Discipline

Lexi had a full blown temper tantrum tonight, because I told her to tell grandma good night. She laid face down on the carpet and cried and screamed. I laughed at her, mainly because of how absurd she was behaving. Then I ignored her, I walked away and didn't acknowledge her in the slightest. I watched her though, and as she was settling down (meaning she was doing her fake cry) she was looking around to see what reaction she was going to get. When she realized she wasn't getting one, she walked towards me whining and wanted up, I said "no" and finished getting myself ready to go upstairs and then I started going toward the steps-when she didn't follow I asked if she wanted to go on her own or be carried. She plopped down so I picked her up and we got ready for bed. I know she was acting this way because she was exhausted, but it just reminds me that she is her own independent entity, she has her own desires and is separate from me. She no longer depends on me for her every NEED, she can get places on her own. When our goals don't mesh, we are going to have conflict-this is going to happen for the rest of our lives together. I want a strong and independent daughter, but I don't want a rude and rebellious daughter. And that brings me to one of my greatest fears: Discipline!

Everything I read tells me to "be consistent and follow through". I don't want her to laugh at me when I tell her to do something "or else", I want her to know that I'm serious, if she doesn't behave or follow the rules, there will be consequences that fit not only her age but the severity of her disobedience. I am afraid that if I don't start off strong now, she's going to think I'm a pushover and constantly push the limits. I'm going to struggle with discipline forever, I can only hope that I'm doing the right thing when it comes down to it. If Lexi is anything like me, she is going to be extremely hard headed, and that's okay. As long as she knows that I am the adult and that I have her very best interest at heart, we'll be okay. However, I know that though she may know those facts, she won't always like them. Gosh, I'm not ready for the terrible twos, tween, and teenage years! What was I thinking!?

Early Potty Training

One of my goals this year is to begin potty training Lexi early. I have been doing research and I feel as though she could pick it up easily. She's showing some of the cues that indicate readiness: She has picked up on sign language quite easily the past 3 weeks, so she can communicate her need to go to the bathroom that way; she is also able to walk; and she has obvious "tells" when she's going to the bathroom that I can watch for. I am going out tomorrow to pick up either a potty chair or one of those cushions that goes onto the big toilet. I'm going to start out by putting her on there right after she wakes up in the morning and after nap times (on the weekends) and also before bath time with the water running. I have no illusions that she is going to be potty trained  in a week, but I would like her to be able to tell me by the time she is 18 months old.

I'm not sure what they're going to do at work since her class doesn't have a potty in it, and the next step up is my room (and I cannot have her in my class since I'm the only teacher in there). But I guess that's something they'll have to deal with. I have a few reasons for wanting to potty train early-1. Diapers! So expensive for something you throw away. 2. I believe it can be done this early, and given how she has picked up on other things, I'm hoping she'll be open to this. 3. I have seen so many parents struggle with their children when they have waited past the child's 2nd birthday, I don't want Lexi to be afraid of the bathroom, I also don't want her to resist this. I figure if I introduce her to it now, it'll be easier.

One of the most important thing I've read is not forcing her. If she's scared or nervous the first time, then I'll just take her off and we'll try again. Maybe a bit TMI, but I have been bringing her into the bathroom with me since she was a newborn and I'm hoping since she's familiar with the toilet, that'll help

I will update next week with how the introduction has gone