“When you realize how perfect everything is, you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky.” – Buddha
Potty training is really getting my goat. A month in and we mostly have successes but the failures are memorable! It’s unpredictable, impossible for me to control (which seems to be most of the battle) and creates a lot of laundry.
I catch myself thinking, “Pretty soon we are going to be through this and then life will be great.”
Which I think will be true. Especially if I remember how to savor today.
Because I think is how we wish our lives away and as a parent, how I could wish my kids’ childhood away. Waiting for the thing we don’t like to stop and THEN we’ll be good. Or waiting to lose 10 pounds, reach a milestone or be better at meditating – anything I reflexively put between myself and my experience.
Returning to today – we still laugh and learn every day, and I still love my kids to pieces every day. Yep, every time I leave, I just need to come back from my visit to the future and love today. And also I need to buy more laundry detergent.
Like with the puppies and the kidlets and the potty training—this too shall pass! Then on to the next hurdle! Isn’t life just grand?
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Exactly, Julia!! Thank you for the early morning (where I am), smile and laugh. I love getting this little dose of you!
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Thanks for sharing this post with us, Wynne. Great points. I remember hearing Eckhart Tolle a few years ago say the following, which has served as a great reminder for me ever since: “The next moment isn’t going to better than this one.” Oh, how the mind and the little “i” hate that thought!
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That is a great quote, Art! Thanks for sharing!
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You’re welcome, Wynne!
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You have a good outlook. Potty training is so hard sometimes…for everyone.
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Whew, I’m glad it’s not just me! 🙂
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If it helps you feel better, boys are notoriously/typically more difficult to potty train than girls. They’re rarely in a rush to comply at the right time! 😏
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This feels very affirming. Yes, not in a rush to comply for sure and teaching me a lot of restraint not to push too hard. Thanks, Jane!
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Well said, Wynne — to love all the complexities and difficulties in spite of oneself.
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In spite of oneself says it alll!
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You are absolutely right! You have to buy more detergent, I need to change it (I don’t like the perfume, I am spoilt, I know…)
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There are so many more detergent options these days, might as well take advantage of them!
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We potty trained my granddaughter later than “normal” due to her chemotherapy treatments, but like all kids, they eventually learn how to do it! Every kid has their own timetable! 😬😬
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Oh, what grace to allow her to only have to go through one of those things at a time. Thank you for the reminder that every kid has their own timetable and eventually will learn how to do it. I love hearing that.
And I love knowing your granddaughter continues to thrive as a cancer survivor!
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😊😊 right?! I appreciate your kind words!
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Potty training is the worst. I hated it. But I hear you on not wanting to wish your kids’ childhoods away either because you will miss it one day.
I always tell my T he’ll be paying me back one day and changing my diaper when I’m old and incontinent. 😆
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You have me laughing, Ab!! I’m sure more than I want to admit comes full circle. 🙂
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You make an excellent point here, Wynne! This reminds me of a country music song that I enjoy called, “You’re gonna miss this” by Trace Adkins. I imagine one day you will look back on your kid’s childhoods and really miss that time (and yes, even the potty training!). The hard days make the good days more special. Have a beautiful day! ❤
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Wow, Grace – I just listened to this song. What a voice! It makes me cry – you are right, the hard days make the good days more special! Thanks for this gift! ❤
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You are welcome, my new friend… I am really glad that you enjoyed it! 🙂
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You are delightful, my new friend! 🙂
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Haha exactly! Funny thing, I just wrote a post and made a video about the joys of honouring the present, because time is love. I hadn’t posted yet, because it’s so personal and that’s an uneasy place for me, but your post is motivating. Not the potty training, but you know, the other part. 😁 And fear not, they will eventually be fully trained. In the meantime your strategy to stack up on detergent is a good one. 😆 Have a great day Wynne!
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Ha, ha, – not the potty training but the other part! 🙂 Oh, the personal ones that are close to the heart. I know what you mean, Alegria. I have a post or two that is in that territory and sometimes I just have to let them sit there until they are ready!
And thanks for the reassurance about the potty training. Okay – I’ll just enjoy this time until we are through! 🙂
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I did it. Hit the publish button. 😬
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Good for you!! I can’t wait to see it! ❤️❤️❤️
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“And buy more laundry detergent.” Ha! I’d been wondering how the pt was going. Since I hadn’t hear anything beyond that it was getting better, I assumed it was all good. I’m sorry to hear otherwise.
We had so many false starts with our kids. It all boiled down to finding the right time when it flowed (no pun intended), and was suddenly easy. For Joe, it was when he turned three. Another friend had said 3 was the sweet spot. Turned out she was right, at least for him. I know others do it earlier, but waiting a little later made the whole process much simpler in the end. Not sure if that helps at all.
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What great wisdom, Betsy. That’s interesting that 3 is a sweet spot. Hmm, Mr. D is a few months shy of that. He’s getting it – but the daycare thing makes it hard to nail it consistently given that it takes a lot longer to get to the bathroom there. But those teachers are saints let me tell you… 🙂
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Oh, man. I’ll bet those teachers have seen it all. Kind of like nurses. The things those maternity nurses have experienced from me alone, no human should have to endure. ;P
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You have me chuckling – as always!!
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This too shall pass, in the meantime just remember to protect the furniture, not to make a big deal out of it, and breathe.
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Great tip to protect the furniture – thank you!
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