Bethel stayed up with me until 9:30 tonight. She’s a night owl, and lately, she’s been begging for some mom time. OF course, I didn’t know that’s what she’s been wanting. I tend to be a little dense, sometimes. She’s been irritating and obnoxious, hitting the dog, and begging for a “just with me” tea [...]
Filed under: Emotions, Potty Training
I haven’t posted any commentary on the potty training saga, mostly because I think I learned the lessons I needed to learn, and Bethel just needed time. But it’s time for an update. About a month ago, I came to the conclusion that we’d be done with diapers, and I’d just try to anticipate the [...]
Filed under: Potty Training
Today I had a rare serious conversation with my dear two year old. She was sitting on the potty, and I wanted her to try to go. She kept saying “I can’t” and I kept saying “Yes, you can.” At some point, my dull brain realized I had a problem. She really doesn’t believe she [...]
Filed under: Potty Training, Practical Parenting
I’ve learned a lot about teaching a child to use the potty. I need to have the right motives (not because I’m embarrassed or want to look good): Proverbs 29:25 I need to be patient and not angry (when it appears that my child doesn’t care) Galatians 5:22-23, I Corinthians 13 My last lesson has [...]
Filed under: Communication and Meaning, Potty Training
This next week Lee is off every day except Wednesday. The base commander declared it a holiday week for all military members. We’re still talking about what we will do, although the second half of the week Lee’s grandpa and aunt are coming for a visit. I’m enlisting Lee’s help in several child-rearing goals. I’m [...]
Filed under: Communication and Meaning, Potty Training
Today as I was changing Bethel, I told her that this weekend we’d work on potty training. She responded, I don’t like going potty. Well, aside from a brief few days where she was highly motivated, I’ve noticed that lately she has seemed pretty discouraged about the process. She tries, but nothing happens. Repeated failure [...]
Filed under: Potty Training
I’ve come to the conclusion that potty training isn’t about my child’s spirituality, but about mine. No other challenge can fill me with such weariness, despair, and sometimes anger, than potty training. I come to a conclusion that it’s not that big of a deal, and then the next day I’m worried about the cost [...]
Filed under: Potty Training
I’ve been resisting the desire to write about potty training, because it’s such a non-spiritual issue. Or is it? Today, Bethel didn’t want to sit on the potty. I’m certain that the problem is a lack of success, and the perceived difficulty of the task. If I can get her to actually stay on the [...]
Filed under: Potty Training
By the way… Saturday morning I worked on potty training– every 15 minutes we sat on the potty. She had accidents three times on that schedule for the morning, so I put a pullup on her, fed her lunch, sent her to bed (it was naptime), and licked my wounds. I was very discouraged. When [...]
Filed under: Potty Training
After three accidents in quick succession on Monday, I decided to wait until today to start again. And… to be honest, I haven’t started yet (that means Bethel is still in her jammies midmorning). Earlier, I decided to do potty training in the morning, and pullups in the afternoon. That’s because it’s all I can [...]
Filed under: Potty Training
