look daddy, i go pee pee

Like many parents of toddlers, we're in the middle of the dreaded potty training. It's an important time of transition for a child who must learn to "hold it in" for the porcelain throne rather than letting loose in a secure and ultra-absorbent diaper.

Despite Z-Dub's verbal desire to "go potty" in a toilet, when it comes to actually doing it, we've had very little success over the past couple of months. We've even bought and used regular underwear on the weekends and he just pees in them, resulting in a shower of urine that forms into a puddle on the floor.

Last night while I undressed him for his shower, Z-Dub stood there squirming. Suddenly he proclaimed, "Daddy, I have to pee pee."

I got very excited. He actually said he had to go before actually going. Unfortunately, there was no time to make our way downstairs to his training potty, so I hurried and helped him onto the regular sized toilet.  He sat there for about 30 seconds as I repeated "Okay. Go pee pee."

Nothing happened.

"Okay. Push it out. Go pee pee," I said in an encouraging tone.

He followed that with a grunting noise like he was about to deliver a big load of number two. Another thirty seconds or so passed and nothing still.

"Do you still have to go pee pee," I asked.

He placed is tongue against the back of his teeth and made a "ssssssssssssssssssssssssssss" noise to copy the flow of pee. But he didn't actually pee.

Then I remembered that his book, "It's Potty Time," had illustrations and read "I stand up to go pee pee. I sit down to go poo poo." So, I took him off the toilet and propped him up on my knees so he was at the right height and position to pee like a "big boy." But after a minute or so, still no flow. We simply gave up.

I helped him into the shower. As soon as his feet hit the wet floor the peeing commenced.

"Look daddy. I pee pee," he said with pride.

"Nice," I replied in defeat.