There is a management concept much feared - it is called "Resistance to Change": People resist change when they percieve it as a threat. And with mommies who have two babies, change is the norm. Resisting it is taking the slippery slope to being frowned upon as a bad and lazy parent! I do confess I resisted the changes I would have to implement in my household to get my kids potty trained. Getting the 2 year olds to conform to a "new normal" of using the toilet was the least of my worries. It was recalibrating my mind set into doing something that I had never done - ever since my babies started wearing diapers. It was A BIG DEAL.
Culturally Indian parents (read moms) have a greater pressure to potty train their kids by that fated 2 year birthday mark. This is because, had I brought my kids up in India, I would be frowed upon for letting them use diapers all the time until they were potty trained anyway, because a) diapers are not "green" and are really expensive b) I am taking the easy way out and not letting the kids be disciplined enough to recognize thier urges to use the toilet (Tiger Mom much?). The classic lazy parent.
It is another matter however that my kids would not have any physical ability to control their urges until they actually turned 2, or older in case of other kids. I realized, there is no norm with evolved processes such as these! Each kid is different. Each parenting philosophy is different. Each culture is different. Having said that, I did bow down to a combination of parenting manuals, pediatric and pedantic advice and pulled up my potty training socks real high. But ultimately I had to make the mental shift first, to decide that I will make the changes and the commitment necessary to get these kids of mine out of their diapers!
I started in winter (went against the norm here as well). I had an able and willing partner - My sister, to motivate ME during the process, to keep reminding me that accidents were OK, and to be the chorus and the lead dancer for the potty songs and dances orchestrated to celebrate every tinkle and toot! I had lot of encouraging friends calling in to pat my back during this transitionary phase. You see, for a mom, getting two two year olds to do something that they have no earthly idea how to do, is a truly a glorious win. You will relate if you have already potty trained your kid, or are about to in the near future. I have detailed the ardrous process in a process flow diagram. Have a laugh at my expense. I dedicate the learnings of this process to all the brave hearts out there, who are resisting to take that first step - to the potty or anywhere else.
