The One With "The One With The Potty Training" Guest Post

Recently I replied to a request on Twitter by fellow blogger thismummyloves for guest blog posts on potty training.

We have been trying to potty train the boy on and off now for quite some time with limited success. The weekend I wrote this

The One with The Potty Training

as my guest blog post we'd had a breakthrough and I thought all was going well.

We have, shall I say, regressed since this was written. The boy now knows he wants to go but demands a nappy on before he will. I've tried brazening it out and being strong but he's now holding it in and has made himself constipated on occasions, which I've read can be quite common if a child just isn't ready to use the potty of their own accord.

I fear we will just have to wait until he is ready! 

All the experts, health visitors, friends and family have said the same. It's loads easier when they want to do it themselves. As long as he's done by the time he goes to school who cares. 

But I'm feeling the pressure. I was told recently by my chum Vintage Songstress that some Pre-Schools won't take children that aren't potty trained! Luckily ours will, but how much pressure does that put on a parent and child if that's the case? It completely takes away the "do it when they are ready" option. 

The other problem, I feel I have, is the boy is unusually tall for his age. He's 3, but looks 5 and is still in nappies so therefore, in the eyes of some, behaving like he's 2.

I know, I know I shouldn't care what people think and basically I don't. So why am I feeling so stressed about it all?

I've never been the sort of Mum for charts and plans and timetables. I like things to go more organically than that. Maybe this time though I'd like a little more uniformity, a bit more normality and conformity. I'd like him to just DO IT. 

However I think I just need to suck it up and except that it will happen. One day. 

He will run to me one morning and say

"Mummy I want big boy pants on today."

(Or something equally endearing and cute probably punctuated with the words Whaleshark or can I have Finding Nemo on again for the 8 millionth time please). 

I just hope that day comes soon that's all.