The Magical Panties

Yesterday morning, after Grace didn't even make an effort to go to the bathroom and just squatted in the middle of the living room to relieve herself in her Pull-up, I decided to take charge. I have been very lax about her potty training since she has not shown any real interest in staying dry or clean, but she is 3 now and we need to buckle down.

So, off we went to her bedroom to search her top drawer for some panties. About a year ago I bought a package of Dora and a package of Curious George panties. At the time she was really into Dora and I thought that the idea of wearing big-girl panties would inspire her to potty train quickly. All those panties did was lead to many puddles of urine on my floor (and sometimes furniture), and the sinking feeling that she would never voluntarily use the toilet on her own.

As I dug down to the bottom of the drawer, I found the long forgotten Curious George panties. Eureka! This was something I could use to get her on board. There was also the potential use of her newly attained age...what 3 year old can resist praise just for being three? Anyway, as I pulled the panties out of the drawer, her eyes lit up like Christmas morning. Who would have thought that a cute little monkey would be such an incentive to use the bathroom? She squealed, "My Curious George panties!!!" and began ripping off her Pull-up.

I know this is going to be hard to believe if you are not a parent, but these panties are magical. The transformation in her behavior was immediate. She told me that she did not want to get George wet, and I found myself in the bathroom all day with her. I think that she ran to the bathroom every time she had the urge which meant that we would go through the whole ordeal for about 2 teaspoons of urine, but this was not the time for teaching the finer points of bathroom use. I was just overjoyed that she was staying dry. Excuse me, keeping George dry.

I was so proud of her at the end of the day, and I had a really hard time convincing her to wear a Pull-up to bed. She wanted to wear the panties, but I was firm about this one. We folded them carefully and put them on the bedside table to reassure her that they would be there tomorrow. I actually intended to sneak in and take them so I could wash them, but I forgot about them until later.

Grace had developed a fever and so I got up throughout the night to check her temperature and give her medicine as needed. When I went in for the first check, I almost laughed out loud when I saw her snuggled up with the George panties. She had thrown Puppy to the side and embraced the panties instead. I didn't dare move them for fear of upsetting her if she woke up and found them gone. During the next check, I woke her up a little when I took her temperature. She rolled over, and in a sleepy little voice said, "I want to wear my George panties." I reassured her that she could wear them first thing in the morning, and she quickly fell back asleep.

When she woke up this morning, the panties went on immediately and she has not had one accident. She even went by herself while I was in the shower. The real test will be whether or not she will get George dirty or not.

Happy 40th Anniversary Mama and Daddy! Thank you for getting married so that I exist.....