All Aboard...

Warning - the post you're about to read is not for the faint of heart, or for the non-parent (you'll just be too bored).

The Potty Train has arrived at our house.

My wife has bravely accepted the challenge of helping our daughter get potty trained this week (and most of the next few weeks as well I'd only imagine). We've touted the positives of underwear, we've encouraged her to throw her diapers in the 'trash', we've talked alot about big kids using the potty. Books and movies seem to center around the topic. Needless to say, we're happily in the potty zone.

We remind ourselves that very few kindergardeners come to school non-potty trained. We remind ourselves that she's ready - and probably has been for a while, even when we weren't. We keep in mind that accidents will happen, and despite our first instincts, we should remain positive and supportive. Sure, she'll have to survive three or four days of us suggesting every hour on the hour that she go to the bathroom - but in exchange she gets freedom.

OK, it's as much for us as it is for her.

Key to the process will be getting her to recognize when she needs to go - which she's already shown us. Rewards will come in the form of stickers, crafts, trinkets, toys, and the promise of a trip to Chucky Cheese with her neighbor friend who's made it through the potty regimen and most importantly choosing the color and helping to paint her bedroom with her Daddy.

Also key to the process will be getting her parents to recognize that she's growing up - way too fast in a lot of ways. Not that we cherish scrambling for a diaper only to find the only one that's left is a size or two too small and it's crammed into a minivan seat. Not that I enjoy emptying the stink ridden Diaper Champ (by the way, I prefer the Diaper Genie - we're only using the sub par unit because I, like thousands of other parents, accidentally threw away a crucial part of the Diaper Genie - I felt like I just threw away an O ring on the space shuttle).

So, our little girl is running around the house in her Dora underwear - my wife is chasing her with a children's book entitled 'No More Diapers' in one hand and a spray bottle of carpet cleaner in the other screaming 'Let's go potty honey!' while trying to sound positive.

And, of course, I'm doing my part by blogging about it.