Well, I said we were calling it a day on the nappies, and we did.  Friday was our first full day nappy-free, and we haven’t touched another one since.  Bella’s been absolutely amazing.  She can sleep through the night, 11 hours (or even 12 hours in last night’s case) and stay dry.  No issues with naps.  No problems in the car.  I’m incredibly, incredibly proud of her.

Our bathroom setup

I’m also pretty proud of me.  It sounds wrong to say that, but it’s true.  I’m proud that I was watching her, observing what she was telling me, and I’m proud that I didn’t let my own fears mean that she wasn’t allowed to take this step that she has been clearly ready for.  Toilet learning is an emotive topic, and I couldn’t even begin to count the number of times that I’ve heard a parent say “I don’t want to rush them.”

I know that people think that I’m “rushing” Bella.  Their opinions aren’t relevant to how I raise my child, but it doesn’t mean that I don’t hear the words.  It doesn’t mean that there wasn’t a seed of doubt in the back of my head – what if she isn’t ready, what if I’m trying to make her grow up too fast?

But you know what?  You can’t rush it.  You can’t force a child to be ready for this.  They either are or they aren’t.  I sincerely believe that a lot of parents wait too long, because they aren’t ready, because they don’t want their child to grow up.  I never, ever want to be that parent.  I will support my girl to be who she is, when she makes that decision.  And I know that I’ll do it at the right time, because I’m observing her – which is the first and most important lesson of Montessori.