I can definitely relate to this.

I can definitely relate to this. [2008-01-18]
I started sending my son to preschool about 6 months ago, but recently had to pull him out. I am so absolutely stressed with him home now. I cannot concentrate and I feel like I am now working from 4 am to 9 pm each day and making much less. With him at school, I could work for 5-6 hours straight each day and then be done and have the evening to spend with my family. Now I feel like I have to work all day in between the breaks I have to take to take care of his needs and my income has dropped by $200 each week as I canIf momma ain? It is so true! I am really hoping that I can at least get him back in somewhere part-time. For me, the extra work I get done more than covers the cost of preschool, not to mention he gets out of the house and gets to play with other kids his age and I get some quiet time alone.

I can relate sm [2007-12-21]
There are no easy answers. Toilet training takes a great deal of patience and for some kids, a very great deal of time too. There isnfully trained at 18 months. For one thing, children are not physically capable of holding urine until they are AT LEAST 28 months old. If you don't believe me, see the paragraph above. I have heard that they are not ready to train until they can ride a tricycle, going forward, on their own with some speed. I found this to be true of only one of my now grown kids. Take her out and get her some pretty big girl panties and let HER pick them out. DOn't get the sponge center training pants because they feel like a diaper. You want thin, regular panties because when they wet and the cold air hits their fanny it will shock them. Know that they will get stained and horrid, but it is in the name of progress. Don't make night time dryness an immediate goal. Strive for daytime potty training first and exclusively, diaper at night. Don't make a big deal of this. The child will tell you when they are ready to let that diaper go. Mine did and none of my 3 wore a night diaper much past age 3-1/2. Don't get into a power struggle. Stickers may not be enough. I had a pediatrician tell me to use M&Ms, 2 for a pee, 5 for a poo when my daughter was being stubborn. The advice is NO OTHER TREATS and make her work for the M&Ms or whatever very small sweet treat you use. I thought this was dead wrong, I didn't agree, but I was desperate because she was going to be 3 in less than a month with no progress. I needed M&Ms for only a couple of weeks because she got used to using the potty and got tired of the M&Ms. If you use a little potty seat, a good idea, take the little guard thingy off of it so it looks like a regular tiny toilet. Those guards are treacherous. And um, toss the seatbelt out too, they are just cruel. As for not minding a loaded diaper, some girls are like that. I finally gave up on my girl and let her sit in it until she asked to be changed. During the first week of this nastiness, her godmother came to visit. She walked in the door and had a fit over the smell, traced it to the kid and told her she smelled horrible, disgusting, awful and asked her how she could stand to be that way and furthermore, little girls who pooed their pants didn't go in HER car for Happy Meals. She never would sit in it again and shortly afterwards decided the best way to handle poos is on the potty seat. I am reminded of what I have heard several times. Your child WILL learn, she WILL get out of diapers because no kid wears diapers to school. This is not true, but once they get there someone will laugh and that is the end of the diaper.

I can relate! [2007-08-14]
That age between 10 and 16 seems to be the hardest for boys! My boys went through the same thing and now they're coming out of it at 17 and almost 15. I think it is part of growing up but they need to be held accountable, privileges taken if necessary and mom AND dad need to agree and be on the same front! Soon they will see that testing the waters didn't get them anywhere! God bless and I'll be praying for you to have wisdom!

Boy can I relate [2007-05-31]
This is what worked for me when my girls were about that age and would fight like cats and dogs. Every single time they got into it, I made them sit cross legged on the floor right behind my chair and hold hands until they started giggling like sisters do. Knees touching, holding hands. I would also tell them they would never have a more amazing friend than their own sister. They are now 15 and 14, still occasionally catty to each other but that's a sister thing too. Give it a try. As for the rest of it, When kids are getting along and not fighting constantly, it takes away a stressor and you can start taking care of the other things. Good luck.

don't get me wrong... [2008-01-18]
I totally am with you on the work thing/TAT topic; I just know that if it weren I mean, having your children watched during the day means you get up, work an 8-hr day and are done by at least 3-4P for the day. Doesn FORGET that!!!! Wonder if anyone else can relate??

Wow! [2007-11-25]
I can relate to the income some of these WAHMs are making. I am a single mom of 2, andI was separated when I was 8 months pregnant. I tried working at home with a newborn and an 18 month old!!!! I tried it like that until my newborn was 18 months herself. Just couldn I had to put them in daycare part time, started out 3 to 4 hours, never more than 6 - even then that was maybe once a week - I mean, what was the point of me working at home if they were going to be in daycare all day, right? For me, that was my only option - for my sanity and ability to provide a living for us. I also worked at night and still do. At that time I also had no child support coming in. They are now 7 and 8 years old. I still work a split shift - when they are in school for about 3-4 hours and at night when they are asleep 3-4 hours. Bless your heart - hang in there!

Working Mom [2007-10-14]
Can relate to that!! Two teenage boys.....both in band....both play football...(by the way 1 is in 9th grade, the 11th....it gets really hard with trying to work....get your hours..meet your line count......but these activities keep them occupied RIGHT NOW.....and I don't have to worry about the PO-PO knocking on my door....

I am a HUGE arachnophobic (sm) [2007-04-03]
from being bitten by a crab spider as a kid, and to this day I will still sometimes wake upfrom a sound sleep, complete withcold sweat and heart pounding, SWEARING UP AND DOWN that I saw a huge hairy spider on my pillow heading towards my face at a high rate of speed. I know for a fact I Terrifying and Ifatal heart attack one of these days. II have to do is slap that to get light, but man, if your daughter suffers from anything like what I do, I can SO relate! If you find a cure, please share!

Let Them Make a Mess! [2006-11-01]
Those were the days! My two are now in school all day, and I can relate to the empty nester, but...... when I had my youngest while trying to transcribe, I would get out the big toy box, next to my desk, from their bedroom, and let them have at it! They never new they had so much to enjoy at the bottom of the toy box. Also, encourage them to use the pillow cushions and anything else safe in your typing area to make a fort. Beg them to draw you the best picture ever to show off to all of your friends! You could also try putting some toys away for a little while, then bring them out later, and it is like having a new toy all over again! Hang in there, it will work out and pay out in the end! You will never ever regret being at home with your children, as they only stay small for a short time! Now if I'm reading a book and relaxing when my kids get home from school they want to know what's wrong. Mom, why aren't you working? Geez, no rest for the weary!

All boys here: 15, 14 and 8 and 2 dogs both males also...sm [2006-07-10]
My 8-year-old is a handful. Too young for his brothers and the poor dogs can only tolerate so much. I try to keep him busy with camps so he's not sitting around all day watching TV and eating. I work full-time but have three days off in a row so that helps also. This board is great, loved reading all the posts especially Gram's post - thanks for the chuckle:) Can totally relate.