Potty Training - To Train or not to Train?Written by Rexanne Mancini
I have always found notion of toilet training a toddler to be a bit much. I didn't feel right about pushing my girls to do something I felt would eventually come naturally. At three years old, both my girls were potty trained ... not because I read books and raced them to porcelain each time I suspected they should go. They knew what potty was for. They knew when they had to go. They'd figure it out on their own! Well, by golly, they did! Sure, we went a little stupid each time they were successful users of throne and they got rewards and accolades just like kids who were put through a regimen of potty training tactics fit for Patton's soldiers. But we never made it a big issue in our house and, consequently, it never became an issue. I've known parents who felt they had to potty train their babies at two or even younger to enroll them in preschool. We, instead, found a great preschool that accepted kids in diapers. Their philosophy was that children who were still in diapers would naturally learn to go on potty by watching other kids go. I suppose it worked. I never really gave it much thought. Potty eureka just sort of happened around here on its own.
| | The Importance of MothersWritten by Rexanne Mancini
Moms, did you ever question your value as a role model, caretaker, administer of hugs and Band-Aids? I think we all have in today's climate of "do more, get more, have more." Many of us work to bring home a paycheck and others work for our sanity. Have you ever wondered if your children were better off with babysitter than you? Scientific studies are beginning to point to overwhelming value of a mother's love, hugs and support. Nannies, babysitters and relatives are terrific. They just aren't as terrific as Mom. I have had best of both worlds, I suspect. I worked a high-powered executive job until my older daughter was two and a half. At a crossroads in my career, I opted to "get pregnant and stay home for a year." Little did I realize I was about to take a ten-year hiatus from my much-loved life. I didn't get pregnant right away, but, after having spent a year basking in glow of being Mom, I couldn't bear giving up care and nurturing of my daughter to another nanny, no matter how wonderful. I think it was best career move of my life. Ten years later, I am back in work force and thriving. Yes, I felt bored much of time. Yes, our family sacrificed bigger house, fancier cars and vacations some of our peers were enjoying. But it was a conscious decision to sacrifice for benefit of our children. We wanted our morals, our ethics and our life lessons to influence them.
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