Oh Crap! Potty Training

because they “aren’t getting it.” Man. There would be like three kids
left in school if teachers threw in the towel when students “didn’t get
it.” When your child isn’t learning something, you amp up the
teaching, no? You don’t ditch it.
We have no way to know how your child will learn this until you
jump in. It’s important to remember that this is probably the first
thing you are actively teaching and the first thing he is actively
learning. That is to say, this is the first case in which you’re teaching
and he’s learning something that must take place in a certain order
and for which there really is only one “right” outcome. The more you
can look at potty training as just something you are teaching your
child, the better off you are going to be.
Underpants, self-initiation, and night/nap dryness all sort of blend
into the recipe at around three weeks after your start date. Use your
parental intuition and judgment; I know you have it! Push the limits
a little. Don’t be fearful. Remember, above all, your vibe and energy
are running the show.
To recap, progressing through the blocks of learning is what’s
important. Don’t track this by days. Make sure to meet the goals of
each block before moving on. The transition points from prepotty
training to Block One, and from Block One to Block Two, are where
most parents panic. It’s okay. Move through those transitions. You
are looking for progress, not perfection. You are looking for forward
movement. If your child races to the potty but has an accident on the
way, that’s awesome; he was moving in the right direction. Evaluate
success through the lens of a teacher who is looking for progress.
And have wine handy. Or really good chocolate.