ordeal for kids. I’m sure that’s it! Anyway, I’ll add you to the prayer list when I’m on the stool in the bathroom with all three kids, waiting for something exciting to happen. 😉