Books like The Princess and the Potty

1.) I don't like reading books to my children that give them examples of ways they could be defiant. They come up with plenty of ideas on their own; they don't need more. If sitting on the toilet is not a area of challenge in your home, don't bother reading this book to your child. She may follow the princess's example and decide she doesn't like using a particular potty/potties in general for whatever whimsical reason.2.) I don't like books in which the parents are namby-pambies who capitulate to their children's (toddler or even preschooler) whims, especially regarding something essential like peeing in the potty. I don't like reading my children books in which the parents demonstrate that they are able to be manipulated. I mean, when we got to the part about the parents searching the kingdom for potties their daughter will use, I wanted to throw up. This is what is wrong with modern parenting. 3.) I think a lot of the humor in this book is aimed at the parents who will be reading it and who, unfortunately, will be able to identify with 1) capricious tyrants deciding they won't pee on the potty and 2) being manipulated by these capricious tyrants. One of the parents' dilemmas centers around their reputation to uphold: "What would their neighbors say in the kingdom next door?" I won't deny that my first thought, when my own capricious tyrant is trying to manipulate me, is often about my own reputation among my parenting peers. So I'll give the author one star for how she "gets it." Ultimately, though, it's annoying, because I'm not reading this book to commiserate with other parents. I'm reading this book to introduce my child to the idea of peeing in the potty, and she doesn't need examples of how to get away with defiance.4.) I'm irritated by the "royal wise man's" advice (which I kept hoping might be proven to be silly later in the story, but it seems to be the guiding principle behind the book!): "The princess will use the potty when it pleases her to use the potty." So many modern parents go this route, completely uncomfortable with the idea that as the parents, it is our job to teach our children skills like how to pee in the potty, which necessitates that we, not they, decide when it's time to use the potty. This princess - like so many children today - is allowed to be a little tyrant. Again - my daughter doesn't need to hear this idea that she only needs to go to the potty if it pleases her! Sometimes it pleases her to run right up to Daddy while he mows the lawn. But I don't send her inside only if it pleases her. It's my job to keep her safe, which sometimes means she has to do things that don't please her. Sitting on the potty will sometimes fall under the same rule of thumb.5.) If only a pretty pair of "pantalettes" was enough to convince a child to use the toilet 100% of the time perfectly. It's just not that simple.So - this would be an amusing read for parents if their precious little princesses were giving them a run for their money by defiantly refusing to use the toilet. However, it's a terrible manual for what actually works, and it's a terrible example for the listening child.