Dog days of summer

A different kind of toilet training

I have two separate toilet training occasions to blog about today. The first one is about this:










The second one is about Pull-Ups.

First:

We found some nice fresh dog poop on our front yard today. This is not the first time nor will it likely be the last.

We have a dog. We pick up after our dog.

What do I have to do to get ignorant people to pick up after their pets on private properties, on walkways in public parks, on sidewalks for god's sake? Supply the bags???

Ok. Next.


Second: (warning, there is some serious mother-pride ahead)

My 22-month old toddler made pipi in the toilet today. At his school! (daycare)

We've been doing semi-regular toilet training for some time now. He has a seat for the big toilet and he has a potty.

He pees in the toilet often enough that it felt appropriate to mention to his teacher at his school. His class is comprised of one-and-a-half to three-year old toddlers (Montessori) and during washroom routine, there is opportunity to expose the younger children to the older children's "methods".

Today he must have felt included enough to try it out himself, and he succeeded!

So we stopped at Shoppers Drug Mart on the way home and got some astronomically priced pull-up diaper-undies to try out. The teacher suggested we try this and see what happens.

I'm not convinced this will be a regular routine for him, or that he will continue to pee in the toilet at school. I have blogged enough about his toilet training adventures in this blog to know that we may take a step forward but inevitably take two or more back.

He may regress. He may refuse to try. Or, he may proceed and improve for all I know.

But I am proud today. And encouraged.

PS note to self: I am happy that it was me who showed him the ins and outs of pipi in the toilet. For him to feel secure enough with his bodily functions to try it out at school reinforces my self-esteem about this mothering thing.

Child labour

I have assigned my toddler household chores. This is entirely his own fault.

There we were one morning sitting with our cups of coffee and the dog wants to go out (and in and out and in, it never ends). Neither one of us was fully awake and neither one of us could be bribed to get off our butts and walk 7 steps to let Rusty outside.

P.N.D. (Poor Neglected Dog).

Disclaimer: if anyone is reading this post out in blogland, we do NOT neglect our animal in any way, shape or form. He gets daily walks, food twice a day, has several dog beds in the house, toys, you name it. The PND remark is simply a sarcastic comment.

Anyway, since Benjamin was running around wide awake with no intentions of slowing down, we asked him to let the dog out.

And he did!

So we've been telling people that our child has become our servant. He loves doing stuff for us, and we love it when he does!

Benjamin, can you let the dog out?
Benjamin, Rusty is scratching at the door, can you let the dog in?
Benjamin, that belongs in the garbage/compost bin/diaper pail. Will you put it in there?
Benjamin, do you need your nose wiped? Go get a kleenex and I'll help you.

Ha!

His newest responsibility is to feed Rusty. This is quite the procedure. He has to:

1. open the pantry door
2. remove the stuff sitting on top of the Rubbermaid Bin where the dog food is located
3. pull the bin out
4. take the lid off (with help he can do it)
5. take the cup
6. fill it to almost full (that's quite the task in itself!)
7. carry it without spilling the contents (he's not looking at the cup when he's walking, he's looking ahead. And, he's walking very, very cautiously!)
8. pour the dog food in the dog bowl without spilling
9. return the cup into the bin
10. put the lid on
11. push it back
12. and close the door

That's a lot of steps for a 21-month old!

Of course we have to supervise but what the heck, start 'em young!