PottyTrainingOhMyGawd.

Having a stepson, this is my second go round with the potty training experience.  Like we learned the last time, it's really best not to push too hard and they'll get it when they're ready.  Inevitably, when you push, the tiny humans push back and it all just ends up one big peeing-in-your-pants mess.

Now, that being said, we're not really pushing... just encouraging.  Heavily.  There are weeks when he uses the potty all day, every day (almost).  He will ask to go to the potty or even just go when he feels the need.  He wears underwear and successfully keeps them dry all.day.long.  He hasn't pooped in his pants for weeks on end.  Until this week. This week, he reverted.  This week, he peed in every single pair of underwear.  This week, he peed on the floor.  This week, he peed on our bed.  This week, he pooped in his pants.  I am so totally disgusted.  I thought we were *there*. I thought that by the end of the year, I would only be buying pull-ups for overnights.  We've used the "big boy" ploy, the sticker chart, the rewards (which is why currently watch How To Train Your Dragon just about everyday). He keeps asking to go to school with me, that he wants to be in school.  My response is that he can be in school when he doesn't need to wear pull-ups during the day and can use the potty by himself. Le sigh.

To be fair, he was sick early on this week.  He spent most of Sunday night puking on either me, his dad or the bed in between us and had such little energy on Monday that I didn't push the issue. I can't say that's why this week has been rough, but whatever the reason is, it sucks.  I swear, if another parent tells me how easy it was for their son or daughter to potty train, how they did it by themselves/before they were 2/never had an accident or offers me some suggestion like making them clean up their own poop mess (which my child just finds funny because he's such a boy), I am going to kick them in the shins.

I Am...

After a weekend with my girlfriends, I'm doing a little self reflection.  One of the writing prompts I do on a regular basis is the "I am.."  so, here goes.  I am...
E's mom
H's stepmom (and a damn good one.  I hate that stepmoms get such a negative rep).
J's wife, his best friend.
a friend (and a damn good one)
a sister, a daughter, an aunt, a daughter-in-law
a teacher (and a damn good one... !)
someone who makes an effort to think before she speaks
someone who is sensitive to how others might feel
a parent who has not made decisions concerning my children's health and well-being lightly
someone who doesn't implicitly trust the medical community, politicians, the government, the military or public schools
more patient with my children
sometimes less patient with adults
not very good at saving money
not a dieter but am trying to drop some pounds
a baker
obsessed with grocery stores, cupcakes and books
a reader
a writer (sort of at least)
in crush with Paul Rudd
a hopeful world-traveler
an old soul
in love wtih my son.
a photographer, a memory-recorder
a Wife Swap watcher
a mentor
a guardian
intimidated by people with the inability to walk in someone else's shoes
in awe of To Kill a Mockingbird
stronger now that I was just five years ago
much happier to be starting my 30s (and feeling secure and mostly confident) and leaving the insecurity of my 20s behind.