Better a blog than a daughter right?
Better to get behind on a blog series than behind on loving daycare kids?
Better to lose followers than to lose closeness with my husband, is it not?
Not to worry, for those that are following them, I should be able to post on my two blog series during naptime today. Should, being the key word, and pending three toddlers actually agreeing to a nap!
But for now, a glimpse into my
Over the weekend we had company. Crazy thing is, they are a family we met via the internet.
I met Bethany on a TTC blog group (Trying to Conceive for those not familiar with the trying to get pregnant lingo). We met in person in 2007 for the first time and hit it off in person as much as we did online. Since then, we've seen them two other times at their home turf. This time around they came to us.
It was a bit crazy at times and us adults lacked in sleep, but it was a lovely weekend of friendship. Friendship that requires no pretense or impressive acting. Friendship that is built and rooted in simply being ourselves and living life as normal, sharing it together.
They returned home on Monday morning and my day was full with, not the usual 3 children, but instead 4. School being off for the holiday brought the older brother of my daycare kids into my home. That, plus attempting to find my way back into my regular routine, made Monday an impossibly packed-out day for me.
Tuesday I woke up to plans to do nothing but chill out with miraclegirl. The day of movies and PJ's was going smoothly when suddenly I realized at 11ish, the toy grant people were due to show up with our new toys/art supplies for my daycare! A hustle into the shower and a quickly made lunch--which was put off because the toy grant people showed up as we were ready to eat.
Finally alone at 1:30, life was less than calm the remainder of the day. It's called potty training. For the 3rd time.
:-(
At 15 months, miraclegirl decided she was using the potty. It was a beautiful thing. I washed all my cloth diapers and packed them away into storage.
Then, she changed her mind. No biggie. She was 15 months. It wasn't worth digging the cloth diapers out again, because I mean, how long would she regress for? It was only an off day.
Ok, maybe it was an off week. . . or month. . . . I decided we could buy Pull-ups to limps us through.
At 18 months she again asked for underpants. I rejoiced as I put them on her. "Just a little step back but it's over! Now, we're home free!" was my victorious thinking.
She made it through a Sunday at church and out to eat completely dry. I thought we had it. "Yes! We're back in business!"
Then, she saw the daycare kids' Pull-ups. Screaming commenced and with it, absolute refusal to use the potty or let me put her underpants on her.
Which brings us to 25 1/2 months. I know my child is completely able to be potty trained. I know this because I've watched her successfully sail through days in underwear. Sooo. . . . she woke up to an "Oh no! No more Pull-ups!" announcement from me yesterday.
With nary a word, she happily put on her underpants.
And with nary a word, she happily peed in them all. day. long.
:-(
Potty runs at 1 hour. Potty runs at 15 minutes. She refused to go every time I encouraged her to go. Oh, she didn't stiffen and refuse to sit on the potty. She sat there willingly enough. She just refused to do her business. Even with a Hershey Kiss in site.
Yes, I have resorted to downright bribery in my normally attempts-at-a-sugar-free-home. Sitting there, unwrapped Hershey Kiss in my hand, she stared at it longingly, asking for it. But refusing to pee so she could have it.
Each time, I gave up. Each time we got her dressed. Each time she came to me, stood there, looked at me and said, "I pee! I have ocolate candy now!" as pee ran down her legs.
My child knows how to go on the potty. She gets the concept. She obviously knows how to hold it and she obviously knows how to let it go when she's ready. This is not a "her bladder isn't ready issue". This is a "You can lead me to the potty but you can't make me go" issue.
Day 2.
We're doing underpants again today. I dread it.
Daycare kids come back today and the 3 1/2 year old is also potty training. Granted, we nail it 80% of the time with him. Still, two in training with subsequent wet pants throughout the day, is enough to make a grown woman fall on the floor weeping torrents of tears by the time naptime rolls around.
I have seen my daughter take herself to the bathroom and go. I have seen her stay dry.
Therefore, I will not give up. I will continue to change wet pants, saying in my cheerleader voice "Uh oh! We missed the potty!" while inside I am screaming, "Not again. Please, please, not again! Just freaking pee on the potty!"
Part of me wants to concede to Pull-ups --but the Mama instinct in me--that powerful, driving, gut-feeling force---tells me keep going. Give this a good, solid week. So I am.
While I change pee-soaked pants and with every OCD ounce in me, soak up pee-soaked spots on my carpet, I daydream of big girl underpants that stay dry and an extra $12 a week in my budget (no more Pull ups) and only 1 toddler that needs a diaper change in coming weeks, versus the assembly line of three toddlers.
Accomplishment is sweet. It's just the process of getting to accomplishment. Right now, I have a 30 lb toddler adamantly refusing to grant that accomplishment. Maybe today she'll be gracious and grant it to me.
