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Potty Training Sven: Day Two

Statistics

Number of accidents: 20
Times ended on the potty: 9
Times started on the potty: 1!
Times self-initiated: 0
Times peed on Mom: 2
Ounces of Tang consumed: 42

Thoughts

You know what has surprised me the most this time around about potty training?

I'm enjoying it.  No joke.  For Soren and Carl, potty training was the worst.  I seriously wondered if I wanted to have any more kids, just knowing that it meant I would have to potty train them.  I thought that it was the most abominable parenting job and I wished to never, ever do it again.

But this time, I really am enjoying it.

I think it's because I've had experience and know what to expect.  So it doesn't frustrate me when Sven has an accident; I know that's part of the process.  It doesn't discourage me that it hasn't "clicked" yet; I know that takes time.  And it doesn't gross me out to deal with all the pee; I know I'll just shower after bedtime.  Everything about the process is aok with me, which frees me up to enjoy the best part.

Sven.

We have spent so much time together these past two days.  Homeschool has been relegated to independent work and Sven's naptime so I have hours and hours to spend, doing whatever Sven wants.  We've read dozens of picture books, drawn pictures, built with blocks, played the piano, and cleaned up accidents.  Together.  The house is full of kids (there are currently four others) but my attention is all on Sven and it's delightful.

He's delightful!

He told me a knock knock joke.  It didn't make any sense but had most of the important parts.

He scribbled all over a piece of white paper and insisted that he was drawing an "el-phant".

He asked me to read The Magic Porridge Pot at least a dozen times.  Next most popular was a (really boring) book Soren got from the library about tornadoes(!).

He laughed and laughed while I gave him a haircut, telling me that it was "silly".

He spent fifteen minutes trying on all the shoes by the door, pleased as punch to be tromping around in nothing but boots.

He laid his head on my chest and said, "Mommy, I love you."

Even if the potty training doesn't stick, I'm so glad to be spending this time with Sven before Baby #4 arrives.  He has long been my sweet, little pumpkin and I thought that I was sufficiently enjoying and attending to him.  But in the last couple of days, I have come to better appreciate his glorious uniqueness.

And it all began with potty training.  Who knew?
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