Is It Too Early to Say it's a Success?

We've gone six days of pooping on the potty with only one mistake...is it too early?  I think we're being successful!  The real test will come when we are out for the day and he needs to use the potty and we're in a strange place.  First of all, I doubt he'd use a strange potty and second of all, I think he'll refuse to use his potty no matter where we are because he's so self conscious.  I'm hoping I'm wrong and that I've been over thinking this issue.  Unfortunately, poop has been the subject of late.  I really want this to be successful and positive for him.  Something he's ultimately proud of himself for accomplishing.  I believe he is heading in this direction and I'm really thankful.  We've had such a long hard battle over this - the wild man has inherited a double dose of stubbornness, one dose from each of us!

We've also had a very challenging week with him.  His behaviors have been intense and extreme.  I'm led to believe this is very typical for his age with all the changes he's been going through.  Learning such milestones as pooping on the potty are so huge for this age.  He's also challenging boundaries to see who will let him get away with bad behavior and who won't.  Too bad for him that he's got two parents who aren't very flexible!  We both firmly believe in teaching him respect, good behaviors and manners.  It's so terribly important to have these skills in this world.  So few stick with it and so few children today exhibit these qualities.  Maybe it's a product of our upbringing and the fact that we are older parents (we're hovering around 40) of a nearly 4 yr old.  My husband and I were raised in a different era than the generation or two behind us and I think we tend to be the last of a dying breed.  In any case, we are doing the best we can and I think we were largely successful this week in managing the wild man's intense moods.  I know I prayed a lot and asked God for grace and patience and anger management!  I really wanted to change the way I was reacting to the bad behavior by switching tactics and managing my own temper.  So I asked God to intervene and help me to remember He's with me and what He would like me to do with regard to discipline.  I also asked God to help me remember my boy is only three and though he may be big for his age he is still more baby than not.  We expect too much from him sometimes and I need to be reminded of that.

So we finished up our Believing God study by Beth Moore.  It was really incredible!  Through this intensive study I was able to begin to pray again and really try to give it all up.  I've struggled with faith so much it's hard to change.  But I decided I needed to do something different because I've done it all my way my whole life and it really hasn't gotten me anywhere.  I felt stuck in a cycle I couldn't break because I wasn't willing to give God a change to show me that if I just trust in Him and choose to believe Him then things will change.  And they have.  I don't think I'm all the way just yet.  It's hard to change the color of my feathers all at once but I am trying.  I'm trying to be thankful for everything and let God show me the way.  I think I'm forming new habits and breaking old, hurtful ones.  We'll see.  I still have doubts but the more I delve into the Word and see the evidence the more those doubts are being dispersed.  Pray for me!

On another note, I'm still knitting/crocheting up a storm!  I've decided to come back to the beautiful Hexie afghan and recently completed a couple more blocks.  It took me longer than before as I needed to refresh myself on the pattern.  I'm also doing more crocheted baby hats.  I also finished the very lovely Bite Me in Malabrigo silky with gorgeous metal floral buttons, though I placed my buttons differently.  I may have to rethink their placement because the neck warmer doesn't look quite right where they are.  Also this neck warmer is sized for a women with a slender, graceful neck - anyone who knows me would definitely NOT use those words to describe me!  In any case, I have more UFO's in my stash now and I'm trying to organize everything!  Ha!

Well, I must be off - it's snuggle time for little man and I don't want to miss it! Even if he chooses to snuggle with hubby!

Stay safe everyone and happy knitting!