Toddler Toilet Learning

This past week my son and I embarked on a new adventure together: toilet learning.  For me it was a real lesson in letting go, for I would have no control over the situation.  For him it was a lesson in paying attention to his body in a way he had NEVER taken the time to do before.  Needless to say, I had NO idea how things would unfold.

Now, I'll be honest.  This being my first time through a toilet learning experience, I really felt at a loss.  I had no idea how to embark.  I took a friend's advice and didn't leave the house for a few days (it was raining anyway).  Tuesday, day one, was an accelerated learning experience: my son peed through four pairs of underpants in less than 90 minutes...but he learned to hold it after THAT :) Thursday was our first venture out...to the playground around the corner.  He was doing great.  Suddenly, from across the playground, standing in a dirt patch in the corner of the gated space, my son calls out to me, "PEEPEE! Pee pee in the toilet!!", as he literally held himself, knees locked.  It was his first out-of-house bathroom moment.  I tossed my six month old to my friend (yes, thankfully I had company) and ran to him, yanking down his pants and training underpants and directing him to the nearest bush.  Nothing.  Not a drop.  False alarm, or so I thought.  Then I realized what was about to happen and it was NOT urination.  "The potty!!", I screamed to my friend, "the potty is under the stroller!"  She ran to help me, the baby flopping and spitting up everywhere because of course she was nursing when I tossed her into new hands in the first place: but it was too late.  My son had graced the little dirt patch with an offering to make proud any local pooch.  "I MAKE IT!", my son gushed, beaming from ear to ear.  "Wow", he sighed,  still gazing down at his achievement, "that was hard".  I almost cried from suppressed laughter (my friend had to walk away...her laughter was not suppressed).  "I am SO PROUD of you", I managed with a straight face, "so PROUD".  He puffed out his chest and went back to playing; I scooped the poop and found my mini hand sanitizer.

Since then we have had general success and I'm not sure who's enthusiasm is greater.  I know it's different for every child and every family, but so far things have been great and I say just take the plunge and go for it.  What's the worst that could happen? :)