Success!

I have been struggling for months... maybe even years... trying to get Annalise potty-trained. This was due to a number of things:

-Emma didn't need potty-training. Not really. She watched Ethan learn, and then did it herself. I got spoiled.

-Annie is my sixth child. I was tired of the whole potty-training process. I kept hoping she'd train herself.

-When Annie was about to turn three, I kept saying, "I wouldn't want to start potty-training now- we're about to move overseas. It would just cause problems."

-After we got to the Azores and Annie was three, I was lazy.

-We were moving back to Utah (see previous reason about moving overseas).

-Annie didn't want to. And honestly, at this point she didn't really think she could do it. I mean, I had started potty-training her multiple times for a few hours at at time. She had been programmed for failure.

Annalise turned four in October. I decided (hesitantly, because I was pretty much programmed for failure too, at this point) that we really needed to get this done. So yesterday, I had Tim take the older kids to his parents house for the day. My Mom and Dad were out of town, so I had the whole day to just concentrate on Annie. I had read up on lots of different methods and combined a few, so we had a new drink and wet doll, little presents to open, and lots of drinks, movies, and stickers. And I prayed. I didn't think I could handle another disappointing failure.

Finally, with my undivided attention, it worked! Annie had 7 successes and 1 accident yesterday. We are both ecstatic! Today, even with the long trip to the zoo/museum/Temple Square, she did great. I am sooooooo happy.

She is very proud of herself. She shows her sticker chart to anyone who cares, and she's actually excited to go sit on the toilet.

And I have one less parenting failure to worry about.