My son has officially started potty training! Even better, he did it with no coaxing from mommy and I. He started taking his pants and diapers off and begging to go into the bathroom. It took a few tries for him to actually go pee-pee in the potty, but now he's doing it. Even better, he knows when he has to go. This means he'll pee in the potty and not in his diaper (not always, but a few times a day).
I'm not saying it's totally easy. For example, he likes to flush wads of toilet paper down the toilet. Generally, after he sits for a while and tries to go pee-pee or poo-poo we let him flush a little toilet paper down. Now he'll sit on the toilet for a few seconds then go right to wanting to flush toilet paper down. He's on to our little tricks!
Another problem we face is that he loves running around the house with no pants or diapers on. So he uses the opportunity to use the bathroom as a way to run around the house half naked. Yes, on a certain level it is cute. But it's also a pain because as soon as I take him to his room to get him dressed again he gets really fussy.
Regardless of the challenges, this is a big milestone. I count it as 1 on of the big 3 milestones. The first being walking. The second is talking. And the final one is potty training. Once your kid has those 3 down they're ready to be booted out of the house and on their own. Okay, I'm kidding about that.
My wife and I weren't expecting him to start potty training him this early, so we had to scramble to buy a little toddler potty (which he refuses to use) and some basic potty training books (Everybody Poops being one of them).
Just because my DS started early doesn't mean I'm expecting a quick and painless transition from diapers to a fully potty trained toddler. I'm expecting a long and hard road ahead. If it turns out easier, then great, I'll be ecstatic. If not, then it will be just what I expect. I pray it's the former though. It'll be easier on my sanity.
Friday, September 28, 2012
Thursday, September 6, 2012
My Son is Hooked On The iPad
My son, who recently turned 2, has discovered the wonders of the iPad. My wife has downloaded a dozen or so children's games for him, and they can keep him occupied for long periods of time.
Further, he knows how to use the iPad. He knows how to turn it on and off. He can swipe between pages. Adjust volume (which he always has on full blast). He knows his favorite games, and how to use YouTube.
Before you berate me for letting my son become addicted to mindless iPad games, I should add that we do try to limit his time on the device. I make sure we go outside to play and that he plays with his other toys. And we still go to Gymboree and all the other activities we have him signed up for.
My trick is to hide the iPad from him when I don't want him playing with it. Out of sight, out of mind. That way, he won't try to reach for it and get all fussy when he can't have it.
His mastery of the iPad makes me happy. It shows he's growing, getting smarter and is a little less useless. Sometimes I forget that he won't be a baby/young toddler forever. Right now it's a big celebration every time he says a new word (his newest words is "fold," which he says when I have laundry to fold). But a time will come when he won't shut up. Every parent with older kids tells me that.
Luckily for me, he has shown little interest in the TV. I keep it on during the day, mostly for background noise, and he ignores it. When he starts watching for more than a few minutes at a time I'll have to come up with a different strategy.
It's all about balance. I need to make sure he spends a lot of time playing and running around, time playing with his toys and time on the iPad/watching TV. I'm guessing as he gets older, balancing his life will become more difficult.
Further, he knows how to use the iPad. He knows how to turn it on and off. He can swipe between pages. Adjust volume (which he always has on full blast). He knows his favorite games, and how to use YouTube.
Before you berate me for letting my son become addicted to mindless iPad games, I should add that we do try to limit his time on the device. I make sure we go outside to play and that he plays with his other toys. And we still go to Gymboree and all the other activities we have him signed up for.
My trick is to hide the iPad from him when I don't want him playing with it. Out of sight, out of mind. That way, he won't try to reach for it and get all fussy when he can't have it.
His mastery of the iPad makes me happy. It shows he's growing, getting smarter and is a little less useless. Sometimes I forget that he won't be a baby/young toddler forever. Right now it's a big celebration every time he says a new word (his newest words is "fold," which he says when I have laundry to fold). But a time will come when he won't shut up. Every parent with older kids tells me that.
Luckily for me, he has shown little interest in the TV. I keep it on during the day, mostly for background noise, and he ignores it. When he starts watching for more than a few minutes at a time I'll have to come up with a different strategy.
It's all about balance. I need to make sure he spends a lot of time playing and running around, time playing with his toys and time on the iPad/watching TV. I'm guessing as he gets older, balancing his life will become more difficult.
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