Boys will be boys?

Lately, Gunnar has been going through a phase of disobedience... basically he gets in trouble all the time, and I am pretty annoyed with him often! Here are the 2 big things he has done lately:

2 weeks ago he threw a toy at a window on our porch and broke it... I was having a play date and all the kids were playing on the porch when it happened, but none of them came and told us it happened... one boy even cut his finger on the window! To top it all off, Gunnar lied about breaking the window and told us a different boy had done it.

Then this weekend while I was at a girls game night, Gunnar drew all over our leather couch with an ink pen! Talk about doing something bad... and the worst part is that he's old enough to know better!

So we are at this new point in disciplining where we are taking things away. For breaking the window we took juice away for a week and for drawing on the couch we took his bear/blanket and juice away for the week.

I am open to suggestions on how to deal with this phase Gunnar is going through. I get the fact that he's a crazy boy and that is how boys are, but this lying thing is something that we really need to kick in the butt!! So, any advice would be great!!

Potty Training Advice... Please!!

It's potty training time in the Seydel house... or at least I would like it to be! Conrad turns 3 in October and we have attempted to start potty training with him 2 times now. The first time was at the beginning of the summer and the second was in July when the boys were staying with Thaddeus' parents (So thankful that Lori gave it a try!) Basically, he knows when he has to go #2 and will tell us... He is always asking to wear underwear and be a big boy! But when we put underwear on him and fill him with fluids and sit him on the potty nothing happens... so we let him get up and then he goes in his underwear and doesn't tell anybody he went. So there is an obvious red flag... he doesn't mind sitting in his pee/poop.

Like I said before, Con turns 3 in October and I have him signed up for pre-school... but he can't go unless he is potty trained (or at least in the process), so this is why I'm starting to get a little antsy about it all!

He is so strong willed!! If something is not his idea then he won't do it! So, I need help!! Any advice on some strategies for getting Conrad excited about using the toilet/preschool/being a big boy?? I have tried a few things... offering treats like McDonalds or a new toy or candy... and also trying to explain that he can't go to preschool unless he uses the toilet (he is so excited about preschool, but me telling him he can't go doesn't really work for him.)

Gunnar was so easy to potty train, and he wasn't even 2 1/2 when we did it! I made a sticker chart (which he loved!) and that was it... it took 2 days and barely any accidents. Gunnar's personality is so different than Conrad's... Gunnar is a pleaser and Conrad is just plain strong willed!

So, please comment or write me on Facebook if my comment section isn't working... At some point in August Thaddeus' Mom will be taking Gunnar and Bennett for a weekend so I will have time to devote soley to potty training... but I just don't know where to start!

Currently Reading

I am currently reading "Parenting by The Book" by John Rosemond. I just started it yesterday so I'm not too far, but I am already learning so much! I have never put much thought into how the world around me influences my parenting... mainly b/c we try not to be of this world... but as a mother it is very easy for me to care about and judge how other moms do things. The first chapter of the book is called "The Great Deception" and here is an exert: "Progress constantly infuses culture with new energy, but in the 5th commandment God promises a stable, secure society to people who adhere to fundamental family traditions. But that understanding went by the boards in the 1960's, the single most destructive decade in the history of the USA." "In the 1960's, however, the now-adolescent television industry began to take on a rebellious, activist character. Its movers and shakers became determined to use the influence of television to reshape America consistent with the vision of the emerging neoliberal, secular elite. And they succeeded." "By the mid 1970's, the United States had become a full fledged "progressive" culture. Progressivism holds that just as most technologies (such as computers) are better than old technologies (typewriters), new ideas are better than old ideas. For the most part, the progressive mind-set rejects tradition." In the chapter Rosemond is talking about how before the 1960's parenting was a very traditional thing. And it was, in most cases, much easier to be a parent before the 60's arrived. Generally, parents would parent the exact way as their parents and grandparents had... If they had a question about what to do with johnny not listening they would go to grandma and find out what she did, whereas now a days we ask someone outside of the family, or read a book or magazine, or even look online... which i am very guilty of! I find them very helpful actually, and the internet is usually my first choice in finding info. I really feel like I connect well with what Rosemond is saying. As far as my parenting goes I do not want to emulate my parents parenting style... It's not that I think they did a bad job or that I don't respect them, it's just a preference. And I don't think that I'm alone in that... at least according to Rosemond. I find it very interesting how our culture and media have such a huge impact on our lives and how generations can be shaped by them! I'm looking forward to delving into this book and learning how to parent from the Bible!

Gunnar Goes to Preschool

Today was Gunnar's first day of preschool! We have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of September 1st in our house for a couple of months now. Since June, Gunnar has asked almost everyday if it was time to go to preschool. This last weekend his Grammy and Poppy took him school shopping for a book bag, clothes, and shoes and last night I picked up what little supplies he needed to start school today! We left for school around 8:30am... after Gunnar had asked about 10 times if it was time to go! When we arrived I took Gunnar in and left Bennett and Conrad in the van... I had picked up a new Mater truck for Conrad last night because I knew he would need some kind of distraction from Gunnar leaving, but unfortunately it didn't work and Conrad cried for about 10 minutes after we left Gunnar. 11:30 rolled around quickly and we went and picked Gunnar up from his 1st day! He seemed very tired when I picked him up and he is napping as I type this now... I don't know if it's a boy thing or a 3 year old thing, but I didn't get too many details out of him about his morning... i guess we'll work on it. Thankfully the preschool sends out a monthly calendar which includes a list of things the kids will be doing each day... so I do have some sort of idea what he's learning! He used glue and scissors for the first time today! I know that some kids don't ever go to preschool and lots start when they are 4 but a few reasons why we chose to start Gunnar at 3 are: To make friends and learn how to be social... Gunnar is very extroverted (like Thaddeus!) and he craves interaction with other kids. Since we are planting a church and not involved in a church at the moment he doesn't have many opportunities to play with other kids his age... so preschool is a good alternative. So our other children can have more alone time with mommy... If you have more than 1 child then you know that making time for everyone can be hard. Some days more of my attention goes to Gunnar than Conrad or the other way around... having Gunnar out of the house for a couple hours gives Conrad and I a chance to hangout (especially b/c Bennett is so easy and sleeps a lot) With Conrad being the middle child it can be easy to push his needs to the side so I am excited for my time with him so I can get to know him a little better... I believe that sending your child to preschool or not is a big decision... every child and family is different and what works for us might not for you... I'm just thankful that Gunnar is excited to be going and looks forward to his Tuesday and Thursday mornings at Voyages Preschool!