When you are a young toddler, few things are as meaningful and representative of your independence as learning to go to the potty. The end of the potty training road will definitely make you free of the dependence of pesky diapers. But it will also empower you in ways you probably never dreamed of before.
Apart from the obvious independence of diapers, it grants you independence from the adult changing your diapers. And not just that, it gives you power. Suddenly, you don't have to wait to get your diaper changed: all you have to do for the adult to drop everything -- cooking, cleaning, Facebook-ing, playing with your sibling -- is say "potty", and the attention will be on you. Ah, yes, you will abuse the power, saying potty every 30 seconds just to get that reaction. Eventually you'll see that crying wolf will only interrupt your play far more often than necessary, but it shall be fun nonetheless.
Though having power over an adult is certainly entertaining, the new found power over your own body must be something to behold. You can control your bodily fluids, you're in charge. It must open up a whole new dimension, a new array of things you dare to try you never thought possible. So what if sometimes things don't go your way and you fail? You're an independent being (with a short memory span), you can try again, until you master the skill at hand. What to try next: climbing a tree? Flying? The sky is the limit! (or really, the ground is)
Potty training truly is the beginning of your independence, the greatest declaration of independence of them all.
Happy 4th of July!
