Is There Anything Like Happy Potty Training?

My son, at 3 years 6 months finally got potty trained. Is it something to be proud of or ashamed at? Ashamed because I know 3.5 years is too late for that. I was ashamed of asking my friends and relatives about potty training because they would all just say "oh my god, you still haven't trained your kid yet!". If I was ashamed of asking them, how could I announce that I am finally successful without getting embarrassed under their mocking stares? 

Anyway, this potty training thing wasn't easy at all. I don't get it how people just say one day "we are going to train now" and the next time I meet them, their kids are peeing and poohing in the toilet, just like grown up kids. Sigh. I started training when my son was 2 years and it took 1 and a half year to be finally successful. The hardest part of this long potty training session was the horrible visions I had about my son asking his wife to diaper him so he could poop. Oh my God, that's horrible! shivers running down my spine at such a horrible thought. 

Training my baby to pee in the toilet was not easy. He would hold it for hours but not pee in the toilet. But a few tickles always did the trick and he eventually got trained. Not talking about accidents; they still happen. 

The one thing which was different than what I read on the Internet was that no kind of potty training seat or toilet seat was useful for me. Although I bought them, but they were of no use. 

The hardest part was training him to pooh in the toilet. He used to ask me to diaper him whenever he felt the need. And when I didn't, he used to lie down on the floor with tummy pains and develop constipation. He was kind of afraid of poohing in the toilet. Perhaps, the diaper gave him a sense of security. Lol. I asked experts on the Internet and they gave stupid advices like encouraging him, etc, etc. These are not stupid advices but who doesn't do that or know that? 

So, what finally did the trick? Well, a pain in his hip bone and an injection was finally helpful in convincing him that toilet was better than diaper. Due to vitamin D deficiency, he had a pain in his hip bone and the doctor had to give him a vitamin injection. I took advantage of the opportunity and told him it was because he did potty in his diaper that he had got pains and had to be injected. As the prick of the syringe was still fresh in his mind, he finally did it. And I became successful. 

Hurray! I want to celebrate! Is there anything like happy potty training?