(and Self-directed Potty Training?)

Don’t let the title alarm you or fool you into thinking I dislike attachment parenting. Sometime I wish is was easier like when I am in the middle of researching a topic for a blog post and my 2 yr. old stirs briefly from his nap. I wait a few seconds, since I am the only one home, to see if he needs comforted or nursed back to sleep. He seems a little fitful so I choose to lie next to him and nurse him back to sleep. He sleeps in our bed and that is where he naps. Once he is comfortable and “out” I sneak back to the livingroom where the laptop is sitting waiting for me.

I was torn as to how long I could cuddle my 2 yr. old while this blog post was be built into my head. I did not want any part of it to be forgotten before I could write it. I am not about to “abandon” my child for the sake of blogging hence the title Attachment Parenting Can be Tough. Some days I have to put a lot of things ahead of what I want to do. Some would just call that parenthood or motherhood. I think you have to make the conscious effort to care for your children before your needs in order to be successful. Sometimes this can lead to frustration and exhaustion, but in the long run you will have sweet voices and smiling faces that give you lots of hugs and kisses.

The last few months have been difficult as far as parenting goes. I have school age children who want to stay up late and sleep in even though it is summer! These same school age children still sneak into mom and dad’s bed at night. Although we have a king sized bed, it is not enough room for 5 people. This makes mom and dad cranky when we are kneed or elbowed in the back or groin! I have had nights of lots of nursing which I think must be some more molars coming in? (this makes for a cranky/drained mom who wakes up hungry.) I still think it’s a little crazy that my almost 27 month old still nurses, but HE IS THE BABY, and he does eat “real” food! I am just not ready to MAKE HIM QUIT nursing. Should’ve taken the booby away before the paci but hindsight is 20-20.

And this BABY has decided to work on potty training himself after picking out “Elmo’s Potty Time” video at the library. He watched that thing at least 2 times a day for the 2 weeks we had it. We all laughed when he went around the house saying, “wee, wee, woo, woo” or “pee, pee, poo, poo”. We sing songs and read books and just try to laugh or make a big deal about him sitting on the potty. No M&M’s, no bribery, just plain old-fashioned verbal praise has done wonders. Is he close to being totally potty trained? No way, but he does alert us at least once a day when he needs to sit on the potty. He does both on the potty and that my friend is a great accomplishment for an almost 27 month old boy!

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