Tomorrow, the boys and I are headed out of town for the weekend. We are going to Maine to stay at my husband’s parents’ cottage, which just happens to be located less than an hour from the town where my favorite fair is being held this weekend. The trip would take about six hours, if we drove non stop. I have no idea how long it will actually take us, nor do I have any expectations of getting there at a certain time.
You see, this trip could take a while because Dylan is on an important journey of his own, the journey towards full potty independence. In my role as supportive Mommy, I must allow ample time in my daily agenda for all things potty related. I must be able to suspend my agenda at any given moment in order to locate the nearest restroom and get us all in there as quickly as possible. I am sure that any parent whose toddler has started learning how to use the potty and has started wearing big boy or big girl underwear can relate to this situation.
Today, we went out to do errands and go shopping. Our trip helped us to prepare for tomorrow’s lengthy road trip by giving Dylan an opportunity to practice a very important potty – related skill. That skill may or may not have a name, but it involves letting Mom (or Dad) know that you have to use the potty with enough advance notice for Mom or Dad to locate a restroom and get you in there in time for you to do your thing in the potty instead of in your underwear. Since I am taking a fairly hands – off approach to potty learning, all I did was explain that concept once as we were leaving the house. I was impressed with how readily Dylan understood the concept and put it into action.
On the way to the place where we were going shopping, Dylan let me know that he needed to use the potty. I told him that we were about five minutes from the next exit on the highway, and there was a gas station that we stop at. He said that he would be okay, and he was right. We got there in time. The same thing happened on the way back home. He was also good about asking to use the restrooms in the stores where we were shopping whenever he needed to do so.
Tomorrow’s drive may take a while because of frequent potty breaks, but I do not mind. It is more important for me to make sure that Dylan feels supported and knows that he can trust me to get him what he needs when he needs it. Potty learning is just one short phase in a toddler’s life, but it is an important one. A positive parental attitude and a healthy dose of patience can help your toddler feel at ease with the potty process.
Photo by jusben on morguefile.com.