I am potty trained and so are you

By Gretchen
"Don't worry. I won't pee on you," my nearly 3-year-old daughter assured me as she climbed onto my lap.

"Thanks. I'm glad."

Was she worried she might? Did she need to go? Did I have any clean jeans or even a skirt hanging in the closet? That <em>fit</em>? Uhhhh. Mental note: Buy diet sparkling tea on Monday.

I asked the question she is tired of answering. No, she didn't need to go.

At that point, there is no choice but to trust in her self-assurance. At age almost-3, confidence is sticky but more feeble than they want you to know. I had to let the subject drop. A wise mom knows when to back off, lady.

We sang songs and talked about her birthday next month. I asked for her input on cake flavor, what she wanted on top, and lunch. Chocolate, Hello Kitty, hot dogs. The girl knows what she likes. She knows.

She knows. Knowing and doing are often strangers in the night, exchanging glances. Someday, they'll hold hands and won't let go unless faced with a long line in front of an amusement park ride or a really big sneeze.

It doesn't mean I'm not potty trained.

It means I had her.

Gretchen writes at Lifenut.