Potty Training - the easy way

I'll admit it up front - potty training is one of my least favourite parenting tasks! If it was possible to wave a magic wand and be done with it then I would be using the wand!
My eldest daughter was not easy to toilet train - I remember reading all the books and getting the rewards chart and then pulling my hair out when it just wasn't working, she did not want to sit on that potty! And then just after she had cracked it she developed a water infection which had us almost back to square one - I remember at a mums and toddlers group, having to sit and clean a bunch of toys that she'd wee'd on!

I have become more relaxed in most areas of my parenting since then, and with each baby that has come along, I've learnt more and more how to just chill and let them develop at their own pace, it was my third child that cemented my conviction that potty training was (just like reading and all the other development stages) something that children get ready for in their own timing - Rebekah (number 3) was about 2, we'd just had our fourth child and I had been putting off potty training, I really didn't fancy it with a baby in the house - I kept saying that we'll do it when the weather is warmer, but she had other ideas!
One day, we were at my friends and she was upstairs playing with the older children when she came down and gave me her nappy, she completely refused to wear one (other than bedtime) after that - and amazingly enough we had only maybe 1 or 2 accidents in total!

Now we are on child number 4 - she will be 3 in a couple of weeks and although we have a couple of attempts, convincing her to sit on the potty up to now she hasn't been ready

We've also got another baby in the house and all those people that think it's easier to have the older one potty trained before baby comes along, well for me I don't find that - I find it easier (if a little more expensive) to have 2 in nappies that I can change at the most convenient time than having one I have to keep taking to the bathroom at any given moment!

"No, I need nappy" has been her response to my suggestions that she is getting a big girl now and should maybe try wearing knickers and using the potty, but on Saturday she was quite eager to try the knickers and she did her first wee on the potty!!!
We're taking it slowly but so far so good, when we are at home or Nanny's then it's no nappy but when we're out then I'm afraid I'm just not brave enough to let her go nappyless yet!

I just want to encourage you if your child is at "potty training" age, don't worry if it's not happening yet, I'd much rather have a stress free potty training time with a slightly older child than running around cleaning up accidents all day!