FirstAccording to my mom, potty training us back home in Jamaica wasn’t a big deal. She swears most kids were fully trained by two. She loves reminding me of the time I flat-out refused to sit on the chimmy (as we call it). In her thick Jamaican accent she’ll say, “Yuh used to sit pon di chair and rock till yuh wet up yuhself.” Apparently, I was stubborn even as a toddler—and I’ve passed that little trait right along to my daughter.
Princess definitely understands the whole potty thing. But here’s the catch: if she’s not in the mood, it’s a wrap. Since her first intro to the throne at 18 months, she’s gotten into the habit of sitting at certain times—morning, after school, after dinner, and before bed. On weekends, we swap pull-ups for “big girl panties” (unless we’re running errands).
At daycare, it’s hit or miss. Some days she’ll go, and other days she’ll stage a full-on potty strike. People always tell me, “She’ll go when she’s ready.” But honestly? I don’t buy that. To me, that just sounds like an excuse. Potty training is part of this motherhood package deal, and it takes effort. So, I decided it was time to kick things up a notch—welcome to Potty Bootcamp.
Welcome to Potty Bootcamp
With a little encouragement from my friend Jen, who lets her toddler go commando for easier access, I gave it a try. Before you start calling me a “mean mommy,” hear me out—sometimes new techniques can make a big difference!
Since both Princess and I were home nursing colds, I figured this was the perfect chance to test it out. First thing in the morning: goodbye training pants. Of course, I couldn’t let her run around completely bare, so I slipped her into one of Daddy’s tank tops, and that was her “uniform” for the day. The key? Shadowing her like a hawk.
I had her sit on the potty every 30–60 minutes, sometimes more since she drinks water like a champ. Things were going smoothly… until I made the mistake of answering a phone call. The chatterbox that I am, I stayed on too long. Next thing I knew—pee. All. Over. The. Chair.
“Why didn’t you tell me you had to potty?” I asked.
With the straightest little face, she replied, “I have to potty.”
I had to bite my lip not to laugh. Thankfully, cleanup was quick.
Not long after, Princess came running out yelling, “I potty, Mommy!” I rushed over—only to find pee mixed with water everywhere. First, the table. Then the chair, and the floor. Even in her hair. Let’s just say, that one required more than a few paper towels.
We had a couple more small accidents (including one on the carpet), but overall, she did pretty well for day one. My goal? To get this potty training thing down in five days. After all, I was trained at two years old—so I know she can do it too.
Stay tuned, because I’m curious (and a little nervous) to see how this goes once she’s back at daycare. Wish us luck!
👉 Moms, what was your potty training experience like? Did you try “potty bootcamp” or something else? I’d love to hear your stories!
