?Have you thought about potty training"? asks my son?s daycare teacher. The truth" Not really. Judah?s our last baby and we aren?t in any big rush. But he?s almost three years old, and showing many signs of readiness, so we figure it?s time to do this thing. We read up on the most common approaches and opt for a slow and steady method. Here goes nothing!
Day 1: He?s a natural

?I wanna pee standing up,? says Judah when I ask if he wants to use the potty. I take off his diaper, and within 10 seconds, he pees in the potty. (Well, half in the potty. The other half on the floor.) But still. Why do people say potty training is hard" I?m feeling good, like I should have done this months ago.
 

Day 2: Thinking of returning the diapers
This morning he wants to use the toilet, not the potty. Fine by me. Better, even. He stands on a stool and pees like a champ. I decide against a food reward on the advice of Ishtar Gabriel, a potty-training consultant (and child and family therapist) in Hamilton, Ont. Instead, I clap and dance around. He shoots me a grouchy face. (He doesn?t like positive reinforcement, I guess")
 

Day 3: Bring on the bribes…

Judah refuses both the potty and toilet today and I panic. ?If you try, you can have a treat,? I blurt out. (So much for no food rewards.) But it works, so I give him two chocolate chips. ?I want moooore!? he screeches. ?I want 20!? He throws them in my face?literally?then flings himself on the floor an...