Potty-training a child can be both the hardest and most rewarding thing you will experience with your child. It can be trying and nerve-wracking, but the first time that he or she pees or poops in their special seat it might even make you cry. I seems ridiculous to get so excited over what is seen as a normal bodily function, but just wait until it’s your child. After days of crying by both parties the excitement of success is contagious. My daughter is eighteen months and knows what her potty-chair is and what it is for. She began coming to me when she was wet and grabbed her diaper as if she was uncomfortable when she peed. She didn’t like the wet sensation and wanted it off. When she pooped, she would walk up, turn around, stick her butt out and say “Mommy I poopied” . It was then that I decided it was time to potty-train. I bought a potty-chair and let her play with it for a few weeks so she could get used to it. I then moved the potty-chair into my bathroom and every time I went to the bathroom she would come in and sit on her chair fully clothed. Then I began stripping her down every time I went to the bathroom. One day as she watched me pee she went as well. She got all excited and stood up, she looked into her potty and said “Mommy! Pee pee in potty”. I got so excited and started singing “Pee Pee in the pottay, Pee Pee in the pottay”. We gave high fives and I told her what a big girl she was and how proud I was. We cleaned up and went into the kitchen where I rewarded her with fruit snacks. (She doesn’t like candy or chocolate) Then tonight I noticed that she was starting to strain and rushed her to the bathroom telling her to hurry so she could poo-poo on the potty like a big girl. We made it in time and she did it. I was even more excited and so was she. She looked at me with complete awe and told me what she had done. We rewarded again with fruit snacks and sang our little song. She was so proud of herself that when we went to visit her Nanny and Pa-Pa she couldn’t wait to tell them what she had done. They, of course, celebrated as well. It is so amazing to see the bright smile and twinkle in her eyes when she knows that she has done something right. Next week we plan to start full-blown potty-training with a timer and pull-ups. I can’t wait. I know that it will be trying, but it will be worth it. She is becoming my big girl and even though it is scary, it is so remarkable. I will continue to record her progress in the hope that it will encourage other parents to face the challenge head on and reap the rewards of a happy and independent child.