Something kind of odd/surprising happened today. Because this is my blog, I choose to give the long version of the story. Last week I bought Maryn a Cheer Bear from Wal-Mart for a stocking stuffer for Christmas. Jon said that he saw some Care Bears at Target that he thought were cuter and cheaper. So today I went to Target, took some other stuff back and left the Care bear wrapped up in a bag in my basket. The Care Bears at Target were the exact same cuteness and price so the bear I had stayed wrapped up in my cart. When I got home, I put the large Target bag (with the bear, other stuff I bought at Target and some craft stuff I'd gotten from Michaels) on the kitchen table. Maryn was interested in the big bag, so I handed her a little bag of jingle bells I'd gotten from Michaels and left the room. I got involved in doing a million other things and later noticed Maryn sitting on the couch holding Cheer Bear. This was one of those moments in parenting where I was standing at a crossroads. I could have gotten upset with her and taken Cheer Bear away or make it a positive experience a be excited with her for her new toy. I chose option #2 and took her downstairs to show Daddy. He said that that was the same bear that he and Maryn had looked at at the store and decided that she could have it when she learned to use the potty. We decided to continue with that plan and put Cheer Bear up on the fridge. I got out the potty and Maryn sat down on it for about 20 seconds and then asked for Cheer Bear. I explained that she actually had to pee in the potty in order to get Cheer Bear back. She was very sad but I stuck to the plan. She tried one other attempt with no results but kept coming back into the kitchen to wave up to Cheer Bear. Later when she and Seth were getting ready to watch Care bears on TV, Maryn was doing her usual rounding up of all her Care Bears (she likes to have them all around her so she can wave the bears at the screen when each particular bear comes into view). She asked to sit on the potty so she could get Cheer Bear down. After 20 seconds, she said "I did it Mommy!" And she had actually done it. I'm pretty sure she was just as surprised as I was. We celebrated and Cheer Bear was brought down. And that was it. When I tried to get her to sit on the potty again, she wouldn't do it. So I'm not sure what to do now. She obviously does well with motivation, but there are only 2 more Care Bears that she doesn't have. Should I go for it and try to actually potty train her? Or just let her do it if she wants to? I'm leaning towards option #2, mostly because it's easier.
So now, the good note. I went to our ward's book club tonight. It was rescheduled to tonight from two weeks ago which worked out well for me because it gave me a chance to finish the book. (The book we read is #2 on my links list, Stolen Lives). This book club has been going since May 1993, so when the whole "interest group" thing came out for RS, it was just sort of included. But this is what is so great about it- it functions without the (I need to choose my words carefully here) confines of an official church-sponsored book club. So book choices (from what I saw from the list they gave me of previous choices) aren't limited to what might appear to be "safe". I had such a great experience. It's nice to feel like I'm a part of something enlightening.
7 comments:
Tina, when Bria was being potty trained she was very stubborn. The thing that finally did it for her was buying a special toy and putting it up like you did. She could only get it if she went in the potty, and then after a specific time limit it had to go back up high and she'd have to use the potty again to get it back. It worked great and within a week she was totally trained.
potty training...i am leery of it, i don't know what to do with ethan...i guess we'll take it as it comes. great thoughts about the book club. is it still included as in interest group there? whereas here...it got "disbanded"....interesting...is that a good book? i just finished warrior heir and wizard heir, i liked them a lot. we should talk...
Isaac does GREAT on the potty when I tell him to do it, and he has motivation. But It's hard for me to get the motivation. I don't like cleaning up the "accidents". I like Lara's idea, if only I could find something he LOVES that much!
what do i say besides i hate you? :) sigh. i guess that I'm thrilled for you. :) in a hateful sort of way.
brandon too.
You potty trained Wendy! Of course then, you had no other responsibilities. I think you were 7 or 8 years old. It you want to pursue it, potty training will have to become a priority above all else. It is a hard time of year to start... Mom
My potty training experiences are similar...Elodie filled the chart, got the princess dress and the whole shebang..it worked but every once in a while when she goes to the bathroom she'll come running out saying "now I get a present!" Sorry hun! It doesn't work that way...
As for book club...we miss you! I'm so glad that there is a book club in your ward and I hope the women are as cool as us!
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