miscellany

[moominmolly]

Out of curiosity, I googled "Molly needs", and learned that out of the top 10 hits, 5 were for animals needing new homes (4 dogs and a horse). So, apparently, not only is Molly a popular dog name -- I've known at least 3 Molly-dogs, myself -- but it's a popular name for dogs that need to be given away.

Yesterday, we moved our bed and dresser down into our newly-refinished basement bedroom. When we went to sleep I felt like I was camping out, but when I woke up to a purring kitty nestled up against my feet, I felt like it was our bedroom. Excellent! We have so much more floor space, now. I'm looking forward to watching it shape up.

There was an article in the New York Times the other day about toilet-training infants, although the proponents of the idea seem to not like the word "training". Have any of you known people who've tried this? It seems labor-intensive, but definitely interesting. I like the idea of never training a child to rely on diapers 100% of the time, and then having to untrain them a couple of years later. It seems to be all over the place, suddenly: the "elimination communication" forum on mothering.com mentions People Magazine and Good Morning America in addition to the Times article. I'm probably going to the local group listed on diaperfreebaby.org on the 17th to see what they have to say, but anecdotal "we tried this" stories would be welcome. (And, ahh, please don't just chime in with "what a stupid idea", since I'm actually looking for information.)

Also, I decided against doing the 10k walk today, even though they already have my registration money. The idea of potentially spending 2 - 2.5 hours in the rain was bad enough, but my back also hurts from moving stuff around and cutting carpet last night. It just didn't seem like a good idea, anymore. I might walk 10k with D again next weekendish, just to see if I can cut my time down a bit more. Also, it's a lovely distraction and it makes me feel all capable.

Work news: on Friday, some coworkers were joking about making an illicit late-night furniture raid to snag me a Huge Comfy Chair. This partucular HCC had been previously swiped from a nearly-unused self-study room by a facilities guy for another pregnant woman in the department, who had her baby in September and is currently out on maternity leave. I thought that my coworkers were joking, but when I came in to the office this morning, there it was. (Here's a special bonus shot of the other half of my cubicle, so you can see that I'm not locked in a cage -- it's actually a very nice, isolated corner window cube with trees right outside.)

Comments

[dbang.livejournal.com]

I did a bunch of reading on EC before Colton was born, and decided it was not right for our family. It really depends on you being able to be with and paying attention to the baby all the time. In our family of three, that just wasn't gonna happen. It also really doesn't work if you have a child in childcare (unless you have a nanny, and she's willing to do it, which I think 99% of people wouldn't. "What a stupid idea!") You also have to have a high tolerance for accidents, which...well, I don't.

If you decide to try it, try to find one of those elusive "moderate" EC groups. It is my opinion that the extreme ones (never a diaper under any circumstance, ever!) are nuts. Do they never take their kids on long car rides?! I do believe there are people who work EC into a reasonable modern life -- find them. :-)

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

It is my opinion that the extreme ones [...] are nuts.

It seemed that way to me, too! And yet, the moderate people who do use diapers a lot of the time seem like real humans. If I can find a moderate group, I'll join it. If I can't, I may see if we can do it on our own. Basically, there's no way I'm giving up diapers entirely.

But! Since there will be only one baby, and since we'll have the luxury of having one of us at home for 8 months or so, it might be worth a shot. And, if it doesn't work out, it's hardly the end of the world.

M

[sconstant.livejournal.com]

My understanding is that even "success" is considered like a 25% accident rate, there is a lot of laundry and rug cleaner involved. I admit that I haven't looked into it closely, but it seems to take a huge time and effort committment for a very small payoff.

On the other hand, I've noticed that (because it's in their own best interest) a lot of diaper companies are trying to up the age of potty training (for example, "Pull-Ups" advertises their product with lots of older kids using their diapers to show that "I'm a big kid now.")

[srl.livejournal.com]

On EC, talk to lsl and avon. I was skeptical, but together with baby sign it seems to be... useful. (Also, cute.)

[aroraborealis.livejournal.com]

Oooh! I've thought that if I had a kid, I'd try the EC thing (but, yes, moderate, moderate!), so if you do it, I'll be excited to hear how it goes!

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

If we do it, I'd probably be thrilled to know anyone who is interested in hearing about it. :) I think I'd have to start a separate journal...

[aroraborealis.livejournal.com]

moominpeepee?
hurry_with_that_towel?
ssssssssaaahhh?

;)

[starphire.livejournal.com]

I have friends who have done this with their daughter; she'd be about 2 years old by now. I should get in touch with them and ask about their experiences.

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

I'd love to hear what they have to say, if you do.

[nitouche.livejournal.com]

I've only done a little bit of reading about it, and haven't looked at the extremist stuff at all. The thing that makes sense to me is the early association of elimination with the toilet; it seems like if that association is already there it would keep it from becoming a big power struggle at a later stage.* And while I'm not hugely experienced with Other People's Babies, it always seems like bowel movements in particular are not that subtle; they always seem to make faces & go bright purple.

So basically I was thinking of trying a moderate version; of course he'll wear a diaper, but if we manage to catch him in flagrante then we'll whisk him over the toilet. Either way we won't make a big deal about it. Does that sound reasonable?

*My favourite power struggle story -- a friend's daughter at age 2 1/2 would *refuse* to empty her bowels unless she were standing facing a corner wearing her party dress. I think her parents are thinking of telling this story when her date arrives for her senior prom...

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

The thing that makes sense to me is the early association of elimination with the toilet; it seems like if that association is already there it would keep it from becoming a big power struggle at a later stage.

Yeah! Exactly.

I was thinking of trying basically the same approach you mention -- use diapers all the time, but do try to watch for cues and use the toilet whenever possible.

That power struggle story is TOTALLY BIZARRE. I'm enchanted and terrified. :)

[nitouche.livejournal.com]

That power struggle story is TOTALLY BIZARRE. I'm enchanted and terrified. :)

It seems like some freaky-ass combination of Cinderella and the Blair Witch Project to me...

Hey, we finished our prenatal classes yesterday -- I think the highlight for me was the Norwegian breastfeeding video, particularly the Bergmanesque black and white flashbacks to the horrors of the non-breastfeeding 1960s. I think I will always associate breastfeeding with skiing now...

[dbang.livejournal.com]

if we manage to catch him in flagrante then we'll whisk him over the toilet.

In my experience, by the time you get the diaper OFF...the moment has passed. Or worse yet, is in passing, and you end up with a trail of poop from the nursery to the bathroom.

Having read what I did of EC, I had a similar idea: I won't do EC, but I can certainly take advantage of circumstances that present themselves. In real life, though, I found it didn't really work that way. Diapers are SO damn convenient (really truly). You have to be pretty committed to make it work.

(Reminds me of breastfeeding. I was a committed breastfeeder, but my observation of moms who said "Oh, I'll nurse a little here and there as it is convenient, bottle feed the rest of the time" is that within weeks they were 100% bottlefeeding.)

Not to discourage you; in fact, the reverse, if you really want to do EC, you might want to psych yourself up for giving it a good solid try rather than, if you'll pardon the expression, catch as catch can.

[bethr.livejournal.com]

I was under the impression that hawkegirl had at least attempted it, but I could be wrong---maybe she just talked about it.

If you are planning to go back to work, forget even trying.

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

I'm going to be at home for 6 months, and D is going to be at home for a couple of months after that -- from what I've read, one can at least make a lot of headway in 8 months. Theoretically.

[water-childe.livejournal.com]

I don't have much to add.
I've done a lot of childcare work in the past.
I agree kids are usually not subtle when they need to go in terms of making obvious faces.

My favorite story in this vein involved a friends eldest daughter, Rose. Rose was mostly toilet trained at this point (I think she was around 2 1/2), although she still wore diapers for long car trips or other simular occations. Once we had stopped to get some food while on a trip. She started making the most ridiculous faces. Think old Tex Avery cartoons. Eyes bugging out of her head and such. Her mother asked, "Rose, are you okay? Are you trying to go potty?" To which Rose responded,
"Hurggggggggg."
"ROSE! What's wrong?"
"Mommy, my stinky is stuck!"

[harimad.livejournal.com]

I'm at work and I'm losing it so badly I can barely type. I hope no one asks me why I'm dissolving into silent, crying laughter. Then again, most of them have kids, it would probably resonate.

[gretchens.livejournal.com]

I have no info on EC, but wanted to share that after the number one hit of "gretchen needs sleep" (hell yeah), most of the hits were for wounded dogs. And some abandoned ones. German shepherds and dachsunds, which is fair, since I was named after a dachsund myself.

[dnereverri.livejournal.com]

Out of curiosity, I googled "Molly needs", and learned that out of the top 10 hits, 5 were for animals needing new homes

Several of the hits I get are for kids who need foster care/adoption, which is a little depressing, somehow. Plus "it's obvious that we need to get rid of Corey and Corey needs to get out of Chicago", with the extra note that "The last thing Corey needs is seeing his friend’s body ripped apart by a blast in front of his eyes." Frankly, it's a little unnerving. :)

[mindlace.livejournal.com]

I recommend a rug with fractal patterns for maximum floor shaping action.