CHAPTER 4
Mental Preparation
This chapter is all about getting your head screwed on tight, so it
doesn’t blow off—aka preparation for the big day!
I know you are chomping at the bit for the actual potty training,
but making sure your head is screwed on tight is a very important part
of the how-to (actually, it’s an important part of parenting, in
general).
The very first thing we have to do is to get rid of any notion you
might have of how long this process should take. I’ve already stated
my piece about magical three-day training. Yes, it can take a child
three days to potty train. It can also take one day. And it can also
take seven. I find it very interesting that everyone adores the
uniqueness of their children—we love that each one is as different
and special as a snowflake—and yet, many parents want a cookie-
cutter version of potty training. There’s no such thing. It doesn’t
exist. Also, it infuriates me that your neighbor with two children
thinks she knows everything about this potty training gig.
While there are many potty training “methods,” there are really
only two general systems floating around out there:
- Rewards