Potty Training Aiden Stories

Tay: Nothing like having the wifey take over the blog right Bri? Any ways, it's potty training time over here and with Aiden that always makes for gobs of excitement! First let me say Aiden is doing INCREDIBLE. Like all-the-books-say-this-is-impossible-and-I-don't-dare-brag-to-my-girlfriends kind of incredible! We had a grand total of four, maybe five accidents over a period of 48 hours late last week before Aiden was consistently pottying AND POOPING in the toilet ON HIS OWN throughout the day. (I'd like to say a special thank you to my friend Rachael who gave me a sly, knowing smile last year and said "Trust me. Wait until at least a month after his third birthday and then try. It will be the easiest thing you ever did." She was exactly right!)

But, alas, it wouldn't be potty training Aiden without his own unique flair being added to the mix. While the poopy and potty are (miraculously) making it cleanly into the toilet, nothing else around this child has anything to do with clean. Case in point, here is a photo I snapped of the bathroom after Aiden used it on his own for FIVE SECONDS while I ran around packing him a few toys, snacks and a drink for errands today:



His cushioned toddler toilet seat thing is, in his mind, a hindrance so when I hear it hit and chip the drywall after being flung off the toilet, I know Aiden is in the bathroom. Toilet paper has become as fascinating as it was at 14 months (sweet love, I had forgotten how fast the stuff unrolls) and I'm not entirely sure what bathroom activity necessitates a sippy cup, a glitter microphone and a high chair but it's all in there. Hidden in the fluff-mound of toilet paper are his still-dry underwear that never seem to make it back on after a bathroom run. (Again, that's how I know he's toileting by himself during the day. Plus the nearly overflowing paper-clogged toilets of course...) The nudity thing is becoming a mild issue because now Aiden is perfectly content to run around in nothing but a t-shirt and he finds this perfectly acceptable attire for getting the mail, chasing Max in the front yard and watering the plants....with real water...from a pitcher....bottomless. I have often joked with Brian that "this place is like a Frat house" but now it really is with half-naked boys and all.

But I am SOOOOOO proud of Aiden! I honestly cannot take any credit for myself for his potty training. My book said you can't force another human being to learn to use the toilet and you shouldn't appear desperate to get your child to learn. My trick was to not even CARE about toilet training beyond reading the book and doing a few basic things that appeared to Brian as if we had really started toilet training (while I secretly saw no reason to give up the wonderful convenience of diapers for pit-stops every 5 minutes). Lo and behold my faking it for Brian did the trick for Aiden. :)