The girl who cried TOILET!

Toilet training Samara wasn't fun.  She drank a gallon of water a day.  Combine that with public transportation and scarce bathroom access in Singapore, and it was a always a stress wondering if we'd be able to find a toilet when needed.


A couple months before Asher was born, Elizabeth trained herself in a day, largely because she wanted to wear Rapunzel underwear.  Amazed, we secretly congratulated ourselves on our excellent parenting techniques and ability to train our second born so adeptly.  *wink*

Elizabeth was thrilled when we found a 10-pack at Costco.  She insisted on "wearing" all of them at once and changed to a different pair multiple times each day.  She didn't have many accidents the first couple of months but the spares came in handy when she did.  They acted as a diaper of sort to soak things up when she didn't make it to the toilet.  The pocket terms in the above photo are her own invention. 

Fast forward several months to Asher's birth and a major family stress and we were no longer congratulating ourselves on her toilet abilities.

Someone loves her brother something fierce.  Our not allowing her to love smother him as she'd like to also caused her to get attention by "crying" toilet.  She realized nothing got our attention faster than shouting "toilet".  At first, we'd jump up every time she said 'toilet' and whenever we ignored the cry there would be an inevitable accident.  

We knew we had a problem when we were out for a walk one day and she frantically screamed, "TOILET!!"...

...because a ladybug landed on her.

Our toilet-training techniques were being tested! We needed to learn her language of "toilet-ese". 

When she wants more gum:

EB: "Toilet! Mama! Toilet!" 

At Naptime:

EB: "But I need to go toilet!"

Me: "No, you don't"

EB: "Yes, I do-ooh!" said with the grin

This happens every time we put her down for a nap or for the night. 

Whenever it's time to get dressed:

EB: "But I don't want to get dressed because I need to go toilet."  

This was the solution when she stripped down during an outing because she got some water on her clothes and refused to put them back on.  If you haven't noticed, she's not a fan of being clothed.

At church:

EB: "Mom, I need to go toilet."

Me: "No, you don't."

EB: Now yelling "I do.  I really do need to go POOPIES!"

Just how do you ignore that in the middle of a worship service?!

And nursery.  Always during nursery.  I think at first it was a bit of stage fright (not being able to go on a strange toilet) but then she realized it was a really great way to get out of class.  I think the record is 7 times.

When she wants to be carried up or down the stairs:

EB: (screaming and throwing back her head back) "Toy-let, mama!  Tooy-let!"

When it's time to get buckled in her car seat:

EB: (with back arched) "I need to go to da toilet!"  

Me: "You just went."

EB: "But I need to doh adain."

She does wear underwear to/from school pick-up.  No time for getting dressed when you need to make so many extra trips to the loo.  Don't worry--she wore her touque during the winter. 

When told she could not eat the batter:

EB: "Toilet. Toileeeeeeeet!  TOILEEEEEET!!!"

When she actually needs to go, is on the toilet, and wants something:

EB: "Toileeet!" followed by a giggle 

This was a difficult first moment for her when, in her anguish and crying out for the toilet, she realized she was, in fact, already on the toilet.   

No toilet caption here.  Just a cute behind.  We dearly love our zesty baby and hope she survives being stuck in the middle.