The Homeless

*warning: very long*

Timing is everything and maybe this is a sign.

On Saturday we went to have a late lunch/dinner at a fast food place and not far from us was a homeless man just sitting, minding his own business.  He wasn't bothering anyone and I didn't smell anything when I walked passed him (I have a very sensitive nose) so I didn't find him bothersome.  It was a really hot day and he was probably just trying to stay cool.  He asked a couple of people, maybe 3, if they had spare change after they took time to give him a look longer than the normal split second.  One lady offered to buy him a burger, which he accepted.  A young man, probably older teen, was selling chocolate for some religious something or other.  I don't know what possessed him to go ask the obviously homeless man if he would buy a chocolate bar for his cause.  The man replied with, "If I had any money on me I'd buy the whole box."  They talked a little and the young man with the chocolates gave him a postcard with information to some sort of shelter or group home or something sponsored by his charity and a chocolate bar.

Potty Training - Week 8

Days 50-56

8/16-8/22

Another late one.  I hate not having the energy of time to do these on Monday night or sometime Tuesday.

Anyway, potty training is going great, I think.  The week was typical with a few accidents, all at my place of course.

On Friday my sister was unable to take care of him so my mom came and took care of him.  I told her that he is now using the regular toilet exclusively and that he will not tell you when he needs to go so he needs to be asked about two hours after drinking.  I told her that she needs to watch for signs that he needs to go because he will always answer no and if four hours have passed go sit him anyway and he will likely pee.  I left worried about what I would find when I returned in regards to potty training.  Nicholas doesn't do well with change and my mom has not watched him for an extended period of time without me near by since he was about a year and a half.

Well, like always, I was surprised!

My mother said that she never had to ask him if he wanted to go pee.  He came up to her and told her every single time.  Not only that but he pooped!

When my mom left we went to Walmart to pick up the potty adapter we got.  It was very easy to build and put on the toilet.  I will give it a review once we have used it for a week.  So far, however, we both like it.  I like that I do not have to be holding him which is much easier on my knees and back.  He sits comfortably and looks more relaxed like when he was on the little potty.  I think he likes that he can climb it too.

Potty Training - Day 6

Bad day for cleaning, good day for learning.

My mother came over again.  No visitors or kids but she stayed much longer.  She made breakfast and finished doing my dishes and cleaned my stove.  Plus she left food.

I can't pee with an audience and I believe it is a private thing.  I knew it was time for him to be put on the potty but I didn't want to force it.  I don't want him thinking he can pee in front of anyone and I don't think he'd be comfortable.  I was also distracted by my mother wanting to see pictures and whatnot.  So he had an accident.  I was able to rush him over to the splat mat so only half got on the carpet.  This has happened before and like before I told him to simply stand and wait for me.  My mom, wanting to help I'm sure, started asking him why.  I told her to shut up.  Yup, not nicely at all.  She also tried to get him, probably to clean him and change him, but I told her to leave him alone, and again not so nicely.

Potty Training - Day 2

Today I got up and gave him his cup of milk as usual after I took off his diaper and put him in his underwear.  There was some protest but it wasn't a full blown battle like yesterday so that's an improvement.  I sat down at my desk and looked at the post-it with the potty trips.  I grabbed another post-it and wrote down the time, today I was also going to keep track of when he had a drink.  This could give me something else to help me anticipate.  I also wrote down the how long it had been between each pee.  Though the times were clearly written down in front of me it made it easer to have the length instead of having to do the math in my head every time.  I am horrible with math and even worse with time math.

Grandma Is 'Special'

My mother is always complaining that Nicholas doesn't like her.  Nicholas likes very few people and if you ever don't do things his way he stops liking you.  Yes, this includes me.  He doesn't like me a lot of the time.  My mother tries playing with him the way she thinks he should be able to play.  I tell her that he isn't one of her perfect and super intelligent children (we must have been since she is always saying that me and my sisters could do more than him at his age) and cannot comprehend much less play the way she wants.  So he gets frustrated and upset and doesn't really want much to do with her.