Potty Training success : So sudden?!

Strangely, two days after I wrote & lament about how I would never be able to potty train my darling daughter, she decided to just prove me wrong. (A good thing, it is).

**-- Alot of info ahead, if you are squirmish, stop reading. You have been warned --**

What happened was, on 30 Apr, I decided to continue my efforts of potty training. I left her diaperless for 6 hours that day. In that duration, she prob rushed to the loo about 8 times but had 1 accident which I patiently wiped away. During tea time that day as she & I were sitting on the sofa having "sa-ke-mah" (沙琪瑪 or Sachima), she suddenly rushed off shouting "I need to go to the toilet!!" (yes, she really did say that in a very "urgent manner"). After about what seemed like a long time, I decided to check on her. I asked if she has finished? She said no. I would've left her at that except I smelt something. I did a second glance in the toilet bowl and confirmed she did a #2. Wow. REAL RESULTS! I was so happy that if I felt like doing a little dance.

I praised her immensely & gave her TWO stickers as reward (I made a half-hearted Reward Chart which we paste behind the toilet door). She was very proud that I was so proud.

The next day, I continued to let her go diaperless & she had one or two accidents during the day. I continue to notice she is very aware when she needs to go to the toilet. These few days, I put her on diaper because I am just too tired to clean up the mess but on one day, her diaper was totally DRY. Of course, some days are drier than others. Today she had 2 wet diapers which I constantly remind & nag her about. I also figured she was too preoccupied with her tv shows - I am going to cut down these sessions, MISSY!

("Don't bug me, I'm watching my fav TV show!")

Anyway, I'm just thinking about this subject of potty training : To each its own method but I'm grateful Shean Wenn's experience has been really pleasant. I'm glad I did not stress both of us up by following conventional methods which can be really tiring & time consuming. I'm glad she decided in her own terms that she is ready. I'm proud of you, little darling. You constantly amaze me with your understanding of how things should work.

Attempt #92385 at potty-training : FAIL!

(Her smile here really looks like Meng's, doesn't it?)

Many parents have been blogging about their potty-training success/progress as early as when their kids turn 1YO. Me, I never! Why? I tell friends I didn't find it crucial for her to be stressed out going diaperless. And then,.. I add "It's also because I am lazy". Most moms can understand that even as a stay-at-home-mom, there are other more pressing issues or higher priority errands to complete in our day-to-day management of the house & the kiddo.

Anyway, I think I properly started in summer of last year. She was 2YO and could understand simple instructions so I thought it would be a good idea. It didn't work, so now I am trying again.
Why I failed :

1. Inconsistent
Some days diaper off, some days on. Usually I find it too tiring the next day after a full day of diaperless having to wipe, disinfect, clean her & changing her to new trousers. So the next day I just left her diaper on. Recipe for failure!

2. No follow-through
Sometimes after a minor-accident, I rush her to the toilet & tell her to "shuu shuu" there. I stand there for a minute & then left her to do her stuff. I'd be cleaning up the accident-site. I asked her "Did you shuu shuu?", "YES MOMMY! I also wash my hands already!". I will accept her answer & that's it. I never knew or have actually seen her peeing, to be honest. She could be taking me for a ride all this while.

It also didn't help that the pre-school that I want to enrol her in this Sep says not to force them to go diaperless. "Let them naturally get used to it & master it". Hey, I love this motto.

But enrolling her into Ballet last week, I was instructed that they need to be diaperless. So here I am, TRYING my hardest to make this work. She just had 1 accident so far & now she is sleeping with a diaper. Tomorrow, we will not be continuing this again because we will be going out. Maybe when we come back I can let her roam free without her diaper. We'll see. **Big sigh**