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In my search for the perfect potty training method, I discovered the holy grail: “Potty Training” should be renamed “Parent Training.”  Every book about potty training relies heavily on the parent as cheerleader, housekeeper, laundry-cleaner and teacher.

I introduced my son to the toilet (we put a potty seat on it), a couple weeks ago and he took to it really fast.  He liked the whole experience and learned quickly.  Until today it was optional.  Now it’s the real deal.  My son was happy to participate and peed in the potty at nearly every try today, but I’m exhausted!  Just because he pees in the potty, doesn’t mean he doesn’t pee out of the potty. Cleaning up the numerous accidents, keeping him entertained on the potty for a significant portion of the day with songs and books, and continuously talking to him about what it all means and how proud I am of his sissy, has me worn out.

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Yesterday, while my friend went out for a short jog, I held her newborn baby girl.  The experience was so peaceful.  The sweet little baby slept calmly, I rocked her and couldn’t help giving her a kiss on the head.  When she became hungry she screamed and then my friend was back and nursed her as she rested on a chair. 

I can’t believe I’m saying this but having a newborn seems like the easiest thing now.  My husband and I are so excited to have a baby again who has a stable routine: eat, sleep and poop.  I can carry the baby in a sling, put it in a swing, pick it up and take it with me wherever I go with my toddler.  I can’t wait! 

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It’s a long title, but that’s the best way to say it.  Yesterday we celebrated Blake’s 2nd birthday.  It was fabulous.  Family friends, in the backyard at our new house, pizza, BBQ, music and fun.

The best part was that Blake was lovingly surrounded by all four grandparents and his great-grandmother.  What a lucky little boy!

During the party I was thinking about how next year at this time, Blake will have a sibling.  I wonder how this will affect Blake’s personality.  He gets so much attention right now, and he has since he was born.

One of our friends here yesterday has a seven-month old boy and she was saying how great it is that she just puts him on the floor with a ball and he’s happy playing by himself for an hour.  I overheard this and ran to tell her, “Appreciate this!  Do you know that not all babies do this?  Blake never entertained himself with a ball for more than a few minutes.”  She had no idea.  ”You mean every baby doesn’t happily play with balls for hours?” she asked.  ”One hundred percent, no.  It’s personality that defines how much a child can play by him or herself.”

Soon my theory will be put to the test.  Is it nature or nurture?   (more…)

Father’s Day is underrated.  People plan Mother’s Day for weeks, and sometimes months ahead of time.  But Father’s Day?  “It’s just not as big a deal as Mother’s Day,” says my husband.  So am I supposed to believe that, or should I make a big deal out of it anyway?

My husband deals with many of the same childcare frustrations that I have to deal with: early mornings, night wakings, difficult meal times, tantrums (hmm, am I making parenthood sound difficult?).  I do handle the majority of those hard experiences, but, still, he’s been pushed to edge of patience more times than either of us would care to admit.

Fatherhood isn’t the easiest.  So I’d like to give a shout out to my husband for being a wonderful dad to our son Blake.  You take the ups and downs while you play with him and share joyful activities together every day.  (more…)

I’m not talking about basic separation like leaving your child in the living room while you go to the bathroom (which is not always easy!).  I mean school or camp separation when you drop off your 2 or 3 year old and pick him up hours later.

Separation is a parent’s choice.  But how do you know when your child is ready?  I took my son to his first day of camp last week.  It’s a two hour program three days a week for two-year olds.  The other five kids in the group already separated, so Blake was only one who needed his mommy there part of the time.  I told him that he was doing a great job and that he could take as much time as needs to feel comfortable in the class.  I don’t want to push him if he isn’t ready yet.

While in the room with him I tried to be as boring as possible so he’d have to join the other kids and teachers to have any fun.  I’m hoping that after a couple weeks he will be fine in class without me, but if he’s not, then I’ll probably just take him out of the program and wait until September to try separation again.  Is that giving up too soon?   (more…)