10 minute sketch for portrait of Royal.
Copyright 2007 Maggie Stiefvater.
Click here for portrait information.
Copyright 2007 Maggie Stiefvater.
Click here for portrait information.
I don't think I've ever been so happy to flush a toilet. After roughly one-thousand, two-hundred, and seventy-seven days (but who's counting?), my daughter Victoria seems to have grasped the use of the toilet. I would do the math on how many of her dirty diapers that means I've changed, but just the idea of using that many commas in one numerical figure involving poop made me throw up in my mouth a little.
Anyway, after three and a half years of me thinking I was raising the first ever child to go directly from Huggies to Depends without pause, Victoria has embraced potty-training with a vengeance. Now, for the past three days, when she needs to use the bathroom, she appears at my elbow, tapping my arm:
VICTORIA: Mama.
ME: . . .
VICTORIA: Mama.
ME: . . .
VICTORIA: Mama (note: you have to understand that she has usually been saying "Mama" for the past thirty minutes by this point, usually for entirely irrelevant reasons, like to point out that she's wearing a shirt).
ME: What do you need, Victoria? Crackers? Nuclear weapons? A toy monkey that will call you by name?
VICTORIA: . . .
ME: (noticing for the first time that she is doing a weird dance with her hand between her legs, like Michael Jackson, which to my mind looks more beautiful than flamenco dancing in this context): Ohhhh. Do you have to use the potty?
VICTORIA: (in a strangled voice) Yes!
Music to my ears. This is wonderful to me on so many different levels:
1. My daughter won't be juggling diaper changes with learning long division.
2. My daughter's pants fit a lot better.
3. I'm not a complete failure as a parent (yet).
4. Not buying Victoria diapers saves me $275 a year, which is name-brand Awesome.
5. I can focus my potty-training efforts on the child who has the ability to shoot his pee five feet in front of him.
So while I was hoping for other great news today (which hopefully I'll be able to share with you soon), I'll take this victory as a nice replacement. Huzzah!
7 comments:
Good for you, and Victoria, Maggie! From what I understand from others with children, potty training can be difficult sometimes.
Hopefully your next potty training endeavours go much more smoothly. If not I have a real-life funny story about potty training for the male half of the species that may just help you out...but you'll need your husband's assistance.
Can't wait to see the final for the Vanner portrait, looks intriguing!
No small accomplishment, for you or Victoria - congratulations!
Beautiful portrait of Billy and Bertie on Sunday’s post! So full of personality and silky-soft fur ... I love it!
Congratulations on your victory - that is no small task to accomplish!
I'm sharing your absolute elation at having Victoria potty trained - my daughter, Brynn, is potty trained as of January 2nd! We finally had her throw away the remaining 10 pull-ups (somewhat bitterly on my behalf at the waste of money) so they were no longer an option.
That's great Maggie. They just won't do it until they're ready no matter what you want. Let your son start hanging in the bathroom with Dad, I think it helps. Barb
Ah, to be young again and have potty training problems. I'm nearing the Depends era. Yikes.....
The sketch is great. I like the gesture.
congrats! this is no small feat.
i have a 13 yr old son, and while he does not wear diapers, i doubt i would use 'potty trained' to describe him even now.
same goes for my 42 yr old husband for that matter.
I DREAM of the day my little one doesn't use diapers! She's about to turn 2 so it can't be much longer:)
Love the Vanner sketch too!
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