Where O Where?

Have you been wondering where I am?

Don't worry, so have I.

Life has been a bit insane lately. Lots and lots going on, which in general, isn't much different than usual, I know. But Jonah's new thing is fighting bedtime. And when I am busy, spending hours (yes...hours!) trying to get a 3 year old to go to bed, it leaves little to no time to blog. Or think. Or sleep myself.

Needless to say, I am exhausted.

I have so many blog posts already written in my head, just begging to get out! So manyproduct reviews and adventures and events and activities I want to tell you all about. I even have a to-do list right on my iMac desktop just gathering dust.

Now, look on the brightside! Because I have recently implemented a strict (and lengthy) bedtime routine that I truly hope will bring some peace to this entire household. It will be going into full swing tomorrow, so please, for the love of goodness, wish me luck.

Oh, and in case you are wondering, potty training is going exceptionally well!! I am so proud of him.  And now that I think of it, I wonder if these recent bout's of defiance have something to do with potty training?!? Because it all started shortly after we began potty training him. Has anyone else ever experienced a change in behavior at a time of transition like potty training or some other significant event in the child's life?  I'd love to hear your input. Or at least your condolences, and a promise that it will get better? It gets better.....right?

RIGHT?????

Potty Training Bootcamp Day 3

So, day 3 was spent in pull-up's all day. I got plenty of advice, tips, and feedback from people, one being "Pull-up's caused a huge delay" (that was from my step-sister, talking about her daughter). I thought, no, no, no...this is the right decision. I know my kid, it's ok.

Isn't it funny how as parents, one minute we think we've got a grip on the situation and everything is great and we know exactly what we need to do to make it all work out  right? And then, not 10 minutes later, all that is tossed aside and a new plan comes in to play and it's like starting all over again?

Yeah, that's what potty-training has done to me. Made me doubt every decision and second guess every action. Wondering if "this" is right, or "that" is right. Frankly, right now, I am feeling like nothing is right. And I know millions of parents before me have fought this battle, and I am completely envious of those parents who's kid's just "got it" from the start. I know each kids does everything in their own time, it's just tough sometimes to accept that.

We spent Day 3 in underpants, and as the day progressed he got it more and more. He was still having "accidents", but not as "messy" and he even was getting to the point where he was telling me he had to go (but this was really after he already went). I feel confident he is progressing, but it seems with Jonah this is just going to take time.

Lots and lots of time.

Potty Training Bootcamp Day 2

After the mostly successful Day 1, I was optimistic for at least more of the same, or better from Day 2. But right off the bat, I was proven wrong.

He just was not into it. Sort of the mindset that, "Oh, you expect me to all this again today? Lady, your crazy."

And yes, I felt crazy. Even more crazy was I had to go to work, so it was up to my mom to uphold all the funky quarks and twists it had taken to get Jonah to do it all yesterday. She was up for it. I thanked her. Then left. And breathed a sigh of relief and thanked God I didn't have to do it again today. This is ONE day I was happy to go to work.

I got a phone call, less than 2 hours from the time I left. "i've had to change his pants 3 times already. And this every 15 minutes IS exhausting." I said "I know. I told you....."

This same major resistance proceeded throughout the rest of the day. I wasn't sure if it had anything to do with me being gone. Or if it was him rebeling. But I was happy I went and bought 3 more packs of trainers last night, because it sounded as though my mother desperately needed them.

Everyone survived (maybe just barely, but still...). And on my 30 minute drive home from work I hashed out a new game plan.

I know Jonah. I mean, I am fairly certain I know him better than anyone else in this entire world knows him. And I know he isn't the kind of kid who will conquer the situations he encounters over night. He is a "take his time" kind of kid. He will not be rushed. And if he is, he will make you wish you never crossed him, because he will make you pay. He will rebel. He will fight. He will go crazy. Sooooooooo, it was time for me to

slow.....things......down.

I stopped at Target to get a pack of Pull-Up's.  Toy Story Pull-Up's to be exact (I didn't get the Buzz Lightyear. He forgot about it. Am I a bad Mom?).

I came home and before I even sat my purse down, I had a heart to heart with Jonah. I told him we were going to wear the big boy pull-up's for now. And we are still going to try and go potty, but not as often (I am starting with every hour). And he would still get M&M's and stickers and all that jazz. He was super psyched that the pull-up's had Toy Story on them.

So, for the remainder of the night, I didn't make a big deal out of the pee in the pull-up. And I continue'd to make a big deal, even out of the teeny-tiny tinkles he made in the potty (even though I very well knew he was just peeing enough to get an M&M).

So, baby steps....as it has always been with Jonah. Some kids can accomplish tasks quickly. Jonah is a thinker. and he is serious. And he analyzes. And no matter how badly "I" want him to potty train in a day, I have to be accepting that it's not going to happen like that.

That's the thing with parenting. You CANNOT make them into the person you want them to be. You can give them the tools, but it is ultimately up to them to succeed. A hard pill to swallow sometimes.

Do you have any potty training advice for me? What worked for you? What didn't? I am all ears, just be kind and keep in mind Jonah's personality. Thanks in advance! ;-)

Potty Training Bootcamp Day 1

Sometimes as parents we just have to go through things we'd rather not go through. I personally hated the idea of potty training. I felt safe and comfortable using diapers. And with Lily in diapers, it was just plain easier to keep Jonah in them. Add along the fact that he would run from the potty screaming if I ever even talked about it, I just felt like potty training was never going to happen for us.

Lately, Jonah has seemed pretty uncomfortable in his diapers, constantly grabbing and and shifting them around. I got tired of watching that, so I demanded Daddy put him in some underwear. Surprisingly, Jonah obliged without an argument. SCORE! He even agreed to sit on the potty for a few minutes.

10 minutes later, pee.....lots of it, on the computer seat. Sigh. I thought, "Well, okay. This is how it starts"
Since it was right before bed, I just threw a diaper on him, put him in his pj's and said "We'll try again tomorrow." and kissed him goodnight.

Now, I could have easily given up, and said "Well, he's still not ready." But I knew if I let one pee covered chair (MY chair!) defeat me, we would be in for a looooooooooooong and painful adventure. So, the next morning, all bright eyed and bushy tailed, I put undies on him, again, except I put him in those Gerber trainers, that have that soaker part in the middle, to sorta contain some of the pee.

I made him a chart, with 12 boxes. I had M&M's on hand and stickers for the chart. I had a kitchen timer. I had a potty chair in the living room. I was ready.

And he pee'd in his pants.
And then some in the potty.
Then lots more in his pants.
Then a little more in the potty.

I eventually promised him the BIG Buzz Lightyear toy from Target (ARV $50!!!!) if he filled up all the boxes with stickers.

This went on and on all day. But he GOT it! He figured out the system quickly. But man, was it exhausting! I originally was going to put him on the potty every 20 minutes. Let him sit there for a few minutes, or until something "happened". But I was finding he was only lasting about 15 minutes, so I started setting them timer for 15 minutes.  I also found my enthusiasm dwindle throughout the day, so by dinnertime I wasn't very pleasant, and neither was he.

End of day tally:
pee pee in undies = 8
poo poo in undies = 1
pee pee in potty = 11

Pull-up for night time and we will begin again tomorrow. And I better go get that stupid Buzz Lightyear before tomorrow.