Often times, toddlers with older siblings observe them using the bathroom and get a little too excited to start their own potty journey. This can result in stripping kiddos with diapers torn off and thrown aside, and endless babble about going “bafroom”!
While this is an exciting development in a toddler’s life, it is not always the best time to begin. Quite often, a toddler is ready to start the potty training journey before their parents are. Timing, after all, is very crucial to potty training, so how do you delay an anxious potty trainer?
Paulina can help!!
Explain to your child that he/she must wait for the Poo Poo Fairy to come before you can start potty training. This is your chance to read The Poo Poo Fairy book over and over again to get your toddler excited for Paulina’s arrival. You can plan the perfect day and start a countdown. As you remind your child that you will not start potty training until Paulina arrives, you can use the time to make preparations for the big day. Stock up on special treats and prizes for your child, gather several packs of underwear, let your child pick out a potty seat. And be sure to read the Poo Poo Fairy Book often to keep your child excited for Paulina to help them potty train!
The magic of the Poo Poo Fairy is exciting for a toddler as they embark on the often scary and difficult journey of potty training. However, Paulina’s magic requires someone to keep up the magic by placing a special treat or prize next to Paulina as your child has a success with his or her training. This can sometimes feel like a two person job.
However, quite often a mom or dad is alone while attempting to be at their child’s side near the potty as well as keeping Paulina’s magic alive. Here are some tips to make this easier:
Change Paulina’s location each time your child has a success. Have a stash of treats and possible prizes in a place that is easily accessible. Once your little one has had success and has washed their hands, send them on a journey around the house to search for where Paulina has ended up this time. While your child is off searching, this gives you a moment to grab a prize or treat and place it, along with Paulina in a new spot for your child to stumble across.
What do you do if Paulina is in the bathroom with you and your child to cheer you on? (Some toddlers love to have Paulina close.) Place some small prizes and treats in spots that are out of reach of your child. You may do this the night before, in preparation for your day of potty training. Here’s where your acting skills come in handy. Have Paulina whisper in your ear the location of where she has hidden a special prize for your potty trainer. Tell Paulina “Thank you” and send your child off to grab the prize that Paulina has left for him or her.
Have you ever had success with potty training at home but your child struggles to find the courage and motivation to go potty anywhere else? Luckily, Paulina loves to travel! It’s so easy to take Paulina with you wherever you go. Put her in a grocery bag, along with some small treats and prizes. Now, Paulina can offer support and deliver prizes and treats wherever you need her to.
Here is Paulina delivering a treat for a potty success my daughter had while we were at the grocery store:
Often times pooping in the potty can be the most difficult and scary part of potty training. A parent may feel frustrated knowing that if their poor toddler could only go poop just once in the potty, they would see how easy and rewarding it is and it would become much easier afterward.
It is at this point -- when just one successful poop is needed to start the ball rolling -- that some added motivation might be helpful! Paulina loves to save her most special prize for the first poop in the potty. And if necessary, she will allow a sneak peak at this very special prize so the potty trainer knows what magical fun awaits them when they get that first poop in the potty!
After the initial success, pooping in the potty becomes much easier. And the potty trainer is generally much more excited to have another success knowing that more magical fun and prizes await them.
When the inevitable accident occurs, it needs to be dealt with kindly. An accident can be quite scary and discouraging for a new potty trainer and can prevent them from wanting to continue trying.
This is the perfect time to read Paulina’s story again. Paulina herself was unsuccessful at being a helper fairy at first. She failed over and over again before she finally found success as the Poo Poo Fairy. The little boy in the story also struggles to learn how to use the big-kid potty. This is good way to remind your child that it is ok to make a mistake, but that they must not give up trying. If they never give up they will eventually succeed, just like Paulina did!
It is also helpful to remind your child that Paulina is still around, ready and waiting to reward and surprise them when they succeed!
Paulina’s magic and motivation are dependent upon her bringing fun treats and surprises for your child when they have success. Though this helps to make potty training a quick and exciting process for you and your child, some parents might be concerned that this may spoil your child into believing that they get treats and prizes all the time. This is a valid concern. One I had myself! Paulina, however, helps with this concern as well!
Paulina, as it is shown in the book, brings her magic when a child is potty training. Once potty training is complete she needs to be off in search of the next child who needs her help. This allows the parents of the potty trainee to plan a perfect end to the prizes and treats that come along with potty training. When everyone says goodbye and thank you to Paulina, off she will go and no more prizes need to be given.
If your child asks for more prizes and treats after your potty training is complete, it is easy to say that since Paulina is gone no more prizes or treats are coming. That was simply part of Paulina’s potty training magic and fun and now that they are expert potty-goers she is off to help another child! Since it appears to your child that Paulina was the one giving the prizes and not mom or dad, it makes sense to believe that you have no prizes or treats to give them.
I hope these tips and tricks on how to use Paulina help you with your potty training. Email me at mary@poopoofairy.com for more help!
-Mary
]]>]]>Rain Maker: This works especially well with longer rolls. Simply wrap one end of the roll with tin foil (using tin foil is important. It helps make the rain-like sound!) and make sure it is secured tightly with string, a rubber band or tape. Take a long piece of tin foil and scrunch it together to create a long, tin foil snake. Place the tin foil snake in the center of the roll. Fill the roll ¼ of the way with uncooked rice. Then tightly wrap the other end of the roll the same way as the other end. To ensure that the rice does not break through the tin foil, I like to also cover both ends with tape or fabric. (Something that cannot be penetrated by little fingers…I have learned this the hard way!) Then, as your kiddo turns the rain maker up and down, it sounds like rain. This also makes a neat instrument!
Paint stamps: You can be creative with what shapes you mold or cut your toilet paper rolls into. I like to cut them in half so I can get two stamps out of one roll! Let the kids go wild with creating shapes of their own to paint with! And have fun!!
Marble track: Gather up your toilet paper rolls! Once you have a good amount collected, tape them to a wall or a box where your toddlers or young kiddos can reach. Arrange them in a fun way that will allow a marble or puff ball to travel down the rolls! This is lots of fun for both little and big kiddos!
Maracas: I’m all about making instruments. The fun starts with making it, then it continues as you play and dance with it all day!! Simply let your kiddos decorate a toilet paper roll. Then, seal one end tightly with fabric, tin foil or whatever strong material you have on hand. I prefer to use tin foil cause of the fun sound it makes. But make sure to cover the tinfoil with tape so the kids can’t break through it and get beans all over your home!! Fill the roll with some dry beans or pop corn kernels. Then secure the other end. Now put on some music and let the fun begin!!
~Mary
Recipe by Our Best Bites!
1 T reserved oil from sun-dried tomatoes, or olive oil
1 C chopped onion
¾ C shredded carrot
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 Tbs dried basil
1/2 tsp dried oregano
2/3 C sliced sun-dried tomatoes, packed in oil
2 (14.5 oz) cans diced tomatoes, undrained
1 (14oz) can chicken broth
3 oz reduced fat cream cheese
Optional: Parmesan cheese and fresh basil for garnish
This delicious soup is so filled with flavor but also filled with tons of veggies. We love to eat this soup with some grilled cheese sandwiches. This makes for a perfect meal that all our kids just love!!
Enjoy!!
~Mary
P.S. Email me at mary@poopoofairy.com!
]]>It is also a big win-win when you can find ways for your kids to be creative with things you already have around the house or can get at the dollar store! Here are a few ideas!
I rarely throw away a shoe box. There are so many ways you can put a shoe box to good use:
Leprechaun Traps: Every year we make leprechaun traps the night before St. Patrick’s Day. With a bit of green paper, St. Patty’s day stickers and some markers my kids have made some especially awesome traps!! They get better every year!
Treasure boxes: With a few packs of jewel stickers, glitter glue, markers and paper your child can have a blast making a treasure box which can hold their many special treasures. If your kids are anything like mine, they collect trinkets and little toys from all over that they are simply unable to part with. These “treasure boxes” can be a perfect place for them to keep these special items!
Mailboxes: A mailbox or a box for Valentine’s Day: We love to make new mailboxes and then write and send notes to each family member.
Diorama: With random items we found around the house Jane and I made scene of a castle in an enchanted woods! We had a blast!
Box huts: Being in the military, our little family has had several opportunities to move and collect all different shapes and sizes of moving boxes. Most of which, we are anxious to get rid of. However, I always like to reserve several large boxes to make cool box huts out of!!
I even made a particularly awesome box castle for one of Jane’s birthday parties!! I covered it in pink wrapping paper and had fun adding all sorts of castle-ish details!
You can really make your “box hut” into any fun shape you want which will encourage your little one to have fun imaginary adventures…a rocket ship, race car, cave, castle, house, etc etc. The possibilities are endless!!!
Drive-in Movie Night: Have your kiddos each decorate their own box cars any way they want. Then put a comfy blanket and a pillow in it. Pop some popcorn, grab some treats, and let your kiddos watch a favorite family movie while sitting in the cars!!!
Scenery for a play: Cut the large moving box so it will lay flat. This will create a large area for drawing. Allow your kids to draw whatever fun scenery they want on the box then when they stand it up next to a wall, it can be the back drop for a play!! Fun!!
Puppet stage: Those tall moving boxes are perfect for a puppet stage. Simply cut out a large hole on one side of the box near the top and a small door on the back of the box and let the kids decorate it as they please. And then you will have a perfect puppet stage!
Have fun being creative with your kiddos!!
~Mary
P.S. I love to hear from you, so email me at mary@poopoofairy.com!
]]>Thank you Divas Can Cook for the yummy recipe!
Ingredients:
Directions:
Wrap in plastic wrap and place in a freezer bag to store.
Ingredients:
2/3 cup fresh lemon juice or fresh orange juice (if you don’t like sour go with orange, but I definitely prefer the lemon!)
2/3 cup frozen or fresh berries (raspberries, blueberries, strawberries are all great.)
1 – 2 Tbs honey
5 Tbs gelatin
Directions:
Just 3 Ingredients (or four if you add the zucchini!) and one minute is needed to whip up this delicious moist, fluffy and satisfying chocolate cake!
Ingredients:
Directions:
1. In a high speed blender or food processor, pulse the banana, egg, cocoa powder and chopped zucchini until a very fine batter is formed.
2. Grease a small cereal bowl or mug very well. Pour the batter in there and cook in the microwave for 60 seconds or longer, depending on desired texture.
3. Top with fresh berries and whipped cream!! Yum!
All these delicious sugar free goodies are tried and true in my home!! It feels good to feed my kids these treats knowing that they are not terrible for their growing bodies!! Don’t get me wrong, we eat plenty of sugar (sadly); it’s just nice to take a break from it every now and then!
Enjoy!!
~Mary
I love to hear from you. Email any thoughts, questions, comments to me at mary@poopoofairy.com!
]]>My husband is a bit of a Disney buff. Ok … a BIG Disney buff! So, as a result, we have made several wonderful trips to Disneyland. Ryan, my husband, is like a giant kid when we go. He just eats up every magical detail of Disneyland. It’s actually pretty funny to watch! So, when we finally got the chance to go to DisneyWorld, it was a big deal. Ryan planned for a long time and made sure every detail was perfect.
One detail we didn’t fully anticipate was the fact that we had to be shuttled around in between the parks and our hotel due to the massive size of DisneyWorld! So, most evenings we would leave the park early to avoid the rush and to get the kids in bed early.
One night, however, we decided to stay so we could watch the fireworks. The kids were thrilled to stay up late … which for some reason, is the epitome of excitment for any kid! Things got really exciting when it started to rain near the end of the fireworks show. This began a mass exodus, everyone anxious to get home and out of the rain. The second I saw this, I knew we had stayed five minutes too long, and it was going to be quite a long journey home.
After waiting for nearly an hour in line to catch a shuttle, with tired, wet and cranky kids, we were finally able to board a shuttle. The shuttle was packed to the max, so we had to stand near the front of the bus for the whole 15 minute drive to our hotel. Beckham, who was 3 at the time, was too tired to stand, so I had the unfortunate task of holding a very heavy boy on a shaky shuttle. This was a challenge, indeed, and I nearly fell into other passengers laps several times.
Poor Beckham was so tired that he fell asleep in my arms, making his limp body feel even heavier. We were all wet and very cold on the overly air-conditioned shuttle. That is why it was odd when I felt something warm creeping down my leg and filling my shoe. It didn’t take long for me to realize that poor little Beckham, who was potty trained but still had a hard time holding it for long, had wet his pants. And I was in the direct line of fire!
He had apparently been needing to go potty for some time judging by the sheer volume of pee that drenched my shirt, pants, filled my shoe and was now emptying onto the bus floor. And even worse still, I had yet another 10 or so minutes standing on the freezing bus to be followed by a walk to our hotel…
Needless to say…we never attempted another late night at Disney again!!!
~Mary
I love to hear from you! Send any comments, questions, thoughts to me at mary@poopoofairy.com!
]]>Quinoa Enchilada Casserole!!
Ingredients:
1 cup quinoa
1 (10-ounce) can mild enchilada sauce
1 (4.5-ounce) can chopped green chiles, drained
1/2 cup corn kernels, frozen, canned or roasted
1/2 cup canned black beans, drained and rinsed
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, divided
3/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese, divided
1 avocado, halved, seeded, peeled and diced
1 Roma tomato, diced
Instructions:
In a large saucepan of 2 cups water, cook quinoa according to package instructions; set aside.
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly oil an 8x8 or 2 quart baking dish or coat with nonstick spray.
In a large bowl, combine quinoa, enchilada sauce, green chiles, corn, black beans, cilantro, cumin and chili powder; season with salt and pepper, to taste. Stir in 1/2 cup cheddar cheese and 1/2 cup mozzarella cheese.
Spread quinoa mixture into the prepared baking dish. Top with remaining cheeses. Place into oven and bake until bubbly and cheeses have melted, about 15 minutes.
This is such a versatile and delicious, healthy meal!! We love to eat these like tacos. We put some of this yumm-o casserole on a small wheat tortilla, then add shredded lettuce, sour cream, tomatoes, and avocados. My husband of course likes to add hot sauce! My kids will eat two or three of these tacos! And my baby eats the casserole with a spoon. It is definitely a winner for all!
Enjoy!
]]>
]]>It’s me, Paulina!!
I couldn’t wait to share more of my potty-training knowledge with you, so here goes…
Snag 3: The relapse
A relapse is not uncommon in certain situations. If you have big life changes coming up, such as a move to a new house, a new nanny being hired, or a baby being born, this may cause a fully potty-trained child to have a relapse.
When choosing a time to begin potty training, such circumstances should be considered, and if possible, potty training should be put off until after things are more settled and a normal routine is again established.
Should a relapse occur in a seasoned potty-goer, remember the ideology of the “Poo Poo Fairy.” Staying positive is key. If your child has already graduated as a trainee and said goodbye to me, I will not be able to come to your home to help - which makes me sad. But you can remind your child that they have already mastered potty-training. Remind them of how proud we all are and we know they can keep using the big-kid potty. You might want to re-read my story and remind your child of how I never gave up even though I wasn’t very good at many of the fairy helper talents that I tried to master before I became the Poo Poo Fairy. They can follow my example and never give up, even though we sometimes make mistakes!!
If you as parents really think it is best, I can come back to visit for a day or two. But I suggest doing that only if my trainee truly needs me!
Good Luck! And have a magical day!!
~Paulina
]]>Paulina here again!
I was fluttering with excitement to continue giving you tips on how to handle potty-training snags that may arise. So, without further delay, here is another helpful suggestion!!
Snag 2: The inevitable but dreaded…ACCIDENT
Though unpleasant, it is pretty typical for your trainee to have several accidents before they get a full grasp of potty training. This is natural, and it is important to remember not to get angry but to remain positive and encouraging!
You can minimize this occurrence by making sure you are continually asking your child if they have to go potty. A timer is super helpful in the beginning for you both to remember.
As your trainee progresses, though, you want to ask less and less. You would like to help them realize they are capable of holding it. You know your child’s capabilities better than anyone so your judgment is the best source. However, a good rule of thumb is to ask every hour or so if your trainee needs to go potty. As they become more seasoned potty goers, you will be able to ask them fewer times throughout the day.
If you expect a few accidents, you will be less likely to react negatively. Just like learning to ride a bike, you cannot expect perfection without a few stumbles along the way. When a new learner falls, you encourage them to be brave and to get up and try again. You would never get angry with them for falling down. Rather, rejoice in their willingness to pick themselves up and keep trying. Think of potty training as you would riding a bike. It would be very difficult to be perfect without a few stumbles along the way. You must avoid anger or disappointment. In its place encourage your child by reminding them that they are still learning and will get better with practice. Remind them that I am still watching them and waiting for them to succeed. Tell them you and I, Paulina the Poo Poo Fairy, believe that he/she knows that going potty in their pants is incorrect and that they only get rewards from me if they go in the potty.
If you are using big-kid underwear, an accident here or there may actually be beneficial to your journey!! By experiencing an accident, children are given the opportunity to realize how uncomfortable it is to have wet or dirty pants and will most likely try to avoid that feeling in the future.
Good luck and have a magical day!!
~Paulina
Have you ever had to wait for an absurdly long time in a waiting room? Hasn’t everyone? For some mysterious reason, every waiting room I have ever been in has always lived up to its name and has required me to wait in it for an excessively annoying amount of time. These long waits become particularly bothersome when you have small children with you... Believe me, I know from personal experience.
Due to the fact that I have found myself caught in a long-waiting episode, in a dull and boring waiting room on so many occasions with my kids, I have been forced to get creative with my methods of entertaining them. The novelty of being in a new place littered with a few shabby toys and books, surrounded by unfamiliar humans wears off pretty quickly. Thus I have often found myself in the middle of a roaring battle between allowing my children to be the crazy, energetic kids they are and the need to prove to all the stink eyes shooting in my direction that I am actually a good parent who has control over my children.
Here is the solution that has emerged from my many waiting room battles…Brain Challenges!! It has been my experience that every kid loves a challenge and rises to the occasion, so this little game has worked swimmingly as a means to pass the time in the ever-familiar waiting rooms of the world.
Here’s how we play:
I give each one of my children, in turn, an age appropriate math, science or English question to answer and we keep score…it’s that simple!
My kids love the challenge and have a grand time watching me try to stump them over and over again. Meanwhile, the waiting room minutes are ticking away while my kids remain subdued and engaged in learning. And the stink eyes of the room are all wafting in the direction of the lady in the opposite corner having an obnoxiously loud phone conversation and safely away from us! For heaven sakes if that isn’t a win, I don’t know what is!!
I hope this little tip saves you from all the stink eyes in your next waiting room…enjoy!!
]]>]]>
Hello, Paulina here!
Throughout my many exciting potty-training escapades, I have learned a thing or two about how to handle potty training "snags," as I like to call them. I have found that potty-training fun often comes with a twinkle of a problem here and there. The happy news is that this is very normal and must not be a reason to be discouraged. There are many ways to handle these problems with a touch of magic and patience!
I thought it would be fairytastic to share with you some of the magical ways I have discovered to handle potty-training snags that may arise.
Snag 1: The Reluctant “Goer”
“Just let it go!” All parents have said these words. The solution seems so simple to parents. However, to a child who has never done this before, the idea of “letting it go” in the potty rather than the diaper seems scary and foreign. The result is a battle between exhausted parents and an uncertain child with tightly clenched butt cheeks!
With the “Poo Poo Fairy” goal in mind to make potty training a whimsical and fun experience, frustration and tempers are unwelcome company.
Should you have a “reluctant goer,” try adding a little extra whimsy to the process. Get your sweet child’s mind off of their fear and onto ME by reading my story while they sit on the potty!! Remind them that I am there and excited to see them succeed. A reminder that I have rewards waiting for them if they succeed couldn’t hurt either!
Not working? Try this. You will need a willing helper, if possible. To further distract your trainee from any fear they might have, have my “helper” stand outside the closed bathroom door so they will not be noticed. And have them play some fairy or pixie noises from a mobile phone. These noises can easily be found and played off of the internet. While your child is listening with wide eyes of wonderment, remind your child that the Poo Poo Fairy is there outside the door, hopeful and waiting for them to succeed! You may also have your “helper” throw small treats such as chocolate chips or stickers under the door as your child calms down, begins to show a willingness to cooperate and then gives some valiant attempts. This will show my support and encourage your child to continue trying.
Good Luck and have a magical day!!
~Paulina
Along with the Veggie Fairies, I would love to share some of the most helpful, healthy and delicious recipes for snacks and meals that we have found that kids will love!!
I’ll start with a family favorite! This is a dinner that all my kids (including my almost 2 year old) love that has lots of hidden veggies and healthy foods!!
Thank you to Our Best Bites for the amazing recipe!!
Black Bean Soup
1 T olive oil
4 large cloves garlic, roughly chopped
3/4 C diced carrots (about 2 med carrots)
3/4 C diced celery (about 2 ribs)
1 C diced onion (about 1 sm-med onion)
2 cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 3.5oz can green chilies
2 cans low-sodium beef broth
1 t kosher salt
1/8 tsp black pepper
1/2 t chili powder
1/4 t cumin
1/2 t dry oregano leaves
1 bay leaf
1 lime
Optional Toppings: sour cream, tortilla chips, grated cheese, chopped cilantro, etc.
Place a large stock pot on the stove-top and set to medium-high heat. When pan is warm, add olive oil. Add carrots, celery, onion, and garlic and saute 4-5 minutes.
Add in the black beans, chilies, and beef broth. Stir to combine and then add the salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin, oregano, and bay leaf.
Simmer uncovered for about 20-25 minutes or until carrots are tender.
Remove from heat. Remove bay leaf from soup.
Place soup in a blender. (You could use an immersion blender in place of this step) Place lid on blender, but remove the stopper in the lid to let heat escape. Place a paper towel over the hole to avoid splatters.
Puree soup until completely smooth. Optionally you could pulse until a semi-chunky soup is achieved. Squeeze in the juice from one lime and pulse to combine.
Ladle into bowls and top with desired toppings. Serve with extra lime wedges.
Enjoy!!
]]>As the author of The Poo Poo Fairy, it seemed fitting to create a series of blog posts where I share stories of "poop adventures" from my own children as well as from my family and friends. I love to hear humorous stories if you feel so inclined to share and will pass them along here!! We are in this together! Every parent must join this potty-training club where "poop adventures" can and will happen. So, whenever you feel frustrated, here is a place where you can read of other people’s adventures with potty training and realize that you are definitely not the only one!
So to start out, I will share a "poop adventure" of my own:
Like every other night, we had begun our extensive bedtime routine with Jane, our first child. We had already attempted and abandoned potty training one time due to the fact that Jane stopped pooping altogether. She wouldn’t do it in the potty and even stopped doing it in her diaper; she was just terrified to do it at all. So, needless to say, Jane was - shall we say - long overdue for a "movement."
This night was business as usual. Jane, in preparation for her bath, was fully nude and running around the house like a crazy lady while the bathtub filled up. She was running feverishly, with an energy that I only wish I could muster at the end of the day, when all of a sudden she stopped rather abruptly with a quizzical, distant look. My husband and I were so enthralled with her strange behavior that we failed to notice in time: the familiar focused look that began to emerge on Jane’s face that came accompanied with a reddish tinge and a popping vein on her forehead.
These were the tell tale signs that Jane was trying to have a…ahem…movement! This realization came too late, and I was only able to scoop Jane up at the very moment that she had completed her task. Unfortunately, the stinky results lay smack dab in the middle of my freshly mopped kitchen floor.
I was torn between feeling happy that she had finally been able to have a much needed bowel movement and realizing that it would be my job to clean it up. I suppose that Jane thought she would give mid-air a whirl as a place to poop since both the potty and the diaper were disliked at that point in time. That is a moment in her potty training saga I shall never forget!
~Mary
I love hearing from you! Email me at mary@poopoofary.com or leave comments below!
]]>
We began the day like any other school day…busy, busy, busy! All rushed and frantic, we ran through our normal morning routine: get dressed, make beds, brush teeth, do hair, put socks on, eat breakfast, make lunches, jackets and shoes., etc., etc., etc. We loaded ourselves into the car and sped off to the school, ready to conquer our first day back after the holiday break!
The kids and I pulled into the parking lot of the school just as I was finishing my usual morning pep talk. It took us several seconds of utter confusion and dismay to realize that the parking lot was nearly empty and the school grounds - which should have been bustling with people - looked deserted. It slowly began to dawn on me that I may have mistaken the true day on which I should be bringing my children back to school. Hiding my face from anyone passing by, I quickly grabbed my phone to check the school website. Alas, I had indeed brought my kids to school...a day early…
I quickly tried to formulate a back-up story to explain my idiocy in case I encountered anyone I knew as I escaped from the school parking lot. However, we made it safely out of the school grounds without being noticed and were free to have a good chuckle over our mistake. My sweet kids and I giggled quite heartily as we drove home from school with the beautiful morning sun still shining down on us.
It was as I watched my kids’ giddiness over another day at home that I realized what a happy blunder this had all been. I had been given another beautiful day free of responsibility or commitment with my kiddos. We spent the day going out to lunch, playing play dough, doing kitchen science projects, watching movies, having laser-tag gun wars and dancing together! This day was a blessing in more ways than one. Not only was it just plain fun, but it was a day where I realized what a blessing these three children are to my life. They are what bring magic to my life, and I feel so honored to be their mom!
Cherish every moment with your little ones, for those magical moments will be here and then gone faster than we realize!
~Mary
]]>
By simply using things you have around the house you can create a fun and challenging obstacle course that will help kids expel some energy. Here are some ideas for your courses:
You can make your course large or do many small ones. You can time your kids or see how many challenges they can complete. Either way, your kiddos will love being challenged and getting out some energy.
My kids love to dance. If I turn on some good music and promise to take a video of their awesome moves, they will dance their little hearts out - releasing all sorts of energy along the way!!
This is a memory game: The first player does an action; the next player must do the action of the first player and then add on his/her own action; the third player then does the actions of the first two players in order and then adds another action. The game continues until someone forgets one of the actions in the series. And then you start again!!
Twister is a game I played and loved as a child. I have had so much fun watching my kids enjoy this game as much as I did as a kid. It is a great way to challenge your body, stretch out muscles and help children learn colors and the difference between right and left! Plus, it is just fun!
Have fun and stay active…for mom and dad’s benefit as much as your child’s!!
~Mary
I love hearing from you! Email me at mary@poopoofary.com or leave comments below!
]]>No, really! I truly believe that childhood is and should be a magical and carefree time. All too soon, a child will have to grow up and face the seriousness and at time, unpleasantness of the real world. I love the idea of taking every opportunity to make their little hears soar with the magic of being a child!
So, in my home, we partake of every magical delight we can. We build traps for leprechauns, search for the Easter bunny’s eggs, love the tooth fairy, build a spooky graveyard in our front yard for Halloween can’t wait for Santa every year and are looking forward to the Poo Poo Fairy coming to our home to potty train my youngest daughter, Elsie! We believe in princesses, wizards, Jedi knights, elves and everything in between; and I cherish every memory we share as we partake in all this magic.
I believe in magic! I believe in the power that it has to bring joy out of sadness, to make an ordinary day feel extraordinary, and to stir the imagination and inspire!! That is what it did for me as a child and that is what I hope it does for my kids!
So, I say, dream on and hope our kids never stop believing!!
~Mary
Ssshhh! Sleeping Beauty is sleeping! |
Halloween Spooktacular! |
Back to school party! |
Spending the day with a Ninja Turtle and a Unicorn! |
I am excited to have this new spot to share all my thoughts and stories, and what better way to start off Mary's Corner than with the story of how it all began with me and the Poo Poo Fairy!
Paulina, the Poo Poo Fairy, made her first appearance in my house many years ago as I embarked on my very first potty training adventure with my oldest daughter, Jane, who was two at the time. She is now eight! I had read books on the subject of potty training, had watched for the signs that Jane was ready, and psyched myself up mentally for the challenge. Needless to say, I felt thoroughly prepared to begin. To my great shock and dismay, my first attempt was a dismal failure…and I do mean DISMAL! Jane became terrified of pooping on the potty and would do everything in her power to hold it in. This, of course, made her terribly constipated and irritable. Which, in turn made me terribly irritable as well.
I ended up having to bag potty training, put Jane back in her diapers and pathetically try to teach her how to, again, poop in her diaper. I even had to use tootsie rolls and her favorite stuffed bunny as visuals. I am sure you can imagine the rest! So, instead of making progress with Jane, I took two steps backward and ended up with a very grumpy household! I had no idea potty training would be such a miserable experience for Jane as well as for me! Before my next attempt, I was quite determined to make potty training less horrible and even fun, if I could manage it.
This is when Paulina made her first grand entrance. I told Jane that the poo poo fairy was going to come and help her learn to use the potty. Jane knew that Paulina, her special fairy, would be watching her and would reward her when she tried hard and even more so when she had success! My sweet husband (always willing to go along with my crazy ideas) would stand outside the door playing fairy noises on his cell phone and would then toss a chocolate chip under the door every time Jane would give her best effort. And when she finally succeeded, Jane would be thrilled to run out to see the prize left by "Paulina." Throwing this tiny bit of magic into the process made it so much more fun, and we ended up having great success!
Paulina was so helpful with Jane’s potty training adventure that I naturally decided to use it with my son Beckham. Instead of tears and struggles, Beckham did amazingly well, and it became an activity our whole family (including Jane) could help with and enjoy. Upon witnessing the success the Poo Poo Fairy had when helping to potty train my children as well as my nieces and nephews, I decided that Paulina could certainly do the same for other children as well. I began to share the "Poo Poo Fairy" with anyone and everyone encountering difficulties like mine. I have been awed by Paulina's ability to make potty training a more delightful experience for other children and their parents. I am so excited to share her now with all of you!
~Mary
]]>