"There are no Fairies!"

While cleaning the bathroom the other day (yes, I do that occassionally) I realized that I was overly done scrubbing Eli's little potty. It has been 4 months since he was potty trained and I can barely muster enough will to clean the big, porcelain potty let alone another cheap, plastic potty. After all, our whole vacation Eli went on big toilets and it was never an issue. So as these thoughts crossed my mind I gathered up all the parts and hurriedly found a closet out of Eli's reach and hid the thing. That was easy, I thought, why didn't I do that weeks ago?

A couple minutes later Eli comes toddling along upstairs. I'm finishing up cleaning and I have Eli come take a look into the bathroom. I wanted him to notice on his own that the little potty was gone. I knew he wouldn't start doing jumping jacks out of excitement that it was gone (which is what I wanted to do) but I also did not expect the tirade that ensued. "I WANT MY POTTY!" He began wailing. "WHERE IS MY POTTY?" I thought a quick, clever explanation would do the trick. "Eli," I said, "the toilet fairy came and took it away. She said you're a big boy now and don't need it anymore." Isn't any story made better by a fairy thrown in? Eli did not buy it. "THERE ARE NO FAIRIES!"

"Yes there are Eli, she came and took it away. It's gone." Still, no sign of convincing him otherwise. "THERE ARE NO FAIRIES. ONLY IN SHOWS ARE THERE FAIRIES....I WANT MY POTTY!" He was very mad at me. For a second I thought I might pull it out again. I didn't want a potty boycott on my hands. No, I must stay firm. I switched to a more logical train of thought. "Eli," I began again, "the whole time we were in Florida you went on a big potty & you did just fine." "That's because you didn't bring my little toilet." This kid has an answer for everything! I went on my way hoping he'd get distracted and the discussion would be over. I was not pulling it out again.

After a brief distraction he needed to use the potty and the wailing started again, "I WANT MY POTTY!" He threw more giant fits as I forcefully pulled his pants down and braced him on the toilet. He went. Things were good. "See," I reminded, "the fairy was right. You are a big boy now."

More sternly than ever, "THERE ARE NO FAIRIES!"

A big roll of eyes and I sent him on his way wondering if he'll be so determined when we tell him the tooth FAIRY leaves him money :)