Our Embarrassing Potty Training Mishaps

I am the proud survivor of one potty trained child. My child definitely wasn't one who was potty trained in three days. In fact, it took about six months before my daughter abandoned her training pants. However, there are still times when she laughs too hard and has an accident. Indeed, potty training is part of being a mom. As the mom of an almost five-year-old and a one-year-old, I have heard some funny potty training stories from other mothers. It's great to know that I'm not the only one whose child was obsessed with potty talk or had some embarrassing accidents. Here are some other "teachable moments" from moms who have potty trained.

The Trashcan

Jessica, mom of Eric, was potty training her three-year-old. Her son didn't go in the toilet. Instead, he escaped from the bathroom, knocked over a baby gate and made his way into the kitchen. There he proceeded to pee "on the side of the trashcan." It was the start of many misses in her potty training escapade. After the incident, she made sure to remind her son to "go in the potty." Her son also coined the term "peepoo." As in, I have to take a "peepoo." I won't elaborate on what that entails.

Loud Potty Talk

My own funny potty training story happened when I was grocery shopping with my then two-year-old. We had gotten to the store and my daughter said, "I have to go to the bathroom." She had a worried look on her face. Before she peed in her pants, I whisked her into the bathroom. After she did her business, I decided to go to the bathroom. My daughter loudly said, several times, "Mom are you done going to the bathroom yet?" Needless to say, since then, I try to make sure my daughter goes to the bathroom right before we run an errand. I don't like it when my daughter announces my potty business to everyone in the public bathroom.

Mommy Go Poop?

My friend Kim told me a funny story about her son, Eli, who would occasionally embarrass her in public restrooms. Her little guy wouldn't say, "Mommy, I have to go to the bathroom." Instead, he just said "Mommy, go poop? Mommy, go poop?" The way he phrased it made it seem like she was the one who was being potty trained. She said "it was pretty embarrassing but would make me laugh."

Hiding Out

My own mother told me a story of how I used to hide out in the clothes racks in the department store. Sometimes, I would go do my business (in my training pants, of course) under there too! Needless to say, she didn't get much shopping done and she made sure I went to the bathroom before browsing through any clothing.

With a toddler in the house, I will be starting the whole potty training process again soon. Keeping these potty training anecdotes in my mind will allow me to stay upbeat when my son has an "uh oh!"

Content by Melissa Matters.