Potty Training Trials and Triumphs

The life of a toddler is full of many transitions. It starts with weaning, followed by transitioning to a big boy or big girl bed and cutting out use of a pacifier (or thumb!). All of these milestones can be challenging, but for me, one of the most intimidating transitions I faced as a new Mom was potty training. When my son was nearing the appropriate time, I dreaded it! Diapers seem like a cake-walk compared to a newly potty trained toddler!

Now, after having potty trained two kids, I figured I would share some of the things I've learned. I am definitely NO expert, but hopefully these will be helpful things to consider for those Moms who haven't gone through this transition with their child yet.

1. Every child is different!! As with anything in mothering, each child is different in their needs, learning style and the things that motivate him/her. This is also true of potty training. Each child will be ready at a different time and most likely the method you used with your first child will need to be tweaked when baby #2 comes along. Keeping an open mind is critical!!

2. Buy more underwear that you possibly think you could ever need! I don't know why I forget this every time. Both times I have only bought one little 6-pack of underwear, and sure enough one hour later, I am already doing a frantic load of laundry. You need at least a dozen pairs of underwear when you start potty training (more if you don't want to do laundry every 1-2 days). Just trust me on this one!

3. Reward for Dryness. I learned about this nugget of wisdom when I was potty training my son, and it has really served me well. This concept worked well with both of my kids. Again every child is different, but I think this is worth trying. So basically, instead of just rewarding for going potty in the toilet (which you can still do), it is awesome encouragement for your child if you periodically check for dryness and reward for that as well. After all, the goal of potty training isn't just being able to go potty in the toilet, but ultimately that your child would keep his/her pants clean and dry. So at our house, during the week or so we are potty training, I will ask my child, "Mallory, are your underwear clean and dry?" Then I have her check her underwear herself. If they are dry, I praise her for keeping her underwear clean and dry and reward her! In my opinion, this makes potty training go MUCH faster than only rewarding for dryness... the more opportunity for reward, the faster your child will get it.

4.Expect Regressions. I'm sure this is not true of every child, but it is very common for potty-trained children to regress. Both of my children have regressed after they were potty trained. For Bennett, it was a full year and half after he was potty trained. In his case, I think his regression was caused by a developmental spurt that caused him to regress in other areas. For Mallory, potty training was a breeze with very few accidents. Now, after she has been doing great for a few months, she is having accidents almost daily. I haven't really figured out the cause of her regression yet, but regardless of the cause, the solution is still the same.

First, be patient and don't worry. Just keep repeating to yourself, "This is normal. It is just a phase. It won't last forever."

Second, revert back to your potty training routine. For Bennett, it only took a few days of rewarding him for using the bathroom properly to get him back into the swing of things. For Mallory, we've started setting a timer again for every 20-30 minutes and reminding her to go potty at those times. Most of the time, just re-visiting the methods you used when you were potty training should help.

5. Most importantly... remember... Eventually they WILL get it! :0) Even if potty training isn't going well, just remind yourself that eventually, whether it takes one day or one year, they will get it. Again, this is just a phase. As my grandmother used to say, "This too shall pass." So just stick with it and hang in there!

Missing Mops?

I don't know about you all but I could really use a Mops night tonight. Oh well, next week we get to get together, enjoy yummy food, and make a fabulous craft. Want a sneak peek???



more???




Have a terrific week and see you next Tuesday!

Snack Tray Trick

I've recently started using a trick that our good friend Casey mentioned on her blog a few months back, and I wanted to share it. If you have a child who snacks a lot or is picky about snacks, and you want to get some good options in front of them, run (don't walk) to your baking supplies and pull out a muffin tin. Then, in the morning, put an array of fruits, veggies, proteins and carbs in the cups and watch your child's eyes light up. During the day, whenever they ask for a snack, pull out the tray.

A few great things are accomplished with the snack tray. First, you can see that your child is eating a variety of foods, and getting in their daily quota of fruits and veggies. Second, even if you put something in there that they don't eat, you are still exposing them to that item (without trying to force them to eat it) and raising the chances of them eating it in the future. And, third, these are snacks that you don't mind your child filling up on. I can't tell you how many times Wesley wants to eat a snack 15 minutes before a meal. Now, instead of telling him to wait, I just pull out the tray because these are foods I would serve with his meal anyway.

Some ideas for your snack tray:

Fruits:

Strawberries

Grapes

Orange sections

Banana pieces

Dried fruit

Blueberries

Veggies:

Carrot sticks

Grape tomatoes

Celery sticks

Frozen peas

Protein:

Deli meat

Cheese cubes

Hardboiled egg

Edemame

Nuts & trail mix

Carbs:

Cereal

Crackers

Pirate Booty

Popcorn

What other items would you put in a snack tray? How do you make sure your child eats a variety of snacks throughout the day?

Homemade Sidewalk Paint

This has become a go-to activity for me since I discovered how ridiculously easy it is. It literally takes about 30 seconds to whip up, and we're quickly outside painting away.

First, grab a muffin tin. Add a little bit of corn starch (I don't measure. Just eyeball it).

Next, add a touch of water and mix it up.

Drop in some food coloring.

Mix that together to make your colors.

Now all that's left to do is grab some old paint brushes and find a sidewalk to paint!

Do you have any easy activities that your kids love?

One of those weeks

Do you ever feel like it is just one of those days? You wake up not feeling fully rested, your kids are grumpy, and you just go throughout the day without any patience. That has been my week it seems. All week I have had a mental to do list, including a post here, but as you see it is Saturday night and here I sit. Maybe that is why I was so drawn to Mops three and a half years ago. I was a recently new full time working mother. I was trying to balance it all, my home, teaching full time, taking care of my daughter, and feeling very alone while doing so. For me, Mops became a place where I could talk with other working moms and be assured that I was doing the right thing for my family at that time. Our theme this year of MomSense: Bold • Loving • Sensible – equips moms to embrace their mothering instincts and develop their own parenting style while navigating through the myriad of daily mom decisions, reminded me that yes, I might have a rough week, and yes, our family might be different than my friends, but we are all doing what is best for our own kids. Now that I stay home, there are all new pressures, issues, and difficulties, but I honestly love every minute of my chaotic week. Just for a good reminder I watched Anita Renfroe's Mom video and thought others might like it as well.







I hope that on Tuesday nights you are able to sit, have meaningful conversation, and feel a part of a community of moms who support and love you for who you are.

Ready, Set, Play!

Yesterday I posted a blog article in which the author encourages us to connect with our kids daily. Yes, that can mean a myriad of things, but sometimes what our kids need to connect with us is not what we would normally think. You can play trains, talk about his day, paint her toenails, and that will all help. But, I'm finding that the absolute best way to connect with kids is physical play.

Try this: if you have a task that you need your child to complete, but is normally a huge chore (i.e. changing clothes, brushing teeth, getting in the carseat), spend 10 minutes purely playing with them physically. Not quiet, brushing-a-doll's-hair kind of play, but running, chasing, tickling (if they like being tickled) kind of play. Then, try that task. I have found a HUGE difference in Wesley's cooperativeness after spending a few minutes playing.

Can't think of ways to play? Here are some fun ideas:
1. Chase - Just start saying "I'm gonna catch you" and run after them. But, make sure you bumble a lot and let them get away. Only catch them if they obviously stop and want to be caught. A lot of these games allow kids to get the upper hand. They are so powerless for most of their day, these games give them the opportunity to be strong and fast. (This is why you only tickle a kid who asks to be tickled. Tickling can cause kids to feel powerless, which is NOT what you want from playtime.) So, as you chase, say "You're too fast for me!" or "He's so strong!" They'll also love to see you take a big comedic fall and run into walls.

2. Hide and Seek - even toddlers can understand the concept of this game. And, when they find you, you can jump out and start chasing them.

3. Fix game - this is a variation on plain old chase. While you run after your child, say, "I've got to get my Wesley fix! I'm going to cover you with kisses!" They'll know for sure that you love them when you grab them and kiss them all over, then let them get away and start all over.

4. Pillow fight - this is such a great way to get out any pent up aggression. If you have a child who has a hard time not hitting, this is the game for them. They can hit to their heart's content, but in a safe and loving way. This is also a great way to create sibling bonds, by having them gang up against you. At the end, you collapse under their pillows and surrender to their superior pillow fighting abilities.

5. All powerful toy - Say your child is holding something and you want to start playing. Suddenly, pretend like that item frightens you and that it gives him the power to make you run away and hide. They LOVE watching their parents run from them, and will hold the toy up to make it happen. You can climb on beds, hide in closets or under tables, and they will be overjoyed at what they are making mom do!

The goal of all of these games is to get giggles. Once you have them giggling, you're on the right track. These games quickly become favorites, and although it takes some effort up front, it will save you lots of time in the end.

Special Time

I am re-posting this from Aha! Parenting, a parenting blog that I follow. It is just a good reminder to take that time to connect with your kids, no matter how busy life gets. I hope some of the thoughts from this article help you to slow down this week and spend real quality time with your little ones. (Taken from here.)

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"Some nights I look in on our sleeping children before I go to bed. I watch their softly tousled heads slumbering on their pillows, and sadness wells up in me. Have I drunk in their smiles and laughter and hugged them, or have I just checked things off my to-do list today? They're growing so quickly. One morning I may wake up and one of my girls will be getting married, and I'll worry: Have I played with them enough? Have I enjoyed the opportunity to be a part of their lives?" -- Janet Fackrell

You know that spending daily special time with each child is a really good idea. But playing with your child, snuggling on the couch, really listening to his story about how he plans to dismantle the jungle gym tomorrow while the girls are climbing on it -- you just don't have time, right? Squeezing "special time" with each child into our hectic daily schedules seems impossible.

After all, you have to get dinner on the table and get everyone fed and bathed and the dishes done and lunches made for the morning and fold the clothes and then he gets out of bed again wanting another drink of water and you still need to return that phone call and pay that bill......the list is endless.

And yet, children who feel connected to us are much more likely to cooperate. So much less struggle, frustration, argument. Life becomes smoother. You get out of the discipline business. They even separate from you more easily at bedtime. Maybe you can't afford NOT to put daily special time on the list.

Besides, your list is infinite. But your child is not. As the mother of two teenagers, I can tell you that the cliche is true. Your child will be grown and gone before you know it.

The good news is, kids who feel cherished and connected are likely to stay connected once they're launched into their own lives. When you ask them for special time, they're likely to squeeze you in.