We’ve been on the potty training and learning bandwagon for some time now. Earlier this summer, he showed some initial interest in potty training, and like a crazy cloth diaper addict, I rushed out and purchased all the cloth training pants (I also reached out to a few brands). I also dived right into this potty training thing with absolutely no idea what I was doing.

Six Months Later…

I still have absolutely no idea what I’m doing in regards to toddler potty training.

And yes, you read that correctly, it has taken us over SIX MONTHS to potty train our two-year-old because I gave up on potty training and attempted a casual, learning, experience around the potty.

Times Potty Training Accidents

The potty training experience has been an ebb and flow of things working and things not working. My toddler is really awesome at going to the bathroom at home, but sometimes we have accidents. Toddler Potty Training might not be perfect and in my house these are three reasons potty training accidents happen.

When Mom gets Angry at Him.
If I loose my cool, then he looses his bladder. I loose my cool more often than I care to admit, but mostly its the very angry mom which results in puddles around my house. Parenting a toddler is hard, fucking hard.
When Dad forces him to use the Potty.
If Dad is hounding him to go to the potty before we go to bed or leave the house, then he just backs off the potty training train, and starts making accidents. This is especially evident for us during nap. Parenting a toddler is hard, fucking hard. He’s so fiercely independent and does not want to be told what to do.
When he has to wear underwear, training pants, or pants.
Seriously, I can’t seem to break this one. It’s getting better. He wont pee his training pants when we go somewhere and he knows where the toilet is. Sometimes a little accident while we are stripping down to bare bum, but at home, if I try the undies or the training pants, its’ pooping and peeing central. Figuring otu this milestone is hard, fucking hard. I’ve tried regular underwear, training pants, nothing – just pants, but sigh, nothing is sticking quite yet. Probably why its called potty learning. It will come with time.

When do accidents in your house? Tell me in the comments below because I know there are variances on normal.

I know I need to be a better parent and a more relaxed version of myself. I lose my cool way too often, and when the accidents happen, staying calm is so unbelievably hard. Most days I’m pretty sure I’m not cut out for this parenting crapy, and I definitely just want to piece out. Who knew teaching a child to use the potty would take so much time?

I could try one of those three-day courses other bloggers and moms write about, but if you know my kid, you know he doesn’t do anything you want him to do. This is evident by #2 on my list.

He’s almost fully trained, but the lack of speech gives us some serious barriers when we leave the house and go to unfamiliar places. I’m waiting patiently for more words (just kidding, it drives me nuts). When we do leave the house, I choose a diaper if its somewhere without a washroom and training pants if its somewhere with a washroom. We also use diapers if we suspect a poop.