When I think about the things I do every day — feeding myself, getting dressed, driving a stick shift — I wonder how I ever learned to do then. I mean, these things are fairly complicated when you think about them, as evidenced by the fact that when I think about them while doing them, I’m unable to do them anymore.
My motor difficulties aside, I’m glad I can’t remember potty training. (I’m sure my mom can, though. You can ask her for details.) I mean, you take a baby, who’s trying so hard to learn a host of other things, and make them switch from an arguably better system. Diapers, while a bit sticky in the summer, are a huge timesaver. My daughter doesn’t have to stop playing with her trucks or reading about the five little monkeys to climb the stairs and use the potty. She just keeps right on going, which, as a toddler, is the main objective. You’re either sleeping or moving at 150 mph.
Now, I’m not advocating we all start wearing Depends (http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/02/06/astronaut.arrested/index.html). But, this whole potty training exercise makes me appreciate steep learning curves all over again. And Resolve.

I – We – have a potty chair
My wife and I are ramping up our efforts to potty train our daughter, who is almost 2 years old. The potty chair we have is a hand-me-down from my in-laws, and it has a purple and teal seat with a bright yellow lid. The, ahem, business end slides out for “easy” disposal.
It has yet to see any real action. My daughter just uses it as a place to sit down when she’s brushing her teeth. More often than not, it just sits there next to the big-person potty and the sink.
I say we’re ramping up our efforts because my daughter isn’t really keen on the whole idea of not using diapers and, truth be told, neither am I. I mean, they’re so easy. I thought parenting an almost-2-year-old was tiring enough, what with the constant food throwing and burgeoning independent streak. Now toss on an entirely new enterprise that involves peeing (and quite possibly, pooping) on the floor. Excellent.