Potty time!

I decided that a month+ with no TV was probably the perfect time to potty train my almost-3-year-old. Without the distraction of TV, he should be able to focus more on what's going on "down there".

For the record, this is no ordinary boy. Today, he only answers to the name Superhero. Now I know all boys do that but his super power is that he can say "long words without stopping". He has been speaking in sentences since he was 18 months old, and apparently I have spoken about this a lot in his presence. Guess he figures he's pretty special.

He has also informed me that he likes having poop in his pants. "It's warm." How do I argue with that?

He is well aware that not wearing diapers is going to be more work. I believe his words were something like, "Well,....I think I will just wear diapers. Then I can just poop in the living room." Can't really argue with that either.

Some would say that I have already waited too long. He's too smart. It won't work well now. Problem: He couldn't physically STOP peeing when started no matter how hard he tried till recently. Nevermind trying to hold it and get to the bathroom. We have discovered a few areas in his life where his advanced communication skills have directly conflicted with his slower physical development.

Before he could get off the couch himself he would call me, not to help him down but.......
"Mom! Get me that toy!"
"What do you say?"
"Peeeaaaass."

I guess we'll see how this goes!

More later. His activity of choice was making pie. So I am off to make pie with a very naked little boy. You may not want to come for coffee for the next few days......Might be serving "naked pie".

I can't get stuff done!!?

They have completely forgotten about the TV! I can't believe it either. They have not asked to watch TV in two days. Not even a longing side glance at our blanket-clad old friend. It has been rather wonderful!

Here's the rub. 

I can't get anything done!!!

I used to place them in front of the TV when I needed to mop the floors or clean up an area real quick. It was so easy.

Now I find myself interrupted at every turn by,

"MOM! Naya's not sharing!"

"MOM! He's licking me!"

"MOM! Ephraim's stuck in the laundry hamper again!"

By letting their imaginations run free, I have successfully created problems I didn't know we had! They find their way into the strangest places. (That small gap behind the toilet bowl, below the tank) They create the strangest games. ("AHHHHHH! Restaurant fire!! Run and get in your boats!") There is a lot more yelling (happy and sad) and a lot more hands-on parenting. I know this is what I was hoping to achieve when I set out. The whole I-want-to-raise-my-kids-without-the-help-of-Caillou thing, but I am getting tired of going to bed in a house that could best be described by a Habitat for Humanity disaster bulletin.

My new goal?

Go to bed with the house in the same (or better) shape as when I woke up.

Today that shouldn't be too hard, since I had a hard time finding the stairs this morning for the laundry and barbie accoutrements. Here's hoping that everyday, I can improve a little. Maybe by the time Easter rolls around, we can have an Easter egg hunt and not lose the children in the process.

It takes teamwork.

So......When I made this no-TV-till-Easter-and-maybe-even-longer decision for my family, I thought it important to consult the other half of the child-rearing team. He was all for it. I believe the words, "It's your funeral!" may have been uttered. He is realizing, however, that it is not quite so simple.

See, his logic was as follows.....

No TV?!
That's hard!
All day?
Wait, DAY!
SHE'S home all day!
Ok, this COULD be good for the kids.
Sure, Honey!

He's starting to realize that the evenings are the hardest time and that's when he's around......

Oh! And did I mention that I am out of the house a minimum of 3 evenings a week? And he has to keep them entertained as their brains spiral quickly down the whirlpool of exhaustion. Not to mention, they seem to tire themselves out far more with no TV. (See previous blog regarding symptoms of withdrawal)

Teamwork is important. He sees the benefits of a no TV break, but actually begged me to allow him TV yesterday while I was out. So, though we are a team, sometimes one of us still needs to be the captain.

He made it through the evening, by the way.

This is REALLY hard?!

Some of my friends have informed me they are embarking on this adventure with me. YAY!! Misery loves company right???!

Some advice......
The "Don't Ask Blanket".

To stop the constant string of..."Mom, can we watch a show?" I instituted the "don't ask blanket". When this question came up at first I simply responded, "Look at the TV." The question has stopped and I catch them looking up at the TV and sighing periodically. (And I never had to answer with "NO.")

Note: a standard home-made receiving blanket will perfectly cover a 42" TV.

Also, evidently, when your young children are used to watching 8 hrs of TV a day on average......

Severe withdrawal sets in around 24 hrs in.

Symptoms include:
1. Constant wailing.
2. Random toy throwing........at siblings.
3. Lack of appetite.
4. Using phrases never before uttered by my 2-year-old. "Daddy, I DON'T love you and I'm only proud of ME!"
5. Even greater blankie need.
6. An overall feeling of anger towards anything smiling. :) -> :(

Good luck with that!! I have no answers as of yet... Lots of cuddling and not much "getting stuff done" has been happening around here. Hey, when people enter rehab they need lots of human contact too, right?

All is "quiet" here right now as I found two very noisy fire trucks hiding in the basement which seemed to have appeased the masses for now.

I can't let the TV raise my children??!!!??

What?! Howcome?

I have embarked on a quest to take my children back from their current caretaker; the TV.

Why I have chosen to do this in February, the suicide month, don't ask me. Maybe it's because it is so very easy to use the TV now. We haven't been outside in months, yet the days are getting longer and the increased sunshine is giving my children an energy level not suited for indoors! When things start to unravel (ok let's be honest, first thing in the morning!) the TV goes on and the running, screaming, and fighting stops. Oh that blessed quiet moment when Tinkerbell flies across the screen. I think I may be falling in love with her! I'm also doing this now because this Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent.

Lent. I used to dread this season. The time when Daddy made me pick something to give up for 40 days so that I could spend the extra time getting ready for the Easter season. Now I kinda look forward to it.

I am NOT intrinsically motivated. (For you who haven't learned teacher-speak, that means I don't have that little voice inside that tells me I will be happier if I just get this done!) I require some sort of extrinsic (from the outside...) motivation. Lent gives me the opportunity to have an outside reason to accomplish something. (I'll save the discussion as to whether or not this fits with the spirit of Lent for another day.)

So here we are. No TV. Well, it's been 5 hours and no deaths, so I'd say we are doing ok.

Some moments, I ask myself why I didn't try this sooner!

Happily puzzling. 

Reading Charlotte's Web. 

But the majority of the time, THIS was the norm.

WHY???!!

PLEASE???!!!

Somewhere along the line, (I believe it was after a hearty lunch.) We ended up here.

This all looked very familiar. I actually turned around to see if the TV was on. They were all doing the activities they would normally do in front of their favourite show, only there was no show.

So why did I need it in the first place?          See above pics.

Getting to a place of understanding that TV was NOT HAPPENING took 6 hours.        6.        Today.        I am fully aware that we will have to do this all again tomorrow.

Well. It's almost nap time and Nanny TV has not made an appearance yet. YAY! Project for the afternoon? Some sort of craft..........

Playdough and popsicle sticks, anyone?

What kind of training do you need to be a wedding planner?

My little brother got married today. It was amazingly beautiful. There was a huge forest created on a dull grey stage. Where a simple doorway once stood a beautiful country portal. As I helped set the countless (ok 31) tables and looked around at all the millions of details that go into creating the most amazing day in a girl's life, I wanted nothing more than to do that everyday.

I LOVED planning my wedding. I loved thinking of all the petty details and little things that could go wrong and thwarting them!! Like the Superman of festive occasions. It's a bird! It's a plane! It's the wedding planner!

Here's the problem. I have little to know interior design skill. Interior design befuddles me! Colour? The brighter the better! (Not always desirable at a wedding!) So....

What kind of training do you need to be a wedding planner?