We decided to take off today for a quick over-night trip to the beach. Just for fun I told Ava to go pack her suitcase. This is what she came back with.
A suitcase full of diapers. Not clothes, not toys, just diapers.
Apparently she is not planning on giving these things up anytime soon.
I began potty training Ava right around the time she turned one. I broke out the potty and began encouraging away. She faked interest in the beginning but soon it became apparent that the child was a little hopeless, to say the least. Throughout the year that followed I realized that this strong willed child would need a little more time, as well as mom backing the heck off. Before she turned two I came across a blog a mom was writing who made a bold statement of parents simply being lazy if they aren't potty training their kids very quickly. I was so mad about when I read that but also felt like maybe she was right all at the same time. It motivated me to simply take away Ava's diapers and sort of force her into being ready. I spent the entire day encouraging her as she had accident after accident. She managed to pee in her potty about 4 times and everywhere else about 347 times. I was so stressed out, so was she. At one point she peed on the floor and looked up at me...
Yesterday Ava was throwing a fit and I had her come sit on the stairs with me to have a talk. I said "Ava, you know fits don't work." She puts her hand on my shoulder, looks me in the eyes, tilts her head to the side and says "Actually sweetie, they do."
And they say money can't buy happiness, clearly "they" have never been to Build-A-Bear. It all started with many promises to Ava that if she was a cooperative participant in the shoe buying process we would in turn take her to "play with her friends" which meant that she would be able to go to the kid-crazy play place at the mall. She was dying to go there so every time she started to become a bit naughty or annoying I could wrangle her back in with the threat of canceling her plans "you do want to play with your friends, right???" Then try on these shoes!!! My manipulation was working wonders. With a darling new pair of shoes on her feet (thanks Grandma!) we ran off to fulfill our part of the bargain. When we approached the play area the security guard was coaxing all the children out and dragging the sign out in front that says "CLOSED FOR CLEANING". Perfect. Ava was absolutely devastated. So was I. I hate promising her things and not...
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