the potty training monologues

December 2012-

Every 2 months Amazon.com delivers a box of these:

Every time it arrives I get hopeful that it will be the last time we need them and I can cancel the next delivery.  But I always end up so disappointed.

I've been sentimental about other aspects of my boys "growing up too fast" but this is certainly not one of them.  Once the diapers are gone I don't think I'll reminisce or get weepy that I no longer have a baby.  I'm ready to close that chapter of my life.  Yes I want them to stay little; I'd just prefer it if they could at least use the toilet!

Defiant is a fair word to describe Brazos.  And believe me, I've taken that into consideration as I have attempted potty training with him. The kid just won't do it.  Nothing has worked with him.  I've tried encouragement, punishment, praise and bribery.  None of it matters to him.  

I don't want to hear "just give him time; he's not ready" or "he'll be ready for it soon enough" or "just wait, you're pushing him to do this too soon" or any other variation of the concept that we need to wait for him to show an interest in it.  Here's the thing: he CAN do it, he just WON'T do it.  Yes, I've been consistent but I know my child better than anyone and I know he has ZERO interest in it- not now and maybe not ever.  Therefore I've tried to nudge, and sometimes push, him in that direction.  Afterall, if we waited for our children to "be ready" they'd never have given up a pacifier or bottle on their own.  If we allowed them to sleep in our bed with us until they were "ready" to sleep in their own bed then they'd be in there until they are teenagers.  Likewise, do you know any third graders that were "ready" to learn multiplication on their own?  Probably not very many.  

So here we are- me, the parent, who knows I'm going to have to lead the way on potty training and my precious defiant child who does not want to be led.  Maybe I should try reverse psychology on him- did that and it didn't work.  Get him new underwear with tractors on them- did that and he didn't mind one bit if he soiled them.  A potty party- he doesn't want to attend.  A new tractor toy, reward/sticker chart, candy, even Dr. Pepper.  The kid is willing to let it all dangle in front of him and doesn't make even the tiniest of attempts to earn any of it.  If I leave him naked without a diaper then he's pretty good at going to the potty to pee, but he absolutely will not tell us he needs to go if he has a diaper or underwear on.  As far as #2 is concerned it is not going to happen anytime in the foreseeable future.  There have been a few days when I knew we didn't need to leave the house so I gave him a double dose of Miralax, stripped him of his diaper and waited.  And waited.  And waited.  A few times he thought he needed to go but once he got to the potty he just refused to do it.  How can anyone just command their bowels not to move?  Somehow he has mastered it.  He waited until bedtime when he got a diaper and you guessed it, went almost right away once he had it on.  

He's not afraid of the toilet.  He just flat out refuses to use it.  I've tried to not make a big deal out of it and just catch him right when I notice he needs to go but that little stinker (no pun intended) waits until I'm doing something like washing dishes or hanging up clothes then he makes a fast dash to his room to the corner and takes care of business in a matter of seconds.  And he's pretty much a once a day pooper so then I have to wait another day for my next opportunity.  Needless to say I gave up on that method.  I even just quit trying it completely for a few weeks to give him (and me) a break.  When we started back at it he pulled the same stunts.

I'd like to just ship him off to Oma's or MiMi's house and let one of them handle it since he and I can't seem to work together on this.  But I'm afraid he'd be there until he's five years old.  He adores his dad but won't even do it for him.  So what's a mom to do?  Write on her blog about it and wish for the day he has a child of his own that is just like him.  

our christmas card and letter- 2012

December 2012- Our Christmas card list has grown to a nearly incomprehensible amount in the past decade.  At a quick glance we've kept the post office busy in 24 states plus Australia. The list is comprised of so many friends, family, colleagues, clients and others we associate with both near and far that have come into our lives at some point.  We think about you throughout the year and don't correspond nearly enough, but we enjoy sharing our Christmas card with you and hope you enjoy receiving it.  If you aren't on the list I probably don't have your address!  Even though my graphic design skills have improved quite a bit over the past few years, I probably spend way too much time working on the card to get it just the way I want it.  This is our third year for our attempt to entertain and update you in the form of a letter that so many of you claim to love. Just in case you missed it, here it is- our card and letter for 2012:

Front:

Back:

Worrell Wanderings

2012

By the looks of our Christmas card this year you can tell we’re not in Texas anymore.  But don’t worry; we haven’t left for good, just returned to Casey’s roots for a visit. Truth be told, Pecos & Brazos are the only Texans by birth in this family. If you were to guess which state Casey was born in, what would you pick- Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico?  How far down the list would Maine be? 

This summer the Kennebunkport Conservation Trust held a reunion for former lighthouse keepers and their families.  While the thought of flying with a 2-year old was less than appealing, the chance to visit the lighthouse where Casey spent the first six weeks of his life~ Goat Island~ was too good of an opportunity to pass up, especially since the Trust let us stay in the house.  It was a homecoming 40 years in the making that we will forever cherish filled with memories of beachcombing, lobsters, crashing waves lulling us to sleep, and jumping into the frigid Maine water.  The all night foghorns, daily boat rides to shuttle back and forth from shore (have you ever hauled groceries in a boat?), rapidly short showers (fresh water is in limited supply), and “ghostly” visits from long ago keepers made it an experience we will never forget.  Even after four days of what is commonly referred to as “island living” we wouldn’t change a thing and would serve as visiting lighthouse keepers for the duration of the summer in a heartbeat if the Trust should ever find themselves in need.

Aside from our coastal jaunt we’ve been busy with The River Boys. Pecos gave t-ball and flag football a try this year and had fun with both but until he can find boots with cleats it may prove to be a temporary thing.  Tune in next year to find out.  He is well on his way to catching up with Casey in height but if we’re going to keep that boy in jeans we’ll have to start our own clothing line, as everything is too big in the waist and too short in length- don’t you wish you had the same problem?  Luckily his high top boots usually cover up his high water pants.  Pecos started his first play day rodeos this fall; you guessed it, Casey was already looking for a replacement horse after the first night.  His new mount, Chief, is a better fit for his long legs and arrived just in time to make it to a few play days.  Our miniature pony, Widow Maker, can conserve her energy for Brazos.  Pecos still swings a rope any time he gets his hands on one but has traded Charolais Kitty for a more challenging moving target- his brother!

 

Brazos is quite the character and although he keeps us laughing with his comedic ways, he is as stubborn as the day is long.  Headstrong is an understatement.  Mr. Independent would rather sit in the gravel spinning the tires of his John Deere tractor until the battery runs dead than have someone give him a push.  Rarely does a day go by when he doesn’t call out “watch this” as he demonstrates his latest flip, jump or flying attempt.  He is certainly not tipping the scales and never will if he doesn’t slow down long enough to eat a full meal.  Even those trendy skinny jeans {that boys should never wear} don’t fit him.  His favorite things have diesel engines, big tires and a green and yellow paint job.  He can identify nearly every type of tractor and construction equipment so if he tells you about a bobcat he saw you can bet it wasn’t the 4-legged kind.  Brazos attends a mother’s day out program twice a week and spent the first three months of it as the only boy in his class.  The time spent with girls has been good for him but they are not interested in his tractor talk.

All the while Erin keeps up with them and continues in her role as an associate with Demeter Communications, plus a few other freelance projects that come her way.  Modern technology in the rural world makes it all possible but she’d really like Santa to bring an AT&T 4G tower to Harper.  She attempts to escape with her college girlfriends once a year regardless of the destination; this year they explored Portland, Oregon.  She managed to learn a bit more about photography this year; even though it is mostly trial and error with camera settings, many of the boys’ activities are viewed through the camera lens with her obsession to capture the memories of our family.  The good pictures plus a few not-so-good ones {and commentary} often make it onto www.theworrellfamily.blogspot.com.  Anyone want to volunteer as her mentor?

Casey continues to put Ford trucks to the test with over half a million miles and counting between two of them.  He has toll road passes for three states and uses all of them on a monthly basis- sometimes more, but if he makes any more trips to Kansas before the end of the year we may have to look into real estate in the Flint Hills.  Even though he’s upgraded to an iPhone to keep in touch with us while travelling he just recently figured out what LOL means.  His work ultrasounding cattle affords us a life out here in the country; the trade off is lots of nights away from home but at least it is with customers and friends who have become more like family with every passing year. We truly appreciate each and every one of you.

We continue to be blessed beyond measure, that is certain.  As we close out the year to gather and celebrate the birth of our Lord, we pray you have a joyous holiday with the ones you love, and may the new year be filled with wonder, peace and meaning.  If you are ever out our way please plan to stop by and visit. 

Blessings and Beef,

The Worrell Family

Casey ~ Erin and The River Boys