When I'm Five

Little Mr. Man announced that he thinks wearing underwear to bed is a good idea. When he's 5. He just turned 4. He wears pull-ups to bed.

Up until that announcement he's never even expressed the slightest interest in night time potty training. He seems quite happy to pee in his pull-ups.

Of course, I've been reading about this issue for quite a while. All my friend's children seemed to start staying dry pretty soon after they mastered daytime potty training. No one's seemed to have any issues. They're kids just stopped peeing at night. Easy Peasy.

So, as any self-respecting, loving and caring mother would do I turned to the Internet for guidance. Didn't find much help there either, although I did get a good laugh. Here's a highlight of what those in know have to say about the issue:

For starters, most discussions start by saying the "child needs to be developmentally ready". Apparently the development between bladder and brain in my little man is seriously out of whack with the rest of his development. This is the same child that went downstairs and fixed himself breakfast this morning because he didn't want to wake me up. Without making a mess. He reminded me of this as I was getting him a second bowl of Cheerios and promptly spilled Almond Milk all over the table. Who's not developmentally ready?!

Other suggestions just make me laugh out loud! One of my favorites is the suggestion to wake your child before you go to bed. They say the child will be so sleepy they won't remember. They also say it won't do much in terms of getting them to stay dry on their own, so that you'll have to continue to do this until, well I guess, until they're developmentally ready. The part I find funny is that I don't usually stay up much past the little guy. In fact, my husband and I have both been known to fall in asleep in his bed before he does during our night time snuggles. I don't think this option will do us much good!

Another one I find quite funny is the suggestion to take your child to the bathroom if they come to your bed in the middle of the night. Right, so I'm to have the wherewithal at 2:00 am to not only calm him from whatever 'bad guys' were haunting his dreams but to also take him to the toilet?! I can't even take him first thing in the morning when he wakes up (another brilliant suggestion)! There's a reason why the little guy was making his own breakfast - Mommy doesn't do mornings (or middle of the nights)!

Clearly my sweet breakfast-making-little-man is not ready for night-time potty training. Not only has he never stayed dry at night, it really doesn't seem to bother him. I suppose it shouldn't bother me. Should it?

How have you dealt with night-time potty training?

The environmental cost of children

How my children are not eco-friendly:

From the uneaten food I throw out regularly, I think my kids must hate all living beings, farm animals in particular.

From the emptied out boxes of unused Kleenex strewn all over my house, I think my kids must really hate trees.

From the excessive water play and toilet flushing, I think my kids must really hate the notion of water conservation.

From the sand and grime my kids trek through the house, causing me to use the vacuum more than anyone ought to in one day, I think my kids must really LOVE hydro!

From the amount of colds and infections my kids have had in their few years on Earth, I think they must really love big pharma!

From the number of outings my kids insist on having on a daily basis, my children must really love Big Oil!

Not all people suck

On Saturday DS and I had a wonderful day exploring this beautiful city on a very rare warm and sunny day.

On the skytrain on the way home DS was a little disappointed at how busy it was and that he could not sit in the "driver's seat" at the very front of the train. When the spot was finally free he was thrilled, however before we could make our way to claim the seat, an older man was already sitting in it.

Just as I told Little Mr. Man that he would have to stay put, a young woman came up to me to clarify that in fact my little guy wanted to sit in the driver's seat and then approached the older man and asked him if he would mind giving up his seat so a four year old could sit there and "drive" the train. The man kindly obliged and true to form, DS was elated and very excited about his new seat!

After thanking the man and woman, I could feel my faith in humanity being restored. All I could think was that not all people suck, and how fortunate I've been to be the recipient of these really nice actions.

Thinking about how good it makes me feel to have others do nice things for me is a great reminder about doing the same for others. Not a new idea I know, but one worth repeating!

Wallowing

Walking around all day today feeling very sad. Tried to shake it. Finding it hard. Feeling sorry for myself. Feeling all round unhappy. My children, however are the antidote. Their laugh, their hugs, even their screeches pull out of the very sad place I let myself go today.

Today marks the 7th anniversary of my mother's passing. Incredibly, sometimes it's still raw. I think being back in the city where I was seven years ago has brought back a bit more of the bite. I don't know. Maybe it's just the mood I'm this year.

I know that on a day like today, more than ever, it's important to celebrate the life we have and those around us that we love. I know it, but right now I think I'd rather get some chocolate, popcorn and a really sappy movie and just cry. maybe a couple of screams, you know, for good measure. While I don't want to be alone, I don't particularly want anyone to be near me....I do want to be close enough, so that when my kids laugh I can hear it.

I want to indulge my feelings of melancholy. Is that so bad?

How do you deal with those times when you want to wallow.

Germs!

Just read an article that says the hands-free faucets carry more germs than the old fashioned ones. Innovation isn't always all it's cracked up to be!

Better not let my kids find out about this though...any excuse NOT to wash their hands!!

Random Acts of Kindness

A big thank to my very own neighbourhood Mary Poppins!

On the way home from the park Little Mr. Man took a bit of a spill on his scooter. As little ones do, he started to scream...and scream....and scream. My neighbourhood Mary Poppins stopped her car and asked if I needed a band-aid. My first reaction was "no" (because there really was no need for a band-aid: no blood, etc), however I quickly said yes, knowing that would bring the screaming to an end.

She got out of her came over and gave Little Mr. Man a Band-Aid AND offered him a tic-tac!!

Thank you!! The screaming ceased and we are able to continue along our way home!!

Our full potential?

A whirlwind week has just flown by and the reality and a semblance of normalcy has returned:

Kids fighting, rain, laundry, dishes, high fevers, you name it, we've got it!

Amidst all the chaos and bedlam I am struck with the realization that my baby boy, my baby that really not that long ago, was growing inside me, will be turning four. Ya think, I'll be saying the same when he's about to turn 40 (assuming I live that long, probably!).

It's amazing. Absolutely amazing to see how much they develop and grow in such a short time. I mean, look at yourself. what have you learned in four short years? That's what I thought!

If we are capable of so much at such a young age, why do we stop? Imagine what we could accomplish if we continued to learn and develop at such a pace? I suppose if anyone ever tried they'd be encouraged to slow it down, lest they make the rest of us look bad. Shame really.