Potty Training Update

First, I wanted to tell you how I feel about my last post (the one with kids playing with toy guns.) I knew when having a boy and living in the South and being part of a family that has no opposition to real guns that toy guns would probably be introduced to my child some day. I, like others, have real guns in my home (that D has NEVER even seen) and take issue with children playing with something that so closely mimics something that can be so dangerous so I did not want D to have toy guns. He did/does have a squirt gun that looked nothing like a real gun and I cringed when I first saw it but Dad gave it to him before we ever had the discussion and I couldn't take it back at that point. But guns that look like real guns have no place for play in my home. That's just how I feel about it. I've made it clear to extended family that I don't like them and don't want them given to D to play with. If he receives any they'll be thrown out. I just don't want him to ever associate guns with toys because they certainly are not. When he's old enough D will be taught proper gun handling and safety just like I was and just like his Dad was. I don't want him to fear them because then curiousity can get the best of him and I don't want him to think they are this "fun" "neat" thing because he has no business handling one as a child or adolescent. He needs to know how they work and he needs to know how dangerous they can be.

Now moving on. Yesterday was one week of potty training and I must say that they first 5 days were horrific. Stressful. HARD. Then on Sunday, something just clicked. While D won't tell me he has to go he can tell me immediately after an accident and knows to go to the potty and try to finish. He also can hold it much longer than the 20 minutes we started with. I think we're at about an hour and a half or so. So we're improving. It's been a process but I'm not stressed anymore at all. We get up, go potty and continue to go as needed. I've been able to leave the house for short trips and I'm just not worried about it so much now. So if you're starting soon or trying to potty train now, just know that eventually the stress leaves and it's just another part of parenthood.