potty training

needless to say, dominic has had a little different up-bringing than a lot of boys. since before he can actually remember, it's just been his sister and i parenting him. as i've mentioned before, he is a very sweet, sensitve guy, but somehow inherently he is all rough and tumble on the outside. he has tackled his sister at the knees and taken her to the ground and kicks the tar out of kids on the soccer field...and sleeps with a bunny named cotton.

when we decided he was ready to potty train, we started off teaching him to sit when he pees. i actually have taught a bazillion boys to do it this way in the years i directed preschools. first sitting the right way, then sitting backwards for the aiming practice then at some point they just start standing up. so dom was in the sitting forward stage, and being rather resistant on using the potty every time. it was horribly frustrating to me, as at daycare, they had no trouble with him, and at home he was just lazy about it. so i always made him sleep in a diaper or a pull-up, just for saftey's sake.

one morning my three year wonder plods into the bathroom, growly because i made him use the bathroom before he was fully awake. i whip off the diaper and am completely astonished that it is DRY. i turn him around and try to plop him down. "GO" i say. he scowls at me and turns around and states "I PEE STANDING UP." "since when," i say, "now go".

dominic shoots me the hairy eyeball, puts both hands behind his back and firehoses into the toilet. doesn't drip a drop anywhere. then when he's done, smirks at me and shakes his little butt...all still without touching it-keeps his hands behind his back until he goes to flush, and then says in three year old smugness...

"see, I TOLD YOU SO."

hail mary, full of grace...

i was raised catholic. i have been to enough masses to save several souls, even of my calibur.

now, the catholic religion itself has never sat very well with me, and i'll get into that at some point. however, i do believe that all children need to be raised with a good, stable faith base. no matter what faith you choose, there should be somewhere that you can jump off when you reach the age to make your own decision. so, my kids are starting off catholic, regardless of my current positioning on the church. fortunately, my mother is heading up this upbringing, as i really am nowhere fit in this area, and i currently do not havea church i attend. she takes him to our home town an hour and a half away several weekends and a couple weeknites to have him participate in classes.

lil man has been going thru the first communion training process this year, which includes first confession. you learn a prayer for this and then are expected, at eight, to confess your immortal sins. he was to do this last night, and mom was picking him up after school so the morning was the last i'd see him until after he'd poured out his soul, literally. as i helped him dress, i explained that he had church clothes in his backpack, and asked him if he was excited.

"i'm anxious." (i love that he is learning new words and is trying to incorporate them into everyday life, to sound like his sister and me. "Why are you anxious bud? you've been practicing your prayers. you'll do fine."

"i'm nervous that i'll make a mistake and God won't forgive me."

awwwww...poor pickle. "oh huny," i say with a big smile, "all God cares about is that you are truly sorry and will try your hardest to make up for your sins." (see, i got this. i may not practice anymore, but i remember the schpeel.)

"but what if the priest tells everyone and they think i'm bad?"

"oh huny it's like a doctor. it's his job to keep the information you give him private. between you, him and God."

"but what if he thinks i'm bad. then God won't forgive me."

interesting. "ummm huny, what are you going to tell him?" at this point i'm somewhat concerned.

"well sometimes," he said with his chin nearly touching his chest in shame, "when i say 'huh' and you think i don't hear you, i do. i just don't feel like listening."

i had to stiffle my laugh. big sins this one has. "Well huny, i suppose you'll have to say some hail mary's to make it up to God and me."