It's All About The Underwear

Potty training can be a source of great frustration for any parent. Some folks try to potty train their children as quickly as possible, while others take a more laid-back approach. Different things work for different families. In our household, we have realized that the wait until they are ready approach seems to work best. It may take longer, but it generally means less frustration, less struggles, and less messes. Of course, this is not always the case.

Harris, who is four, was our most recent potty training experience. The transition from pull-ups to big boy underwear was not going as smoothly as we would have liked. After going through the potty training experience four other times, you tend to expect it to go easily. Harris was the exception. He would do well for a few days and then have a few mishaps. It was becoming frustrating for him and us.

One day Mommy was out shopping and bought all the "boys" new underwear. It was hoped that maybe some new “big boy" underwear would help Harris have less accidents. Mommy gave the older boys their underwear first. Dylan (8) and Harper (6) were as happy as you would expect boys of that age to be about underwear. They seemed pleased, but were not overly excited. They said thank you and quickly went back to whatever they had been doing.

...and then there is Harris.

As his Mom presented him with his new underwear, it became clear that Harris was more than a little satisfied with his "gift." His eyes grew wide with excitement. His face blossomed into a huge smile and then... the shouting started. Cries of joy rang through the house as he dashed about proclaiming, "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" to his mother. He breathlessly exclaimed how surprised (and happy) he was that he got new Power Ranger and Pirates of the Caribbean underwear.

Note: The underwear are actually just pirate themed camouflage underwear that have really, really cool skulls and crossbones on them. Yes, I liked them and wanted my own pair, but that is another story.

For about 10 minutes, Harris continued to thank his Mom in the most exuberant manner that we have ever seen. To be completely honest, he did not get that excited on Christmas and his Birthday combined. In fact, one would have thought he had just won the Lottery or something. His joyful celebration was hilarious, heartwarming, and sweet. Heck, even his two older brothers were caught up in the moment and were equally amused by it all.

Now, I do not recall being a 4-year-old boy, although I know I was one, many years ago. Although I do not remember that part of my life, I am certain that I did not react to a gift of new underwear quite in the way Harris did. Of course, if I got cool skulls and crossbones underwear, I just might!

I would like to end this by saying Harris never had another potty accident but that is not true. However, in the end that does not really matter. Years from now, we will not remember his accidents. All we will remember is a gleefully happy 4-year-old boy running around the house, shouting "thank you, thank you, thank you!"