Potty Training Stress

Ok, I realized potty training was not going to be easy but I never realized that deciding whether or not to start potty training would be such a momentous decision. There is WAY too much information out there and far too many opinions. Some (like my Mother) say Ryan should be potty-trained by now while others (like my pediatrician) say wait until 3. I mean, I must admit, I am DREADING it but beyond that, I apparently could do serious mental damage to the child by starting too early. I really don't want to pay for therapy later in life due to potty issues. So I've read articles and books and there are just too many choices. Should I potty train in one day (there are a heap of books with this method) or draw it out slowly? Do I buy a Potty Scotty or would that freak him out like it would me? (I mean, have you seen Potty Scotty, there is something Chucky-esqe about him) Do I throw cheerios in the toilet or let him sit and bribe him with M m M's (which seems a bit unsanitary)? Do I put a little potty out (YUCK) or put a trainer on our toilet seat? I could throw "potty parties" but I haven't totally lost my dignity yet. And how the hell do you keep him off the nasty public toilets? I mean, I don't even sit on those things, do I want my developing son to sit on a potential virus/germ/I don't even know what kind of things can be on there portable? So, and I know this is riveting stuff, I bought the no-cry solution to potty training book. No-cry sounds good, right? I don't know, I haven't read it yet BUT I did take the "readiness quiz" tonight. (Side note: while I think Bryce must feel that the level of stress potty training is causing me is a bit ridiculous, he was sweet enough to stay up well past his bedtime and take the quiz with me). Anyway, the "readiness quiz" was very helpful. It said I could either potty train now or wait and just introduce the potty slowly. No kidding! I realize those are my choices. Actually, they forgot one. I could completely ignore the fact he needs to be potty-trained and let him be the only 13-year-old in diapers. I am pretty sure Depends will fit him once he's out of his size 6's. Half-kidding aside, he pretty much had most of the qualifiers for readiness except that he doesn't mind dirty or wet diapers and he can't pull his pants up or down. I don't know about you but I think those might be better mastered before beginning?! Any-hoo, for those of you without kids in, just before or just after the potty-training stage, this is dreadfully boring and I apologize. For any of you with kids in the aforementioned stages, you get it. And you are sitting there wondering if you did or will do any mental damage.....