SH*T

If there is one thing that parenthood continually reminds you, it's don't make plans.  We have a busy summer ahead of us with my sister's wedding and a trip to San Diego.  As mentioned before, Eileen sometimes acts like she is in a hurry to be a big girl.  At 16 months she liked to play on the potty.  Yesterday at 18 months, she not so subtly informed me that she would like to be potty trained.  My reaction was, "Aww, sh*t."

Eileen is a woman who does not mince words.  Yesterday she noticed the potty book hanging around. She simply grabbed it, marched to the bathroom, and instructed me to remove her pants and diaper.  She then proceeded to do her business.  I was a  little stunned.  Later that day, we came home from our soccer game.  Eileen again grabbed the book and walked into the bathroom to do her thing.

This morning while getting dressed, I thought I might ask if she wanted to go potty.  Her response was: potty.  She sat and waited for me to read the potty book.  Success.  I went to put down the book, she got mad  and insisted I read it again.  I agreed and then she pooped and asked for a wipe.  I don't think she could have been any clearer about wanting to be potty trained.

I was unprepared for this development.  Today we went out and got her some panties and started the process.  It went okay.  She had three accidents, two of which were totally my fault, and stayed dry through nap.

I don't hate potty training.  It was a fairly straightforward process with Linus.  He potty trained at almost 21 months and had the basics down in a matter of days.  I just don't have the energy to potty train Eileen right now.  I don't want to have to hunker down in the house for several days, watch the clock for potty breaks every 30-45 minutes, and then stress about bathroom locations and how much time I have when we are out in public.  I don't want to clean up wet spots on the carpet.  I think my selfishness and lack of enthusiasm is due in part to the fact that I watch an additional child three days a week, an additional child who wants/needs my attention and energy (I love both kids that I watch, but three kids at a time is significantly more difficult than two).  The first time around, potty training seemed a little daunting and challenging, but I was excited.  This time it is overwhelming, stressful, and inconvenient.

I know I need to just suck it up and deal.  A potty training window has opened and I need to accept this.  Perhaps Eileen will let me off the hook and potty train herself.  Maybe these past two days have just been a total fluke and she will wake up tomorrow with no interest.  In the meantime all I can say, both literal and figuratively is, sh*t.