Potty Training....Also Known As Hell In My House

Well, it's time. It's time for Miss. Lo to get with the program and kick the diaper habit. I am a firm believer to let your kids tell you when they're ready, but Lo is head strong and also not a fan of undies. She's a diaper fan. If asked if she wants to sit on the potty, she answers...."Um, no. Not today." then she saunters off to destroy something. We have had some luck this past week when she actually agreed to go diaperless and has actually peed on the potty. I'm consistent, every day when we get home from dropping Lex off at school I ask her to take her diaper off and then tell her to use the potty if she needs to. Here's the problem.....some days she flat out refuses to do it. She will take her diaper off, but then throw a fit to have it back on and she refuses to use the potty. I have no idea what to do about this. She is 3 and all my kids have been potty trained by 3 1/2, but I have a feeling she will be the problem child. And I tell you what, I am all set with diapers. DONE! I don't ever want to buy them again. So I'm a nervous wreck thinking about having her in diapers past 3 1/2. It just can't be that she refuses to use the potty. She knows exactly what it is and how to do it and when she has to go, but she hates it and has said "NO!" The other day she didn't even say no she just went and got a diaper and said "Here. Put this on me." WTH, kid?! I just....I don't know what to do. I don't pressure her, I don't insist she do it, I don't yell, I tried treats and stickers and rewards and well, she is just not having it. So I'm giving up. I will still pull the potty out and take her diaper off, but I won't fight her. I hope she decides to just do it on her like the other two. Because honestly, giving her a treat and saying "Good job, Lo! You're such a good girl!" just makes me feel like I'm treating her like one of my dogs and that's just no good. So feel free to leave your advice or dark humor or just tell me I'm not alone!!!!

Is It Too Late To Trade My Teenager In For A Chihuahua?

My teenager came right out and asked me how long her and her boyfriend had to be together before he could spend the night. I could not believe what I was hearing. Had she hit her head? Gone insane? Grown a set when I wasn't looking? WTF was going on?! At first I thought she had to be joking. She knows the rules!! I'm strict!! So I kinda laughed out loud, then gave her the look. The "I'm dead serious" look. This is how the conversation went......

ME: "That would be a big fat never. I don't care how old you are, no boys sleeping over. Ever. Don't even ask."

CRAZY PERSON: "But XXXXX's Mom lets her boyfriend sleep over!!"

ME: "And XXXX's Mom has clearly lost her mind as well. Luckily I'm still sane, so that won't ever happen"

CRAZY PERSON: "What if I'm 18? You can't tell me what I can and can't do."

ME: "See, that's where you're wrong. If you're 18 and still living in MY house, the rules stay the same. No boys sleeping over. Ever. Feel free to get a job, your own place and then have as many boys sleep over YOUR place as you want....when you're 18, of course."

CRAZY PERSON: "I wasn't really asking if he could sleepover like tonight, I was just wondering if you'd ever let him"

ME: "Wonder no more....never gonna happen, kiddo."

I would like to know who in the Hell let's their 15 year old daughter's boyfriend sleep over?! And where does he sleep? Am I too old fashioned? Is this not something new? Because I can sit here and honestly say that I was shocked. So now all I keep thinking is......what's next?! I'm scared.

Why Do I Agree To Do These Things?!

My friend hired me to photograph her In-Laws 50th anniversary. Now I'm wishing I hadn't said yes. I have this thing where I lose all confidence in myself when asked to do things like this. Yes, I can take some pretty damn good pictures. Yes, I have an awesome camera. But am I good enough to be photographing such an event? I don't think so. She wants me to do it because A.) She loves my pictures and B.) I'm MUCH cheaper than anyone else. LOL!! Sad, but true. She wants me to have some cards made up to pass out at the party. It's gonna be a huge event. They have a huge family. Old Italian, lots of kids, that sorta thing. So here I am, I haven't even learned all there is to learn about my camera and I'm already hiring myself out. Ugh. I did read an article where one photographer said...."You can't "learn" to be a good photographer. Sometimes just shooting, shooting and shooting is the best way to teach yourself". I'm taking this as a challenge.......try and make this good so people will want more. I've started learning about lenses, my camera, the various settings and what will work best with this party. Tricky part? It's both inside and outside. Lots of flash. I'm not a fan of flash. I'll be heading down to the camera store to rent a few lenses for the night and see what they think would be best as far as flash goes. Ugh....this is work! LOL!!

Stuck On Repeat

That's how I feel. I feel like I'm stuck on repeat because I keep having to repeat myself every few minutes with Lex. "Lex, stop getting in Lola's face. Lex, stop trying to pull my pants down. Lex, don't throw things. Lex, stop chasing the dogs. Lex, stop laying on top of Lola. Lex, please, just one kiss and one hug then move away from Lola. Lex, Lex, Lex!!!" I forgot how challenging the threes are. Very challenging. So much so, that I think they should change it to "The Terrible Threes" and not "The Terrible Twos".

It's gotten so bad that when I first wake up in the morning I think....."Please, oh please let him wait till after I've had my first cup of tea before he starts his craziness!" I'm afraid to leave him alone with Lola for too long because he might really hurt her. I know that that he wouldn't do it on purpose, but still, she could get really hurt. I'm going to the bookstore to see if I can find anything that can teach me how to deal with him. I've been through it before with Raven, but that was a loooooooooong time ago. I need a refresher course!

Don't get me wrong, he is a sweet, loving (almost too much!), well behaved boy most of the time. I know that he's testing me, seeing how far he can go, and I hate it. I feel overloaded with things to do. House cleaning, cooking, taking care of the kids, the dogs, the cats, myself, and now I have to stop what I'm doing to make sure Lex is behaving himself. Every. Five. Minutes!! I'm at my breaking point and need help. So off I go in search of some answers on how to be a better Mommy!!! I'll leave you with a glimpse at my darling child......