Like any eager first time parent, I ran out and potty chair when Mylie first started showing signs that she knew when she was “going,” and the tender age of 18 months. I thought, “Great! Maybe she’ll be potty-trained early!” Haha! Famous last words. Sure, the potty chair was great fun…for the first day. After that it joined the rank of all the other abandoned toys, because after all, it was just a toy, right? Not an instrument in a rite of passage.
Nevertheless, I was undaunted. I quickly resorted to bribery, because at that point the girl would do ANYTHING for a dum-dum or chocolate. We got a fun set-up with M&M’s, and a button she could press to receive a handful of deliciousness, and parked it (literally… It’s a toy UPS truck) in her bathroom next to her potty chair.
Well, that was approximately 15 months ago, and I’m still changing diapers (two sets, now!). She has had little to no interest in the process…only in the reward. The little stinker will tell us all the different rewards she’s set up to earn when she is fully potty trained, including (but not limited to) getting to pick out her own big-girl panties, getting to go to school, and getting a big-girl car seat. I’m basically throwing out any bribe I think will work and seeing if it sticks… the list just keeps growing, and she loves talking about the “someday.”
And let’s be fair… it’s not exactly like we’ve really been pushing the issue. Sure, we talk about it all the time, especially when she protests diaper changes. But I’m not exactly in the mood lately to drop everything because a munchkin comes running to me screaming that she has to GO!!!!! I’m envisioning messy scenes that include my nursing infant, that I won’t go into detail describing. Plus, I’m pretty much too self-absorbed to have any desire to hunt down public restrooms or (gasp!) Port-a-Potties in an emergency when we’re out and about. So, I’ve pretty much been of the camp that she’ll take care of it when she’s ready, and it’s not for me to worry about.
Lately, however, we’ve been putting her in big-girl panties with the hope that she’ll become more, eh, aware. This has meant a great deal more messes for us, but with the ultra-absorbent diapers today, it may just be the only way. And she definitely has become more aware. Yesterday, she asked to watch her “Elmo’s Potty Time” video, and this morning she actually had success! Of course, she got the M&M’s, so as soon as she was finished with them, she told me she had to go again. We’ve spent much time sitting on the potty today, by her own request. It’s obvious what the REAL motivation is…like I said, she’ll do ANYTHING for processed sugar, but hey, after the 17th diaper of the day, I really don’t care what the motivation is.
I feel your pain and Carter is not even 2 yet! Carter’s potty is gathering dust in the corner of the bathroom. He thought it was great the first day and now it’s a fantastic hiding place for his stuffed animals. Great.
Hahaha -very funny telling of your potty woes. The disclaimer was the best.
Hang in there, she’ll be there before you know it! 
I am SO with you. London is exactly the same. She knows all of the thousands of rewards she’ll get “someday” when she’s potty trained. But it’s not enough. I tried the big girl panties the other day and she didn’t even care when she wet them. At least she loves to sit on the potty. That’s the one thing I have going for us! Good luck, and keep us updated on any successes you’re having.