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My Kid Still Isn’t Potty Trained, and I’m Totally Fine with It
So, my little guy is 3 years, 2 months, 3 weeks, and 3 days old, and guess what? He’s still not potty trained. My oldest was completely trained by 2 and a half, even nailing those dry nights like a champ. Clearly, every child is different, right? So, why is that so hard for others to understand?
Apparently, I should be concerned—like, really concerned. But honestly? I have no clue why. The judgmental looks I get sometimes are almost comical. People seem to think they can tell my parenting story with just a glance—what a weird vibe! One acquaintance even gasped when she saw a photo of my son in a diaper before he turned three. She had one baby at the time (a three-month-old!), and had the audacity to declare she would have her son potty trained by 18 months. I mean, really? I shot her a look that could only be described as a death glare. You’re welcome for that one.
I’ve heard all sorts of things about why my son isn’t rushing to the toilet. Some say it means he’s too dependent on me (umm, hello, he’s a toddler!). Others claim he lacks discipline or that he won’t make it into kindergarten without being trained (which, by the way, I have a whole two years left). Some even suggest there could be developmental issues at play.
“Are you worried?” they ask.
Worried? Nah! My son is perfect just the way he is. He’s hit every milestone I consider important for a 3-year-old. Even if he hadn’t, he’d still be my perfect little dude. He’s funny, curious, smart, lively, and yes, sometimes he uses the potty, and sometimes he doesn’t.
We’ve tried everything: Pull-Ups, underwear, even going commando. The one thing that seems to work is letting him roam around the house without pants. He knows when to hit the bathroom, but we can’t have him running around naked all the time, especially outside. So, despite our reminders, there are times he uses the toilet and times he doesn’t.
You want to know what that tells me? He’s just not ready yet. It’s as simple as that. I’m not about to force him into something he’s not prepared for. One day, he’ll reach the point where he won’t want to sit in a dirty diaper anymore, and when that happens, I’ll celebrate like crazy! I can already picture the high-fives and the goofy dance we’ll do when that moment comes. My husband will join in with their classic chest bump, and we’ll move on from there.
Until then, I’m not worried or disappointed. I’ll keep supporting him and wait for that readiness to kick in. He’s a 3-year-old who isn’t always keen on using the potty, and that’s perfectly okay. I refuse to feel ashamed about it because, honestly, he’s doing just fine! I have this strong feeling that I’m not alone in this journey. I bet there are other moms out there with 3-year-olds who are also taking their sweet time with the potty training process—and they’re going to be just fine too.
For more on parenting and related topics, check out this blog post for some great insights.
Summary
Potty training can be a challenging journey, and every child develops at their own pace. While societal pressures may suggest that parents should be worried if their child isn’t potty trained by a certain age, it’s important to remember that readiness varies. Keeping a positive attitude and supporting your child during this time is key, and many parents share similar experiences.