Stepping of the slide

Standing in front of a big water slide, I start to get very nervous. I know that nothing is going to happen, but there is always that remote possibility that I will be the .002% that somehow flies of the side, falling to the pavement below. Oops. Rob, being the understanding husband that he is, usually helps by telling me that statistically, they only average 2 accidents a day, and they have already met that quota today. By the time it's my turn, I can hardly talk I am so nervous. I am actually getting butterflies just writing this. Two seconds later, as I step off the slide, my first reaction is always, "Fun! Let's do it again!"

Working in an Instacare, you probably wouldn't guess how many kids come in because of problems with potty training. Big problems. If you are one of those parents, you know what I'm talking about. So potty training is not something I look forward to. It's not as bad as going on a big water slide (oh... I just realized what a bad analogy this is. Sorry), but I start to get anxious in the approach. And similarly, I'm now saying, "hip-hip-horray" (we really do actually say that together).

I know that a kid is not officially potty-trained until they have done it 6 months, but Kyle is doing great! I have been lucky with both my kids, and for anyone who cares (which is probably no one, but you can always stop reading), here's my strategy. I encourage (with no pressure) my kids to go on the potty for about 4 months... you know, before bath, bed, or whenever they want. Kyle has been doing that since November. Then, to avoid the power struggle, I just wait until they really want to do it. In fact, we have had a wrapped present in our pantry since Christmas for when he goes #2. Bekah was so excited for him to open it, she has been encouraging him to go for a month. I didn't have to say a word. The week of, we just stay home, drink lots, and I let Kyle run around half naked for 3 days. That was actually kind of funny, because while doing it, I watched several neighbor kids. Not one of the kids seemed to even notice he was naked.

Hip Hip Horray! I am so proud of Kyle. He is wearing big boy underwear, his hair is short (I cut off the curls), and he turns 3 today! I must have blinked, because he seems to have grown before my eyes.