Free shipping on all orders over $75🎄

Let’s talk potty-training. My kids are all potty-trained. Yay! When I was a new mom, one of the things I feared most was potty-training. It scared me to the core and I was dreading it. I did not want to deal with cleaning up pee and poo all day. No thanks. I certainly wasn’t looking forward to doing extra loads of laundry since accidents were bound to happen. People told me it would be horrible. Especially because my oldest was a boy. Apparently, boys are supposed to be near impossible to potty-train. So, I did what any responsible parent would do and I did NOT potty-train our son. Or maybe it was the lazy parent approach- but it worked brilliantly.

Around the age of 2, I did put a little potty chair in our bathroom just in case he ever decided he wanted to test it out. I also added some children’s books about going to the bathroom to our book rotation. I stocked his dresser with Lightning McQueen undies. That was it. We didn’t talk about it. I didn’t ask him if he had to go. I didn’t make him sit on the toilet. I totally let him take the lead. If he wanted to sit on the potty – he did. If he wanted to wear undies – he did. It wasn’t too long and the diapers were gone. Completely gone. No need for them. Not for naptime and not even for bedtime. We went for his 3 year well visit and the pediatrician was shocked that he was fully, completely potty-trained.

I did the same thing for my daughters with equal success. One chose Minnie Mouse undies while my youngest decided Paw Patrol would be her jam. It’s all about giving them control. There’s so many methods that people swear by and I’m sure many of them work for a lot of kids. But for me? I didn’t want to test them out. I’m already potty-trained and wanted to make this process as easy and stress free as possible for me and my kids!

We didn’t stay at home. If we wanted to go do something fun, we did it. The thought of staying home for days sounds miserable to me and my kids but we strive on getting out and changing the scenery. Plus, most places have bathrooms. I didn’t set the timer because I didn’t want to tell them when to go, I wanted THEM to tell ME. We really didn’t change a whole lot when we were in the thick of potty-training. Or lack thereof. We kept on living life like normal and were ready to run if someone decided it was time.

I know a lot of people swear by pull-ups. And clearly, they work for lots of people otherwise they wouldn’t be so popular. Either that or they have a great marketing team. But to me, I feel like it’s a glorified diaper that costs more money. Although, I get the desire if your child still has the occasional accident at night. In that case, embrace the pull-ups!

Those first few times my kids had success in the potty, we did an all-out celebration without treats! We just clap, cheer and jump up and down! Yes, sometimes that means I get applauded for going to the bathroom. It usually gets a few chuckles from the stall next door.

One thing I added to my repertoire when my youngest was learning, is to embrace the nakedness (when at home!). And to keep step stools in every bathroom. She preferred to use the regular toilet instead of the pint sized potty. But being on the tiny side, she needed help. So between being pantless and having access to step stools she was able to make it happen on her own and with plenty of time to spare.

In my experience, potty-training wasn’t horrible. It was actually enjoyable. I loved watching my kids grow and mature. Their excitement over their success was contagious. My youngest took great pleasure in announcing to everyone that she would meet that her undies are dry!

My biggest piece of potty-training advice is don’t do it. When your child is truly ready, it will be so easy. Just let it go and they will (literally) let it go…

You May Also Like: Potty-Training Survival Strategies for Moms

So God Made a Mother book by Leslie Means

If you liked this, you'll love our new book, SO GOD MADE A MOTHER available now!

Order Now

Alissa Kay

Alissa was born and raised in the Midwest and currently calls Wisconsin home. She's happily married to her college sweetheart and she's living out her dreams of being a stay-at-home mom. Although, let's be real, she's hardly ever home. She's the mom to 3 kids who all came to her via adoption. A boy (8) and 2 girls (6 and almost 4!). The kids keep her plenty busy, but when she has free time she enjoys a night out with friends or curling up with a good book.

Brothers Fight Hard and Love Harder

In: Kids, Motherhood
Two boys play outside, one lifting the other on his back

The last few years have been a whirlwind. My head has sometimes been left spinning; we have moved continents with three boys, three and under at the time. Set up home and remained sufficiently organized despite the complete chaos to ensure everyone was where they were meant to be on most days. Living in a primarily hockey town, the winters are filled with coffee catch-ups at the arena, so it was no surprise when my youngest declared his intention to play hockey like his school friends. Fully aware that he had never held a hockey stick or slapped a puck,...

Keep Reading

Stop Putting an Expiration Date on Making Memories

In: Kids, Motherhood
Mother and son in small train ride

We get 12 times to play Santa (if we’re lucky). This phrase stopped my scroll on a Sunday evening. I had an idea of the direction this post was going but I continued on reading. 12 spring breaks 12 easter baskets 20 tooth fairy visits 13 first days of school 1 first date 1-2 proms 1-2 times of seeing them in their graduation cap and gown 18 summers under the same roof And so on and so on. It was essentially another post listing the number of all the monumental moments that we, Lord willing, will get to experience with our...

Keep Reading

When Your Kids Ask, “Where Is God?”

In: Faith, Kids
Child looking at sunset

How do I know if the voice I’m hearing is God’s voice? When I was in high school, I found myself asking this question. My dad was a pastor, and I was feeling called to ministry. I didn’t know if I was just hearing my dad’s wish or the call of God. I was worried I was confusing the two. It turns out, I did know. I knew because I was raised to recognize the presence of God all around me. Once I knew what God’s presence felt like, I also knew what God’s voice sounded like. There is a...

Keep Reading

Go Easy On the Parents Who Refuse to Skip Naps

In: Kids, Motherhood
Two little boys and their sister walking down a gravel road, color photo

Greetings from a mom who is done with napping children. It’s great to have the flexibility during the day for longer activities, meeting friends for playdates, or day trips to faraway places. It’s a new life . . . the life without naps. The freedom to make plans and keep them. But not that long ago, I was something very different than the flexible, plan-keeping, up-for-it woman I am today. I used to be the mom who refused to skip my child’s nap. Yep, that one. Here’s the thing, for a lot of parents, It’s so much more than just a...

Keep Reading

My Heart Isn’t Ready for You to Stop Believing in Santa

In: Kids, Motherhood
Little boy standing in front of lit christmas tree

“My friend doesn’t believe in Santa anymore, Mom,” my son said out of the blue the other day. We were driving in the car, and when I met his gaze in the rear-view mirror his eyes searched mine. Immediately, my heart sank.  This sweet boy, he’s our first. Thoughtful and smart and eight years old. A quick Google search tells me that’s the average age kids stop believing in Santa, but as his mom, I’m not ready for that—not even a little bit.  I can still hear his barely 2-year-old voice going on about reindeer as we lay together on...

Keep Reading

Motherhood is a Million Little Letting Gos and Fresh Hellos

In: Kids, Motherhood
Mother sitting with child on her lap by the setting sun and water

I missed my grocery-shopping buddy the other day. Mondays are usually the days my littlest and I knock out our grocery list. In the past, we’ve dropped the kids at school and then headed to the store. I grab a latte, and she chooses a hot chocolate. But that day, they were all in school. That day, she sat in her kindergarten class, and I went to the grocery store. Alone. A new rhythm. A changed routine. A different season. I listened to a podcast on the drive. My podcast. Then I grabbed a drink. Just one. I got the...

Keep Reading

Dear Kids, This Is My Wish for You

In: Kids, Motherhood
Mother hugs three kids

To my kids, The world you’re stepping into is unlike anything I experienced at your age. It’s fast-paced, interconnected, and sometimes overwhelming. But within this chaos lie countless opportunities for growth and joy. My wish for you is that you find the perfect balance between embracing the modern world and staying true to yourselves. Change is one thing you can always count on. Embrace it because it’s often the motivation for growth. Embracing change doesn’t mean letting go of who you are; rather, it’s about evolving into the best version of yourself. Remember, you don’t need to have all the...

Keep Reading

Dear Daughter, Stay Wild

In: Kids, Motherhood
Mother and daughter on beach, color photo

I can’t really put my finger on it. Or manage to find all the words. But there’s just something about that girl. Maybe it’s the way her hair sits tangled. Curled up at the end. The way she moves. Dances. As if everyone was watching. Or no one at all. RELATED: There is Wild Beauty in This Spirited Child of Mine It could be the way she smiles. With her heart. The way only she can. The way she cares, loves. For everyone. For herself. You see, she is beautiful in the way only wild things are. The way they...

Keep Reading

You’re Becoming a Big Sister, But You’ll Always Be My Baby

In: Baby, Kids, Motherhood
Pregnant woman with young daughter, color photo

The anticipation of welcoming a new baby into the world is an exciting and joyous time for our family. From the moment we found out we were expecting to just about every day since, the love and excitement only continue to grow. However, amidst all the preparations for the new addition, I cannot help but have mixed emotions as I look back at old videos and pictures of my firstborn, my first princess, my Phoebe—for she will always hold a special place in my heart. As the anticipation grows, my heart swells with a mix of emotions knowing we are...

Keep Reading

Cowgirls Don’t Cry Unless the Horse They Loved Is Gone

In: Grief, Kids, Loss
Little girls Toy Story Jessie costume, color photo

The knee of my pants is wet and dirty. My yellow ring lays by the sink—it’s been my favorite ring for months. I bought it to match Bigfoot’s halter and the sunflowers by his pasture. Bigfoot is my daughter’s pony, and I loved him the most. The afternoon is so sunny. His hooves make the same calming rhythm I’ve come to love as I walk him out back. A strong wind blows through the barn. A stall labeled “Bigfoot,” adorned with a sunflower, hangs open and I feel sick. I kneel down by his side as he munches the grass....

Keep Reading