Priceless

Amanda gave me the best gift ever for Christmas.  Seriously, and it didn't cost her a dime.  A week before Christmas she decided she didn't want to wear diapers anymore.  Yipee!

It was a couple of weeks ago, of course I don't remember the exact day because I don't remember much anymore, but I do know it was after she was done with school and before we left for Puerto Rico.  One night as I was getting her ready for bed she told me she didn't want to wear a diaper to bed, she wanted to wear Minnie Mouse underwear.  I was floored.  I've been trying to get her to wear it and to potty train for months, but she hasn't been interested.  Of course I wasn't going to let her start wearing underwear to bed out of nowhere, so I told her we could start the next day.  So we did.

She did great.  When we flew back and forth to P.R. we put her in a diaper just in case, but we took her to the bathroom several times during the flight and she stayed dry the entire time.  The rest of the trip she was in underwear during the day and diapers at night only.  Occasionally she will ask for a diaper, such as this morning when she did not want to go to school, but I just tell her that she is a big girl and doesn't wear diapers except for night time.  She's not always excited about it but she knows I'm not going back.

Yes, she's had a few accidents.  She's not so good at telling me when she has to go, but she is getting better.  She went to school with underwear on today and they were so excited.  They didn't even care that she had an accident, they are just about as happy as I am to not have to change her diaper.

She likes it because I usually end up giving her candy if she goes to the bathroom.  In fact, this morning all she had for breakfast was candy.  I'm not proud of it and don't like to do it often, but after being home with me for two weeks she did not want to go to school or sit on the toilet, so it was the only way to get her moving this morning.  The best part is when she comes to me and says, "Mommy, I want to go to the bathroom for a piece of candy".  I'm not sure if she actually has to go or just wants the candy, but I don't care.  Soon enough she'll go and won't ask for candy.  Plus, we went to the dentist last week and I told them what's going on and they are also of the "whatever works" philosophy so if they aren't too worried about it I'm not either.

This is a long time coming.  I've been changing diapers for almost nine years, with a few short breaks while I was pregnant with the next one.  I'm looking forward to the freedom of no diapers, the lighter bag, less bulk and, you know, not changing diapers.  Of course she'll still need my help for another year or two, but I'll take it!