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A few days ago, the unthinkable happened.
I was preparing breakfast like any other day and my youngest daughter Lauren came along and began tugging my skirt.
She kept pulling me toward the restroom and, as soon as we reached the toilet, she tried to unfasten the tabs on her diaper.
I was thinking, "What? No way."
Yes way.
This 22-month-old was about to go to the potty all on her own - without any, zero, no potty training whatsoever.
I was in disbelief. I deliberately let her take charge.
After a little wrestling, she successfully yanked off her diaper and cleverly used a stepstool to get herself barely seated on the toilet.
I lent her my hand to prevent her from falling into the toilet.
First, I thought she was going to pee. But I immediately saw her face turn red as she began grunting. Once, twice and boom. She did it - as easy as that.
I was in such awe that I was left speechless. I simply put up my hand for a high-five.
She casually gave me a five back and tried tearing up some toilet paper to clean up, but for hygiene reasons, I took over at that point.
Wow. This girl not only voluntarily walked over to the bathroom to go to the potty, she took care of business with such ease and even tried to clean herself up.
I was so proud, amazed and disappointed all at once.
I was obviously proud that this less than two-year-old basically took care of one of the toughest trainings for both parents and children alike all by herself.
I was amazed at the level of influence and impact her sisters Ellen and Ann have on Lauren. The little one clearly modeled after her two sisters who go to the potty at least 12 times a day, both for business and for fun.
I was disappointed that my baby Lauren is really, as in factually, growing quickly out her baby stage.
It was a lot of emotions to swallow in front of that toilet.
It's been three whole days since the potty incident happened, and since then, Lauren has pooped in the toilet each and every time she had to go.
She still wets her diaper, but I wholeheartedly welcome that.
And this major milestone has got me thinking.
I look at Lauren and realize that she's self-taught so many things.
She began eating independently with a spoon and fork months back when she was a little over one, she started putting on her own shoes at an unknown point (I feel guilty for not even knowing exactly when), and she is now close to buckling up her own car seat seatbelt.
A lot of these things required heavy - and I mean heavy - training for Ellen and Ann.
We all know Ann miraculously graduated from her diapers just four months ago, shortly before celebrating her third birthday. (Sorry for rubbing this in, Ann.)
I'm not a fan of comparing siblings against each other, but observation shows that siblings truly are the best teachers.
My readers can imagine what my daily grind is like with my three girls going wild every waking second of their day.
I simply don't have the time and energy to patiently sit down with Lauren to teach her many of the things that I taught her sisters.
But thankfully, Lauren has a better teacher than me, the tired and snappy mom.
She has her sisters, who make everything - even the world's most mundane thing like sitting quietly - so super duper fun.
This is such a relief for me.
I don't always meditate on this, but the fact is, there is always that looming pressure over my shoulder that I have an immeasurable responsibility for my three children.
It's so heartwarming to know that my twin daughters and the youngest one will have each other's backs even when I may not always be there for them.
I'm sure parents of multiple kids know very well what I'm talking about.
Sure, sometimes kids fight like there is no tomorrow, but you see these happy, cuddly moments and think having two - in my case, three - wasn't such a crazy idea after all.
So if you're contemplating a second, or better yet, third child, consider reading this column a sign.
Go for it, the sibling love, influence and support is so much more than anything you'd ever expect.
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