Weight! No Day But Today

I am posting this mostly for myself. We are going to be broaching this subject soon and I am terrified!


Toilet training is a learning process, not a disciplinary process, and a complicated one at that! Your child has to understand what you want, and then has to learn how to do it. In addition to understanding the bodily sensations, getting to the bathroom and getting clothes off, a child must first constrict sphincter muscles to achieve control, and then relax them to eliminate. Obviously there is a lot to learn. Gaining bowel and bladder control is a skill and fortunately children usually like to learn new skills.

The mastery of skills usually follows a pattern. First comes bowel regularity often followed by bowel control. Daytime bladder control often comes next but for many children this can happen simultaneously, and finally later (often much later), comes nighttime bladder control.

Not every child will follow this pattern, of course. While girls often achieve control before boys, brothers have been known to be dry before same-age sisters. Also, it is not uncommon, especially for boys over the age of 3, to have bladder control but not have bowel control. And, of course, there are children who achieve daytime and nighttime control simultaneously. With the swing toward a more relaxed approach to toilet training from the previous generation, children tend to be trained later and more frequently their bowel and bladder functions come under their control at the same time

If you do choose a passive, more laissez-faire attitude about toilet training, keep in mind that children still need to know what it is that is expected of them. You are not necessarily "pushing" your child by providing direction and expectations. Some children really are ready to be trained early, so you are not "pushing" if you are meeting no resistance. Let their resistance be your guide. Children really do love learning grown-up behavior, so don't deny them their opportunity, if it fits their readiness.

Cajun Rice with Chicken and Shrimp (thanks @cheftravler)


This is full of flavor. Feel free to substitute other meats or seafood if you prefer. This is a good recipe to use up leftover rice.

Serves 4
Cook time: 25 minutes

2 cups cooked Brown Rice

1 tablespoon Canola Oil

1 cup chopped Green Bell Pepper

1 cup Onion, chopped

1 cup cubed Chicken Breast

2 teaspoon Cajun Spice, salt free

1 cup raw Shrimp

1 cup Tomato Sauce

½ tablespoon Water

2 teaspoon minced Garlic



Cook the rice and set aside. Can be done a day or two in advance. In a skillet cook the onion, peppers, chicken, shrimp, and seasoning in the oil. Add the tomato sauce, water, and garlic and simmer for 10 minutes. Add the rice and cook for another minute or two.

per serving: 316.75 calories; 25.75 gram protein; 8.25 grams total fat; 3.75 gram fiber; 1.175 gram saturated fat; 34.55 grams carbohydrates; 114.75 mgs cholesterol; 161.75 mgs sodium

Mothers are notorious for taking on more than they can handle. You're a mother and you're suppose to be able to do it all and be perfect at it. There's a mother's rule book somewhere that says you can do it. Mothers can take on the world and not get tired. If you don't do everything and not get tired , you get sent to the land of mother guilt. Dad's can work come home sit in his favorite chair , watch TV and nobody makes him feel guilty. But if mom tries that , you'd think the world was coming to an end. In reality Mom's get tired, mother's become exhausted and every once in a while mother has to say "that's enough" I need a break. There's a few things you can do to get relieve.


*Insist on one night a month away from it all. A night out with the girls, join a club, play bridge, take a class for one night let dad baby sit and you get out of the house.

*Practice breathing exercises. This is something you can do while you're taking a shower, making breakfast, or doing any of the dozens of things you're expected to do. This gets the blood flowing and energizes the body.

*Take a fifteen minute nap. Do this before the kids get home for school or while the baby take its afternoon nap. Mothers need this afternoon pick-me-up.

*Let grandma baby sit while you take a fragrant bubble bath. Don't forget the nice smelling candles. Just what a mother needs to relieve the stress.

Here are some wacky Superman exercises my trainer has me doing. Try them. Bet you will like them.

I am making the switch from wordpress. Wordpress was hard to post links and such. I hope to find this site a bit easier. I will also be adding recipes, motivational tips, and some videos of workouts that I do. I do have a trainer that I meet with every now and then and she gives me these nutty things to do and I think she is gone mad. But some I have come to like. I hope you will follow me. Remember.. There is no day but today!