A Not to Scary Halloween

Well, today was Halloween (it's after 1 AM on Saturday, so it's technically not October 31st anymore, but since I haven't been to bed yet it is still Halloween in my book; I have a hard time going to sleep when my husband gets called to a fire. I just pray he makes it home safely.).  This is the first year that Mater has really been old enough to "get into" Halloween a little bit (will post costume pics later because right now I am too lazy), and this was Dorothy's first Halloween.

Our Beggar's Night tradition consists of Donald helping hand out candy and glow necklaces at the fire station, I take our kiddo(s) to Trunk or Treat at the church and a few houses of people we know, we hang out at the fire station the rest of the night, and we go home and go to bed.

I love the local Trunk or Treat that the church does.  My little ones get a small taste of trick or treating from people we know, only a little bit of candy, and the rest of the night we get to spend with Daddy.  This year there was the added bonus of a free hot dog supper (THANK YOU), which was great that I didn't have to cook or worry about what my kid was going to eat for supper.  One of the church members who participates in Trunk or Treat always has some kind of scary set up in his pickup and wears a scary mask.  I don't remember how things went over with him last year last year, but I will tell you how we handled it this year...

One of the first things Mater noticed when we got there was the "scary guy."  I reassured him, "It's OK, it's just pretend."  We went to all the friendly trunks first, then the scary guy last.  I told Mater we were going to go see him, but he mentioned about how scary the guy was.  I told him that I would go with him, and that he isn't scary; "it's just pretend."  We walked up to the pick up, and I told Mater he could wave at the scary guy; the scary guy waved back.  I said, "See, he's a nice guy.  He's just pretending to be scary."  The scary guy walked around to the opposite side of the pick up so that he wouldn't scare Mater very much; I picked up the bowl of candy for Mater to pick out a piece, and Mater even told the scary guy "thank you."  While we were standing there, Mater even said, "I not scared of him.  It's just pretend."  I'm pretty sure he got it.  The rest of the evening we talked about the scary costumes we saw at the fire station and how it's just pretend.

Well, this is how we handled the scary Halloween stuff with a toddler; hopefully I have the same success with Dorothy when she gets to be that age, but she will have her big brother to help show her the way.

NOTE: Excuse me for any grammatical errors and such because it's is 1:28 in the morning and I'm tired; I heard a couple minutes ago through the pager, my husband voice saying that he was back at the station.  Knowing that he is now safe, I can go to bed and get a bit of sleep so that some way, some how, I can survive tomorrow (which is technically today).  By the way, there was a fire very early this morning (technically yesterday), plus I had slept like crap anyways so I'm like SUPER tired!  I guess my family is going to get an extra dose of crazy lady tomorrow (technically today). ;)  Oh yeah, I guess the first thing I ought to do is take my son to bed; he had passed out on the couch.

Potty Training: Day 5 CELEBRATION

I just realized this evening that this is more than potty training; it's so much bigger than that...

I am celebrating tonight because Mater got 10 stickers, all in one day!  My sister in-law and a niece were here briefly to drop something off and the two munchkins played until it was time for them to go.  While they were here, Mater earned two stickers; his final stickers to make 10 and get back one of his "big boy" items.  He was SOOO excited; he even made sure his cousin watched him use the potty.  He was so proud of himself.

Before we place the 10th sticker on the chart, I gave him a list of options as to what he wanted back and he said his (stuffed) tiger.  After we put the 10th sticker on, I asked him again, and again, he said he wanted his tiger. (FYI, his tiger has been "watching" him use the potty from the top of the messy dryer.)

Well, I pulled that tiger off the dryer, and Mater was so happy that he gave him a GREAT BIG squeeze.  It was so sweet.  From that moment until he went to bed (except for when he used the potty again), he didn't let go of his tiger.  He kept a tight hold on that tiger.  My sister in-law, whom works in early childhood education, said to me that she thought it was a pretty ingenious idea to take away and give back to them the stuff they already have, rather than buy them something new.

I guess you could say that it all goes back to the three R's.  In this house, toys, blankies, and books are a privilege, not a right.  He probably appreciates his stuffed tiger more now than he ever has before.

Potty Training: Day 5

Well, we are 5 days into this potty training thing, and I think it's going O.K.  Mater still won't poop in the potty though.

We had a hectic weekend, but we used the potty as much as we can.

I must admit that I kinda have a love-hate relationship with this no toys and movies/TV thing because I love the toys and movies too. (Did I mention I'm a kid at heart?)  It's pretty quiet around here, but I miss being able to play dinosaurs and tractors with Mater and Dorothy, but we have been pretend dinosaurs and monsters, so that's something.  He has even pretended that his cousins and/or aunts are at our house.

We some times really have to bribe him to use the potty (M&M, money for his piggy bank, candy, etc.).  Other times though, we don't have to bribe him; he will sometimes even forget that he is suppose to get an M&M or something, but other times, he is the one reminding me! HAHA  

Mater's Potty Chart and Stickers
(green rectangle hides his real name)

I decided to make a potty chart, which I made just late this morning.  After getting 10 stickers (he picks which sticker), then he gets one of his "big boy" items back, he gets to decide.  Once he is 100% potty trained, then he gets a new toy (a totally awesome Mr. Potato Head with all kinds of parts to mix and match with, like I had as a kid, that I have been looking all over for).  

As you can see in the picture, the potty chart is nothing fancy; just something I whipped together.  It's not perfect by any means, but lets face it, Mater doesn't care how perfection, just fun!  The star equals a reward ("big boy" item).  He wanted me to make a tractor; well, Mommy isn't very good at drawing tractors, but Daddy is, so Daddy drew a tractor on the chart for him. 

He has three types of stickers to choose from.  First, TMNT stickers.  Second, free stickers that grandma and grandpa somehow got in the mail, and third, foam letters that aren't actual stickers (didn't realize that till today, I bought them Saturday), so I glue them on.  If he picks a letter, we talk about what letter it is and what color the letter is, so we are sneaking in all kinds of learning without him even knowing it.

I keep reminding him that if he poops in the potty then he will get to watch a movie, so I'm working on some kind of poop in the potty movie poster thing.  When I get that figured out and done, then I will get a picture of it added.