Potty training or the Unforgivable Sin

[Don Corleone]

I apologize to all of you that seek nice red-meat arguments such as whether BP should be forced to vacuum the entire ocean floor or whether a stock exchange has any place in a well functioning social democracy, or whether a gay marine should be allowed to abort his implanted fetus with a rifle of foreign origins or not....

As enticing as I find those arguments, Mrs Corleone, whom I fear exponentially more than any of you, has relegated me to the unfortunate task of potty-training our youngest. Forget that she is female (as is the oldest, and, for that matter, is Mrs Corelone). My simple "let's go water the bushes" cannot possibly help in times such as these. But...my youngest has proven herself to be the most headstrong of the Corleone clan at the ripe old age of 2. It is not a question of bladder control, or realization... she uses it is as a weapon, and a means of reigning her elders into line.

Oddly, or, perhaps, predictably, depending on your mindset, this has led to a debate on the whole idea of what is "sinfulness" and therefore, what is the "original sin". I know, so let me spare you those precious few keystrokes, that peeing one's diaper deliberately does not constitue the unforgivable sin. But as I was taught, the unforgivable sin is to speak against the Holy Spirit, aka, to speak against what you are being taught....

So I offer the audience one of two choices...

Do we debate effective potty training methods for young females OR...

Do we explore the prohibition against speaking against the works of the Holy Spirit (and if you don't have children yet, I will understand if you don't know why a 'dry night' is truly a work of the Holy Spirit).

Open topic boys and girls, welcome your thoughts as I'm drying wet bums.

[a completely inoffensive name]

As an teenager, I believe I have some life experience I could totally share with you on the raising of a 2 year old.

[HoreTore]

Birth control sounds like heaven now, doesn't it?

It does to me, at least.....

[rory_20_uk]

I've a little boy and seeing as he's 6 weeks old potty training is the last thing on my mind; 4 hours of uninterrupted sleep is...

I didn't realise that Catholic doctrine managed to get going against what one is told by any senior is against God, but I'm not surprised.

[Andres]

I've a little boy and seeing as he's 6 weeks

Congratulations

[InsaneApache]

Oh come on Don, you know that the terrible twos always win.

As for sharing a house with three females......I reckon that sin against God should be the last thing on your mind. You poor man.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Hehehe, out-numbered in a houseful of women, been there done that. Who's training who, Don? They got you squating to pee yet? I'd attempt to give you some encouraging advice, but er...actually, it gets worse.

[Vladimir]

This reminds me of a scene from Family Guy. Just tell her she will go to hell if she doesn't learn how to use the toilet. Give her a brief introduction to fire if she resists.

[Lemur]

I dunno, I found potty training to be a bit of a head fake. When they're ready, they're ready. My boy, for example, declared one day that he was a "big boy" and that was that. He never used a diaper again. My girl took longer, and she needed a little more hand-holding, but she really was in the driver's seat.

My advice: Just let her know that big girls don't use diapers, and that if she wants to be a big girl, she needs to use the potty. And then wait for her to be ready. Every parent who tries to push this to happen faster winds up miserable.

[KukriKhan]

Every parent who tries to push this to happen faster winds up miserable.

Truth.

With my oldest girl, we (she and I and Mom) trained her dolly, instead of her; "praising" dolly when she made pretend chi-chi - gently correcting dolly when she made a mistake, rushing dolly to the potty when the urge hit, changing diapers on dolly in-between. After 2 days of this game, Daughter enjoyed her role as dolly's Mommy, and was off diapers. Nine years later she taught baby sister the same way, using a doll.

Gameplay ftw. Hope that helps.

[Hosakawa Tito]

Novel idea, Kukri. Work the Mommy instinct angle.

Family legend has it that when I was potty trained at 2 my sister Tina was born.
Upon seeing all the diaper attention she was getting that I had just given up...I back slid to my former habits to get my fair share. I ain't no dummy.

I think part of the potty training problem are these moisture wicking wonder diapers. Compared to the old cloth diapers that are so uncomfortable when wet and soiled...they take the comfort factor out of the equation for the lil' stinkers.
Every kid's different, and like learning to walk or talk or eat your peas or give up the binky, she'll do it when she's darn good & ready. Trying to force the issue...that way lies madness.

[Vladimir]

Truth...

Gameplay ftw. Hope that helps.

More truth. Make it a game; don't try to impose your authority as a parent.

[Don Corleone]

I didn't realise that Catholic doctrine managed to get going against what one is told by any senior is against God, but I'm not surprised.

Actually, the Unforgivable Sin is generally recognized to be the attribution of the works of the Holy Spirit to Satan. But that didn't fit into my jokey thread anywhere near so well.

[lars573]

Novel idea, Kukri. Work the Mommy instinct angle.

Family legend has it that when I was potty trained at 2 my sister Tina was born.
Upon seeing all the diaper attention she was getting that I had just given up...I back slid to my former habits to get my fair share. I ain't no dummy.

I think part of the potty training problem are these moisture wicking wonder diapers. Compared to the old cloth diapers that are so uncomfortable when wet and soiled...they take the comfort factor out of the equation for the lil' stinkers.
Every kid's different, and like learning to walk or talk or eat your peas or give up the binky, she'll do it when she's darn good & ready. Trying to force the issue...that way lies madness.

The same modern tech that made those diapers has made training pants. Usually called "pull-ups" (or such like). They'll take the hit if the kid can't get to the turlit in time. But they are also mean't to help train that when they get the urge, go to the potty. And I can remember cloth diapers on my younger siblings. Icky to say the least. Plus when my oldest niece drops a duce in her diaper she won't sit down, it burns too much.

I'm eagerly awaiting the follies that will incur when my sister tries to train her oldest to use the potty. Good times, for me.

[ELITEofWARMANGINGERYBREADMEN88]

Birth control sounds like heaven now, doesn't it?

It does to me, at least.....

Go Birth Control!!

[drone]

Smack her on the nose with a rolled up newspaper and scold her when she messes. Praise her when she goes in the right place. Have you tried crating?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

Oh wait, this is a human child?!?

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Actually, the Unforgivable Sin is generally recognized to be the attribution of the works of the Holy Spirit to Satan. But that didn't fit into my jokey thread anywhere near so well.

Actually, I think you'll find that the "unforgivable" Sin is rejecting Christ, as that's the only one that will *definately* send you to Hell in traditional Catholic theology, as you can't be shriven of it without actively repenting.

On potty training: I believe my parents actually used cloth nappies on my, rather than the (not all that new-fangled) mass-produced one exacty to encourage me to be potty-trained.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Horetore:

Odd thought...If political liberals such as yourself are so in favor of birth control (and the stats suggest that you are) whilst the more conservative types breed more than replacement value, aren't you sowing the seeds of your own eventual defeat?

[rvg]

Horetore:

Odd thought...If political liberals such as yourself are so in favor of birth control (and the stats suggest that you are) whilst the more conservative types breed more than replacement value, aren't you sowing the seeds of your own eventual defeat?

SHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

[al Roumi]

Horetore:

Odd thought...If political liberals such as yourself are so in favor of birth control (and the stats suggest that you are) whilst the more conservative types breed more than replacement value, aren't you sowing the seeds of your own eventual defeat?

LOL, this is exactly Europe's problem.

[HoreTore]

Horetore:

Odd thought...If political liberals such as yourself are so in favor of birth control (and the stats suggest that you are) whilst the more conservative types breed more than replacement value, aren't you sowing the seeds of your own eventual defeat?

If that was true; then how was I ever born...?

EDIT: No time to wait, I'll give you the answer right away:

It is, of course, that being a pinkie commie isn't hereditary. I wasn't born the way I am. Devoted religious people have more kids; great, devoted religious families is the top breeding ground for radical liberals.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

If that was true; then how was I ever born...?

EDIT: No time to wait, I'll give you the answer right away:

It is, of course, that being a pinkie commie isn't hereditary. I wasn't born the way I am. Devoted religious people have more kids; great, devoted religious families is the top breeding ground for radical liberals.

Oh come now! If I accept your point, I would have to accept that people might be CHOOSING a leftist philosophy of their own free will, as though it had some sort of intellectual value. Surely you don't expect a political right-winger to even consider such a thing.....

[HoreTore]

Oh come now! If I accept your point, I would have to accept that people might be CHOOSING a leftist philosophy of their own free will, as though it had some sort of intellectual value. Surely you don't expect a political right-winger to even consider such a thing.....

Don't worry, here's another explanation for you:

I'm a leftie. In a few years, I will have finished my studies and can start working as a teacher.... Obviously to poison the minds of your righteous offspring and turn them over to the dark side...

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Don't worry, here's another explanation for you:

I'm a leftie. In a few years, I will have finished my studies and can start working as a teacher.... Obviously to poison the minds of your righteous offspring and turn them over to the dark side...

So he should kill you now?

Did you know Left-wing Liberals turn into right-wing hawks in their old age? You have that to look foward to.

[HoreTore]

So he should kill you now?

Did you know Left-wing Liberals turn into right-wing hawks in their old age? You have that to look foward to.

Did you know thousands of enlightened europeans renounce their childhood religion every day?

Looking forward to joining us?

[Ironside]

Horetore:

Odd thought...If political liberals such as yourself are so in favor of birth control (and the stats suggest that you are) whilst the more conservative types breed more than replacement value, aren't you sowing the seeds of your own eventual defeat?

Evolutionary, it's now good to be undereducated and just making enough money to barely support your numerous children... So the lefties are just balancing the scales.

[Philippus Flavius Homovallumus]

Did you know thousands of enlightened europeans renounce their childhood religion every day?

Looking forward to joining us?

I did, that's why I'm no longer an Atheist.

Anyway, things are a bit different outside Scandanavia - people usually just join another religion.

[HoreTore]

On second thought; no, I choose not to have this debate, due to the likelihood that it will devolve into a flame war.

[Don Corleone]

If it makes anybody feel better, the frustration in having this discussion is nothing compared to what Mrs. Corleone and I are going through these days.... Oy vey.... Two steps forward, one step back... Just while reading the last few posts, Little Ms. Headstrong Corleone decided to tinkle on the living room rug (despite having said no to no fewer than 4 offers to go.)

[Lemur]

I don't understand what's going on here, Don. If she ain't ready, she ain't ready, so stick the diaper back on and give it another month. This should be fairly simple.