girlymama

letting it slide

Now I'm sure that no other moms do this.

How often do you let things slide? Right now, for example, my kids are in their room "taking a nap." By which I mean singing at the top of their lungs, laughing and doing something that is resulting in the occasional loud "thump" I told them to go to sleep. I told them, "I mean it! You stay in bed or be quiet or you'll be in trouble!"
But I really don't have the energy to enforce it right now. I have no desire to enforce what I said, I was just annoyed. I really don't care that they are not asleep, I'm just happy that they are out of my hair.
I know those parenting books talk about "consistency" and "enforcing your authority" and stuff. But sometimes I just don't have the energy to deal with things. No permanent damage done, right?

light at the end of the tunnel....

Okay. I was venting before. Grace is actually doing really well. We went cold turkey on diapers and she has been in panties since 8am and she's only had 2 very minor accidents. Since noon she has been going on her own, when she needs to go.

I'm exhausted though. Ex.HAUSTED. I am so tired of talking about pee pee and poopy and who we know that wears panties. (Like Hannah and Ella and Sarah and Lily and her Aunties and Grandma...) And asking, "Are you dry?!?" And if I see another Cheeto within the next two years it will be too soon, as that became her treat of choice. Yuck.

update: That little monkey went all night without an accident and woke up dry.  Only quirk: She will only go potty when she is by herself. Seriously. She must have privacy and shuts the door. If I'm around she won't do anything. Again, she is proving to be the opposite of Ellie, who will take any and all audiences!

help

This is like trying to explain to a brick wall that it needs to go pee pee in the potty.

This kid is an absolute camel. She has been drinking all morning and she finally went pee at 11:45. I've had to go four times, but she clearly takes after her father, Camel Sr. Still nothing, despite having sat on the potty approximately 300 times.
I think this is my least favorite parenting thing. I hate potty training. I will enroll any future children in day care when they are ready to potty training and pay someone else to do it. It would totally be worth it.

potty training: take two

Tomorrow, Husband and Ellie will be disappearing for the morning. At home will be:
1. Me
2. Gracie
3. the potty chair
4. Several of her favorite beverages (Sprite, pink lemonade)
5. Salty snacks to keep her drinking said beverages (pretzels, Fritos)
6. Several of her favorite treats (Skittles, M&Ms, princess stickers)
7. Every pair of size 2T underwear in this household
8. Every ounce of patience I can muster.

We'll see how this goes. If you don't hear from me... well, you'll know why. Let's start praying now, shall we?

just for you

Click here to get a free sample of some new "gourmet" Folgers coffee. If you don't drink coffee, I do pity you. Get one and send it to me ;-)

Free coffee is good coffee in my book.

does that meet the height requirement?

Grace, measuring Ellie with a tape measure:

"You are three hours tall."

sick again.

I just got back from the doctor and I have tonsillitis. Apparently this is my summer of being sick. Ugh. Back to bed.

Friends took the kiddies to the pool today, since it is sooooo hot here. Ick. Hopefully they will be nice and tried when they get home :-)

now i'm not what you would call a "techie"

But I'm fairly sure that when your computer tells you that the hard drive is 99% full, that's probably bad. Just a guess. Looks like a job for Husband!

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We've had an interesting day here. I've begun pumping Gracie up for potty training, since when people ask her "Are you going to be a big girl and wear panties and go pee pee on the potty?" She looks at them and says "No."
Soooooo... we've been talking all day about the potty and panties and all of her friends who go potty, etc. After her nap, she decided that she was going to use the potty. And she has been on the potty pretty much ever since. She won't get up. She's obviously not understanding the concept, since nothing is happening despite sitting there all afternoon. Oh well.
**********
I'm not feeling well today, which stinks. I'm counting the minutes until bedtime. Husband should get home in the early morning hours. He called me last night from his hotel room. From the Presidential Suite. Which had a table that sat ten. In his hotel room. Poor baby, huh?

craft time

I sure hope her preschool teachers are ready for her :-)

you may have noticed

the absence of parenting stories and kid antidotes today. That would be because for the last 24 hours I have not been parenting. Well, I've been keeping my kids alive (by which I mean being vaguely aware of them not playing in the middle of the street and feeding them when they get too whiney.) but that's about it. I have been absorbed in Harry Potter. Oh my goodness. Oh. My. Goodness. Now I don't want to write about the book, since lots of people haven't read it yet, but I must say: "Holy cow, that was good."

And if you've never read Harry Potter before, please get off your high horse and read it. I know its technically a childrens' book. And its about magic. I came into the game late as well, until I finally, finally read one to see what the fuss was all about. They really are brilliant. Go start with Book 1. You will not be disappointed!!