Potty Training: Part 2

On November 6th, I posted "Potty Training: Part 1". I was worn down by the process, but cautiously optimistic about our progress. Now I have a feeling you'll be seeing Potty Training: parts 3, 4, and 5 before this adventure is complete.

When people say this is a frustrating process, they are not kidding.

(For those of who who got you kids trained in 3 days and never looked back... good for you. But hush. That is not my world, and I don't want to hear about it. I have enough mommy inadequacy issues already.)


Potty Training: Part 2 is otherwise known as "pretend it never happened." Amelia had a few great days of training. Three days in a row where she stayed completely dry. But then the thrill of her new ability wore off. She decided to stop going potty altogether. So we backed down. If she doesn't mind a soggy Pull-Up, then so be it. We'll try again in January.

So imagine my surprise when Amelia's preschool teacher exclaims to me one afternoon, "Oh! I really need some tips from you. I think it's amazing that Amelia is completely potty trained already! What did you do?!?"

Insert jaw drop here.

Um... huh? Do you mean my Amelia? I guess I wondered why she kept coming home with 3 Pull-Ups in her school bag. It turns out that she has no accidents at school. She tells them when she needs to potty, and she keeps her Pull-Up dry. They change her in the afternoon - but only once, and just for the sake of freshness, I suppose.

I kept reading that it was difficult to transition potty training children from the home toilet to going elsewhere. Yet I find out, once again, that my child defies all usual written advice. She goes at school but not at home!

And just last week, we went to library story time. In the middle of a story, Amelia comes up to me and whispers in my ear, "Mommy, I need to go potty... now!"

Insert confused look here.

I take her to the potty and sure enough, a dry Pull-Up. And she does what she needs to do in the restroom. Clearly, there is something about the school-like environment that makes her want to be a big girl. I guess it's the other children? Perhaps a power play against Mommy? Really, I'm baffled. I'll keep on changing those wet Pull-Ups, but I wish I knew how to convince her to be as awesome at home as she is at school.