How Do I Potty Train My Toddler?

by Mama Mabel

I trying to potty train my toddler.  I've read several articles and spoken to several parents and come to the conclusion that every kid is different and every parent has their own sworn by method.  Unfortunately, none of what I'd read or heard is working so far.  We brought home Ladybug's new training potty Saturday with much excitement.  She now has only sporadic interest in "going peepee on the big girl potty."  At first, she did it for the novelty.  Then she did it because I was using the bathroom and she wanted to be like me.  Then she decided she would rather carry it around than sit on it or at most she would sit on it with her pants on.  That's where we are now.  (That's a lot for 3 days isn't it?)

I don't want to make her sit on it against her will because she can just hold it in until she's back up running around.  That's one thing I got from the articles.  I want it to be a happy experience so she sticks with it.  I've heard that bribery works for a lot of people.  Cookies are probably the only snack she consistently wants that I could use as a treat but do I want to start using junk food as a reward this early in her life?  If it gets her to potty train do I even care?  Am I expecting too much too fast?  Am I way over thinking this?  It doesn't help that she's so skinny that pull ups and training pants don't fit her so she's still in diapers.  I think it confuses the issue.  We've started calling them panties but she's a smart kid.  She knows they're diapers.  Maybe I need to break down and figure out how to sew some tiny panties.  That was my original plan before I remembered how much trial and error is involved in my sewing projects.  I wonder if I can buy some bigger ones (i.e. the smallest they sell at stores) and just bring in the side seams and cut down the elastic.  I bet I could manage that.

She gets very excited when she actually gets some pee into the potty (she did it 3 times Sunday) but she hasn't totally made the connection to what exactly she's doing to get it there.  She'll sit on it for a minute then look to see if anything happened even if nothing has.  I've tried getting excited and walking her over to it frequently but she resists and I think forcing it will lead to intentional accidents later.  She's excited right up to the point when I try to get her pants down.  If she were older or had been potty training longer I might start adding in negative consequences but I think we're too early in the process still. 

Aside from stickers or cookies, are there any other good rewards that you've found to help motivate a kid to potty train?  Any other methods you can suggest or advice you can give me?  I'm open to all ideas.  Thank you.

Best Parade Ever!

posted by Granny Girl

On the 4^th I took the grandsons to the best parade in the State of Texas!  The City of Arlington puts on a fantastic parade with about 150 entries.  We saw marching bands, drill teams, antique cars, representatives from all branches of the military, just everything!  This is the second year I have taken them to the parade.  I always took my kids when they were young, and I decided to reinstate the tradition.  It just feels so American!

                                                        Elvis on a scooter.  Cool!

                                                                   Drill team

    Marching band

Tractors

More tractors (It's Texas, you know.)

                                                    Army (WW II era)

Navy

Coast Guard

Marines

And what could  be more American than.......

belly dancers!

First Funeral

by Mama Mabel

I just got back from the first funeral we've attended here.  Our sweet neighbor Laverne passed away.  She's been in poor health since we met but was doing better so her death at this time was a surprise.  Her daughter lives across the street from us and was one of the first people we met.  She attends our church regularly and brought her mom whenever her health would allow.  Laverne was always happy to get out to see people and praise God with her fellow believers.

Like everything else out here, the funeral and family meal afterward were done with relaxed efficiency.  The family was understandably upset during the service but able to laugh with one another at the meal.  No one cared that during the service, our daughter and Laverne's great nephew hit it off in a little kid way that required them to grunt until they were allowed to touch each other then hide in their mamas' arms.  It was mildly disruptive but they seemed to appreciate watching the innocent fun as a break from the seriousness of the occasion. 

Laverne had told the pastor that when the time came, she was ready to see her Savior.  She told her daughter that she didn't want any slow songs at her funeral.  She wanted it to be lively.  She got her wish.  It was more like a family reunion than a funeral.  There was sadness, but there was also the pleasure of loved ones meeting that hadn't seen each other in years.  There was a strong sense of community as neighbors and extended family (often the same thing here) offered loving support to those left behind.  Her notoriously shy widower even told us to come over anytime.  I feel blessed to be part of such a loving bunch.

Doin' nuthin'

Posted by Granny Girl

I have a day off!  Actually, my days off are kinda unlimited, because I lost my job last week.  But that’s a good thing!  Total blessing, no two ways about it.  I’ll blog more about that later.

Anywho, I just got back from spending three and a half days at the family reunion (more about that later, too) so I’m completely exhausted.  My goal for today is to do absolutely nothing.  I’m achieving that goal, kinda.  I had to pay bills this morning, and the laundry from taking three stinky grandsons to the family reunion has to be washed.  I’m refusing to cook, but meals still have to be served, or at least thought up.  I’m thinking frito pie or a bowl of cereal.  Other than that, it’s HGTV and my easy chair.  Woohoo!

Here’s a picture of me and the three stinky boys at the family reunion: (And, no, apparently we cannot all smile at the same time.)

Non-local Honey

by Mama Mabel

We did more grandparent visiting last weekend, this time to Coondog's parents' house.  While we all enjoyed ourselves, no one had more fun than Ladybug and her grandma, aka Honey.  When Ladybug was tiny, Honey would walk in the door and say, "where's my little honey baby?"  Now we call her Honey. 

Honey and Ladybug are best buds.  If I had a nickel for everytime she said Ladybug was perfect, I'd be rich.  You see, Honey was born to be a grandma.  She lives for the pint-sized package of fun that I call my daughter.  Honey was in childcare for decades so she speaks toddler.  She knows what activities Ladybug is most likely to enjoy and what development milestones are coming up so she keeps age appropriate toys on hand and sings all the right little kids songs.  And Ladybug thrives under all the focused attention.  She played until she was too tired to walk straight then played some more.  Honey ate it up like manna from heaven.

There is nothing that Honey won't happily do with or for Ladybug.  At one point, she was laying on the couch almost entirely buried by toys and clothes that Ladybug had brought to her one at a time.  We laughed for a long time over that one.  Later, the two of them went shopping for lace to add to some of Ladybug's new pants and just had to get a cd of kids songs and a sequined tiara while they were out.  Honey got to tell all of Ladybug's admirers at the store that that was her grandbaby.  It was a great trip for both of them.  Hopefully we can do it again soon.

Granddaddy's chair

by Mama Mabel

 

We took Ladybug to visit my grandparents in Branson last weekend.  She was completely mesmerized by Granddaddy.  Everytime she woke up, the first thing she had to do was check on Granddaddy.  Several times each day, she would get up and walk back to his bedroom pointing and loudly telling anyone who would listen that Granddaddy ("Adada") was in there.   

 

One afternoon, she watched Grandmama move him from his bed to his wheelchair and couldn't quit staring.  That evening, she put on a show as Granddaddy and Grandmama sat in the kitchen and soaked up the joy of her.  She was in high form pushing around her new baby buggy and dancing.  When it was time for bed that night, she gave both of them goodnight kisses and had me do the same. 

 

As we were saying our goodbyes, Ladybug kept trying to get at the wheelchair.  Granddaddy was in bed and it was folded up in the corner.  She would point from the chair to him like she wanted him to sit in it but that was too much for him right then.  The next day, we went to WalMart and she saw wheelchairs with baskets for shoppers who need extra help.  She pointed emphatically and told us that it was "Adada" - Granddaddy's chair.  It's sweet to see how excited she is by this reminder of Granddaddy.  I can't wait to take her back for another visit.

Old abandoned mine

by Granny Girl

A couple of weeks ago, on a Sunday morning, I heard the younger two grandsons playing outside my bedroom window.  I couldn't tell what they were doing, but they weren't fighting so I didn't pay much attention.  Then, the youngest one came in and told me they had made an old abandoned mine.  I went outside and looked, and sure enough, they had!