The Golden Moment

“Joselyn, do you want to go potty before we go back into the pool?” I ask my two year old during the swim break. “No Mommy, I already peed in the pool,” she replies back. I being to instantly feel my face begin turn every shade of red possible. I was the Mom in the beginning stages of potty training. Every mother has been in my shoes at sometime in their parenthood journey. Potty training is one of the biggest obstacles that we as parents face. Therefore, I would like to share the steps I used in my journey on getting my child to that “golden moment.” Telling, showing, and trying are three steps in helping your child to become potty trained. First, it is important to keep our children interested in their bodies and discuss what each body part does. This is where the first step, telling, comes into place. For instance, explain to them why their diaper is wet and why it needs to be changed. The goal is to get them to understand that going to the bathroom is normal and natural. Therefore, it is important to take advantage of the opportunities to explain how and why we eliminate. “From brushing their teeth to putting on their socks, we model many motor skills for our toddlers.

Potty training should be no different,” (, 2006, para. 9). We need to teach by example and keep them involved through the whole process. Second, it is important that our children feel comfortable and secure while learning to become potty trained. This is where the second step, showing, falls into place. In purchasing a toddler-size potty chair, it will ease the anxiety they may have with the grown-up toilet, such as falling into it. As a parent, we need to convey our expectations in a fun way by making them understand the purpose of the potty chair. Children learn by imitation, so, we need to demonstrate to them by letting them see how we use the grown-up potty ourselves. The showing step is really more about learning than trying. In addition, getting them comfortable with switching from diapers to pull-on disposable pants (also known as pull-ups) is important.

They will begin to learn how to dress and undress themselves for the potty on their own. The third and final stage is trying. Remember, potty training is a learned behavior that takes patience and time. When they become comfortable with talking about needing to go to the potty and able to dress and undress for the occasion, trying is such a big accomplishment for both child and parent. Encourage regular visits to the potty, and eventually introduce underpants instead of pull-ups. Accidents are bound to happen and mastering this process will take time. Patience and encouragement is crucially important in this whole process. Stay positive and be consistent and remember that “trying” is only half the battle. In conclusion, getting to that “golden moment” will take time and patience from each person involved in the process. The important thing is to make sure they do not feel pressured or discouraged during the process. By introducing the three simple steps of telling, showing, and trying the potty training experience will be simple and serene. It is an obstacle that can be tackled with time and a personal satisfaction for both child and parent.