Potty Training 101

So, I have heard many different viewpoints on potty training. I would break down the whole process for you BUT there is no one way to do it due to the fact that every child is and will be different. I decided to instead give you some little brief side notes to help you when considering to and when potty training your children....

-If they are fighting you about it, do not force them! Now, this does not mean do not encourage them and try to help them get excited-especially when they are 4 and 5. At this point it may be more of a discipline issue.

-Do not go from diapers to underwear!!!!! This one gets me every time. Pull-ups are a stepping stone so they (1)they do not get used to going potty in their underwear (like diapers) (2) And at this point they are stil learning control. Going in their underwear may cause them to feel guilty and ashamed of themselves
IT IS NOT ALL ABOUT YOU! IT IS ABOUT THEM! GET OVER- "I'M TIRED OF BUYING DIAPERS" & WELCOME TO PARENTHOOD :) - I mean that in love

-Consistency is key, especially if they are in child care. Make sure to try to be as consistent as possible at home and try sticking to using the same methods that the center is using.

-Learning to have a BM on the potty almost always comes last. Do not stress it if this takes a little time.

-No, you do not need to give them physical rewards every time they go potty BUT encourage them. Give them words of affirmation. Come up with a song and dance. Make them proud of themselves and let them know that you are proud.

-Allow them to be independent in this. Let them pull down their own pull-up, pull their pants down, wash their hands, etc. Get them excited about doing things for themselves. This is a big kid step for both you and them. Can't expect them to want to be independent if you are always taking this away from them. Allow them to be confident in their abilties. Then, they will be confident in doing other things.

-Help them out by getting them the pull-ups that they can take off themselves (velcro sides) and pants that they can take off themselves. No onesies please (this for them becomes a hassle and they'll have trouble wanting to go). This goes for when they are in childcare as well-keep the consistency.

-Talk about using the potty when they wake up in the morning before dropping them off at school. Get them excited!

-Let them watch you go potty and ask "do you want to try going potty like mommy and daddy?" Helps when you let the parent of the same sex as the child show them. What child doesn't want to be like mommy and daddy.

-If they are still going pee pee on themselves while you are changing their diapers-they have not yet learned that bladder control. You can still take them to try potty but they are not ready. BUT If you notice your toddler, 2 year old, etc. not going pee pee as often in their diapers this can be great or not so great (either means they have a UTI, etc. OR means that they have learned to hold it and can be totally ready to use the potty!).

-Suggestion-putting a pull-up on at night or during naps is not a bad thing as long as you are checking to see if they are waking up dry. I'd give it about 2 weeks of a dry pull-up consistently and then try allowin them to sleep in their underwear. Help them out though-don't give them tons of liquids before they go off to sleep (you are asking for it fi you do)

-Rule of thumb! I know that everyone loves to look on google and look at research to see what it says and some parents even go to great lengths to do everything that "the research" says- EVERY CHILD IS DIFFERENT! Research can really get you into some trouble and cause unneccesary stress for yourself and your child.

Hope these tips help you in some form or fashion. But remember, every person eventually becomes potty trained so please do not place your stress on them. Stress in potty training on a child is the best way to bring down their self-esteem and leave them feeling ashamed and guilty. We are raising champions, not animals.

Here are some verses to help you along the way..Happy Training!!!!

Galatians 5:22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

Proverbs 22:6

Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

Take Possession:RunNTeach

Recently my church home has had a revival going on called codeorangerevival. You can check this out at elevationnetwork.com. There have been amazing speakers from Ed Young to Christine Caine to Jentezen Frankin, and the list goes on. I heard a familiar theme from 2 speakers which keeps ringing in my ear-Take Possession because God wants to do something big and this will not only impact you but it will impact your children and their children even more.

So today, I encourage you to take possession of the land that God has set before you because if you do not, someone else will.  What does RunNTeach have to do with this???????? Great Question..

LET'S RUN THE RACE TO SET OUR CHILDREN UP FOR SUCCESS. LET'S BE OBEDIENT AND DO THE TOUGH STUFF SO THAT WHEN OUR CHILDREN ARE READY TO WALK IN ALL THAT GOD HAS FOR THEM, WE ARE NOT THEIR HINDURANCE BUT WE ARE THEIR STEPPING STONE, THEIR LAUNCH PATH...THE PARADIGM SHIFT SO THAT THEY DO NOT LOOK BACK AND SAY "MY PARENT'S DIDN'T DO IT, SO I HAD TO BE THE ONE TO SACRIFICE AND MAKE THE TOUGH DECISIONS."

Take it from someone who had to be the paradigm shift in her family-it has been a diffifult road overcoming what my parents never overcame. But now I am taking possession of the promise land that God has for me and my family so that my Champions for Christ will look back and say "Thank you Father, that my mother/my father kept their eyes on you and overcame in your strength and power and might!"

Deuteronomy 34:1-9

The Death of Moses

¹ Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, ² all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, ³ the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. ⁴ Then the LORD said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.”

⁵ And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said. ⁶ He buried him^[a] in Moab, in the valley opposite Beth Peor, but to this day no one knows where his grave is. ⁷ Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak nor his strength gone. ⁸ The Israelites grieved for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.

⁹ Now Joshua son of Nun was filled with the spirit^[b] of wisdom because Moses had laid his hands on him. So the Israelites listened to him and did what the LORD had commanded Moses.

They'll Grow Out of It!

You know, I here this comment an awful lot from the parents in the child care field- "Oh they's grow out of it one day." They tend to come up with this idea to not sweat the, what they consider, small things such as the use of bad words, hitting, tantrums, rolling of the eyes, etc. Now, do not get me wrong, some things we learn as we grow but every situation in your child's life is an opportunity to learn.

Those tantrums that they throw should not be okay. They are having trouble expressing their emotions. Is this how we want to teach them to express themselves? Or can we use this as an opportunity to teach them how to take deep breathes, relax, use their words, talk to them?

I know, you are tired, do not have the time nor energy BUT how about we raise children who cope effectively in healthy ways because believe me..A two year old can learn how to calm themselves down but taking deep breaths, etc. I teach it in my classroom often.

Let's take time to teach our children and not leave it up to other adults who God only knows, how they handle or express their feelings. Let's take the time to invest in the healthy adults that we want them to be instead of coming up with every excuse why we shouldn't.

Let's Raise Up Champions!

In his Grace!