My Spidey Sense is Tingling

On Sunday night my mother returned from a trip Outside to see my brother. She returned, as always, with gifts for my kids. They were very excited to see what kind of fun toy she was going to give them. She obliged with a magnifying glass, wind-up car and fake Rapunzel-like hair extensions. They loved it. She also brought back a practical item. One that’s much cheaper in the lower 48 – underwear.

My youngest was very excited about this. He’s two and a half and although he has some underwear already, he wasn’t that thrilled with the prospect of peeing on the potty. Until now. His previous outlook on potty training changed when my mother handed over a pack of spider man underwear. He clutched the package, admiring the designs. He was not letting go. I insisted we wash them first. (Call me crazy, but all the chemicals they put on new clothes just creeps me out.)

On Monday morning, I held up a freshly washed pair of spider man underwear and asked if he wanted to wear them. Of course, he said yes. But, aha, there was a catch. I told him he couldn’t wear them until he went pee on the potty first. He walked in, sat down and went. Now parents, we all know the excitement of the inaugural pee on the potty. There is dancing, clapping and much rejoicing. After telling him a million times how proud I was, we put on his new underwear. He pranced around in them, very excited to have accomplished such a feat. Not two minutes later, he walked up to me and said, “I peed.” Sure enough, spidey was all wet.

And now begins the days of constant (yes, even more constant than it already is) laundry. Still, very excited for my little man.

Any potty training tips? This is my third child I’ve potty trained, but you know how it is. They’re all very different!