Who's In Control: You or Your Baby

How is it that every baby comes into this world with the notion that if they cry, you will move. I watched a small baby today cry and every time the parent picked the child up, the child would stop crying. Then as soon as she laid the baby back in the carrier, it would began to cry again. So, I watched a yoyo match between a baby and a mother. The baby was learning that all it had to do was cry and the mother would do exactly what it wanted; and the mother, I guess was learning that the baby had more control than she.

I wanted to say, "If you let him or her lay there, they will soon understand that yelling does not make you comply to their demands! Instead I watched wishing I had the desire to record what I was watching. So often I run into adults who scream when things don't go their way, and this reminds me of that baby. Maybe their parents gave them the complete notion that if you scream, you'll get your way and it's carried into adulthood.

Well when my kids were babies, only my middle child would have the scream fits. I really didn't know how to handle her because she was truly driving me nuts. Then we were on our way back to Japan and I had to stay at my cousin's in Houston. My cousin came in one night and she was having a hissy fit. She politely took her and carried her to the room and said, if you let me handle her you will never go through this again. She put the child on the bed and said, in this house you will not cry to get your way. You will ask for what you want and when your mother says no, you will sit down and say yes ma'am. She was only two years old but I promise she must have understood everything that was said to her.

Nevertheless, although she didn't do it as a child she waited until she became a teenager. I would see the same two year old who was driving me nuts. Then one day I determined that God put me back in the same position so I could do it this time and trust me I did. She threw a fit and I let her finish and still said no. When she saw that it was no longer about her, she matured. At that point I regained my control because as long as you need me to supply your needs, I'm in control.

So remember, if you don't take control now you will definitely have to do it later.

Potty Pusher

I hear so many people talk about how hard it is to train their little people to use the toilet or potty and I just laugh. In Psychology I learned alot about rewards and punishment and I found out first hand when
Raiyawna was a child that "POTTYREWARDS" was the way to go!

I put a glass jar filled with M&Ms on the bathroom counter, and everytime she did number 1, she got one handfull of M&Ms; the number 2 got her two handfulls. I know when you think of handfulls, you cringe but imagine a two year old whose little hand can barely hold six. My baby would try to gather as many M&Ms as she could and trust me, she went to the potty as many times as she could mustar up even a little tinkle.

Since it worked so good with Raiyawna, we did the same for Dobrielle! Now, I can imagine with children being so hyper that M&Ms might not be so great, but I surely would use some type of colorful goodies that would draw their attention!

Both my girls were fully trained by the age of two and I accredited this totally to my brilliant "POTTYREWARDS" idea! Positive reinforcements are always a plus with children, pets, or husbands:)!
Try it moms with your choice of healthy treats and let me know how it works!!!

Intro

The strangest thing happened to me about a six months ago; I started receiving parenting magazines. Now mind you, my baby just turned eighteen in May and my eldest in twenty two years old. So I said, "Why on earth did someone send this magazine of all magazines to me?"

In the course of reading it, I discovered that I am a mother with plenty advice that I could give the adverage mother. Not because I have a Psychology degree but because I have a MOM degree and a pretty good track record. I've been a parent since I was seventeen years old and although some people turn their nose up at teenage mothers, God used this child to change my life and I'm proud to say, at seventeen- I learned how to care for someone more than I cared for myself.

My eldest is a Pre-Med major at McNeese State University, my middle daughter is a Communications major at the University of Louisiana Lafayette, and my son will be attending Kilgore college in the summer, and the University of Houston in the Spring. I am so honored to say this teenage mother has made it!

What do I mean? I have gotten three children successfully through high school, in college, and most importantly in a relationship with GOD!

So, instead of being selfish and keeping all the information to myself as to how I made it through...I decided to start this blog so I can share my way with you! Hope you enjoy! Be Blessed!