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.

Our newest book project is under construction as we speak. Take a sneak peek now and come back in a couple of days for a more finished product:

http://www.delmio.com/on-top-of-the-potty/

It features the work of Alan Katz and illustrator David Catrow in On Top of the Potty (And Other Get-Up-and-Go Songs) and reworked lyrics of classic children’s songs. Kids will love the potty humor, but parents, eh, not so much (some of it’s pretty gross). Writer Chuck Bowen is the producer of this mini exploration, sponsored by the Ohio Center for the Book, which has sponsored several other books and authors with Ohio connections.