Thank you to all of the parents out there who submitted your potty training stories! Here are a few that made us smile:

Potty training for our first (and only) daughter, Ellie Jane, has been a fairly positive experience.  She actually told US when it was time to start.  At 18 months, she said, "Mommy, potty?" and from that moment on, she was hooked on putting her "potty in the toidy."  When she finally started going #2 in the potty, we wanted to encourage her, so we'd make a really big deal by looking in the toilet and joyfully saying, "Holy COW, Ellie!" and eventually, instead of saying, "Mommy, potty?" she started saying, "Mommy, holy cow!" 

Recently, we were at a local 'big box' store in the bathroom because she'd said needed to go potty while we were shopping, so I took her to the women's restroom.  She loves the restrooms there because they echo loudly when she giggles or raises her voice.  First, it was Ellie's turn to go potty and she did, and when she finished, I looked in the toilet and said, "Holy COW, Ellie!  Good job!"  Then it was Mommy's turn . . .  I took my turn and when my "job" was complete, Ellie looked in the toilet and yelled at the top of her lungs, "HOLY COW, MOMMY!"  Faint giggling could then be heard eminating from the adjacent bathroom stalls.

Jennifer L. Kauffman

Hi. I just started potty training my 2 year old son. (He turned 2 on Jan. 24). I know it's a little early. But I think he ready. Lately he is starting to take of his diapers, but only when it's dirty. A clue to tell when he is up to something is if the door to his room is shut. When I go check to see what he is up too, he would have taken off his dirty diaper and thrown it into the trash can. While in the mean time running around the room nakey with poop all over him. When he realize that I am there he will just look up at me a smile.  I been trying to potty traing him, but he thanks its a toy. He enjoys setting on it. He gets mad when I take him off of it. One time I caught him with his diaper off, just setting on the seat reading his book. So I know he has some idea of what is supposed to go on.

Jacqui Odell

Today my husband found our 2 year old daughter trying to potty train her dolly in the bathroom sink. She had the doll, (whose clothes do not come off) under a running faucet and she told her daddy, "Look Daddy, no more poddy on baby." My husband immediately came to get me and I walked in to find our little girl half naked, with a very proud grin on her face, holding her half soaked dolly under a running faucet, and toilet paper had been strung on everything! So not only is she learnig how to potty train, but she is taking my training and passing it on to her dolls. Makes me wonder if we will have another teacher in our family just like Mommy.

Anna Phillips, Kansas City, MO, Mother of Allison, age 2