Thursday, December 9, 2010

m&m's

I really haven't started and serious potty training...although I know I should have started months ago.  We have a potty, with a seat that fits on the toilet and a stool to help the kids get up.  We also have potty charts on the bathroom door that we use occasionally.   We have a stash of M&M's.  Basically all we are doing so far is that whenever I happen to think of it I offer the kids the potty.  Some days I am consistent and offer every half an hour (while we are at home) other days when things get busy or I am worn out I don't offer at all.  Some days the kids take me up on the offer other days they can't be bothered.   Needless to say we haven't made much progress.

Ever since being introduced to M&M's Max is much more interested in toilet training. When offered the toilet he would jump on the toilet, dribble just a little bit and call it done, and ask for his treat.  So to encourage him to wait until he had a full bladder I started offering him two M&M's if he could make lots of pee.  He went for it.   He started Whenever I give him two M&M's he automatically gives one to his sister.  This morning he even asked to use the toilet before I even offered.   As soon as soon as I gave him the second M&M he he said "One for me and one for my sister".   It is very sweet and I don't want to do anything to discourage him from sharing.    Now Maya is no longer interested in using the potty.  Why make the effort when her brother provides  her all she really needs.

I am ready for potty training advice.  All of you out there who have gone through this already send me your advice.

Monday, December 6, 2010

sleep

I'm wondering what happened to the two lovely red-headed children who used to live with me who used to go to bed at 7:30pm with out a peep.  Those two lovely children also napped two hours a day.

Someone took those children and replaced them with kids who turn into crazy gremlins at bed time.  They get out of bed, climb the walls and windows, play with toys and see how long they can keep each other awake....and then the next day they are cranky.  They used to get 14 hours of sleep a day (yes, it was a lot) these days they are lucky if they get 11.  They are falling asleep sometimes as late as 9:30pm and waking up at 6:30am.  I've tired shortening naps to 1 hour hoping they will sleep longer at night.  It doesn't seem to help.

Back in the day, we used to take the kids in their room, kiss them hug them, put them in bed and say good-bye until morning.  I now spend sometimes more than 2 hours of my day trying to get those kids to go to sleep.  I'm the mother I never wanted to me.

I'll tell you what happened....

We took away the pacifiers
The kids learned to climb out of their porta cots (pack n play) so we transfered to toddler beds
Time change and longer summer day light hours