I’ve been getting rather slack with the photo-sharing, and so after some loving hints (“We’d like to see more photos of Arddun, please!”), I thought I’d load up some random photos of Arddun and caption what she’s been up to lately.
So as it turns out, we’re still suffering the consequences of Arddun’s squeamishness with the potty, and we’re still nowhere near getting her out of diapers. But she’s perfectly happy reading all about it, so today I thought I’d borrow a leaf from our potty-training story book and start role-playing the process.
I don’t expect you to have read the book or any number of potty-training philosophies or techniques, so here’s how it goes.
- You find a suitable teddy.
- You role-play the whole potty process using said teddy.
- Child miraculously understands how using the potty pertains to her, and voila. Diaper free days!
In our case, I decided to use a stuffed toy Arddun had never met before. Rummaged around for a candidate, which turned out to be a dog. Granted – dogs don’t usually park themselves on a child’s potty to relieve themselves, but neither do bears for that matter. So Doggy Doo-Doo had to do.
I made the entire concert as entertaining and positive as possible,
“Oh look, Arddun! It’s a potty! She needs to go to the potty! Okay, let’s have a sit… doo-dee-doo-dee-doo…”
After a suitable waiting time and some ad hoc elevator music, Doggy Doo-Doo stands up and peers into the (empty) potty.
“Oh LOOK, Arddun! It’s a POO! Yay! Well done! Good job, Doggy! What a great effort, Doggy Doo-Doo! WHOOO! Now… we take a bit of toilet paper…” (I let Arddun tear a piece. She tears 3 long strips straight after that, so it’s obviously a huge job.) “Oh-kay enough toilet paper. Alright, let’s give Doggy a wipe… All done! Now throw the paper into the big toilet, aaaand… FLUSH TOGETHER! Yaaaay!”
We do this twice, Doggy Doo-Doo and I. We make a huge fuss over the imaginary turd, and what a triumph it was. We emphasise that toilet paper-tearing is a privilege reserved purely for potty users, and that flushing the toilet after is extra special.
And then Arddun starts making gestures that she wants to give it a go.
So I watch as Arddun seats Doggy Doo-Doo on the potty. Very cute.
Two seconds later, she flings Doggy off the seat, sticks her face into the potty to peer at the imaginary turd, and yells “OH NO A MESS!”
Obviously my rendition was NOT how she remembered things.
Back to the drawing board?
Overheard yesterday around lunchtime, at the café we frequent…
Beautiful blonde 4yo girl: Mum, I’m hungry.
Mother: I think it’s time for your tea anyway.
(Which, in Australia,could mean any meal from morning tea right down to supper. I mean, who knows. I get thoroughly confused some days. But in this context and given the time of day – 12:15pm – it seems clear the mother is referring to actual lunch.)
Mother: (Looking at menu) So… what would you like to eat, sweetheart?
Daughter: Chips!
(Mother looks slightly vexed.)
Mother: Anything else?
Daughter: Um… ice chocolate. And ice cream. And a milkshake. And a lolly. And chips!
(Pause)
Mother: If I get you the chips, will you promise to eat all of it?
Daughter: Okay.
Giving a shout-out to the following survey conducted by the University of Queensland.
Tell Us What You Think About Parenting
Complete a 15 minute survey and you could be in with a chance to win one of twenty $20 Coles-Myer gift cards!
The Parenting and Family Support Centre at the University of Queensland is interested in parents’ thoughts about parenting and parenting programs.
If you have a child between 2 and 12 years,
we would love to hear about your parenting experiences and views
on the services that are available to you as a parent.
To find out more or to participate please visit https://exp.psy.uq.edu.au/ips/aus.
slow down mummy, there is no need to rush,
slow down mummy, what is all the fuss?
slow down mummy, make yourself a cup tea.
Slow down mummy, come and spend some time with me.
slow down mummy, let’s put our boots on and go out for a walk,
let’s kick at piles of leaves, and smile and laugh and talk.
slow down mummy, you look ever so tired,
come sit and snuggle under the duvet and rest with me a while.
slow down mummy, those dirty dishes can wait,
slow down mummy, let’s have some fun, let’s bake a cake!
slow down mummy I know you work a lot,
but sometimes mummy, it’s nice when you just stop.
sit with us a minute,
& listen to our day,
spend a cherished moment,
because our childhood is not here to stay!
R.Knight 2011
http://rebekahknight.blogspot.co.uk/
We had just finished breakfast, and Arddun was still sitting in her highchair and kicking her legs while I was getting ready to clean up her station.
All of a sudden, she started clapping her hands.
“You clapping?” I asked the obvious.
“Happy!” Arddun announced, grinning.
“Are you happy?”
“Happy.”
Tony and I double dated with Graham and Penny yesterday afternoon and went off to watch Les Miserable on the big screen. All this was made possible because of this fabulous family affectionately known in certain parts as The Turkeys. Again, thank you for babysitting so we can have some semblance of a date. :)
Anyhoo, while we were sitting through that amazing musical feast of pathos and high drama, this is what the Little Girl got up to:
They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Finding The Happy 