Not gonna lie: Potty training can be a daunting task. Just the idea of doing it with my daughter after she turned two-and-a-half gave me heart palpitations -- and in about six months, I'll be all aflutter again because it will be my son's turn. How do people do it?, I used to wonder. Where do you even begin? And how do you get a strong-willed, stubborn toddler to go along with it?

Thankfully, the idea of it was a lot scarier than the reality, at least the first time around with my older child. All things considered, it was a fairly smooth ride -- operative word being "fairly." Because there were some pretty tough moments trying to hit what to me had felt like one of the most elusive milestones of them all. Here are six of the trickiest things about potty training:

1. The motivation. In order to have a positive potty-training experience, you have to convince a tiny person with no impulse control or handle on her emotions that it's worth the effort to go to the bathroom on the potty. In reality, it's a heck of a lot easier to go in a diaper. It's a little like getting Kanye West to believe that he isn't, in fact, God. My not-so-secret weapon? Bribery -- I mean, rewards. I bought her fun new "big girl pants" she was excited to wear (and picked out herself), then made a chart. She got mini stickers each time she went to the potty and after five successful trips, she got a big sticker and treat of her choice. Kim Kardashian, are you reading this?

2. The rebellion. Inevitably, a few days or weeks in, when things seem to be going impossibly well, your little dictator will suddenly decide that she DOESN'T WANT TO GO POTTY ANYMORE. This is normal; it's just your toddler showing you who's boss again. The key is to stay calm and loving and soothingly talk her through it. More treats might be in order, or a warning that she might not get them if she keeps acting this way. Give her lots of hugs and affection, but keep your cool. It will diffuse that legendary toddler defiance and get you back on track.

3. The accidents. These aren't fun in the least, and I confess to getting ever so slightly stressy and annoyed when they happened. But patience is crucial. They're part of the process and happen to every child. The best way to handle them is not to make a big deal and reassure your little tyke that it's okay: We all make mistakes, and we just have to keep trying.

4. The number two problem. It's a fact: Lots of kids who are learning how to go to the potty will be scared of doing number two. As a result, many of the aforementioned accidents are big, messy ones, to say the least. I handled it by being patient and gently coaxing her. One time, when I saw her hide behind the couch to go in her big girl pants, I grabbed her and ran to the bathroom like a crazy person, plunking her down on the toilet just in the nick of time. Dramatic? A bit. But it worked, thank you very much.

5. The over-helping. If your little one is anything like mine, she'll want to be a big girl and "help" by wiping herself, flushing, cleaning the toilet, power-washing the bathroom... anything to show she can do it all by herself. Let her, within reason, but be careful of the wiping when it's more than just number one. And only let her power-wash under your supervision.

6. The mess. This probably won't shock you, but potty training is a hot mess. A mess you're stuck with cleaning up. There's a lot of pee and poop in places they have no business being. It's not pretty. But you just have to grin and bear it. Okay, forget the grinning. Just bear it. And remember that this, too, shall pass.

What were your trickiest potty-training moments? Or, if you're not there yet, what do you worry about the most?

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