We Interrupt The Ongoing Vacation Saga...
My three-and-a-half-year-old child is potty training herself. I always dreamed it would happen this way, and I'm probably jinxing myself, but she has made three peeps and one giant poop on the toilet, by herself, with no prompting.
No bribes. No stickers. No countless stories and making pretend "pssss" noises with her mouth to fake me out. Nor running the water. No mommy demonstrations (thank goodness.) No input from me at all. She just went on in there and did her bidness and then proudly showed me the results in the bowl, before wishing them a good day, and a safe trip to the sea, and sending them on their way with a flourish.
This could be it. I could be done with diapers. After eight long, continuous years, I could be living in a diaper-free zone.
I'm going to have a big glass of wine (hah! I typed whine right there.) and anticipate - I have seen my future, and it doesn't include wiping anyone's butt. At least not in a literal sense. For at least a few years.
Ooh, I'm all tingly! Tears are burning in my eyes and I'm lacking the words to share how much this means. This is so...so...
AWESOME! I'm not free yet, but the diaper days are waning and I'm already preparing my victory speech.
Holy hell, I think I might have just delivered it here.
Comments
Rock on, Sista!
Posted by: Elaine | July 3, 2006 10:05 PM
I also have a 3 and a half year old and he has made it very clear that he has no intention of ever being potty trained. I'm trying to let him do things in his own time, but it's starting to look like 'his own time' could be 'Junior High'.
I also have a 19 year old and 16 year old and I somehow managed to potty train them with a minimal amount of mental anguish (for them or me) but I'm damned if I can remember how I did it after all these years.
All that to say: I am SO jealous and also, send Pull Ups!
Posted by: Contrary | July 3, 2006 10:13 PM
Hooray! I'm new to the club (just finishing up two weeks) but I want to welcome you. Life without diapers is AWESOME!!
Course, I DO babysit an 8 month old. . .
Posted by: Jenijen | July 4, 2006 12:55 AM
Well, you knew she wouldn't be off to college in diapers, so it was bound to happen. Just in her own time. And, BTW, don't count your chickens before they hatch about not wiping...my 7 y.o. *still* calls me to the bathroom about once a month to see if I'll wipe her after a poop. Uh, no, I won't. (Did I. wipe herself and everything? I'm impressed! She must be very independent; well, I know she is, because I read your blog!)
Posted by: Stephanie C. | July 4, 2006 8:49 AM
Oh, I remember those days. It was as if life just got a whole lot easier. It was great and certainly makes for easier holidays! Enjoy!
Posted by: Weary Parent | July 4, 2006 10:01 AM
Woohoo!!! Congratulations!!
Posted by: chasmyn | July 4, 2006 3:32 PM
"Congrats!" she whispered. I need this to happen to me. Soon. Before preschool starts in the fall. Yikes.
But I realized today that I don't actually care if my kid is potty trained. At this point, I've convinced myself that my life is easier changing diapers rather than dragging a child doing the pee pee dance through the mall on the hunt for the restroom. I know. I'm delusional.
Posted by: Mary Tsao | July 4, 2006 8:11 PM
Holy Hell Batman, I'm jealous!! If you need a reminder, please come on over.
Posted by: Melissa | July 4, 2006 8:59 PM
Oh, are you a blessed woman! Even if this is not a permanent behavior, to experience this joy for even a brief moment in time is pure ecstacy. Revel in it. I have fingers and toes and streams of toilet paper crossed in hopes of her continued potty success.
Posted by: Mellie Helen | July 4, 2006 10:50 PM
Jenny! I feel your happiness. My three and half year old just up and decided to finally potty train over the past week too.
Huzzah and I'll lift my glass of Clower-approved wine to you and yours tonight ;)
Posted by: HG | July 5, 2006 4:58 AM
i'd say congrats and yay! but i'm far too jealous. i'm trying to get my son (4 y.o.) to understand the potty is his friend... but he much prefers to walk around with a huge damp butt. i need a potty training boot camp or something to send him too... he's driving me insane.
Posted by: monique | July 5, 2006 7:22 AM
CONGRATULATIONS! I am so happy for you! I'm toasting you with a big glass of grape juice, since my diaper days are about to be stretched out by another few years.
Wish me luck, we start potty training Missy HooHaw next week, provided she adjusts to the big girl bed we set up yesterday.
Posted by: Jenn2 | July 5, 2006 8:52 AM
CONGRATS! We're working on potty training with our two year old and it isn't going well..I think she'll be in diapers until college. You'll have to tell me what it's like to NOT have diapers anymore!
Posted by: Randi | July 5, 2006 10:23 AM
Wow! Talk about an Independence Day!
Whoo hooo! No more diaper no more wipes no more icky baby butt swipes!
Posted by: Jennifer | July 5, 2006 2:49 PM
Woo HOOOOOOO!! I can't wait for a diaper free day!!
Posted by: Shanonn | July 5, 2006 3:01 PM
See - now that is exactly why I'm putting it off.. wait long enough and they'll do all the work. Or at least I hope so?
That is.. amazing. You give hope to the downtrodden and weary.. to the diaper exhausted masses.
Booyah!!
Posted by: holli | July 6, 2006 2:54 PM
Congratulations! Now that's what I call "success"!!!
High five the girl for me!
Posted by: angie | July 6, 2006 6:49 PM
Oh, to be done with diapers...It's not in the cards for me for several more years, at least not if my husband gets his way and we have a third child. My 2 year old goes only very occasionally on the potty and I encourage it like crazy, but I know she's going to take her sweet time with it. My son, while potty-trained still uses the overnights and I have no idea when that is supposed to end. Perhaps I will have a glass of wine, to toast your new found freedom and to help keep me mellow while I dream about my own...
Posted by: Kristen | July 6, 2006 8:06 PM
As soon as the magical Potty Training Fairy is finished at your house, could you send her this way? PLEASE? I would love to watch as she casts a spell over my three-years-old-later-this-month preschooler, so I don't have to hurry things along and get my daughter in big girl panties before school starts in August. Thank You, in advance, of course!
Posted by: Erin (erin-erin-bo-berin) | July 6, 2006 8:39 PM
Wow... diaper-free!! I have been changing diapers since the year 2002... and my youngest is only 7 months old!? So hopefully *crosses fingers* by the year 2009 I will also be living in a diaper free zone!! (That is- if I don't have any more kids!!) <-- *Pretends to faint at the thought of any more kids!!*
Posted by: KK | July 6, 2006 9:53 PM
Yeah for you! I raise my glass in a salute.
My last is only wearing a diaper at night. There is an end in sight after 13 years. Think of the money I'll save!
Posted by: onetallmomma | July 7, 2006 5:27 AM
Ummm...Jenny. I love you and all, and your blog is great, BUT, if you think you're done wiping butts, you are dreaming. They need "a little help" for quite some time...unless you don't mind skidmarked undies! Ok, I'm teasing--you know all this! Keep up the good work--love your stuff!
Posted by: CJ | July 7, 2006 6:43 PM
I am SO jealous! I dread to think how many diapers I have changed in the last four years and, worse, how many more I have got to come.
Posted by: Ella | July 8, 2006 12:38 PM