#1 Looks like 3 year old Ben is ready - I was going through this babycenter.com potty training readiness list and checked every box off.

#2 Are we ready?

I know potty training is a MAJOR milestone. It won’t be easy. But it’s time: He immediately tells us when he needs to be changed, and when we do - he just kicks back with his arms folded behind his head chatting away as we change him.

Part of me is.

Dude.
It’s time to use the toilet.
Seriously.

Another part is -

Wow, diapers are easy.
No frantic rush to find a public toilet or “Why didn’t you tell me you had to go BEFORE we left the house?”

But of course it must be done. He starts preschool in the fall - and that is part of the requirement -children must be potty-trained!

But I feel like first we as parents need to be trained. We want to go about this correctly and I know it’s not an issue to be pressured or forced.

So I ask you Cribsheeters - what is your sage advice on how to go about preparing the parents to be potty trainers?
And what tips or methods worked for you when training?

Frequent commenter Robin recently sent in a question to ask our Cribsheet readers with their wealth of knowledge and personal experience:

Pundit mom, is trying to win her “dream assignment” traveling around the country talking to moms about the economy and how they are making changes and surviving.
More on her dream assignment here.

She wants to know if anyone had any innovative tips or new ways that they were making ends meet lately, as well as other things that they have done (second jobs, bring kids home from daycare, etc) or other stories they might be able to share. I told her that the Cribsheeters likely had all of the answers when it comes to tips and stories, so I’m submitting the question to you.

- Robin

Cribsheeters - how are you stretching the family budget these days?

I had to pull out this request from Cribsheeter Darcie’s comment on May’s Guilty Vacationer post from last week.
She’d love to have some nearby (and affordable) inspiration for a week off with the kids. (I’m curious myself)

This sounds sooo dreamy…We’ve been talking about it ~ but - without passports in hand - we are automatically out $400 just for that - tack on paying for daycare’s vacation even though we aren’t there that week and we’re already broke before getting our plane tickets and resort stay figured out!
Which leads me to ask you guys for a new post about where to go with little ones that is fun/afforable/close/easy or what have you?
We are really struggling for our (forced) daycare vacation this month - the kids are too little to really care about the Dells - and who wants to go there when it’s still winter outside, etc.

Let’s get some Cribsheeters ideas flowing! Maybe my vacation/staycation can be saved!

Where can Darcie and family go nearby without draining their wallets?

Once again asking advice of our Cribsheeters. I recently recieved a “Flat Stanley” in the mail from my niece, Grace, in Illinois. I am in need of a plan B. My first thought was to take him to the Walker Sculpture Garden for a classic Spoonbridge and Cherry shot. But alas, that’s temporarily just “Spoonbridge.” Not as much fun without the cherry on top.
Where should I take him around here? Where have you taken a Flat Stanley?
I need inspiration!

How Flat Stanley works click here.

Did you see me this weekend? I was the one at Target trying to get out of the checkout lane as fast as I could as my 3 year old screamed at the top of his lungs. Yes I was THAT mother. Trying desperately to appease him with various ploys and distractions that didn’t work.
I should have known better - but pushed my luck and cut our errand time too close to nap time and a very cranky boy was the result.
Lots of stares and glares along with a few kindly grandmothers asking what they could do to help me.
I was not going to abandon the brimming cart of necessities and walk out. I needed those diapers and wipes!
Thankfully the woman behind me in line said with a sympathetic smile “Been there, done that, have the t-shirt.”
I think she even chose my line on purpose for moral support. (Thank you nice lady - I will do the same in the future).
So I swiped my card and hustled out of there with Ben still crying through the parking lot.
Of course the second I buckled him into the carseat he was all done. Smiley and chit chatty on the way home. *Sigh*

What do you do to manage meltdowns? I need a few tricks up my sleeve.