All work and no play

So the flip side of Mister Independent, would be my free time. Lately Moose has been able to entertain himself, which obviously, frees me up too.

It’s been nice, I must say. My toenails have never looked better, and the house is relatively straight. (except all that stuff on the table-ignore that)

A few weekends ago, when we were in the midst of potty training, which roughly translates into *I was asking ‘do you need to go potty’* approximately every .0034 seconds, I started using TV as a privilege not a right. And that is going WELL, let me tell you.

I had told him if he told me he needed to go poo-poo in the potty, and didn’t go in his pants, that we would watch a show on Disney. Well, he didn’t make it, so I was stuck with him hanging out and “helping” me clean all morning. It wasn’t bad at all! He brought toys into whatever room I was messing around in, and quietly played.

Every other task or so, we would do something together for a little while, like Play Doh, or a walk outside. Then we would go back to me cleaning, and he would happily play. I must say he was in a much better mood at the end of the day, as was I. So this is our new pattern on Saturday morning when Cory is working.

So our TV watching has cut down to a third of TV we were watching. Moose has been much better with making it to the potty, but I will only let him watch one show or so, then we turn it off, and play. Coming from him watching it all morning, this is a big change. But the effects seem very positive.

He seems to playing more imaginatively-that is to say he pretends more with his cars and fire trucks and such. He doesn’t get swept up in TV, and forget to tell me has to pee which is a big plus:) And he seems to be able to entertain himself with his toys better, he is not constantly wanting the cars out of the box, or the puzzle, or the legos. He will play with one toy for an extended period, while I do whatever.

I must say I am enjoying it.