How My Parenting Fail Caused a Potty Regression

Do you have a toddler? Do you ever have those stories that still bring tears to your eyes to retell? #realtalk: I’ve only been a mother for a few years, and already I’ve got a handful of them (ok, probably more than I care to count…) Are you in the throes of a tough toddler stage right now? Be encouraged: you will survive. I hope that by sharing this we can join together in solidarity to not only survive the toddler years, but thrive, learn from each other’s mistakes, cry together, laugh together, grow as mothers.

My friend sent me this podcast episode last week from God Centered Mom. It came at just the right time, as I was recovering from weeks of guilt after traumatizing my toddler over a poop accident (that was mostly my fault to begin with).

“Grace never calls right wrong. If right were wrong there’d be no need for grace. The assumption of grace is that wrong is wrong and that’s why grace is needed.”

It helped me shift my perspective toward “responding” in situations verses “reacting.” Take a listen, and let me know what you think.

I mommed hard today and failed; my hormones and emotions got the better of me too many times to count. “From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace.” (John‬ ‭1:16). Let me just say how thankful I am for God's grace today…and that His mercies are new every morning. Today was an opportunity to teach my toddler about forgiveness. She was patient with me even when I wasn't patient with her. She's growing up too fast and today it hit me hard that my baby is becoming a big girl before my eyes. Y'all–I am NOT READY. A moment of bedtime snuggles before she hopped into her big girl bed was more for me than for her, and I think she knew it. "Mommy, are you sad? Do you need another snuggle?" #dailyclaire #bestillmyheart #allthefeels #momlife #letthembelittle #postpartum #motherhood #bigsister #stopgrowing #justkiddinggrowupjustslowdownalittleok

A post shared by cαιтℓιη ✿ wαℊηℯr (@caitielin34) on Jul 12, 2017 at 8:12pm PDT

Every birth story is beautiful, and they’re all unique in their own way. My first childbirth experience was a very long hospital labor and delivery. My second was born via water birth at a midwife-run birth center; it was absolutely everything I’d hoped it could be! I hope you’ll enjoy reading this birth story for what it is: a beautiful way (one of many ways!) a baby comes into this world. I’m not here to shame medicated deliveries, hospital births, or C-sections — they just aren’t part of my story.

The pictures were taken by my talented friend, Teodora. You can find more of her work here.