A lady on a message board I frequent posted a question I think we've all asked in some form or another at various times.  This lady is a Packer's fan (through and through!),  and therefore I read her question aloud to my husband who speaks Football with fluency.

Ken nudged me aside and took over the keyboard to reply.  Here's her question and his answer.  I liked the analogies in both, and found his reply encouraging and motivating.

PackerMom's Question:

How do you have a gaggle of little Packerites and still function?  ARen't you exhausted and a mess and just well, crazy?  I only have 3 but the thought of adding, say another line backer, really just makes me feel exhausted.  THen I have to coach them and clean the locker room and provide nurishment and clean the uniforms and so on?  Too bad the ref is only home at night and on the weekends.

So, please, tell me the truth.  Are you slightly going crazy or are you honestly happily plugging along towards the other teams goal post?  (Posted with permision)

Ken's response:

Remember that the start of every season begins with much planning and preparation.  Once the plan is in place, training camp begins.  Training camp should start out with a lot of strict discipline and hard work.  That way the training and learning the rules can be lessened as the camp progresses

Injuries may set you back, but should not be used as an excuse for poor performance.  As the season approaches, a good game plan needs to established for any opposition that may be coming up.   Then you must stop the opposition so you can get moving in the right direction.  Your team might be tempted to go for the bomb to get to the goal quickly, but most touchdowns are scored by moving slowly down the field and winning the battles in the trenches.

Penalties  might set you back, and from time to time you might need to punt.  But a good defense against this eventuality will get you back going in the right direction again. Your ultimate goal is to win the super bowl and that is not won on one play or even one game, but a lot of hard work and planning.  So get those little Broncos in the training room now and run and pass for the winning score.

In any career, mission, or calling there are days that leave us harried and  worn;  It isn't something unique to homeschool moms.  (In fact, I find this to be the most rewarding and flexible "job" I've ever had!)    Certainly there are days I feel "slightly crazy."  For the most part though, things do really move steadily and happily along.  The players themselves do much of the work, and with training, they learn the plays.  

In addition, a larger team means more relief players, and less strain on each individual.  (I learned this watching "Facing the Giants")

In keeping with the whole coach and team theme, Here's Coach Frog and his PrairieFrog team doing Prairefrog  Calisthenics.  Ken began doing this a month or two ago and is good about giving us all a little workout each morning.  I didn't get pictures of the grueling floor streatches, because he made me put down the camera and join in. 

We have really been hopping, with a busy week.  In additon to school as usual we are preparing for several different celebrations as our "birthday season" (And then the holiday season) approaches! 

Kieran's mobility has really taken off--almost overnight, so I've begun line training him.  His siblings have been cheering him on and keeping it fun!

What we've been doing:

(Kieran is fascinated with the pantry!) 

In this picture I imagine him thinking, "Hmmm... I know I came in here for something.")

My little pantry bandit loves these cans of chiles--they are a perfect size for little hands.  When Keegan was his age it was the the pimento jars:

Never ending laundry.  Kieran's trying to help:

Today's line training session

(He isn't sitting long without support.  I think he toppled a minute after I took this photo.)

Big sister keeping him company (He's been drooling on her knee too!):

Keegan is wearing big boy underwear this week, and has so far stayed dry!  Three cheers for Keegan!  God is good, and I am grateful!

I wasn’t going to blog much about potty training, as it isn’t one of my favorite topics, but due to several inquiries, I’ll give a brief run down of how we handle it.   Imagine this whole post typed in a blushing whisper due to subject matter. 

First, a confession: I don’t like potty training, which is one reason I chose a method we think gets it over and done fastest. (And we don’t like waiting for later because if there is something I like less than potty training, it is changing toddler diapers.)

In training anything with a very young child, it seems key to catch things right away–in the act if possible. Potty training is no different.  I choose a week without "goings and doings" when I can really focus on that child. I then strip them from the waist down, and "tomato stake" the child to me. For the first several days especially I watch the child intently almost every minute!

For the first day or two, even just prepping food with the child right next to me can mean I miss the crucial moment.  Simple dinners are planned in advance, or else I "cave in" and  Ken brings home pizza one evening.  Other household chores are postponed, or done as the child naps.

The moment the chid begins to "go" I whisk them up (usually the shock makes them stop for a moment) and haul them to the toilet. During this phase I’m also giving lots of extra fluids (juice even–a rare treat around here), and taking the child to the bathroom every 10-20 minutes, then staying with them as they sit there for about 5-10 minutes each time. At first the child spends approximately 5-10 minutes on, then 10-20 minutes off–all the while I’m right beside him.

It does make for an intense first few days. I’m a solitary sort of person, and while I adore my children, having a child on my lap, or within arm’s reach all day, every day, and not letting my eyes stray from them for more than a few seconds at a time is draining to me, but it gets the job done! There are fringe benefits too. Spending such intensive one-on-one time, I’ve gotten to see aspects of my little Keegan (good and bad) that I hadn’t noticed in our usual family life. His vocabulary took a leap forward this past week too, due, I believe to so much "mommy time".

The second week, the child is fully dressed in big boy or big girl underwear, and I’ve found they are usually entirely accident free in this week! They are still kept close to me, and taken to the bathroom frequently.

Toward the middle of week two, I slowly begin letting them partake in the distractions of running more freely with their siblings and such. Even in week three, I put them on before and after meals, and usually every hour or so–just to help keep the habit in the forefront.

Lori mentioned a mom who said her hardwood floors were trashed from this method. My guess is that she didn’t watch the child quite so closely. I can’t imagine that if the child was caught in the act, rushed to the bathroom, and sat on the potty while the mess was cleaned up (within a minute of it happening) that it would damage the floor. Additionally, if it isn’t caught immediately the child isn’t going to learn as fast. Part of the reason for having the child bare from the waist down for the first few days or even a full week, is so that the child notices promptly, and so that I can also see what is going on and respond immediately.

Only one child (my third) had frequent lapses after this method, and I can look back and see that I really did stray from my usual system with her.

This particular time, I only used the carpet cleaner once, and cleaned off the kitchen floor 3 times. While he watched a video with his sisters, I did place one of those blue hospital pads under him (I always order extras for each birth, as they make great disposable changing pads too.) The pad was just precautionary, and it happened to remain unsoiled, but I was glad to have it on hand.

Well, there you have it: Prairiefrog potty training. In the comments on my previous post, Lori asked if there is a book for this method. I really don’t know! (Though from the length of this blog entry, I think I just wrote a book on it! *laugh*) I heard someone at our old church describe it as the "Mennonites method" or "Potty training in 3 days for $30" (The $30 being the cost of renting a steam cleaner if you don't already own one.) I’ve heard the book, "Potty Training in Less Than a Day" uses some of the same ideas, but I haven’t actually seen the book.

With many small folk in training sometimes I get weary of reminding them about so many little things all day.  "Take smaller bites, please sit up tall, don't put grapes in your nose..."  I'm sure all parents can relate to the drill. 

Certainly if I'm tired of speaking so many reminders, they are tired of hearing them!  So, after a little string of "Don'ts" or "Do's" we sometimes have to add in a little laughter.

Hence the rules, "Don't put your elbow in your ear." and "No flying in the house without prior permission."   Naturally, the children DO try to put their elbow in their ear when we say this, and because we don't believe they should be allowed to disobey without consequence, the established penalty is tickling under the chin.  It is simple cause and effect--whether they succeed or not, even trying to disobey will lead to consequence--they will get tickled.

Unlike the elbow in the ear prohibition, the children usually obey the flying rule, and are good about asking permission.  Out of the blue I hear, "Mommy, may I please fly?"  I try to say yes most of the time, but sometimes I reply with, "No, not so soon after dinner" or "No, it is the first Monday of the month, and the moon is waxing."

Growing up I remember a couple of unusual rules in my parent's house (rules which I believe were instituted by "we the children", not actually by my parents) :

1) No pushing people down the stairs backward without their prior consent. 

2) No fishing tackle in the china closet

The first rule, in particular, participated some amusing scenarios, as we had to make certain we got a person facing forward before pushing them downstairs without their consent.

Some days just seem to have too many rules.  I see my Kendra over there, "Kendra, sit like a young lady. Talk softer, Daddy is sleeping.  Don't bend back that book cover, please use a bookmark.  Oh, and Kendra, Don't put your elbow in your ear."  Uh, oh.  She just disobeyed--I must go and follow through...

Are there any unusual rules in your home?

Prince Keegan likes having servants. Not a picky eater, he’ll eat enchiladas, lasagna, stew, casseroles, and almost anything I cook, BUT he insists it be on a spoon.

For months, when we tried to feed him with our fingers, he’d turn his head. It simply wasn’t FOOD to him if it wasn’t spoon fed. As to picking up the offensive stuff with his own fingers, that was too far beneath "his majesty" for consideration! Birthday cake had been fun to mash and play with, but actually put it in his mouth? Of course not! (Although he did eat a few bites we fed to him... on a spoon.) We tried Cherrios, Rice Krispies, bits of bread, peas, even pancake. All the stuff that most babies eat at 6 months old. Nope. Not food. Not unless it was spoon fed.

Last month we decided he’d been catered to long enough. We began holding his head still while putting a morsel in with our fingers. We’d give him a bite with the spoon, then require a bite from the fingers. Even though it was the very same delicacies he’d greedily gobble from the spoon, if it came from the hand, head turned and back arched, he’d communicate his displeasure.

We decided that before ever meal he’d need to eat a few Rice Krispies from our hand. Those 10 Rice Krispies would be put in his mouth over and over until swallowed before we would spoon feed him whatever we were eating. He always got his spoon-food, and the Rice Krispy struggle only took a few minutes of the meal, but it was wearying.

Several times, once we got the bite in, he tried spitting it out. Spitting things out is unacceptable behavior for a little gentleman, and he gave up that tactic quickly. Still, for each "hand fed" bite, we’d have to hold his head still.

After a few days he’d turn his head away from the hand-offered food, as though objecting just on principle, but then he’d turn back again with his mouth open. Each time he’d first turn away, but then, as an afterthought, open his mouth and accept.

Yesterday I hand fed him a full slice of Swiss cheese. After turning his head for the first bite, he willingly allowed me to administer the rest without the customary refusal ritual. We were certainly making progress!

Today, I hand fed him half the slice of cheese, then tore the other half into bits and put them on his tray. At first he looked at me like I was out of my mind–expecting him to sully his own little hand by touching his food! Finally though, he picked up a piece, and... ate it!

He ate piece after piece, only dropping a few. (The dog had positioned himself strategically under Keegan’s chair) Toward the end I snuck a few bits of freshly baked bread on his tray, and he ate those too!

With all four children still requiring their food cut up, it will be nice that he can help himself with a few finger foods now! (Although most things will still need to be spoon fed.)

Perhaps, he will even get the notion to walk?

The dichotomy of motherhood: enjoying the moment, while helping them reach upward to the next step.

Years ago (when my eldest was a toddler) aunts, uncles and cousins said I should get a website and tell people about line training... Well, here goes. 

"Line training" is my variation on blanket training. Freedom for me, and safety/ freedom for the wee one:

Purchase several yards of inexpensive nylon webbing (like dog leashes or backpack straps are made of) to outline boundaries. The webbing comes in many colors––choose one to use consistently. We buy ours at Ace Hardware.

Straight segments of the "lines" can be placed on the floor across the doorways or wherever you wish to signal "do not cross". (The few rooms in our house with a blue line continually taped on the carpet in front of the doorway have has added value as a conversation piece--makes guests ask questions.) You can make a blanket sized square by safety-pinning the corners together. My diaper bag always contains one "line square" (blanket sized outline that is safety pinned at the corners), and a couple of straight segments big enough to define a doorway or stairway.

Unlike playpen time it requires the child to exercise self discipline. We like the versatility––the child can access a little square of space, a whole room, all but one area of the house, whatever! If I’m doing a big project, I can either keep the child in the room with me, or in the adjacent room––in my sight, but OUT from under foot, depending on the need. All without those cumbersome baby gates.

Lines are especially useful at the top of a staircase––I’d put it back a foot or so from the stairs though, as they tend to come to a SCREECHING halt when they see the line, and the force of "braking" so suddenly could cause them to loose balance.

Because of the portability, it is great for visiting other's houses too! If we were visiting in the living room, I'd place one of the "lines" on the floor at the doorways, and baby would be able to play freely in the room w/ us, but would crawl up to the line and stop! Our babies are allowed to be carried across the blue lines, but not to cross alone. (Around age 2–or when I’m expecting another baby and too tired to pick them up for this--they can get verbal permission to cross.) (Someone on a different board was concerned that the child would substitute obeying the "tool" (lines) for obeying the parent and would be confused about what to do if mommy told them to cross the lines–wanting to "obey the lines" over obeying mommy. I never had this problem. I've even had a 6 month old comply with a grin if I say, "You may cross.")

As far as the training process, I put the child in the "line square" and give him something to play with that he wouldn’t usually get. I stay close at hand with a little switch. The INSTANT the baby starts to cross over the line or put a limb over even slightly, I place the child firmly back withing the boundry, tap the LINE with the switch, and say, "No." (With a toddler you could say, "No. Don’t cross the line."

Our babies start when they first learn to scoot purposefully––––about 5-6 months (though you could start later, I’m sure). For the first 1-3 weeks I do 1-3 sessions per day 10-30 minutes per session with a blanket sized square outline. I try to do at least 3 (if not 5 or 6) days per week at first to help make sure the concept "gels". With baby inside the square, it is often helpful to flick each of the four "lines" while gently saying, "no cross" to help the child understand. Usually after 2 or three sessions the baby/child understands but objects loudly, so I start adding in spirit training. This "advanced line training session" is not over until baby is happy and obedient for 5 minutes or so.

When I use the small square instead of a whole room, I often give special toys. A jar of marbles (only if yours won’t eat ‘em–––they could be a choking hazzard) or a bunch of empty thread spools, craft feathers... something not usually offered as a toy. I’ll often put on music, etc. I don’t want to send the message that this training is punitive.

Once they’ve mastered the concept with the small square, I rarely use the square except for the occasional reinforcement at home, or when we are out. I find straight sections of line marking of a doorway more useful for daily use.

If you choose a bright royal blue as your "line" color, as we did, painter’s tape makes excellent boundaries for the doorways and other semi-permanent locations. Because it is, by design, low adhesive, it won’t gum up the carpet as badly as regular masking tape.

I was amazed at how much the line training carries over into other areas of obedience and self control. If I notice the little tyke not obeying on "no touch" and other things, a round of the "advanced line training" (with the small blanket-sized square) seems to reinforce parental authority and the child will be back to cheerful obedience quickly!

Now for the disclaimer and confession! Keegan has been my most challenging to line train. He’s 10 months old, and still has a ways to go. He doesn’t get the willful defiant look the girls did when he crosses, but rather neglects to ‘remember’ the rule. Attentiveness to rules, however, is an important skill, so he’s NOT getting off the hook. It is time to vamp up his line training!