Day 1 went something like this:
Emma woke up and as soon as she pooped first thing that morning, we went out and threw away the last of her diapers together. I wanted her to physically see her diapers going bye bye, for us both to mentally prepare for what was to come! I came into potty training thinking that on the first day Emma would not make it on the potty once and would pee on our floor 40 times. That first day, Emma had 4 accidents in the morning, but then made it on the potty 7 times in a row!!! We were super optimistic and had a huge celebratory potty dance for Emma whenever she went potty. She was SO good at saying, "Mama, pee pee!!!" And we'd run into the bathroom together. She would pull down her panties, sit on the potty, and then flush all on her own. I just couldn't believe how good she was doing, and I was not expecting her to get it so fast and just love wearing panties... I could tell she was so proud of herself. After seeing her success that first day, I knew we could do this!
What happened on Day 2 was very unexpected. She had had an accident during the night, and it just went downhill from there. Mentally, I thought if I was positive enough and encouraging her enough I knew she could do it! I was never negative once towards Emma and potty training. Eventually throughout Day 2 she was getting uncomfortable because she was getting constipated, and that started to scare her. At the end of Day 2 she finally went #2 on the potty and I was so proud of her, and I was beyond ecstatic!
When Emma woke up on Day 3, she woke up dry and immediately told me she had to go potty! I saw a light at the end of the tunnel, and I knew we could do this together!!! I supported Emma 100% and had full faith in her that she could go potty. After she went on the potty that morning, she had acident after accident all day. She slowly stopped telling me that she had to go, and I was still positive in trying to help her. Emma started to get uncomfortable and whiney, and I didn't know what was going on with her.
On Day 4 Emma was constipated all day, and was just so uncomfortable and deep down I knew that she wasn't ready for this 100% like I had hoped. What was hardest for me was I saw her success in the beginning and I saw that she could definitely do this and succeed! I can't remember the last time I went through something so emotionally draining, because I would go from complete happiness to trying to put on a happy face for Emma when she had an accident. At the end of the 4th day, I gave her the choice to put on panties like a big girl and go on the potty like mama and pappa, or to go back to diapers like baby brother. In the end, she chose the diapers... and gosh that was heartbreaking. I felt like I had failed her as a mom. In my mind I went over everything I said and did those past few days and what I could have done differently. It took a few days until I realized there was nothing more I could have done or said, it all came down to if Emma was truly ready to be done with diapers and ready to go on the potty.
I guess I'm glad we tried potty training! I just hope next time we try, Emma will be more ready ;)
