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Parenting

5 Steps to Potty Training Success! #StartPottyTraining #MC

Disclosure: I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting (#MC) for Pull-Ups. I received product samples to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating. All opinions are my own. 

Potty Training SuccessThis past week has been a busy one in our house. At the end of last week we celebrated RiRi’s 14th birthday, and then we celebrated Easter this past weekend. Saturday I had a laundry list of things to do, from grocery shopping to dying eggs, to creating my usual feast that we have grown accustomed to every holiday. Unfortunately, my body had other plans and what began as allergies quickly escalated to aches, pains, and ickies in general by Saturday evening. Thankfully my family took good care of me and I was feeling okay enough to participate in our Easter festivities, minus the big menu.

Surprisingly, through it all, RoRo decided on Saturday that he was ready to be a big boy. We’ve been working on potty training for months, but we’ve taken the slow & steady route until he felt comfortable enough for the next steps. It seemed to have been effective for him, because even though I was sick for the most part all weekend, RoRo has had no accidents! How easy was that?

Well, for starters there is a method. My oldest is now 19 years old, so I started potty training kids a long time ago. There’s a few things I’ve learned along the way that makes the process so much easier, it’s just 5 easy steps.

5 Steps to Potty Training Success

  1. Look for the signs. This usually starts somewhere between two and three years old. My older two were fully potty trained by the time they were 2 and 1/2, my younger two were over 3 years old. Here’s the signs to watch out for.
    • They can say the words to describe their bodily functions. This is an important one, because they have to be able to tell you that they went or that they need to. D-Man was an early talker, so he had this part down before he was even 2, but RoRo was a late talker and this is the part that held us up. Teach them the words for #1 and #2 as you change them, they will catch on.
    • They become interested in the toilet and their own potty if they have one already.
    • They can start to undress themselves, especially their lower half and they are uncomfortable with being wet or dirty and don’t want to be left in it. Bonus if they are taking off diapers when they’re dirty or wet. *This is a great time to introduce Huggies Pull-Ups. Pull-Ups are easy for kids to slip on and off and they also can feel when they are wet so they are perfect for this stage in training.
  2. Stay positive and be encouraging! Don’t be pushy. You don’t want to scare your baby, this will have the opposite effect and could make the process so much longer. We don’t want that! Always give praise and show your little one how exciting this time is. Let them know it’s wonderful to be excited, clap, give stickers, whatever works for you!
  3. Make it easy. Once your little one knows the basics and seems comfortable, create an atmosphere that is centered around the potty training. At least for a few days and then you can make adjustments. For instance, the past few months we’ve been working with RoRo. His vocabulary has finally built up, he showed all the signs, he’d gotten comfortable with his potty where he knew what to expect with it, how it worked and how to take it apart and put it back together. It wasn’t new anymore, so it wasn’t something he wanted to play with any longer. He now knew what it was for, so we kept it in the family room, which is a comfortable area for us. He began by sitting on it while watching tv, with his clothes on. Then he would use it properly, but still in our common area. This past weekend we let him run around with his bottoms off for most of Saturday, and he used the potty every time. Once he got the hang of it, we put the potty back in the bathroom after a day or two so now he knows to head in there when he’s ready. We still use Pull-Ups when we are out running errands, but at home we’ve graduated to undergarments. Yay!
  4. No liquids before naptime/bedtime. Try to keep your little one on a consistent schedule, this makes it easier to know when to stop the liquids before bedtime. If your little one has a giant cup of juice before naptime chances are an accident is bound to happen. Prevent whats preventable.
  5. Make it fun! This is probably the most important part. Potty training is a huge step in your child’s growing independence. It’s exciting and a big milestone. Create fun songs or games, and decide on appropriate rewards. These all make it so exciting for your little one and will make a big difference. *The Big Kid App that’s available on Apple or Android smart phones was so useful for both D-Man and RoRo, the interactive games and videos made such a difference and definitely encouraged them both in such a fun way. 

pullups1.1

Pull-Ups has been instrumental in the success of our potty training journey

There’s tons of useful information on the Pull-Ups Big Kid Academy website as well as on Facebook and their Twitter page. In addition, Pull-Ups has partnered with The First Years to help make potty training even more fun with some of your childs favorite characters! With the purchase of a specialty potty system from The First Years, you will also recieve a free sample pack of Pull-Ups Training Pants to get you and your child started on your potty training journey!

Do you have any funny potty training stories or helpful tricks or tips? Please share!

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[Sponsored]: Summertime is coming and will be here before we know it! You all know that I love easy meals during the warmer months, and I also love a good meal in a bowl. It’s also Vidalia Onion season 🧅 so I paired this seasonal favorite with pan-seared shrimp and veggies as a light rice bowl using your choice of grains.☺️This meal is an absolute delight!

#OnlyVidalia Get the recipe and all the Vidalia Onion details by clicking the link in my profile @mamaharriskitchen. Also make sure to grab some @vidaliaonions1 from your local grocer before they are out of season in late August/early September.☀️
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This time of year I love warm, comforting recipes that are super easy and delish. This ridiculously easy Chicken Tortilla Soup is a one pot meal, ready in under 30 minutes and uses already prepared rotisserie chicken for maximum flavor (and ease)! With a tasty blend of flavors and textures, it’s like a bowl full of comfort. 

Get the recipe by clicking the link in profile at @mamaharriskitchen or just google “Mama Harris Kitchen Easy Chicken Tortilla Soup” 🍲 Enjoy!
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(AD) There has been a lot of cooking going on this year, so I’ve tried to make life a bit easier by getting creative with my leftovers. These pulled pork totchos are a great example of leftovers with a few key ingredients to create something new to keep our meals exciting. Adding a few key ingredients like @lamorenausa adobo peppers and jalapeños and carrots definitely livens up something simple. La Morena peppers are hand selected, using only the highest quality peppers to bring you authentic home style flavors of Mexico. I purchased my La Morena items from my local Safeway, but you can find them at your favorite grocery store in the international food section. #PayItForwardwithLM #VivaLaMorena #WeCanWithLaMorena 
 
INGREDIENTS:
- 32 oz tater tots
- 2 cups shredded cheese (Mexican blend + Pepper Jack)
- 2 cups prepared bbq pulled pork (check my pulled pork sliders recipe!)
- 1/2 can La Morena Adobo Peppers & Sauce
- 2 tablespoons sour cream 
- 2 tablespoons ranch dressing
- 1 cup pico de Gallo
- 1/2 cup guacamole
- 3 chopped green onions 
- 3-4 La Morena jalapeños and carrots, sliced

INSTRUCTIONS:
Prepare tater tots as instructed, in air fryer or oven. Heat oven to 450°. 
Cover the bottom of a large cast iron skillet with the cooked tater tots. 
Top with 1 1/2 cup of cheese. 
Combine the chopped adobo peppers and sauce with the prepared bbq pulled pork. Spread the pulled pork mixture on top of the tater tots, then top with the remaining cheese.
Bake in the preheated oven for 5 minutes.
Top with sour cream, ranch, pico de Gallo, guacamole, green onions, and sliced jalapeños and carrots.

Enjoy!! 😋
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✨Growth✨
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Happy December, all!! 🎄Since it’s basically Christmas now, it’s time to share ALL the holiday cookies! 

Every year I join my friend @natashanicholes as she heads up her #HousefulofCookies virtual cookie swap, where many of us share some sweet treats for the holiday season. 

This year I’ve created Cranberry Pistachio Citrus Cookies to share as my contribution. 🍪 I know that a lot of things have turned “virtual” throughout this year, but a little virtual bake-off is a fun way to connect with some of your favorite people!

For this recipe and many more, click the link in my profile at @mamaharriskitchen ❤️
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🚨This recipe is always popular after Thanksgiving! 🍗 
To find out how to make these delicious savory crêpes filled with sautéed mushrooms, Swiss cheese and leftover shredded Turkey click the link in profile at @mamaharriskitchen 😋
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So Thanksgiving is next week and we’re well into soup season, but I’m not willing to give up my Taco Tuesdays. 🌮 At this point we are choosing whatever makes us happy to get through the weeks, am I right? ❤️

If you’re looking for a quick dinner that’s ready in just 30 minutes, on taco Tuesday or any other day really, try my baked Turkey tacos with black beans plus all the toppings that your heart desires! 😘
Click the link in bio at @mamaharriskitchen for the recipe!
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Hello Instagram fam! 💖 There’s some new faces around here and it’s been a while since I showed mine!

I’m Dawn, creator of Mama Harris’ Kitchen, and I’m so glad you’re here with me! In this space I share my family-friendly recipes for all occasions, whether it be a 30-minute meal for those busy weeknight dinners or a full spread for entertaining a crowd - and everything in between.

Mama Harris’ Kitchen began back in 2012, in fact it’s 8 years this month! 🥳  What started as a way to document my newfound cooking hobby while managing my “new” life as a stay-at-home wife and mom to a 1 and 3 year along with teens and preteens, and it quickly grew into what it is now - a recipe resource for busy families like mine that enjoy flavorful and comforting home-cooking using pantry staples along with fresh and local ingredients as often as possible. 

🍿Five fun facts about me:
1. I LOVE elephants! 🐘 I collect a lot of elephant items, whether it’s trinkets or  artwork, notepads etc. I love what elephants symbolize and I truly love anything elephant related.
2. I’m a total plant lady! 🌱 I have about 35 houseplants, give or take, and there’s still more on the list of wants. Plants have become such a peaceful outlet for me, and I feel that they really center me within my space. I love the element plants bring to your space and the feel of your home with them in it, and new leaves are so exciting!
3. I have seven tattoos and I have plans for about eight more. 💉 Those that know me aren’t surprised, but those that follow me here tend to find it a bit surprising. 🙃
4. I’ve been a mother for a long time, over half my life! I’ve also been a lot of different “types” of mom - teen mom, single mom, working mom, stepmom, stay at home mom, PROUD mom, military mom, mother in law - the list goes on. No matter what, motherhood looks different for everyone and there’s unique challenges and experiences each mother faces. Please be gentle with yourself! ❤️At the end of the day we’re all just trying our best!
5. I’m a bit of an introvert, and often struggle with the “social” aspect of social media. I tend to go silent sometimes, but I’m working on it.

☀️Thank you for joining me here!
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Did you know that the third Sunday of July is considered National Ice Cream Day? 🍦Not that we need an excuse to enjoy our favorite treat! You can make any day one to celebrate with my Birthday Cake Ice Cream! Full of rich creamy flavor, colorful sprinkles and maraschino cherries. 🍒 No “official” birthday needed to treat yourself!

Get the recipe now! Click the link in my profile at @mamaharriskitchen ✨
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