Potty Training

Wow! We are so excited! Yesterday our 2 year old went potty in the morning before she came downstairs. It was the first time without help! Later she pooped in the potty without help at naptime! We took a picture of her standing next to the potty. My sister has a daughter the same age and mentioned her daughter goes in her diaper before she wakes up. I just have my girl sit on the potty every morning whether she needs to go or not. When she takes her diaper off around the house we sing a song to the tune "London Bridges" and the words "Take your diaper off in the bathroom, in the bathroom...Little Girl." Potty training is a slow step-by-step process in which she has to learn to go on command, pull off the right amount of toilet paper, flush, pull up pants. Just stopping peeing in the diaper and finishing in the potty is a great step!

Sharing

When learning to share I started with a 2 1/2 year old and an infant by telling the older one to say, "No, no sweety," and gently take the object away when baby grabbed her stuff.  Now that they are 4 and 2 I have a new jingle to the melody, "Michael Finnigan." The words are: "Trade, take turns, then ask Mommy, trade, take turns, then ask Mommy...This is how we share!" We have seen the picture, discussed it, and practiced it, but they still need help taking turns. The older one knows how to look for something to trade, but counting to 10 while waiting to take turns is still too difficult for them without help. I actually want them to learn to go to an adult for help when they can't solve it themselves. Otherwise one of them gets hurt. How do you teach your children to share?

The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands

by Dr Laura Schlessinger. This book gave a lot of examples of people who wrote in or called expressing frustration or joy in their marriage. It gave me a greater respect for my husband who wants what is best for me and my family. It also gave me some areas to work on, such as allowing my husband to get his needs met and politely asking him to do the same. I love that Dr. Laura was not afraid to speak honestly about the feminists who want everything, but are not willing to give anything in return. I highly recommend this book! Your husband will love it too.

Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Seinfeld

I have now started adding pureed vegetables into all kinds of recipes from pizza crust to smoothies! I normally don't cook, but I can buy a box of cake mix for instance and add sweet potato before I put it in the oven. Simple! And it takes away guilt from so much carbs.

Introducing a New Toy

When my first daughter was little I would try to teach her how to use a new toy. Now I allow her to explore it her own way. I rediscovered this while teaching her to decorate with icing. After trying to show her, I gave her a picture with wax paper on top and a bag of icing and let her go.  It was great!

New Rules

What better place to learn parenting than from God. In Moses chapter 5:6 it says, "And after many days an angel of the Lord appeared unto Adam saying: why dost thou offer sacrifices unto the Lord? And Adam said unto him: I know not save the Lord commanded me. I usually wait until I can explain a rule before I give the rule, but that is backwards. How do you present a new rule? Sometimes I wait until the negative consequence has been experience to give the new rule.

Einstein Never Used Flash Cards

By Hirsh-Pasek & Golinkoff This book has amazing data! It shows child development and the data that backs up their suggested techniques. It even clarifies studies that are often quoted by the media. The techniques are simple to use ways to educate by age. Interesting: a professional family hears 6 affirmations to 1 disapproval, working class hears 2 affirmations to 1 disapproval, and welfare homes hear 1 affirmation to 2 disapproval! Wow! The power of the self-fulfilling prophecy!

Finding a Trusted Parenting Source

As a new parent the first thing we feel is anxiety to do everything right. We seek advice from every direction. Then we start to resent advice because the opinions we hear are so different. We try to go with our gut, but even that doesn't seem very concrete. Now that my children are toddler and preschool age, I have found the sources I trust. Step one is identify your parenting style. It helps to look at your parents' styles too. Next we look at our childrens' personalities. Finally, we look at which parenting styles historically produce the best results. For more ideas on which parenting styles historically produce the best results, read Kevin Hinckley's book about the Strong-willed Child.