Okay, so I know I have talked about potty training before, but there is more that you need to know.  

Let's start with timing.  There is none. Plain and simple, there is none.  Your little one can go for hours with no accident and suddenly you find them in a panic as they are urinating on your floor (hopefully not the carpet!)  There is also the occasion when they are playing nicely and suddenly (and I do mean suddenly) they are screaming "I have to pee" and dancing and running to the bathroom.  Sometimes they make it and sometimes they don't.  Finally, there is the "dance" where they are physically trying to hold the urine in with their hands.

Boys have unique potty training experiences.  They find it fun to "pee" in the yard during the summer.  Although my boys never did it, I have been told by some parents that in order to get their boys to use the toilet, they float cheerios in the toilet and have the boys shoot at them with their "guns", so to speak.  My boys were far enough in age that this would not have worked with them.  I personally cannot imagine my ten year old competing at cheerio shooting with his two year old brother.

Girls have a unique experience also.  It is at this age that they learn to go to the bathroom in clusters.  In case you haven't noticed with teenagers, they never go to the bathroom alone!  This carries on into their twenties and even when they marry and become mothers themselves.  Have you ever seen a mom go to the bathroom alone?!  I personally always had a gaggle of geese following me there.

One thing I can tell you about, whether boys or girls is that your toilet will become frequently plugged and could overflow!  Why small people need to use a full roll of toilet paper to wipe is beyond my imagination.  After multiple times of using a plunger you do start thinking of the craziest things to say, like "do not take more than six squares of toilet paper!"  or "NEVER wipe yourself!  I will do it for you!"  I am absolutely positive that our consumption of toilet paper has doubled since the grandkids are around.  Now, I am wondering if it was moms who caused the toilet paper shortages early in the CoVid crisis.  As a mom, being without that precious commodity is definitely a problem!

So many lessons to learn in the course of raising these precious gifts from God!  Even when you have that confused look on your face because you just cannot figure out the thought process they used!   Have a great week.  Count your blessings!  Believe me, there are plenty to count!

So sorry that I did not post last week.  I really try not to miss my Mom-Sense Mondays!  We had a huge church fundraiser and I did not feel well, so took a break!  But it did make me think about illness and the difference between men and women/moms and dads.  I don't care what the Woke community says, there is a difference!

Anyway, every woman in the world knows what it is like when your spouse or signifcant other is not feeling well.  Admit it, you have used the term "Man Cold".  It is a real thing and you know it!  When a man gets a cold, it puts him down immediately.  There is some moaning and complaining and definitely an immediate dismissal to bed.  Now, I am not saying that him going to his room is necessarily a bad thing.  Who wants to listen to that whining? 

I can remember my dad visiting one time.  He came to help with the kids so I could take a few days to vacation with my husband.  According to the kids, he sat and gave them orders to take care of each other, but that is another story.  When I got home after four days, my kids actually dropped to their knees and sobbed at my return!  A rare moment when you feel wanted by your kids!  My dad was sitting at the kitchen table with his head in his hands moaning (literally) because he had a cold in his sinuses.  He demanded an early flight home and I was more than happy to comply.

Usually when Doc gets sick, he is a little grouchy, very distant and heads straight to bed.  No complaining.  Doesn't want to eat or talk.  Just wants to sleep!  My kind of guy!  He spares me joint custody of his misery.

Now, I want all of you women to try to think about a time when you have been sick.  I can just about bet that 99% of you did not get to go to bed.  In fact, I am positive you still cleaned the house, did laundry, took care of the kids and pets and if you had to you also went to the office/work.  It generally doesn't matter how bad you feel, someone wants a meal.  That someone is your husband and kids.  Can you remember the last time you went straight to bed and your husband did all of that for you?  
In all fairness, as the kids have gotten older, they have jumped in and fixed me soup, checked on me, etc.  So I guess there is payback for all the times I sucked it up and did what had to be done.

I do have one incident that specifically sticks in my mind though.  We were hosting a surprise party for my in-laws 45th Anniversary.  My husband's siblings and spouses were all in town, but most of the party prep fell on me.  Please keep in mind that I was seven months pregnant, had a one and a half year old and a three and a half year old.  I also had the flu.  I spent an entire day on the couch unable to move or keep food down.  I actually directed "Mommy" (from the couch) in changing "Calvin's" diaper.  Fortunately, most of the party prep was already done.  However, that evening Doc's elderly aunt was flying in for the party.  I asked someone, no - anyone in the family to PLEASE go to the airport.  "No can do.  We are all going out to dinner!"  Doc had gone through a long day at work and wasn't up for a trip to the airport and showed his irritation at the situation.  WHAT!!??!!  It wasn't even MY parents party!  So I dragged my behind into the car along with two small children and drove to the airport.  I put on a brave face as I crawled through the airport wishing the world would end for everyone!  Thank God Doc's aunt required a wheelchair.  I at least had something to hang on to as I headed back to the car.  The party was the next day and as guests arrived I sat in my room crying because I wasn't dressed yet and my dress was a wrinkled mess.  But don't worry, the kids were perfectly dressed!  My in-laws were reveling in the party they put on for their parents.  Finally another aunt of Doc's came up to find me and mopped me off the floor!  

I did get smart and felt better by the end of the party.  As the in-laws were leaving the mess behind for me, I asked them what time they were coming back to clean up.  They were stunned, but I did not clean!  

I guess the message on this is that a mother will go to great lengths for her children/family and almost always puts her own needs to the back of her mind.  It is just what moms do.  Christ's Mother set a beautiful example for all of us to follow.  I do thank God for my role as a woman and mother and for all His blessings!  It helps me to get through tough times and smile at the memories!  May God bless all of you.  Happy week!

I really struggled with what to write about today.  Being that it is the Fourth of July, of course my first thought was to talk about this holiday and what it means.  And I will address it towards the end, but I finally decided to discuss the ultimate debate. . . 

Boys versus Girls

I am not talking about which sex is stronger or smarter.  Let's be real there are strong people in both sexes and weak people in both sexes.  There are also smart boys and girls and absolute idiots on both sides!  I am talking about raising these people.  We had a little discussion at church yesterday about which ones are easier to raise.

I have often said that I would have a dozen more boys before I would have one more girl!  Now you might ask how could you not want another cute, adorable, cuddly and loving little girl in pigtails?!  Well let me tell you how long that phase lasts.  At the most, you get two and a half to three years, but realistically one year.   And don't argue with me!  After raising three girls of my own and handling at least six granddaughters, I consider myself an expert!

Those sweet little girls turn into opinionated and bossy little girls within one to two years.  And it grows from there.  Don't try to pick clothes for them.  "Mommy" would not let me pick her clothes by the time she was four!  Hairstyles?!  Let's not go there!  As they get seriously into grade school, the girl fights at school start.  "You can't be my friend and her friend too!"  or "I like him, you can't like him too!" (Yes that does start in grade school!)  And then we move into middle school.  That's when things get really serious.  We play serious mental games with our parents and friends at that point.  And let's not forget that previous sentence about clothes.  I used to check what the kids were wearing when they left the house.  My mantra was "Shirts down, pants up!"  Then (years later) I found out that "Mini Me" would sneak different clothes in her backpack and change at school!  Personally, for that reason alone I think backpacks should be banned.  I grew up in an age where you carried your stack of books in your arms, or you got a cute guy to carry them for you!  By the way, backpacks are also a great place to stash makeup, which I didn't allow until high school!  Believe me, girls keep you on your toes!  You get all this with girls plus attitude!  They are masters at rolling their eyes and getting that "tone" in their voices!

No boys, they do have a few issues but nothing like girls.  Believe me, they are cute and adorable too.  Little boys LOVE their mommies!  And they show it!  My guys always held my hand and hugged me!  To this day I get hugs, I love you's and they check on me!  (My girls do too in all fairness)  I will never forget the day "Calvin" looked at me and said "Mommy, I will never stop holding your hand."  I listened to him with love in my heart knowing that he would one day trade my hand for his wife's and eventually his own daughters'.  But that's okay.  Boys also do not go through the emotional and hormonal turmoils that girls go through.  I can guarrantee you that they do not hide clothes and makeup in their bookbags.  In fact that problem goes more the other way. . . you tend to me appalled at some of the outfits they put together.  My grandsons dress for winter in the summer and summer in the winter.  I just shake my head and move on.  They are rough and tumble and forgive much easier (most of the time - I have one that holds grudges!)  The debate can go on and on. . .

Now to my Fourth of July speech!  Because of the freedoms that men and women fought for over the centuries, we have the freedom to choose to have children and raise them in a church of our choice.  We have backslid some (does taxation without representation sound familiar)  and we must be very cautious to respect the freedoms others have established and earned for us!  Let's send up a prayer to God at some point today, thanking Him for strong and committed forefathers.  Let's pray for those who gave all so we could enjoy liberties.  Let's thank God for the USA, which is still the best country to live in!  Have a safe and blessed Fourth of July whether you prefer to raise boys or girls!