Flying a kite

I've never flown a kite before. There you have it.

I believe many city or suburban kids are like me. We are locked inside the house for fear of child kidnappers and many vice. To keep us occupied, our busy moms let the TV babysit us.

I watched way too much TV when I was a kid. It's funny that I hardly watch any TV now, considering it a complete waste of time. I also discourage my children from spending time before the idiot box. Instead, we make sure that they are surrounded by books, educational toys, art and craft materials, and many other healthy entertainment. Like kite.

I am adamant that my kids should learn to fly a kite. And play with sand. And blow bubbles. And learn swimming. Talking about projecting our childhood desires on our offspring. Sheesh.

So we bought a kite and flew it on a fine Sunday evening. I think I was more excited than anyone.

 After a few breathless dash around our housing estate, the kite was finally up.

I'm not sure if any of my children will remember this experience but I believe that they'll remember the feelings this experience created - fun, camaraderie, companionship. 

Toilet learning

Toilet training, toilet learning, potty training, potty learning.. and throw in elimination communication, we can safely say that children urination and defecation is a source of major stress for their parents. For the unmarried or children-less, I can understand your disgust for bird poo on your windscreen (especially the loose, diarrhea-y type), lizard poo on your dining table or dog poo in your back yard. I was just like you. I went to Niah Cave years ago and literally tiptoed the whole way because of layer upon layer upon layer of swiflet poos.

Now with two kids, let's just say that I walk sure-footed on bird poo (not dog poo yet though).

Ok, let the confession begins. My 3 years 8 months son is not yet fully toilet trained, or toilet learnt, if you like. He still wears diapers during bedtime. He just recently go without diapers in his afternoon naps but accidents still happen from time to time. And the most frustrating thing is, he only poops in diapers. He complies if we ask him to use the toilet for the big biz but "Cannot, nothing comes out", he cries.

I hardened my heart and refused to put diapers for him when he wanted to poo, hoping that the urge would make him defecate in the toilet. No luck,  he would just hold and be constipated until "explosion" (in diaper, at night, sigh) happened a few days later.

I'm at my wit's end. I don't know how other kids do it. Their parents must have some superpower or something. You guys are really awesome! Can you train my son?

(Photo credit: a fellow mom who has a fully-toilet-trained 2 year-old daughter. You rock!)