I got an email from my mom on my first day in Tucson:
I need to tell you two things:
1. If the peanut butter tastes like it has syrup in it, it is because it has syrup in it.
2 . Nathan has done several pee pees and poo poos in his potty. Unfortunately, the last time was a double, and he jumped up quickly, grabbed the potty, and headed for the bathroom. I yelled at him to stop and he dumped the whole thing in the floor. Sarah Kate said it was my fault – whenever he gets yelled at he drops whatever he is holding…
‘Sorry.
That sounds about right.
Boys are disgusting. Discuss.
— 3 —
I’m always thrilled to hear from people WITH disabilities, not just the moms like me. I got a tweet this week from a young man who had seen my post about Baby Megan; he let me know that he has just started a blog where he plans to write about his own experiences with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI). Check him out.
— 4 —
Today is day one of the last swim meet of the season. Sarah Kate hasn’t said anything about her future plans, but a little part of me wonders if this year is going to be her last. She has been less enthused about the meets this year, and next year she’ll move up to the 11 and up age group, which means earlier and longer practices. Time will tell, I suppose.
— 5 —
Fall softball registration begins in mid-August, so it’s decision time regarding moving up to 10U. As much as I was hating the idea a few months ago, I think I’ve talked myself into wanting her to try it, and when I asked her on Thursday what she wanted to do, she said she wanted to do it. I pulled out the letter she received from a certain college softball player last year for her to read again the other day, and I think she was more impressed on the second reading than she was when she first got it. Encouragement, perhaps?
The obligatory potty training update: You already saw snippets 1 & 2, so you can probably guess how it’s going. Lots of success at using the potty, but also lots of accidents, and he still hasn’t gone potty at school a single time. It’s been frustrating, but less so than I was expecting. After being out of state for a few days where I didn’t have to clean up any messes (read: no cussing!), I think I’ve come to the conclusion that he’s just not ready. I’m going to keep on keeping on, but…
I think it’s time to have a talk with his preschool director. Sigh.
Nathan’s summer preschool ends next week. That means I have only two – TWO! – more four-hour blocks of time without him between now and the beginning of school. I would appreciate your prayers. Kidding. I can survive it because it’s better than what Anna is dealing with right now. She really could use your prayers.
Have a great one!
This post was inspired by and is linked to Conversion Diary‘s 7 Quick Takes.
#2 I WHOLEHEARTEDLY agree! My husband always says that I’m going to wreck our daughters because when they complain about their brother, I respond, “What do you want? Boys eat dirt!” Our son has helped me discover a whole new level of disgusting that I never knew before! 😀
Hey Andi!
Love your blog! It is sooo awesome! Thanks soooo much for the shout out to my blog! I can tell you have a lot of loyal followers because after you posted about my blog, I saw a significant jump in my sites traffic. So thank you so much! I hope to break those barriers between disabled and non disabled by telling my story, and by having great people like you promote my page, I know I can do that. So thank you again and I look forward to following your website!
You’re very welcome, Noah. I’ll tell you what I told my blogging friend Sarah: whether you want to be or not, you are going to be the one that parents turn to when they want a glimpse of their child’s future. Be ready. 🙂 But also…we need voices like yours, because we parents are not enough – we don’t live it everyday like you do. God bless and good luck.
Don’t worry, he will get trained 🙂 is your pre-school giving you a hard time that he’s not? Kayli was out of pull-ups in day by Kindy with regular toilet trips built in to her day, periodic accidents when the fun was too great. Pull-ups gave me security at night until she was 10! From studying it the pm is related to some hormone/chemical that comes in its own sweet time. I just gave up seating the whole thing 🙂
Xxoo
No, they haven’t given me a hard time. His teacher doesn’t even seem terribly concerned, just says things like, “We’re working on it” with a pleasant smile. However, the parent manual does say that children in the 3 year old classes must be potty trained, so I want to adhere to the requirements if at all possible. I try very hard not to ask for any accommodations that aren’t absolutely necessary for my kids – I think it makes it easier to get the ones we really do need, I want them to learn to navigate the typical world as best they can while they’re still young and have me to protect them, and I think people will be less likely to resent our “special treatment” if it’s clear we aren’t abusing the system. I don’t think the preschool expects zero accidents, but I do think they want the teachers to be able to focus on learning rather than changing the diapers of all the kids in the room 2-3 times a day.
So, all that to say … I doubt they will kick him out, but it’s possible that may require me to come up there when he has accidents. I will not enjoy that at all. 🙁 But it’s also possible that they’ll be super-nice and nothing will change. 🙂 Honestly, I don’t care if he’s still wearing pull-ups at age 10, and it wouldn’t matter to me if he kept wearing diapers for another year or more.
Did u post the letter ?
Hi Andi! It has been a while since I checked in on your blog. Three things:
1. Boys are disgusting… When my son’s efforts to gross me out by picking his nose failed, he took things to the next level by licking the bottom of his shoe. And he’s only six. I shudder to think of things to come.
2. First day in Tucson? What did you mean by that? Did you move there? (If you are just visiting, you picked a bad month to do it…) 🙂 Anyway, I was born and raised there so I’d be happy to tell you about awesome restaurants or things to do with kids, etc. Well, hope you are enjoying your summer.
3. If it makes you feel any better about the potty training, my daughter pooped in her panties every day for four months. Is that grosser than item #1? Potty training is the worst, no doubt about it. 🙂
Just a trip to Tucson! I was there for a conference at the University Park Marriott.
And I HATE potty training. That was the single worst experience of Sarah Kate’s childhood for me – surgery included – because it seemed like it would never end and it was SO disgusting. At least in her case she wouldn’t jump up, grab the potty, and run!
Hi Andi,
Thanks for sending out the prayer request (and linking me). Fun times at my house. Anyway, yes, boys are indeed disgusting. Actually kids in general can be at times 😛 Nathan is doing great on his little frog potty. Sending prayers your way for when summer preschool school is over. That little break in there is always tough–no regular schedule leads to crankiness!
You’re very welcome. Your potty adventure is eerily similar to ours right now. 🙂