Three month EC pep talk.

The following is a letter I am writing to myself just as much as everyone else who is on the elimination communication train. Even though my second is now 7 months of age already. I wrote this and it was lost in my drafts. So I’m posting it now just in case I need to reference it if we truely decide to rock this parenting thing for a third child. I must remind myself it does take time, patience and love.

Dear ECer, 

  
    Don’t stop now!! You are doing a great job! Remember why you started this practice in the first place.

 You are communicating.

Three months isn’t a very long time to get to know your little completely. It takes time. She/he is developing new thoughts, motions and sometimes all of those things take a front seat to listening to cues all the time. 

Relax. 

You are communicating the best you can for now. Be an open arm for potty-tun-i ties. and be okay with stepping back when it is too much for either of you. 

It will get better. 

Even though it feels like miss after miss, at the end of a learning streak of other things, children who have regular EC communication typically come back even more aware than before the new development that has taken place. 

Your cleaning less poo diapers at this point most likely. If that isn’t something worth a high five or victory dance then I don’t know what is.   

You are building yet another means to communicate and let your child be heard thru their own needs. 

You have got this. Keep going. You will be glad to have had the time with your little.

Bookmark this page and read it as many times as you need during those bad days you may stumble upon. 

Know someone else is feeling the same way you are right now. You are not alone!
~Lightgreenmom

EC 2 years later.

I realize it has been a very long time since I have posted about our EC journey. We have been full time EC’ers since little h. was 2 days old. (If you don’t know what EC is read more about it here) Here we are 2 years later! I wanted to share an update for those of you curious as to where we are now and I also wanted to share some honesty about our journey with elimination communication.

So, I am happy to say that at 2 years old we are consistently going on the little potty or “big girl” potty 100% of the time. My 2 year old is in normal toddler underwear day and night and has been for a little over 6 months. We haven’t had a number 2 miss since she was a little under a year (even those were few and far between) We did have our minor setbacks of pee misses between one and two (you can read about that here) I don’t want to jump the guns and say graduated though. My definition of “graduated” seems to be a little different than the average ECer or even potty trainer of a toddler though I do believe. Let me explain;

EC Night Time magic.

Many times I have been asked, “How does EC possibly work at night?” So after a recent discussion with my husband of knowing H needed to go and him not wanting to mess with our “magic dream routine” by putting her on the potty.
I of course was a jerk and just thought he needed/wanted sleep more.
Then I thought about it…
It made me blush. Magic? I was magic?
He is rather supportive of all my crazy life and parenting passions.
So here it is, our version “magic EC at night” just in case you find yourself wondering what it looks like as a full time ECer.

EC Potty Pause Time.

Yes folks, We have a potty pause on our hands.  I suppose depending on how one defines it.  Around here, we consider anything out of the ordinary to our usual lines of communication a potty pause or rather break. To most EC’ers, it would mean a total refusal to go on the potty for a stretch of time wether it be a day, week, or even months as I have heard from other moms.  At our house it comes more in clusters of EC misses. Our Elimination Communication is changing.

DIY No Sew Baby T-Shirt

I did alot of purchasing  for little h. at thrift stores, second hand shops and thru friends with cute stuff long before I even had her. I also received many, many onesies as gifts. So needless to say I owned alot of clothes that in my opinion really are not very convenient to put on a baby.

Especially when Full Time ECing.

No more Snappi shirt snags.

Snap

Ok, so I am going to let you in on a little secret that was shared with me by a fellow mother (you know who you are and I can’t thank you enough<3)  I was ever so excited to no longer have shirt casualities. By the way this is a total “aha”, why didn’t I think of that kind of moment so be prepared.

Beach Day!

Pass A Grille Beach

It’s been quite a gloomy day here in “Sunny  Florida” so no better time to share our lovely family trip to the beach yesterday! I must say now that my husband isn’t working crazy shifts at two jobs we are finally (8months into this baby thing) getting into the swing of family time. No one tells you just how much more complicated it can be getting out of the house  with a baby.

EC, What is it?

 

Elimination Communication (Photo credit: lkonstanski)

You ask, what exactly is EC? 

EC is a short term for Elimination Communication. Also known as natural infant hygene. It is a  gentle, laid back process in which a baby has the opportunity with the loving support of parents and caregivers to share it’s elimination needs and have his/her needs addressed. Typically beginning from 0-20 months, but really is it ever too late to positively communicate anything with your baby?

About lightgreenmothering

This is me…Lightgreenmom 

A little about me and my little light green family…..My name is Heather (lightgreenmom). My amazing partner in this life Jeff and I have known each other since high school.  We have been on many adventures and gotten into many shenanigans along the way.   We finally were married in the winter of 2008.

     

Before becoming a mom, I was a stylist, educator and salon owner in a small town in Southern Ohio. I enjoyed the busy bustle of the salon, but felt there was something missing from the picture.

We then decided to move 1000 miles from the place we had called home since birth and start fresh by the beach in Sunny Florida. Along for the adventure  was our French Bulldog Sophie. You will certainly see her here at lightgreenmothering.