Today I looked at my stat counter and discovered that the #1 google search term leading people to my blog is........
"Potty training quotes"
I was amazed at how many people were searching for quotes about potty training, and every one of them ended up reading this post.
Go ahead and click on the link, the post was from two years ago. It was Max at his finest.
Showing posts with label potty training. Show all posts
Showing posts with label potty training. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Monday, August 18, 2008
Max MacGyver
Remember how Max likes to pretend that his toy cars are garbage cans?
Do you also remember how we've been taking away his cars every time he has an "accident" and I need to wash his underwear?
Due to the frequency and severity of the recent "accidents" Max has been without his cars for quite a while.
A few days ago, I heard the unmistakable sound of Max impersonating the garbage truck. I knew I had put his cars away, so I went to investigate.
Max was sitting in the middle of the living room floor with his cars lined up in a row. He was using the biggest car as a garbage truck, and emptying the "garbage cans" into the truck.
"Max!" I said "How did you get your cars??"
It was then that I realized that instead of being smart and putting the storage box full of his cars in it's special "time out" spot in the top of his closet, I had been very lazy and just stuffed it under the living room couch. (Yes, I have learned something from this experience)
I then put Max's cars away where they should have been in the first place.
Max cried.
And cried.
And cried..............
I reminded him that all he needed to do to get the cars back was to poop IN THE POTTY, and NOT in his underwear.
The next day, I again heard the unmistakable sound of Max's version of the garbage truck, this time coming from his room.
When I went in to investigate, (because I knew that there was no way that he could have reached the cars on the top shelf in his closet) I found him sitting on his bedroom floor with his milk lid collection (yes, he collects milk lids......)
He had the milk lids lined up in a row, and he was using the chocolate milk lid as the garbage truck.
I took the milk lids away.
Because I'm mean.
(Hey! He still hadn't pooped in the potty!)
Max just looked at me like I was nuts, and walked out of the room.
A few hours later, I heard those darned garbage truck noises again.
This time, he's got his shoes lined up as the garbage cans, and one of his church shoes is being used as the garbage truck.
I get down on the floor with him and ask "Max, if I take your shoes away from you, then what will you use to play garbage truck?"
Max looked at me very thoughtfully and said:
"My underwear!!"
Which I thought to be rather appropriate considering all the "garbage" that his underwear has been full of this week.
I've decided that I just can't win this one.
I'm very happy to report that last night, Max did what was required of him, and is now happily playing with his cars.
(I gave him back his milk lids also)
Do you also remember how we've been taking away his cars every time he has an "accident" and I need to wash his underwear?
Due to the frequency and severity of the recent "accidents" Max has been without his cars for quite a while.
A few days ago, I heard the unmistakable sound of Max impersonating the garbage truck. I knew I had put his cars away, so I went to investigate.
Max was sitting in the middle of the living room floor with his cars lined up in a row. He was using the biggest car as a garbage truck, and emptying the "garbage cans" into the truck.
"Max!" I said "How did you get your cars??"
It was then that I realized that instead of being smart and putting the storage box full of his cars in it's special "time out" spot in the top of his closet, I had been very lazy and just stuffed it under the living room couch. (Yes, I have learned something from this experience)
I then put Max's cars away where they should have been in the first place.
Max cried.
And cried.
And cried..............
I reminded him that all he needed to do to get the cars back was to poop IN THE POTTY, and NOT in his underwear.
The next day, I again heard the unmistakable sound of Max's version of the garbage truck, this time coming from his room.
When I went in to investigate, (because I knew that there was no way that he could have reached the cars on the top shelf in his closet) I found him sitting on his bedroom floor with his milk lid collection (yes, he collects milk lids......)
He had the milk lids lined up in a row, and he was using the chocolate milk lid as the garbage truck.
I took the milk lids away.
Because I'm mean.
(Hey! He still hadn't pooped in the potty!)
Max just looked at me like I was nuts, and walked out of the room.
A few hours later, I heard those darned garbage truck noises again.
This time, he's got his shoes lined up as the garbage cans, and one of his church shoes is being used as the garbage truck.
I get down on the floor with him and ask "Max, if I take your shoes away from you, then what will you use to play garbage truck?"
Max looked at me very thoughtfully and said:
"My underwear!!"
Which I thought to be rather appropriate considering all the "garbage" that his underwear has been full of this week.
I've decided that I just can't win this one.
I'm very happy to report that last night, Max did what was required of him, and is now happily playing with his cars.
(I gave him back his milk lids also)
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Three side effects of potty training
Now that we have a newly "potty trained" (and I use that term loosely) child, I've noticed a few side effects that go along with this whole thing.
#1. We don't go anywhere.
While Max is quite comfortable using the potty at home, we've yet to be successful anywhere else.
Last week, we went to Wal Mart, Sears, and the Rec Center. As soon as we got to each of these places, Max would look up at me with those big, sweet eyes and say "I need to go potty!" We will go into the restroom, Max will stand there for almost 2.3 seconds and then say "I don't need to go potty. I also wash my hands."
Due to the fact that Max won't go potty in public, I end up staying home most of the time. This also works out well for me, because I've decided that I'm not going anywhere until my hair grows out. I also get to do my part to reduce my carbon footprint because I won't be using as much gas in the car. (and besides, if I don't go anywhere, I don't need to shave my legs as often)
#2. More Laundry..............Much, much more laundry.
At first, the laundry increased because I now had an extra 15 pairs of underwear to wash.
(and I have to tell you, there's nothing cuter than the south end of my north bound toddler wearing nothing but a pair of Elmo underwear)
However, when the accident-free honeymoon period of this whole "potty trained" thing came to an end, I found that I was washing those cute little underwear three times as often, along with the pants he was wearing when he had his "accident" and also the shirt he was wearing at that time because...............
"I ALSO NEED TO CHANGE MY SHIRT TOO! I ALSO NEED TO WEAR MY RED SHIRT WITH MY BLUE PANTS! I ALSO DID WEAR MY YAYO SHIRT WIF MY GREEN PANTS! I ALSO NOT NEED TO WEAR MY YAYO SHIRT WIF MY BLUE PANTS! I ALSO NEED TO WEAR MY RED SHIRT!"
So, to make an already too long story short, I just wash everything. I've even stopped separating the lights from the darks.
And please, don't even think about leaving me anasty helpful comment about not separating the clothes. Yes, I know, I'm a slacker mom because I don't separate my toddlers dark clothes from his underwear. Here are three reasons why this is OK.
A. He's going to be growing out of these clothes pretty soon anyway.
B. His clothes are small, I can get them all into one load in the washing machine. This saves energy and water, which, again, reduces the whole carbon footprint thing.
C. See #1 above. We don't go anywhere so nobody will see his faded colors, or the pink tinge of his Spongebob underwear, because, again, WE NEVER GO ANYWHERE!
#3. Streaking
Since Max ends up making a complete change of clothing, (sometimes several times a day) I have decided that he should dress himself. He is three and a half, and quite capable of putting his clothes on (even if they are inside out and backwards) He will even spend 20 minutes meticulously buttoning all three buttons on his polo shirt, however, most of the time he usually just doesn't feel like dressing himself, and prefers to run around ................."swinging free"
This causes a great deal of concern by his siblings who tell him things like:
"Max! Put some clothes on!"
"Max, please get dressed!"
and
"Hey Max, nobody wants to see THAT!"
But Max doesn't care, because he's three. Today he walked around singing
"Hey! Go put some pants on DUUUUUUUDE!!"
Which, in all honesty, was actually pretty cute the first FORTY OR FIFTY TIMES HE SANG IT, but after that, I started to get a headache and needed to wash down some Motrin with a big Diet Dr. Pepper, and then make some fudge. (I am SO blaming my weight gain on Max's potty training!)
Max is now starting to have quite the fascination with the toilet. Earlier today, we heard him yelling in the bathroom, and when I went in to investigate, I discovered him standing there (without pants) yelling AT the toilet.
"NOT THAT WAY!!! YOU ALSO NEED TO GO FASTER!! NO!!........... NO!!........... NO!!
Apparently, the toilet wasn't flushing fast enough.
{{..........sigh..........}}
I think it probably had something to do with the whole roll toilet paper he had just stuffed in it.
#1. We don't go anywhere.
While Max is quite comfortable using the potty at home, we've yet to be successful anywhere else.
Last week, we went to Wal Mart, Sears, and the Rec Center. As soon as we got to each of these places, Max would look up at me with those big, sweet eyes and say "I need to go potty!" We will go into the restroom, Max will stand there for almost 2.3 seconds and then say "I don't need to go potty. I also wash my hands."
Due to the fact that Max won't go potty in public, I end up staying home most of the time. This also works out well for me, because I've decided that I'm not going anywhere until my hair grows out. I also get to do my part to reduce my carbon footprint because I won't be using as much gas in the car. (and besides, if I don't go anywhere, I don't need to shave my legs as often)
#2. More Laundry..............Much, much more laundry.
At first, the laundry increased because I now had an extra 15 pairs of underwear to wash.
(and I have to tell you, there's nothing cuter than the south end of my north bound toddler wearing nothing but a pair of Elmo underwear)
However, when the accident-free honeymoon period of this whole "potty trained" thing came to an end, I found that I was washing those cute little underwear three times as often, along with the pants he was wearing when he had his "accident" and also the shirt he was wearing at that time because...............
"I ALSO NEED TO CHANGE MY SHIRT TOO! I ALSO NEED TO WEAR MY RED SHIRT WITH MY BLUE PANTS! I ALSO DID WEAR MY YAYO SHIRT WIF MY GREEN PANTS! I ALSO NOT NEED TO WEAR MY YAYO SHIRT WIF MY BLUE PANTS! I ALSO NEED TO WEAR MY RED SHIRT!"
So, to make an already too long story short, I just wash everything. I've even stopped separating the lights from the darks.
And please, don't even think about leaving me a
A. He's going to be growing out of these clothes pretty soon anyway.
B. His clothes are small, I can get them all into one load in the washing machine. This saves energy and water, which, again, reduces the whole carbon footprint thing.
C. See #1 above. We don't go anywhere so nobody will see his faded colors, or the pink tinge of his Spongebob underwear, because, again, WE NEVER GO ANYWHERE!
#3. Streaking
Since Max ends up making a complete change of clothing, (sometimes several times a day) I have decided that he should dress himself. He is three and a half, and quite capable of putting his clothes on (even if they are inside out and backwards) He will even spend 20 minutes meticulously buttoning all three buttons on his polo shirt, however, most of the time he usually just doesn't feel like dressing himself, and prefers to run around ................."swinging free"
This causes a great deal of concern by his siblings who tell him things like:
"Max! Put some clothes on!"
"Max, please get dressed!"
and
"Hey Max, nobody wants to see THAT!"
But Max doesn't care, because he's three. Today he walked around singing
"Hey! Go put some pants on DUUUUUUUDE!!"
Which, in all honesty, was actually pretty cute the first FORTY OR FIFTY TIMES HE SANG IT, but after that, I started to get a headache and needed to wash down some Motrin with a big Diet Dr. Pepper, and then make some fudge. (I am SO blaming my weight gain on Max's potty training!)
Max is now starting to have quite the fascination with the toilet. Earlier today, we heard him yelling in the bathroom, and when I went in to investigate, I discovered him standing there (without pants) yelling AT the toilet.
"NOT THAT WAY!!! YOU ALSO NEED TO GO FASTER!! NO!!........... NO!!........... NO!!
Apparently, the toilet wasn't flushing fast enough.
{{..........sigh..........}}
I think it probably had something to do with the whole roll toilet paper he had just stuffed in it.
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Googled
Recent keyword search on google that led someone to my blog............
"How long does it take to potty train a Snorkie?"
Hmmmmmmmm?
I'm guessing about as long as it takes to potty train a Max? ;0)
(No, we're not quite there yet.)
"How long does it take to potty train a Snorkie?"
Hmmmmmmmm?
I'm guessing about as long as it takes to potty train a Max? ;0)
(No, we're not quite there yet.)
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
There's a reason why kids are so cute
Max loves to play with his toy cars.
He likes to line them up in perfectly spaced little rows.
He likes to put them in a big circle and pretend that they are the ride he went on at the amusement park last week.
He likes to line them up in front of his Little People garage and barn, and pretend that they are garbage cans. His Transformer car then becomes the garbage truck, and it drives up in front of the cars, picks them up and dumps them in the "garbage truck" then puts them back neatly in the exact spot they were taken from. (quite unlike the real garbage collectors around here. No offense intended if you are a garbage collector)
Thirteen days ago, I told Max that we were out of diapers.
They were all gone.
There would be no more. (except for the special "night time diapers" that he could wear to bed)
For seven whole days, Max was amazing!
The Spongebob underwear remained clean and dry.
We were elated!
We rejoiced with each of his victorious journeys to the potty!
We sang his favorite potty songs, and bestowed him with gummi bears, and stickers for his potty chart.
And life was good, for it seemed that our young son had finally figured it out.
He told EVERYONE he saw that he was also potty trained and was now wearing underwear.
He was no longer a baby, he was now a big boy!
We were quite amazed at his incredible holding power. He refused to use any potty other than his own, and no matter how many times we tried to get him to use the restroom at Wal Mart or the amusement park, he refused, but waited until we returned home.
And his pants were always dry.
Until six days ago. He didn't quite make it there in time, and had an accident.
Right next to the potty.
But hey, he's only three, and these things happen, and he's had a really great week, so don't sweat it Max. No gummi bears this time, but I'm sure this won't happen again...........
Right?
Wrong.
There have been multiple accidents. Multiple times in one day. we contemplated putting him back in diapers, but we soon discovered that this wouldn't work because "THOSE ARE NIGHT TIME DIAPERS AND I ALSO ONLY WEAR THEM AT NIGHT! WE ALSO DON'T HAVE ANY DAYTIME DIAPERS! THE DAY TIME DIAPERS ARE ALSO ALL GONE!!" and he would take them off and replace them with underwear.
And then he had two "solid" accidents in one day. He came up to me and said,
"I also did just poop in my underwear!"
(Said rather proudly, as if it were some sort of accomplishment or something.)
"Max!" I groaned "You know you're not supposed to do that, you need to use the potty."
To which he replied "Oh?" like it was the first time anyone had ever mentioned it to him.
Then the second time it happened, as I was cleaning him up, I said "Max, if you keep doing this, you won't ever get anymore gummi bears."
To which Max replies "Oh? ................... O.K. mom, no gummi bears."
He was taking this all too well, so I had another strategy.
We took away his cars. Daddy came in and put all of his cars in a storage box and put them in the very top of his closet. He could see them, but he couldn't play with them.
Poor Max was so sad.
So very, very sad.
We told him that he could have them back when he pooped in the potty.
Yesterday, he did it, and got his cars back.
And life was good, because his underwear was clean and dry again.
All day today, Max played in his room with his cars. He ran them all through the car wash on his Little people garage. He parked them neatly in rows, perfectly spaced, perfectly even.
Tonight just as it was time for Max to get his pajamas on he came to me and said "Mom, you need to put my cars away."
Thinking he was tired and wanted to get his toys cleaned up so he could go to bed, I followed him into his room to help put the cars away, but I discovered that he had already put them in the storage box. He has done this before, so I didn't think anything of it, and started to get him ready for bed.
As I began to help him with his pajamas, I encountered the smell of an "accident."
"Max, did you poop in your underwear?"
"Yes I did! You also do need to put my cars away up in my closet."
First, he was changing his own diapers, now, he's handing out his own punishments. But is it really a punishment if he puts the cars away on his own?
He likes to line them up in perfectly spaced little rows.
He likes to put them in a big circle and pretend that they are the ride he went on at the amusement park last week.
He likes to line them up in front of his Little People garage and barn, and pretend that they are garbage cans. His Transformer car then becomes the garbage truck, and it drives up in front of the cars, picks them up and dumps them in the "garbage truck" then puts them back neatly in the exact spot they were taken from. (quite unlike the real garbage collectors around here. No offense intended if you are a garbage collector)
Thirteen days ago, I told Max that we were out of diapers.
They were all gone.
There would be no more. (except for the special "night time diapers" that he could wear to bed)
For seven whole days, Max was amazing!
The Spongebob underwear remained clean and dry.
We were elated!
We rejoiced with each of his victorious journeys to the potty!
We sang his favorite potty songs, and bestowed him with gummi bears, and stickers for his potty chart.
And life was good, for it seemed that our young son had finally figured it out.
He told EVERYONE he saw that he was also potty trained and was now wearing underwear.
He was no longer a baby, he was now a big boy!
We were quite amazed at his incredible holding power. He refused to use any potty other than his own, and no matter how many times we tried to get him to use the restroom at Wal Mart or the amusement park, he refused, but waited until we returned home.
And his pants were always dry.
Until six days ago. He didn't quite make it there in time, and had an accident.
Right next to the potty.
But hey, he's only three, and these things happen, and he's had a really great week, so don't sweat it Max. No gummi bears this time, but I'm sure this won't happen again...........
Right?
Wrong.
There have been multiple accidents. Multiple times in one day. we contemplated putting him back in diapers, but we soon discovered that this wouldn't work because "THOSE ARE NIGHT TIME DIAPERS AND I ALSO ONLY WEAR THEM AT NIGHT! WE ALSO DON'T HAVE ANY DAYTIME DIAPERS! THE DAY TIME DIAPERS ARE ALSO ALL GONE!!" and he would take them off and replace them with underwear.
And then he had two "solid" accidents in one day. He came up to me and said,
"I also did just poop in my underwear!"
(Said rather proudly, as if it were some sort of accomplishment or something.)
"Max!" I groaned "You know you're not supposed to do that, you need to use the potty."
To which he replied "Oh?" like it was the first time anyone had ever mentioned it to him.
Then the second time it happened, as I was cleaning him up, I said "Max, if you keep doing this, you won't ever get anymore gummi bears."
To which Max replies "Oh? ................... O.K. mom, no gummi bears."
He was taking this all too well, so I had another strategy.
We took away his cars. Daddy came in and put all of his cars in a storage box and put them in the very top of his closet. He could see them, but he couldn't play with them.
Poor Max was so sad.
So very, very sad.
We told him that he could have them back when he pooped in the potty.
Yesterday, he did it, and got his cars back.
And life was good, because his underwear was clean and dry again.
All day today, Max played in his room with his cars. He ran them all through the car wash on his Little people garage. He parked them neatly in rows, perfectly spaced, perfectly even.
Tonight just as it was time for Max to get his pajamas on he came to me and said "Mom, you need to put my cars away."
Thinking he was tired and wanted to get his toys cleaned up so he could go to bed, I followed him into his room to help put the cars away, but I discovered that he had already put them in the storage box. He has done this before, so I didn't think anything of it, and started to get him ready for bed.
As I began to help him with his pajamas, I encountered the smell of an "accident."
"Max, did you poop in your underwear?"
"Yes I did! You also do need to put my cars away up in my closet."
First, he was changing his own diapers, now, he's handing out his own punishments. But is it really a punishment if he puts the cars away on his own?
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Potty training update
This post is about potty training.
I'm just warning you in case you don't like reading about this sort of thing.
Yesterday, I decided that we were going to do this potty training thing cold turkey.
When Max woke up, and I was getting him dressed, I showed him the empty diaper package (The rest of the box was hidden safely in his closet) and said "Look Max, we're out of diapers! What are we going to do?"
And much to my surprise and delight, Max said "I also wear some underwear today!"
YAY!!
So, Max wore underwear all day yesterday, and did quite well. I kept asking him if he needed to go potty, and he would, but there were a few times where he announced himself that he needed to go, and then went. Several times during the day he would say things like "The diapers are all gone, so I also wearing underwear!" and "I also keeping my underwear dry!"
We encouraged him by telling him that he needed to keep his underwear dry because Spongebob (on his underwear) didn't like to get wet. (I realized later that this was kind of a silly thing to say, because Spongebob lives in the ocean, but I don't think Max has made that connection yet.)
He was pretty cute, he would sit on the potty, and sing all of the songs in this video.
Yes, now you will have all of those songs running through your head for the rest of the day.
I think my favorite song is "Super Duper Pooper." Which one did you like?
Max is not yet ready to go without a diaper at night, so I very discreetly pulled a diaper out of the box in the closet for him to wear to bed. I called it his "special nighttime diaper."
Apparently, he saw where I got the diaper because this morning he came into my room excitedly saying "I found the diapers, I also not need to wear underwear!" Then he ran back into his room and started pulling the diapers out of the closet.
"I wear diapers today! I wear diapers today!!!"
It took quite a while to convince him that he really did want to wear underwear. We've had a pretty good day today.
So far.
We even went shopping, and were away from home for several hours today with him in underwear, and didn't have any problems. (He does, however, have an intense fear of public toilets, any suggestions on how to deal with this would be greatly appreciated)
I can't help but feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. It took so much longer for our other kids to be potty trained, it just seems like it can't be this easy.
But then again, he just went to the bathroom by himself, I didn't even suggest he try.
Maybe this is the real thing.
Maybe my baby really is growing up.
That's a good thing, however.............
I hope he still likes to cuddle in the rocking chair with me every night before he goes to bed, that's my favorite time of the day. I sing his favorite songs to him as he plays with my hair. He giggles when I make up different, silly endings to the songs he knows so well. He sings "I am a child of God" and "My Heavenly Father loves me" with me, and he knows every word. He likes me to sing "Silent Night" even though it's the middle of July. His eyelids start to get heavy and he whispers to me that he wants to go to bed.
As excited as I am for him to be out of diapers, I'll miss having a baby around.
I'm just warning you in case you don't like reading about this sort of thing.
Yesterday, I decided that we were going to do this potty training thing cold turkey.
When Max woke up, and I was getting him dressed, I showed him the empty diaper package (The rest of the box was hidden safely in his closet) and said "Look Max, we're out of diapers! What are we going to do?"
And much to my surprise and delight, Max said "I also wear some underwear today!"
YAY!!
So, Max wore underwear all day yesterday, and did quite well. I kept asking him if he needed to go potty, and he would, but there were a few times where he announced himself that he needed to go, and then went. Several times during the day he would say things like "The diapers are all gone, so I also wearing underwear!" and "I also keeping my underwear dry!"
We encouraged him by telling him that he needed to keep his underwear dry because Spongebob (on his underwear) didn't like to get wet. (I realized later that this was kind of a silly thing to say, because Spongebob lives in the ocean, but I don't think Max has made that connection yet.)
He was pretty cute, he would sit on the potty, and sing all of the songs in this video.
Yes, now you will have all of those songs running through your head for the rest of the day.
I think my favorite song is "Super Duper Pooper." Which one did you like?
Max is not yet ready to go without a diaper at night, so I very discreetly pulled a diaper out of the box in the closet for him to wear to bed. I called it his "special nighttime diaper."
Apparently, he saw where I got the diaper because this morning he came into my room excitedly saying "I found the diapers, I also not need to wear underwear!" Then he ran back into his room and started pulling the diapers out of the closet.
"I wear diapers today! I wear diapers today!!!"
It took quite a while to convince him that he really did want to wear underwear. We've had a pretty good day today.
So far.
We even went shopping, and were away from home for several hours today with him in underwear, and didn't have any problems. (He does, however, have an intense fear of public toilets, any suggestions on how to deal with this would be greatly appreciated)
I can't help but feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop. It took so much longer for our other kids to be potty trained, it just seems like it can't be this easy.
But then again, he just went to the bathroom by himself, I didn't even suggest he try.
Maybe this is the real thing.
Maybe my baby really is growing up.
That's a good thing, however.............
I hope he still likes to cuddle in the rocking chair with me every night before he goes to bed, that's my favorite time of the day. I sing his favorite songs to him as he plays with my hair. He giggles when I make up different, silly endings to the songs he knows so well. He sings "I am a child of God" and "My Heavenly Father loves me" with me, and he knows every word. He likes me to sing "Silent Night" even though it's the middle of July. His eyelids start to get heavy and he whispers to me that he wants to go to bed.
As excited as I am for him to be out of diapers, I'll miss having a baby around.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Time for a change
Max will start preschool at the end of August.
He needs to be potty trained before he can go to preschool.
We have been working on the potty training thing for a few weeks now.
Last week, I showed Max the box of diapers, I said "Look at how many diapers we have left."
Max looks.
I continue, "Max, this is the last box of diapers. When these are gone, there won't be any more, the diapers will be ALL GONE. After that, you will need to wear underwear and go potty all the time, and keep your pants dry. Doesn't that sound fun?"
Max nods in agreement.
"OK Max," I say "So tell me, what are we going to do after all of these diapers are gone?"
Max says "Buy some more!"
That's pretty much the attitude we've been dealing with for the last while. We talk and talk and talk to Max about how he needs to wear underwear, because the teachers at school will not change diapers.
However, today, we had a breakthrough :0)
Max did something on his own (related to potty stuff) that he had never done before!
Are you curious? Do you want to know what he did?
Before I tell you, here is a question, and I would like you to give me your opinion.
Our preschool requires that the kids be potty trained before they can attend classes. If you have a kid who can change his own diaper, does that count as being potty trained?
Yes, he really did it. He changed his own diaper.
He needs to be potty trained before he can go to preschool.
We have been working on the potty training thing for a few weeks now.
Last week, I showed Max the box of diapers, I said "Look at how many diapers we have left."
Max looks.
I continue, "Max, this is the last box of diapers. When these are gone, there won't be any more, the diapers will be ALL GONE. After that, you will need to wear underwear and go potty all the time, and keep your pants dry. Doesn't that sound fun?"
Max nods in agreement.
"OK Max," I say "So tell me, what are we going to do after all of these diapers are gone?"
Max says "Buy some more!"
That's pretty much the attitude we've been dealing with for the last while. We talk and talk and talk to Max about how he needs to wear underwear, because the teachers at school will not change diapers.
However, today, we had a breakthrough :0)
Max did something on his own (related to potty stuff) that he had never done before!
Are you curious? Do you want to know what he did?
Before I tell you, here is a question, and I would like you to give me your opinion.
Our preschool requires that the kids be potty trained before they can attend classes. If you have a kid who can change his own diaper, does that count as being potty trained?
Yes, he really did it. He changed his own diaper.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
European Vacation..........Not.
Summertime is here, and the kids are out of school.
Well the neighbor kids are out of school. Mine are going back to school this Monday after being off track for three weeks.
Remember all of the goals I had set at the beginning of their three weeks off of school?
None accomplished.
It certainly wasn't for lack of good intentions on my part, we just had a few problems. Between the weather being less than perfect (much less) and two of the kids being sick for a while, we just didn't get anything done.
Okay, the truth is that I just wasn't willing to do the necessarynagging and yelling inspiring words of encouragement to make sure things got done.
However, from recent reports, things have been going swimmingly well in Playstation 2 land.
The potty training is at a standstill. The first day of vacation, we spent outside with max in big boy underwear! We were outside for a few hours. The kids played on the swing set and trampoline, and we had a picnic lunch.
We went inside the house for just a few minutes, and I heard the sound of dripping. Yes, Max had an accident on the kitchen floor. I guess I should just be grateful that it didn't happen on the somewhat new carpet.
We will revisit the potty training thing in a few weeks.
Really, sometimes it's just easier when they're in diapers. Like when you're shopping, you have a cart full of items, and someone needs to go potty. Now. So you make the mad dash across the store, leave your basket outside the restroom, race the child inside to find that they waited too long to tell you that they needed to go, and they've had an accident, and so you take a while to get them cleaned up, and come out of the bathroom to find that some helpful store employee took your cart away, and is at that very moment putting all of your items back on the shelves.
Anyway, the kids go back to school on Monday, and I would just rather call it good, and keep them home for the next six weeks. (and really, this has nothing to do with how much I enjoy sleeping in when they're not in school) (really, it doesn't)
The teachers have a great system going to get the kids to want to go to school the last three weeks. They've planned several field trips, parties and other fun activities.
Sneaky, sneaky teachers.
This is the conversation we had in our car as we drove home from Grandma's house earlier tonight.
Me: "Do you think that if I called the school Monday morning, and told them that we were going on a trip to Europe for the next month, that the school would be okay with them not coming to school for the last three weeks? (after all, lying to the school couldn't be much different from lying to the kids)
DH: "Well, if we were in Europe, they couldn't have much to say about it."
Brielle: "I CAN'T miss school! I have a big math test coming up, and I can't miss it!"
CJ: "That would be okay with me."
Aaron: "We're going to Europe?"
ME: "No, we are not going to Europe. I was just wondering if the school would have a problem with you missing the last three weeks.
Brielle: "I CAN'T miss school! We have a big math test that I NEED to take!!"
Max: "Dat not be good."
Aaron: "Are we going to Europe??"
DH: "NO, we are not going to Europe."
Brielle: "That's good, because I don't want to go to Europe! I can't miss school because we have this big math test, and I can't miss it!"
DH: "I think you would have fun in Europe."
Brielle: "Dad, I have a math test!
Me: "So, what if we REALLY were going to Europe? Would you be okay missing the math test then?"
Brielle: "NO Mom, I CAN'T miss this test!"
Aaron: "So we ARE going to Europe?"
Me: "No Aaron, we ARE NOT going to Europe!"
CJ: "Why not? I think it would be fun to go to Europe."
Brielle: "I CAN'T miss school! I have a math test!"
Max: "Hi, my name's Steve. Have you seen Blue, my puppy?"
DH: "NO, we are not going to Europe."
Aaron: "Why not?"
CJ: "Yeah, why not?"
Me: "Because Brielle has a math test!"
DH: "Is there someone we could leave her with, and the rest of us can go?"
Brielle: "STOP TEASING ME!!"
Aaron: "So we are going to Europe?"
DH: "No Aaron, we ARE NOT going to Europe!"
Max: (singing) "You've got to find the first pawprint, that's the first clue, put it in our notebook and it's who's clues? Blue's clues!"
Me: "I guess we could always leave Brielle with my cousin, then she wouldn't miss her math test."
Brielle: "STOP TEASING ME!!"
Aaron: "So are we going to Europe or not?".........................
Just for the record, we are NOT going to Europe.
Well the neighbor kids are out of school. Mine are going back to school this Monday after being off track for three weeks.
Remember all of the goals I had set at the beginning of their three weeks off of school?
None accomplished.
It certainly wasn't for lack of good intentions on my part, we just had a few problems. Between the weather being less than perfect (much less) and two of the kids being sick for a while, we just didn't get anything done.
Okay, the truth is that I just wasn't willing to do the necessary
However, from recent reports, things have been going swimmingly well in Playstation 2 land.
The potty training is at a standstill. The first day of vacation, we spent outside with max in big boy underwear! We were outside for a few hours. The kids played on the swing set and trampoline, and we had a picnic lunch.
We went inside the house for just a few minutes, and I heard the sound of dripping. Yes, Max had an accident on the kitchen floor. I guess I should just be grateful that it didn't happen on the somewhat new carpet.
We will revisit the potty training thing in a few weeks.
Really, sometimes it's just easier when they're in diapers. Like when you're shopping, you have a cart full of items, and someone needs to go potty. Now. So you make the mad dash across the store, leave your basket outside the restroom, race the child inside to find that they waited too long to tell you that they needed to go, and they've had an accident, and so you take a while to get them cleaned up, and come out of the bathroom to find that some helpful store employee took your cart away, and is at that very moment putting all of your items back on the shelves.
Anyway, the kids go back to school on Monday, and I would just rather call it good, and keep them home for the next six weeks. (and really, this has nothing to do with how much I enjoy sleeping in when they're not in school) (really, it doesn't)
The teachers have a great system going to get the kids to want to go to school the last three weeks. They've planned several field trips, parties and other fun activities.
Sneaky, sneaky teachers.
This is the conversation we had in our car as we drove home from Grandma's house earlier tonight.
Me: "Do you think that if I called the school Monday morning, and told them that we were going on a trip to Europe for the next month, that the school would be okay with them not coming to school for the last three weeks? (after all, lying to the school couldn't be much different from lying to the kids)
DH: "Well, if we were in Europe, they couldn't have much to say about it."
Brielle: "I CAN'T miss school! I have a big math test coming up, and I can't miss it!"
CJ: "That would be okay with me."
Aaron: "We're going to Europe?"
ME: "No, we are not going to Europe. I was just wondering if the school would have a problem with you missing the last three weeks.
Brielle: "I CAN'T miss school! We have a big math test that I NEED to take!!"
Max: "Dat not be good."
Aaron: "Are we going to Europe??"
DH: "NO, we are not going to Europe."
Brielle: "That's good, because I don't want to go to Europe! I can't miss school because we have this big math test, and I can't miss it!"
DH: "I think you would have fun in Europe."
Brielle: "Dad, I have a math test!
Me: "So, what if we REALLY were going to Europe? Would you be okay missing the math test then?"
Brielle: "NO Mom, I CAN'T miss this test!"
Aaron: "So we ARE going to Europe?"
Me: "No Aaron, we ARE NOT going to Europe!"
CJ: "Why not? I think it would be fun to go to Europe."
Brielle: "I CAN'T miss school! I have a math test!"
Max: "Hi, my name's Steve. Have you seen Blue, my puppy?"
DH: "NO, we are not going to Europe."
Aaron: "Why not?"
CJ: "Yeah, why not?"
Me: "Because Brielle has a math test!"
DH: "Is there someone we could leave her with, and the rest of us can go?"
Brielle: "STOP TEASING ME!!"
Aaron: "So we are going to Europe?"
DH: "No Aaron, we ARE NOT going to Europe!"
Max: (singing) "You've got to find the first pawprint, that's the first clue, put it in our notebook and it's who's clues? Blue's clues!"
Me: "I guess we could always leave Brielle with my cousin, then she wouldn't miss her math test."
Brielle: "STOP TEASING ME!!"
Aaron: "So are we going to Europe or not?".........................
Just for the record, we are NOT going to Europe.
Monday, June 2, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Three weeks out of school........again
Remember back in March, when my kids were out of school for three weeks? (due to us being on year round school)
Well guess what folks??
It's that time again!!
As of today, the kids are officially "Off Track" for three whole weeks!
Do you remember how bored the poor little darlings were the last time?
And how I so kindly arranged for all sorts of fun activities to keep them busy?
(Do you think I could come up with any more links?)
Well, I have, yet again, planned some very fun and educational activities thatI will force my children will be incredibly anxious to participate in!
#1 on my list................Plant and care for a garden.
This is something we have never done before. When I told the kids about this plan, the were ever so excited!
Well, maybe excited might be too strong of a word to describe their feelings on the subject.
Then CJ made a very good observation.
"Mom..........um............ we don't really know anything about planting a garden."
to which I reply "The internet is such a wonderful thing! Go google how to grow a garden!"
Does anyone know where we could find the book "Gardening for dummies?"
Does such a book even exist?
#2 on my list..................
Are you ready?
It's a good one!
I'm feeling rather clever right now!
Here it is!!!
#2. I will have my three oldest kids potty train Max!
I thought it was a fabulous idea, but when I told the kids that they would be doing this, they gave me strange looks and made these weird whiny noises.
CJ even had the audacity to ask "Why. Would we. Want. To do. That?"
To which I replied "Because it will be such an incredible bonding experience between you two as brothers!"
CJ wasn't buying it. He said, "I feel bonded enough to him already."
I thought I was being really clever. If they all worked together as a team, they could have Max out of diapers in no time at all!
Right?
I just think that, as kids themselves, they might have some good ideas on how to motivate little Max to use the potty.
Okay, so do you want to know the real reason I want them to do the potty training?
One word.........................
Payback.
I potty trained all three of them. Three stubborn, diaper lovin' little tots. Do you know how much poop that is?
What do you think? Isn't this a fantabulous idea?
P.S. To my sister in law. If this works, I will let you borrow my kids for a few days (or longer) to help you with potty training that cute little niece of mine!
Am I nice or what?
Well guess what folks??
It's that time again!!
As of today, the kids are officially "Off Track" for three whole weeks!
Do you remember how bored the poor little darlings were the last time?
And how I so kindly arranged for all sorts of fun activities to keep them busy?
(Do you think I could come up with any more links?)
Well, I have, yet again, planned some very fun and educational activities that
#1 on my list................Plant and care for a garden.
This is something we have never done before. When I told the kids about this plan, the were ever so excited!
Well, maybe excited might be too strong of a word to describe their feelings on the subject.
Then CJ made a very good observation.
"Mom..........um............ we don't really know anything about planting a garden."
to which I reply "The internet is such a wonderful thing! Go google how to grow a garden!"
Does anyone know where we could find the book "Gardening for dummies?"
Does such a book even exist?
#2 on my list..................
Are you ready?
It's a good one!
I'm feeling rather clever right now!
Here it is!!!
#2. I will have my three oldest kids potty train Max!
I thought it was a fabulous idea, but when I told the kids that they would be doing this, they gave me strange looks and made these weird whiny noises.
CJ even had the audacity to ask "Why. Would we. Want. To do. That?"
To which I replied "Because it will be such an incredible bonding experience between you two as brothers!"
CJ wasn't buying it. He said, "I feel bonded enough to him already."
I thought I was being really clever. If they all worked together as a team, they could have Max out of diapers in no time at all!
Right?
I just think that, as kids themselves, they might have some good ideas on how to motivate little Max to use the potty.
Okay, so do you want to know the real reason I want them to do the potty training?
One word.........................
Payback.
I potty trained all three of them. Three stubborn, diaper lovin' little tots. Do you know how much poop that is?
What do you think? Isn't this a fantabulous idea?
P.S. To my sister in law. If this works, I will let you borrow my kids for a few days (or longer) to help you with potty training that cute little niece of mine!
Am I nice or what?
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Let's take a ride on the potty train
Dear Max,
The time has come for us to rethink this whole diaper thing. I mean really, diapers are SO 2007!
Isn't it about time for you to start keeping up with the current fashion trends. Do you know what all the cool preschool kids are going to be wearing this fall?
Underwear! Big kid underwear! Underwear with pictures of Lightning McQueen and Spongebob!
Just think of it, YOU can be a part of the "in" crowd!
All you need to do is learn the proper way to use that potty chair that we bought you a while back. True, it is very useful as a stepstool, a great storage area for your toy cars, and it's also a fun place to sit while watching television, but seriously, it can be so much more!
Let's do this Max, let's say goodbye to these tired old diapers. Out with the old and in with the new, I say!
What do you think buddy? Should we give it a try? Is it time to catch a ride on the "Potty train?"
Love, Mom
Dear Mom,
No underwear. Diapers. Just diapers.
You change my diapers.
Love, Max
The time has come for us to rethink this whole diaper thing. I mean really, diapers are SO 2007!
Isn't it about time for you to start keeping up with the current fashion trends. Do you know what all the cool preschool kids are going to be wearing this fall?
Underwear! Big kid underwear! Underwear with pictures of Lightning McQueen and Spongebob!
Just think of it, YOU can be a part of the "in" crowd!
All you need to do is learn the proper way to use that potty chair that we bought you a while back. True, it is very useful as a stepstool, a great storage area for your toy cars, and it's also a fun place to sit while watching television, but seriously, it can be so much more!
Let's do this Max, let's say goodbye to these tired old diapers. Out with the old and in with the new, I say!
What do you think buddy? Should we give it a try? Is it time to catch a ride on the "Potty train?"
Love, Mom
Dear Mom,
No underwear. Diapers. Just diapers.
You change my diapers.
Love, Max
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Adventures in eavesdropping
Last week it was my turn to drive the Ballet carpool.
Conversation #1
(Five little girls ages 8 & 9)
Shannon: Hey I think that's my dad's truck over there.
Kritsi: No, I don't think it is.
Shannon: I think it is my dad, it looks like his truck.
Kristi: The guy driving the truck doesn't look like your dad. Is your dad Mexican?
Shannon: No, he's Californian.
Conversation #2
Kristi: I just don't know what to do about my birthday next week. We are having a big family party and I can invite one friend, but I don't know who to invite. I'm worried that when I invite only one friend, that all my other friends will find out about the party, and will feel bad that I didn't invite them.
Ashley: Um............. I think you just told us about it.
Kristi: Oops.
After listening to these girls talk for the 15 minute ride to ballet, and back home, I have made a few observations.
Observation #1:
The word "like" is used much too frequently in their conversations.
"So, like we went to this like restaurant place, and it was like really cool, cause they had like this really good food, and you could eat like all you wanted to, and it was like SO delicious, and my brother was all like "I love this food!' And he was like stuffing his face, and I was all like looking at him like all funny and like thinking that he was like so totally weird, and my mom was all like "Hey, like don't eat all that!" and I'm like thinking like he is going to be like all sick from like eating all that food, and he's like "I'm hungry" and like it's making me sick like watching him eat all that......................."
Do any of you know a doctor who might be able to perform a "likectomy"
Observation #2
My daughter could be considered a "power talker".
Conversation between my kids yesterday:
Sidenote: Aaron's idol is Don Aslett, author of "Is there life after housework", "Clean in a minute" and "Do I dust first or vacuum?"
He is also known as "America's #1 cleaning expert" Aaron wants to take over his job someday.
Aaron: Before I start my cleaning business, I want to get me some business cards.
Brielle: What would you put on them?
Aaron, Well, since Don Aslett is still America's #1 cleaning expert, my business cards should probably say "America's #2 cleaning expert."
Brielle: Are you sure you want to be Americas #2 Cleaning expert?..........#2?
You want to be an expert on cleaning up #2??????
Aaron: Hmmmmm, maybe I should put something else on them.
Conversation # 2 between my kids:
Aaron: Why is CJ's voice getting lower?
Brielle: Because he's in puverty.
Aaron: What's puverty?
Brielle: It's what happens when you grow.
Aaron: Well, then what does PU mean?
Brielle: That means that something stinks.
Aaron: I think it would be better if they called puverty "PU"
Converstion #3:
(Warning, we are starting to potty train Max, and this conversation contains some potty talk, do not read while eating)
Brielle: (Looking at Max who has mac-n-cheese all over his face) Hey Max, what did you eat for lunch?
Max: Poop!
Me: No max, you did not eat poop. That's yucky! We don't do that!
Max: Eat poop!
Brielle: No Max, poop goes in the potty.
Max: (giggle, giggle) Poop go in my mouth, (giggle) down in my tummy.
Me: No Max, remember, what do we do with poop?
Max: (giggle, giggle, giggle...) EAT IT!
Apparently I have a comedian on my hands.
Sidenote: Max DID NOT eat any poop. I checked his breath.
And finally, I will end this post with the Aaron quote of the day:
Aaron: How much does your brain weigh?
Me: I don't know, what do you think?
Aaron: Probably as much as your head without the skull.
Conversation #1
(Five little girls ages 8 & 9)
Shannon: Hey I think that's my dad's truck over there.
Kritsi: No, I don't think it is.
Shannon: I think it is my dad, it looks like his truck.
Kristi: The guy driving the truck doesn't look like your dad. Is your dad Mexican?
Shannon: No, he's Californian.
Conversation #2
Kristi: I just don't know what to do about my birthday next week. We are having a big family party and I can invite one friend, but I don't know who to invite. I'm worried that when I invite only one friend, that all my other friends will find out about the party, and will feel bad that I didn't invite them.
Ashley: Um............. I think you just told us about it.
Kristi: Oops.
After listening to these girls talk for the 15 minute ride to ballet, and back home, I have made a few observations.
Observation #1:
The word "like" is used much too frequently in their conversations.
"So, like we went to this like restaurant place, and it was like really cool, cause they had like this really good food, and you could eat like all you wanted to, and it was like SO delicious, and my brother was all like "I love this food!' And he was like stuffing his face, and I was all like looking at him like all funny and like thinking that he was like so totally weird, and my mom was all like "Hey, like don't eat all that!" and I'm like thinking like he is going to be like all sick from like eating all that food, and he's like "I'm hungry" and like it's making me sick like watching him eat all that......................."
Do any of you know a doctor who might be able to perform a "likectomy"
Observation #2
My daughter could be considered a "power talker".
Conversation between my kids yesterday:
Sidenote: Aaron's idol is Don Aslett, author of "Is there life after housework", "Clean in a minute" and "Do I dust first or vacuum?"
He is also known as "America's #1 cleaning expert" Aaron wants to take over his job someday.
Aaron: Before I start my cleaning business, I want to get me some business cards.
Brielle: What would you put on them?
Aaron, Well, since Don Aslett is still America's #1 cleaning expert, my business cards should probably say "America's #2 cleaning expert."
Brielle: Are you sure you want to be Americas #2 Cleaning expert?..........#2?
You want to be an expert on cleaning up #2??????
Aaron: Hmmmmm, maybe I should put something else on them.
Conversation # 2 between my kids:
Aaron: Why is CJ's voice getting lower?
Brielle: Because he's in puverty.
Aaron: What's puverty?
Brielle: It's what happens when you grow.
Aaron: Well, then what does PU mean?
Brielle: That means that something stinks.
Aaron: I think it would be better if they called puverty "PU"
Converstion #3:
(Warning, we are starting to potty train Max, and this conversation contains some potty talk, do not read while eating)
Brielle: (Looking at Max who has mac-n-cheese all over his face) Hey Max, what did you eat for lunch?
Max: Poop!
Me: No max, you did not eat poop. That's yucky! We don't do that!
Max: Eat poop!
Brielle: No Max, poop goes in the potty.
Max: (giggle, giggle) Poop go in my mouth, (giggle) down in my tummy.
Me: No Max, remember, what do we do with poop?
Max: (giggle, giggle, giggle...) EAT IT!
Apparently I have a comedian on my hands.
Sidenote: Max DID NOT eat any poop. I checked his breath.
And finally, I will end this post with the Aaron quote of the day:
Aaron: How much does your brain weigh?
Me: I don't know, what do you think?
Aaron: Probably as much as your head without the skull.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
No whining, Pleeeaaaaaase!
O.K. this is my first post. I have been lurking in other blogs for a while now, all the time thinking, "Wow, I have a lot that I could blog about", and now faced with the blank screen, I don't know where to start.
We have 4 children, ages 12, 9, 7 and 2. We are currently dealing with issues from potty training to puberty.
I named my blog "Thou shalt not whine because I have a large plaque hanging in my kitchen with that very saying on it. I have a friend with a similar sign, she told me "It works really well, when someone starts to whine, I just point to the sign, and they stop" I thought that sounded like a great idea, so I got the sign. Guess what, it doesn't work. The whining just gets worse.
I hate whining. So much so, that I have taught my 2 year old that when he wants something, not only does he need to say please, he also needs to say it in a low voice. It's so funny to hear this little kid say in a really low voice "More cookie please".
With today being Thanksgiving, tomorrow is the biggest shopping day of the year. I jokingly asked my three oldest kids if they wanted to get up at 4:00 a.m. to go shopping in the morning. To my surprise they all said yes. DH told them that they would need to clean their rooms if they wanted any chance of going shopping with me in the morning. They cleaned their rooms.
Am I now obligated to get to WalMart at 5:00 a.m. with the rest of the immediate world? Do I really need to give up one of my precious and few sleep in days? I can only hope that the kids change their minds when the alarm goes off. I mean they can't seem to drag themselves out of bed at 7:30 to go to school every day, certainly they don't really want to get up that early to get trampled under the feet of hundreds of half crazed bargain hunters.
Come to think of it, my oldest son has a brown belt in Karate. Maybe he could go ahead of me and punch his way through the crowd.
Then there's Wal Mart. I used to enjoy a good trip to Wal mart, especially when they built the SUPER Wal Mart. I could get everything I needed at one place. To me that meant I only needed to wrestle the current toddler into the car seat one time.
Lately I have noticed that when I have been there about 20 minutes, I start feeling weird. Is it the flourescent lights, subliminal messages in the muzak, or a combination of both. I just have to get out of there! Then of course, I am faced with the lengthy check out line. No matter which line I get into, there is some reason why it comes to a dead stop. Then if I have any children with me, I get to deal with them standing right next to all of the candy and trinkets so conveniently placed at the check out line at children's eye level.
"No we don't need any nail clippers."
"No I am not buying you a candy bar"
"No gum either, you know you can't chew it, you have crowns"
"No I am not buying you a candy bar"
'No chips either"
"No I am not buying you a candy bar"
'No, we already have batteries"
"No I am not buying you a candy bar"
"No, you have a perfectly good toothbrush at home, you should try using it sometime"
"No I am not buying you a candy bar"
I don't know why they always ask me for that stuff, I never buy it. It's almost like it's a challenge for them.
This year I am refusing to go to the mall to shop. We may make one small trip for my little one to see Santa, but that will be the extent of it.
Me & DH went to the mall a while ago. We were just wandering around, killing time waiting for the line to die down at a nearby restaurant. We were looking at calendars at one of those booths that they set up in the middle of the mall. The girl working the booth came over and asked if she could help us.
ME: "No thanks, just looking."
HER: "Wow, when is your baby due?"
ME: "What?"
HER: "When is your baby due?"
ME: (sarcastically)"Um, two years ago."
HER: "Huh?"
ME: "I'M NOT PREGNANT!"
HER: "Oh,......well, I just thought.......um.......the way your coat.......um...................................."
(I was wearing a big winter coat, but in no way did I look pregnant!)
As we walked away from "Rude girl" I got thinking, what if whenever those annoying salespeople come up to bother me, before they get a chance to say anything to me, I can just get in their face and yell "I'M NOT PREGNANT!" They will think I am crazy and hopefully leave me alone.
Just think of the possibilities, I think it might even work on door to door salespeople and on telemarketers.
O.K. before I forget it, I need to tell one potty training story.
First of all, I need to explain that my toddler LOVES my hair. It is his comfort object. He twists in through his fingers, and rubs it on his face. This always makes him feel "Aw bettah"
A few days ago, out of the blue, he says "Sit on potty!" Wow, you can't let that pass by. I got out his potty chair, took off his diaper and sat him on the potty chair. I left the room for a few minutes, and heard him say "pee pee in potty" so I go and look, and there's nothing inside, however, his hand and the whole side of his leg is wet. I congratulated him thinking that he aimed things wrong, put a diaper on him, and told him to wash his hands. A few minutes later, I was holding him and he was running his fingers through my hair. He says "Put hand in potty" What? "Put hand in potty", So I ask "DId you put your hand in your potty or Mom's potty?" He replies "Put hand in mom's potty" EEWWWWWW.
O.K. I lied, one more potty training story.
We were at the store last week, and I took him over to look at the "big boy underwear" and what do you know, they had his most favorite LIGHTNING MCQUEEN underwear. He picked up hugged it, stared at it , hugged it again, stared at it........... This is a great moment, I say, "Honey, if you want the big boy Lightning McQueen underwear, you will need to go pee pee in the potty" He looks thoughtfully at the underwear, I ask "What do you think, should we buy them or put them back?" He looks at them again for a moment longer, then hands them to me and says "Put them back".
I guess he isn't ready. That's O.K. I know from experience that if you wait a bit longer to make sure they are ready, they have fewer accidents.
Wow, for not having anything to say, I sure filled up a page. You should see me when I know what I want to say:)
Fortunately my kids provide endless material for me to write about, like when my oldest son sneezes, he sounds just like he is coughing up a hairball. Apparently all you need to do is open your mouth really wide when you sneeze.
Endless material.
If you have been brave enough to endure to the end of this post, please leave a comment. I feel so alone in Cyberspace.
Jill
We have 4 children, ages 12, 9, 7 and 2. We are currently dealing with issues from potty training to puberty.
I named my blog "Thou shalt not whine because I have a large plaque hanging in my kitchen with that very saying on it. I have a friend with a similar sign, she told me "It works really well, when someone starts to whine, I just point to the sign, and they stop" I thought that sounded like a great idea, so I got the sign. Guess what, it doesn't work. The whining just gets worse.
I hate whining. So much so, that I have taught my 2 year old that when he wants something, not only does he need to say please, he also needs to say it in a low voice. It's so funny to hear this little kid say in a really low voice "More cookie please".
With today being Thanksgiving, tomorrow is the biggest shopping day of the year. I jokingly asked my three oldest kids if they wanted to get up at 4:00 a.m. to go shopping in the morning. To my surprise they all said yes. DH told them that they would need to clean their rooms if they wanted any chance of going shopping with me in the morning. They cleaned their rooms.
Am I now obligated to get to WalMart at 5:00 a.m. with the rest of the immediate world? Do I really need to give up one of my precious and few sleep in days? I can only hope that the kids change their minds when the alarm goes off. I mean they can't seem to drag themselves out of bed at 7:30 to go to school every day, certainly they don't really want to get up that early to get trampled under the feet of hundreds of half crazed bargain hunters.
Come to think of it, my oldest son has a brown belt in Karate. Maybe he could go ahead of me and punch his way through the crowd.
Then there's Wal Mart. I used to enjoy a good trip to Wal mart, especially when they built the SUPER Wal Mart. I could get everything I needed at one place. To me that meant I only needed to wrestle the current toddler into the car seat one time.
Lately I have noticed that when I have been there about 20 minutes, I start feeling weird. Is it the flourescent lights, subliminal messages in the muzak, or a combination of both. I just have to get out of there! Then of course, I am faced with the lengthy check out line. No matter which line I get into, there is some reason why it comes to a dead stop. Then if I have any children with me, I get to deal with them standing right next to all of the candy and trinkets so conveniently placed at the check out line at children's eye level.
"No we don't need any nail clippers."
"No I am not buying you a candy bar"
"No gum either, you know you can't chew it, you have crowns"
"No I am not buying you a candy bar"
'No chips either"
"No I am not buying you a candy bar"
'No, we already have batteries"
"No I am not buying you a candy bar"
"No, you have a perfectly good toothbrush at home, you should try using it sometime"
"No I am not buying you a candy bar"
I don't know why they always ask me for that stuff, I never buy it. It's almost like it's a challenge for them.
This year I am refusing to go to the mall to shop. We may make one small trip for my little one to see Santa, but that will be the extent of it.
Me & DH went to the mall a while ago. We were just wandering around, killing time waiting for the line to die down at a nearby restaurant. We were looking at calendars at one of those booths that they set up in the middle of the mall. The girl working the booth came over and asked if she could help us.
ME: "No thanks, just looking."
HER: "Wow, when is your baby due?"
ME: "What?"
HER: "When is your baby due?"
ME: (sarcastically)"Um, two years ago."
HER: "Huh?"
ME: "I'M NOT PREGNANT!"
HER: "Oh,......well, I just thought.......um.......the way your coat.......um...................................."
(I was wearing a big winter coat, but in no way did I look pregnant!)
As we walked away from "Rude girl" I got thinking, what if whenever those annoying salespeople come up to bother me, before they get a chance to say anything to me, I can just get in their face and yell "I'M NOT PREGNANT!" They will think I am crazy and hopefully leave me alone.
Just think of the possibilities, I think it might even work on door to door salespeople and on telemarketers.
O.K. before I forget it, I need to tell one potty training story.
First of all, I need to explain that my toddler LOVES my hair. It is his comfort object. He twists in through his fingers, and rubs it on his face. This always makes him feel "Aw bettah"
A few days ago, out of the blue, he says "Sit on potty!" Wow, you can't let that pass by. I got out his potty chair, took off his diaper and sat him on the potty chair. I left the room for a few minutes, and heard him say "pee pee in potty" so I go and look, and there's nothing inside, however, his hand and the whole side of his leg is wet. I congratulated him thinking that he aimed things wrong, put a diaper on him, and told him to wash his hands. A few minutes later, I was holding him and he was running his fingers through my hair. He says "Put hand in potty" What? "Put hand in potty", So I ask "DId you put your hand in your potty or Mom's potty?" He replies "Put hand in mom's potty" EEWWWWWW.
O.K. I lied, one more potty training story.
We were at the store last week, and I took him over to look at the "big boy underwear" and what do you know, they had his most favorite LIGHTNING MCQUEEN underwear. He picked up hugged it, stared at it , hugged it again, stared at it........... This is a great moment, I say, "Honey, if you want the big boy Lightning McQueen underwear, you will need to go pee pee in the potty" He looks thoughtfully at the underwear, I ask "What do you think, should we buy them or put them back?" He looks at them again for a moment longer, then hands them to me and says "Put them back".
I guess he isn't ready. That's O.K. I know from experience that if you wait a bit longer to make sure they are ready, they have fewer accidents.
Wow, for not having anything to say, I sure filled up a page. You should see me when I know what I want to say:)
Fortunately my kids provide endless material for me to write about, like when my oldest son sneezes, he sounds just like he is coughing up a hairball. Apparently all you need to do is open your mouth really wide when you sneeze.
Endless material.
If you have been brave enough to endure to the end of this post, please leave a comment. I feel so alone in Cyberspace.
Jill
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