It's potty time ... oh, it's potty time!

Okay, I think I've been sailing through this whole Mom thing for the past two years. Preston really hasn't given me more than I can handle or figure out with a phone call or two. And when he did, I could always refer to one of my handy books most of which I purchased before he was born. (A source of laughter for all the women in my family with children, especially my grandmother.)

Last week, Preston's daycare teacher asked me if I had been putting him on the potty. And I told her the truth -- not like I should. It's actually been in the bathroom for a couple of months and he likes to put his blocks in it while I'm running his bath water. Don't worry, he's never actually used the thing so that's not as gross as it sounds.

The truth is. I haven't the faintest idea of "how" to potty train a child, especially one with different parts from me. I've gotten a word of advice here and there ... use the toilet, don't bother with a potty ... don't worry about it until he shows an interest ... let him go to the bathroom with his Dad ...
So, tonight I decided maybe it was time for a book! I went to the Barnes & Noble website and did a search for potty training. In case you're wondering, there are 362 books about potty training on the site. Here are some of my favorites:

• The Potty Boot Camp: Basic Training for Toddlers -- this one says you can have your child trained by age 2. Well, we've missed the boat on that one.


• Potty Train Your Child in Just One Day: Proven Secrets of the Potty Pro -- I can buy this one tomorrow and have Preston out of diapers by Monday!


• Everyone Poops -- Yep, that about sums it up.


• Time to Pee! -- Sign-carrying mice give encouraging instructions for using the toilet. That might work if The Backyardigans were carrying the signs.


• How to Toilet Train Your Cat: 21 Days to a Litter-Free Home -- Seriously? I wonder if they used this one to train the cat in the Meet the Parents movie.

I know that he's not going to wake up one day and be out of diapers. I also know that I'm going to have to pray for patience because I'm sure there will be accidents. I'll keep my sanity by repeating over and over again ... this too shall pass. And if all else fails, I'll buy the cat book.