Potty training is a necessary part of raising children, but that certainly doesn't mean you will enjoy it. In fact, hating potty training doesn't make you a bad mom, it makes you pretty much like every other mom who has ever mothered (and certainly any mother who has ever potty trained). The messes; the stubborn refusals and subsequent accidents; the bribery; I mean, these are not moments that you write down in your kid's baby book or wax nostalgic about once they're over. (You may, however, be able to use those moments as fodder for bribery, once your kid is a teenager, not that I plan on personally doing that, or anything.)
My daughter has had a particularly challenging journey through toilet training. We didn't force the issue with her, and perhaps letting her take the lead wasn't the best idea (something we'll never know for sure) because it's been nearly a year now, and there have been more accidents than I can count. I have always tried to be extremely patient and understanding with her when she has accidents, because the last thing you want to do when you're potty training your kid is emotionally scar them for doing something pretty natural, but holy hell it's hard. It's hard to not yell when you discover your kid has been sitting in their own pee for several hours, on the carpet, either unable or unwilling to admit that they've made another accident that you'll be responsible for cleaning up. It's hard to not swear at the underpants you're cleaning poop out of again. All of it is hard.
So, don't despair if you find yourself thinking any of the following potty training thoughts. Parenting is messy, and it's never messier than when you're potty training. If you happen to have one of those kids who potty trained in one weekend? Move along, before someone here clocks you (I'm kidding, I'm just jealous and you should really teach me your secrets but only after you walk away because the jealousy is a little much now).