I’ll start with the good news: Isla is still going strong with potty training! We’re down to a single diaper a day at nap time and the occasional accident, but mostly going #1 and #2 in the potty at home and on the go. She’s so good these days about telling us when she needs to go, and when she has an accident, she announces, “Uh oh” or “Icky!”
It’s obviously going to continue to be a work in progress, but I’m so proud of how well she’s doing, and the best part is that Isla seems so proud of herself and much happier using the potty than she was with diapers. For the last several months, diapers and diaper changes have not ranked very high (or at all) on Isla’s list of things she wants to do. I think potty training gives her a sense of being more in control of her body and a sense of personal autonomy that diapers just didn’t. Whereas diaper changes were on our schedule, using the potty is on hers, and she’s not strapped into a hot, soggy diaper all day. Her enthusiasm for potty training is the main reason this has been so successful, so I hope it sticks!
The bad news: our wonderful sitter gave her notice a few weeks ago. We are so sad about losing her, because she is amazing with Isla, and Isla loves her so much, but she and one of her children have been having health issues which need to be addressed, and that obviously takes priority. We have been absolutely heart broken, but we hope we’ll be able to continue a relationship with the family, and Isla will still get to see them on weekends.
Fortunately, we’ve managed to find another great sitter (Care.com, y’all! Can’t recommend it enough, and I don’t get paid to plug them!), and I’m confident Isla will like her and enjoy spending time with her and her daughter, who is a little older than Isla.
I have a few concerns about changing care. Most are pretty normal things related to the change in environment and Isla no longer being the star of the show and having to share and get along with another toddler. The biggie though is obviously potty training. Not only are big changes like this pretty normal causes of potty training regression, but the older girl Isla will be spending time with isn’t potty trained yet. I’m hoping Isla will be a good influence on her and that she’s so established that this change won’t upset her potty training too much. But.
I keep telling myself that Isla is an incredibly easy-going, adaptable kid who loves everyone. She will be going to a place every day where she will have lots of fun, have a playmate, and be very well cared for. Everything will be fine. Change is always hard, though, and I think in this case, it will be much harder for me than it is for Isla. Actually, that’s true in most cases. Isla really is the most ridiculously laid back toddler I’ve ever encountered, while I’m perpetually wound up like an 8-day clock.
Life goes so quickly these days. Every day I look at Isla and marvel at how big, independent, and confident she is. I’m a very lucky mama. I hope this transition is easy on her!
Kelly Brown says
October 16, 2013 at 9:39 pmThanks for sharing your experience. We are preparing to start potty training our 17 month old son.