The BIG P - Potty

We've been going back and forth with potty training Cayden. He shows some signs of being ready - and everyone keeps telling me how nice it would be if he was potty trained before the baby came (well, duh.) But, I go back and forth just because... Well, it seems a little overwhelming. And messy. And I've heard stories of kids who regress when a big life change happens - like a new sibling comes into the picture - so it would suck if I did get him trained and then he stopped when baby came.

But, there are some plus sides too. For one, his friend Tyler is potty trained. Tyler is 3 months older than Cayden, and I know all children develope differently, so I'm not saying because Ty is trained that Cayden should be too. BUT, Cayden has picked up some different behaviors from hanging out with Tyler (some of them, I'll admit, are not so good, like shouting MINE when you try to take something away from him, but I have noticed that since we've been seeing Tyler, Cayden's also been talking more and seems to be using a spoon easier - all I attribute to watching Tyler.) So maybe - and I realize this is a maybe - seeing Tyler potty AND be excited about it will make him want too.

I also think I have a pretty realistic expectations of pottying - We will still be using diapers at naptime and bedtime. I fully expect accidents. And I really am prepared to quit if it's been a few weeks of consistancy and nothing's really come of it.

So while we've been sort of trying, today is day one of REALLY trying. Cayden will spend the whole day naked from the waist down (well, until nap time, and when I take him outside I will put pants - no diaper on him. He just doesn't seem to be uncomfortable in wet diapers - but I know he doesn't like wet clothes - so I'm actually hoping that peeing in his pants will kind of show him WHY he needs to tell Mommy he has to potty.

So far today we've had one accident - but he's used the potty a couple times (though not peeing much) However, once he did ASK to go, so... Bonus?

I'm more worried about poop though - he's NEVER pooped in the potty. So we'll see how that goes.

Basically, I'm giving it a week - I don't even expect him to be fully potty trained by the weeks end, but if he doesn't show ANY improvement we'll shelf it for a little while.

Any other Mom's have potty training tips?

And an update on my neighbor drama:

The shit has hit the fan. CPS came out, and the neighbors seem to know it was one of us who called (Which, I figured would happen. I mean we are outside all the time - we're the most likely suspects) I was feeling a little guilty about calling - I know how I would feel if CPS showed up at my house - but now I'm just pissed off.

I know CPS was there because, well, yesterday we saw them (turns out my neighbor's friend is a caseworker assigned to them.) But we knew before that because the father came out the night they came and told us.

The whole conversation is what made me mad. He came out and said someone had called the county on his family, and how he thought it was bullshit and nobody's business. But then he went on to say that he knew he left the one year old outside with us because we were like family and he trusted us.

A.) If you're leaving your child in my care then the welfare of your child becomes my business. Not to mention, you've never once asked me to watch your child.

B.) How are we like family? I don't even know this guys first name!

He also said even when the one year old was out by himself, the Mom watched from the window.

A.) Again, not true, because when he took off for that busy road? NO ONE went after him. If she was watching, why didn't she come out?

B.) Even if she WAS watching - if I was in the back yard with the kid and couldn't catch him in time, how are you going to get outside in time to do it?

Well then my neighbor mentioned that she had seen the one year old in the street and how she did worry about his safety sometimes - and how sometimes it was hard to watch our own kids AND their kid - especially since the kid was a runner.

The father LAUGHED! And then said that the one year old likes being in the street, especially since his older brother is in the street all the time, and how if he saw our kids out, he would watch them.

A.) Yeah, my son likes to do a lot of things that are dangerous for him. As a parent, it's my job to stop him. I mean I don't think the 7 year old should be in the street either, but at least he knows to stay out of the busy street and he knows to get out of the way of cars.

B.) He would never see my kid outside by himself. Because my son is TWO and not old enough to be left alone. Not to mention, I would NEVER let him watch my kid because I don't know him, nor do I seem to agree with his parenting styles. And lastly, even if I were to let him watch him? They're never around! So how could he?

The father then went on to say because of their disabled older daughter they couldn't leave her alone for a second - which if that's true it's not a rule they follow, because they have left her alone before. And I mean, I know having a handicapped child must be a lot of work - and I can't even begin to imagine. But I do know I would not have a second child if my first child was all I could handle - whether they were handicapped or normal. So you going on to have two additional children tells me that you could handle it. Not to mention, the mother stays home all day, and the father says he's home till noon every day... Sooooo why when two of you are home can't one of you take your son outside? And there's a nurse that comes daily - so again - why can't someone go outside? And the little girl has been outside before, she seems to like it, so bring her out with your son.

All in all, everything he said just sounded like an excuse and like they were trying to make us feel bad about not wanting to watch their son. I'm not a free child care service though - I'm 6 months pregnant and having a hard enough time chasing after my own. And don't get me wrong - I am all about the whole "it takes a village to raise a child" and Lord knows my Mom friends have helped me out in a pinch - but it's a give and take and I've returned the favor.

I still feel bad for the little boy. They no longer let him out of the house - which was not my intent when I called. But the whole thing has made me go from feeling bad about calling to just... I dunno. I thought it was a cultural thing - but it just seemed clear from the way the dad was talking that he knew it wasn't right to just leave his child out there, and he was making excuses.

The Mom is also irking me. She wouldn't even open her door all the way when she was yelling for her older son. Then last night she came out while we were out back JUST to take in the one lone toy they left out - and it was clear she did it because she didn't want our kids to play on it - and that makes me mad too. I mean I've shared ALL my toys were her kids, and would continue to do so, but she wants to punish my two year old for something I did - and that she isn't even for sure that I did.

Whatever.