Layout:
Home > stir crazy and "potty" time-- non-parents beware!

stir crazy and "potty" time-- non-parents beware!

January 13th, 2011 at 03:52 am

I can't wait for spring-- just so I can let the boys run off some energy outside. I used to love winter--fires, catching up on reading-- but being cooped up in the cold with two toddlers is enough to warrant sainthood. That, and we went cold turkey on binkies for both kids this week. What was I thinking???

We've had about 6 inches in the last two days. Not much compared to a lot of people. I'd send the oldest out, but it's just so bitterly cold it'd be too risky. He hates hats and gloves, so I could see that ending poorly. I did let him go out to shovel the sidewalk and driveway with dad, and he seemed to enjoy that.

He'll be 3 in April, which means it's "potty" time. Before I was a mom the thought of having to teach some irrational human to use the bathroom revolted me. Didn't sound like much fun. Well, it's not any more fun now that I am a mom!

I've been bribing him with stickers. He goes potty, he gets a sticker. I made a chart, and when it's filled up, the whole family gets to go out for ice cream. This seems to be working. That and the occasional lollipop for no accidents. What can I say. We're making this up as we go along, but isn't that how most parents do it?

I bought a cheap $30 HP printer today. I'm from the generation whose first ever computer cost $2500, so when I see how cheap technology has become, I am always shocked. It is a great little machine for the money, and perfect for my needs-- printing coupons and mapquest directions. Ink is cheap.

I already have a printer, but it's an expensive graphics thing that requires VERY expensive ink. It'd cost me a billion to print coupons, so the $30 Hp seemed to make sense.

The new freelance job is crazy, and really too much work for the money. I'm hoping it will tone down after I've been doing it a while and am in the groove. If it doesn't I may have to make a tough decision and either drop it, in favor or less frequent but higher-paying work. But we aren't there yet. I'm going to stick it out.

Thanks for listening to me ramble!

6 Responses to “stir crazy and "potty" time-- non-parents beware!”

  1. Swimgirl Says:
    1294892715

    I gave my kids one M&M when potty training. ONE. Unbelievable but it worked great.

    Good luck!

  2. Looking Forward Says:
    1294892770

    Good luck with the no-binkies and with the potty "teaching" Big Grin

  3. whitestripe Says:
    1294896681

    My boss made the mistake of giving his first son matchbox cars when he went potty. Yeah, that stopped pretty quickly after he realised how much money he was spending (nappies were cheaper! haha).

  4. ThriftoRama Says:
    1294929025

    I think my little man would rise up in revolt if I tried to give him just one "nummy nump" as he calls them (M&m).

  5. MonkeyMama Says:
    1295193711

    I actually think potty training was pretty easy. My best advice - don't push it. I had friends who started their kids very early and still training/having accidents at 4 and 5. (Most everyone I know it seems??? A large percentage - for sure - they all started before 2). My kids woke up at age 3 fully trained 24/7 - we can't take much credit. (They wore clothe which is supposed to help). Interesting though since my kids were both so different and LM was less interested in the potty - but right when they turned 3, something clicked - not one accident since.

    Dh and I will admit that it was easier to keep them in pull up diapers than to push the potty training. We were kind of lazy but it worked for us in the end. WE also never did the little potty thing. My dh didn't like the idea of all that mess and they just went on the big potty.


  6. MonkeyMama Says:
    1295193837

    P.S. We used some sort of reward system, but I just remember following their lead more than picking some random timetable.

Leave a Reply

(Note: If you were logged in, we could automatically fill in these fields for you.)
*
Will not be published.
   

* Please spell out the number 4.  [ Why? ]

vB Code: You can use these tags: [b] [i] [u] [url] [email]