The Great Kaysby

Five Thoughts

Today is one of those days where I know I want to write, but I’m struggling to come up with one topic on which to focus. So, I’m just going to share a few thoughts with you.

1. Three-nagers! Anyone else currently have a three-nager? It is a very interesting phase! On one hand there is still the adorable toddler-ness where they want to help and spend all day with you. They don’t want to miss out on anything. However, they also frequently yell “I do it! I do it myself!” I’m pretty sure negotiation situations would be over a lot quicker if three-nagers were sent in for talks!

2. Fire! Fire is a fascinating element. Lots of good times happen around campfires. Songs are sang; stories are told; drinks are had. On the other hand, the mass amount of destruction that can happen from fire in a very short time is horrific. Thinking about Gatlinburg today! https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/gatlinburg-fire-department-responds-to-fire-at-shopping-center-on-the-parkway/51-c173e086-afa7-44aa-967e-8dd953ece898

3. Headlines are intriguing! Today, I saw this headline in my newsfeed: “Increased risk for all-cause dementia in people who abstain from alcohol”. I didn’t read the article, but my first thought was “Whew! I’m safe!” Thank you to my 20s and the current occasional glass of wine! Article can be read here: https://www.news-medical.net/amp/news/20220930/Increased-risk-for-all-cause-dementia-in-people-who-abstain-from-alcohol.aspx

4. Never go in a grocery store hungry! We went to the grocery today for one thing, and we came out $114 and a bunch of things later. At least we did get the one thing, and I now have breakfast and toilet paper for the next two weeks.

5. Fall is beautiful! Leaves are changing, sweatshirts are out, and there is a chill in the air. It doesn’t get much better than this weather wise. Unless there is snow up to my knees. I do like massive amounts of snow!

What are you thinking about today?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

The Wizard of…

Currently, I’m working on costumes for a production of The Wizard of Oz. The director recently asked adult friends what the show means to them so that she could share that with the cast. Since seeing the question, I keep thinking about what the movie version means to me. On one hand, I’m kind of like The Wizard of Meh, but on the other hand, I see the cultural impact and highly respect the innovate technology used when making the film.

So let’s break it down by starting with the meh. I remember watching the movie as a kid, and I know I watched it a few times because I distinctly remember that we recorded it off the TV. In fact, I remember fast forwarding through the commercials and then having to rewind when going to far! Other than that, my only major memory of watching Oz as a child is that I liked to make believe Glinda was flying around every time I played with bubbles. In contrast to my The Wizard of Oz lack of memories, I have AMAZING memories of Return to Oz!!! When I was around 7, it was one of my favorite movies! We rented it and Willow from Video Vault more than any other customer! I loved the whole thing. Dorothy gone crazy? Made sense to me! Chicken pet? Way cooler than a dog! Plus, Tick Tock was a fantastic companion, and a wicked queen who could change heads was just enough creepy and cool to my little self! I freaking loved that movie!!!!

From an art perspective, I do have mad respect for all of the technical work that made The Wizard of Oz. First of all, the use of technicolor was absolutely brilliant! It was such a thematic impact to go from sepia tones to technicolor! Secondly, Judy Garland was a gem. “Over the Rainbow” was magnificent and her rendition is still top notch (though my favorite version is Matthew Morrison singing it while playing the ukulele)! Victor Fleming should not have slapped her, and I hate that the grueling schedule of this film is allegedly what fueled the fire that would become her drug addiction! Finally, the costumes – though they literally poisoned a couple of people – and sets were brilliant for their time! The ruby slippers (fun fact, in the book they are silver) are iconic! So I definitely have to give the film props from a tech perspective, and I must admit that when I went to The Wizard of Oz museum as a teenager, all the tech stuff on display was cool!

There are two other things that make me feel meh about The Wizard of Oz. To get one of them, you have to understand that my grandparents lived in Kansas, and we went to see them every summer. Anytime we mentioned going to Kansas, someone would inevitably ask, “Oh, are you going to see Dorothy and Toto?” I guess they thought it was cute, but I remember being a kid around 5 years old and getting an attitude with a cashier who in my head was asking a ridiculous question. I distinctly remember telling the cashier that “No, my Grandma Dorothy lives here!” There’s a good chance I also said something about not liking dogs. The second thing that makes me feel meh about the movie is that between 8 and 10, I read the book. I was amazed at all the great differences that were left out of the movie! I loved the wolves and backstory of the Tinman the most! Also, as someone who loved Kansas as a kid, I liked that in the book Dorothy didn’t hate Kansas and farm life. I also loved the other witches! I know you can’t put every detail from a movie into a book, but I would’ve left the wolves!

I’m glad people love The Wizard of Oz. Plus, I completely understand the fandom given the number of things I fangirl about that people don’t get. Even though the movie’s not my favorite I would like to one day see the amusement park in North Carolina. What can I say? I have an interest in abandoned – or in this case mostly abandoned – amusement parks. I will also add that as a kid, I saw a stage version and loved it, but I’ve always enjoyed live theatre. I remember seeing a musical on stage way before I remember watching TV and movies. I can also say that I’m super excited to be working on the costumes, and I can’t wait to see what the cast and crew do to bring Oz alive in a little over a week!

What does Oz mean to you?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

100,000 Miles

You know those moments where you can always remember where you were and how you felt? Last week, we experienced one of those moments! I would tell you where I was, but some info has to stay classified; however, I will tell you that I was so excited, I couldn’t stop laughing and shrieking with glee! What was so exciting? Princess Zippy crossed 100,000 miles! Princess Zippy is the third car I’ve ever owned, and she’s the second one that I remember excitedly waiting for 100,000 miles! I’m not sure why I feel like this is such a major event. Perhaps because of all of the joy that she’s brought into our lives!

Princess Zippy came into our lives at a time when we were desperate for a new (to us) car. Old Blue had become to expensive to repair, and we needed a car that could take us on a business trip in five days. Luckily, I had started looking and test driving the last time Old Blue gave us fits. Plus, I had a dream of owning a Kia since they first became popular (you know, back when if you looked at them wrong they would dent). We were very lucky to find a Kia with extremely low mileage (she’d been a dealer car) under our budget! So the memories began quickly!

Since we got Princess Zippy, she’s traveled the country! She’s taken us to Dallas, Myrtle Beach, the Poconos, St Louis, Nashville, Gatlinburg, and more! During these road-trips, some of the best conversations have been had! For as long as I can remember, one of mine and Mr Kisby’s favorite things has been the philosophical and passionate discussions on car trips! These trips have also involved more laughter than the law should allow! Some of the best laughs have been had during those slap happy late night hours! These conversations have also seen goals set, affirmations made, and business tips exchanged! Oh, and the music! The music of road-trips has been so much fun! There’s nothing like flying down the interstate jamming out at the top of your lungs! Bonus, Princess Zippy even survived two break in attempts while in overnight parking (in a place not mentioned above). The score? Princess Zippy not getting opened up two and potential robbers zero! I cannot wait to see where else she travels!

Beyond trips, Princess Zippy is part of the greatest event of our lives: she brought LilKsby home from the hospital! Boy, talk about a terrifying drive! Never ever has 35 MPH felt so fast and dangerous. Princess Zippy has safely gotten us from the infant seat stage to the rear facing convertible seat phase to the current forward facing convertible seat saga, or as unlike to call it, “The now I can throw things at you while you drive” saga. Side note: never let anyone tell you a car seat can’t be put in the middle of the backseat of a Kia. It can too! Princess Zippy’s been a school on the road, helped LilKsby learn locations (by the way it would be GREAT if every McDonalds couldn’t be seen from like two miles away), and been a major part of his ever developing since of direction. He’s only three, but he can tell you if you’re taking the wrong (not normal) way somewhere, and he’s also mastered traffic lights, stop signs, and which roads we use the most! I love our family time in Princess Zippy!

In addition to family fun, Princess Zippy has been my main business transportation. She taught us the value of hatchbacks when I was at an outdoor vendor event, and it started raining. We literally threw everything in the hatchback and sat watching the street turn into a creek! She’s my advertisement on wheels, and she’s become a conversation piece when I meet mom’s at toddler/preschool events. How cool is that?

I realize it may be weird to be so excited about a car, but Princess Zippy has been with us through a lot. I can’t wait to see where the next 100,000 miles takes us!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Incredible Coincidence

Yesterday, I was cleaning out our garage. It was about as thrilling of a job as it sounds like. While I was cleaning, I came across the old flag that needs to be taken to the American Legion for proper disposal. My grandfather was part of the group that did this at his Legion Post, and I started thinking about him as I folded the flag. I hadn’t thought about him in a long time.

Fast forward to this afternoon. I’m at the zoo riding the carousel with LilKsby, and I get a call from an unknown number. I don’t answer it thinking if it’s important they will leave a voicemail. When we got to the car, there was indeed a voicemail. To my complete shock and awe (seriously, that’s an understatement), the voicemail was from the sister my grandfather never knew he had. I couldn’t believe it! I had sent a letter to a stranger on a whim as part of a library summer reading challenge thinking that there was a slim chance the stranger could help me with genealogy. This was months ago!

I called my mom right away and was like “I just got a voicemail from the aunt you didn’t know you had.” She was as shocked as I was. Then this evening, together we called her. I can’t begin to tell you how amazing it was to start having some gaps in family history filled in! I’m still in awe and still processing so much! In fact, I’m writing this more for me than anything. I want to always remember that I was sitting in the driver’s seat of my car at the zoo with LilKsby in the back when I learned that I have a great aunt! Talk about once in a lifetime opportunity!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Ariel is Amazing ❤️

When I was a little girl, I loved Ariel from The Little Mermaid. I remember attempting to play mermaid in the swimming pool and bathtub! It was fun to pretend to have fins and a mermaid tail! I also remember how special it was to get my Ariel doll! I had to put a rain check in for her at K-mart (two things younger people won’t understand lol), and I was super excited when I got to pick her up. She had a purple plastic seashell topic and satiny green mermaid tail that was removable! I played with her all the time. Ariel was special to me because we had two big things in common: loving the water and red hair. The later of which was VERY uncommon for the main character to have.

As an adult I still love Ariel, and I’ve realized that she was all about breaking boundaries from the get go. Back in 1989, the idea of a heroine with red hair was pretty much unheard of in movies. It seemed that red heads were either snobby (Daphne on Scooby Doo), nerdy (a lot of Molly Ringwald characters), or evil step sister clones. Ariel gave us red heads the chance to see that we too can be princesses! I love seeing that boundary broken!

I’m even more proud today to see Ariel breaking boundaries again in 2023 with the live action version of The Little Mermaid. This time she’s rocking the red hair, and she is a POC (person of color)! I love this because it means that Ariel is now breaking boundaries for even more people! For me this is a perfect way to continue to the legacy of Ariel as someone who opens the ability to dream to those without as much positive representation! To all of the haters posting things like #notmyariel, get over your keyboard cowboy self and re-think about why the character of Ariel is so important. Think about how she is now going to help so many more people by being more relatable! Side note, I bet these haters weren’t hating in the 90s when Brandy and Whitney (may she RIP) took on the roles of Cinderella and the Fairy Godmother! Of course they didn’t have their keyboards and social media to hide behind then either!

To all my readers, I hope that you agree that Ariel is amazing! If you’re not familiar with her awesomeness, then checkout the 1989 version of The Little Mermaid and the new one when it comes out. You’ll be glad you did!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Ariel is Amazing ❤️

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Future History

Since I was a child, I have always been fascinated by living history. I remember being little (the 90s) and thinking it was so cool how people got to dress up as characters from the past and bring history to life. I remember going to Civil War era and turn of the 20th century living histories the most. One of my all time favorites was to a Civil War village where they told my (still) favorite ghost story: the hitchhiking ghost girl. Now as an adult who has been exploring living history the last few days, I got to thinking about living history in 80 years or so. How will they represent the late 1900s and early 2000s?

The first thing I imagine in “Future History” is museums dedicated to the evolution of portable technology. I can see it now! Welcome to the Apple Oasis: A Salute to Tablets and Phones! Another thing I imagine is the costumes of the living history characters. They won’t be in fancy dress like our current living history folks; they will be in Converse, mom jeans, and crop tops! And their hair will be all the colors of the rainbow instead of hidden under a bonnet! Additionally, in “Future History” they will talk about “when cars used fuel and had to be driven by a person”. In fact, people might pay to drive a car themselves! Finally, I imagine a lot of “Future History” being virtual reality as opposed to actually visiting places. While I enjoy going and viewing history in person, I’m sure there are just as many who like to view it on a screen from their own home! No matter what happens, I’m sure “Future History” will be interesting!

Do you enjoy living history? What do you think about “Future History”?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Once in a Lifetime

People throw around the phrase “once in a lifetime” a lot. You will hear the phrases “once in a lifetime opportunity” or “once in a lifetime chance” thrown around in advertisements, on social media, etc for a variety of things. I don’t think about them much, but tonight as I was eating, the thought crossed my mind that never again would there be an exact moment like that ever again. For a moment I got sad because I was like “what’s going to go wrong?” That comes from years of anxiety about crazy things that I’m continually working to get out of the habit of. However, I realized that the moment isn’t sad. It’s exciting because right now I’m living a “once in a lifetime” opportunity.

Why am I currently living a “once in a lifetime opportunity”? Because I’m doing some thing that I never would’ve gotten do with people I love had I not been willing to step out on faith and leave my former job. Doing that allowed me the freedom and flexibility to be where I am right now living my best life and getting to experience a true “once in a lifetime” opportunity.

That said, I want to encourage people to find ways to take advantage of the opportunities they are given. They will be full of great surprises, if you can give them a shot! Plus, the world is full of great things! Don’t let them pass you by!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Concerts at 16 Versus Concerts at 39

“Oh my God we’re back again!” I cannot wait to hear those words tonight as I FINALLY after two years of delay get to go to the BSB DNA tour! In my excitement this morning, I got to thinking about how different it is to be getting for a concert at 39 versus when I first went at 16 to the Millennium tour. Oh boy…you all ready for this?

My first thought occurred as I was shaving my legs. When I was 16, you shaved your legs before the concert in case you magically ended up on a date with a Backstreet Boy. At 39, I shaved my legs so I wouldn’t embarrass myself when I wear a skort or capris. This got me thinking about makeup for the concert. Back in the teenage days, I did my makeup to hopefully draw the attention of a Backstreet Boy. Today, I was thinking I’ll choose makeup that will cover my circles under my eyes and the freckles/age spots on my face. Likewise, I thought “What should I wear tonight?” Definitely sensible shoes for climbing all those stairs to our nosebleed seats. Definitely comfy bottoms with a stretchy waist because, well, comfort over cute. Very different from being 16 and thinking “What outfit says sexy, but not too sexy? Because you know AJ was going to notice me in the crowd of 20,000 screaming girls in the dark. 😂

The differences go beyond physical appearance. When I was 16, getting ready to go was a lot simpler. I needed my physical ticket (which I had waited in line to get for hours), camera with extra film and batteries, and someone to drive me. By the way, the extra film was a necessity because we did once get a roll confiscated by a security guard. Now at 39, I need my phone which now has my ticket (that I bought online with a super fast connection instead of 1999 dial up) and works at a camera. I need my wallet, my keys, and a babysitter. Since the babysitter isn’t at my house, it means I also have to pack a toddler bag and remember to take his little potty as it’s easier for him to use than a big potty. Who would have ever imagined that I’d equate getting ready for a concert with packing a toddler potty???? Not me!!! At least this time I’m not packing a breast pump as my date!

There are also behavioral differences in going to a concert at 39 versus 16. This one actually occurred at age 18, but it’s still worth noting. We had floor seats, and the Black and Blue tour had a bridge where they walked out over the crowd. We wrote our hotel number on a piece of paper, and I climbed in a chair to hand it to Howie D. He took it and put it in his pocket! We were hopeful that he’d call us, but, sadly, he didn’t. Now I’m like, if I had the chance to talk to one of the guys, I’d talk about something mundane like what foods their kids eat. There are also behavior differences when it comes to buying souvenirs. As a teenager, I wanted as much as possible with my budgeted allowance. This morning I was thinking, “Well I’ll get something for my toddler. A new shirt for him would be cute.”

Aren’t the differences amazing? I will say somethings never change because I would still love to meet the guys! Technically we met Howie D as he got on the bus, but I couldn’t form words! 😆 I also cannot wait to hear the music! I will jam the whole way there and back!!! And of course I will have FUN!!!!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Homeschool Here We Go!

Yesterday, we officially started our homeschooling journey! LilKsby is officially working on PreK at home with me as his teacher. Already, we are both learning some great things! Here’s a snapshot:

1. LilKsby can tell you what street we live on and the streets his grandparents live on by memory. He’s also working on our exact address. Although right now he’s saying a 9 instead of a 5, so hopefully no one shows up at the neighbor’s house down the street looking for us!

2. I have to work on patience. I’m used to teaching high schoolers who are juniors and seniors. Now I’m working with a toddler. There’s a lot that he can’t do just because he’s not learned basics yet. I have to remember that when he doesn’t recognize something right away.

3. LilKsby is taking the first steps towards reading! Yesterday, he started recognizing the word “Friday” in multiple places! He was even more stoked when today actually was Friday!

4. I’m pretty sure he’s going to be left handed, so I’ve really got to work on my own left handed skills. Hooray for being ambidextrous! At least that’s a start.

5. LilKsby enjoys yoga, and hearing him say “Namaste” is adorable. Equally adorable? He told me he wants to be Santa Claus when he grows up!

6. The flexibility I’ve always used when lessons don’t go as planned in the classroom and for tutoring will need to be used in the homeschool setting. Yesterday, I was attempting to assess his levels, and we had to take lots of breaks because he just wasn’t having it. Guess how we got through it? Lots of positive praise!!!

7. LilKsby loves “Pete and Cat” as he calls Pete the Cat. To be fair, the illustrations are amazing, and the stories are a lot of fun! We had to reread yesterday’s Pete the Cat during story time, and we had to watch the YouTube version! I love that he’s already taking ownership of his lessons!

8. I am excited to plan our lessons! Teaching him is fun because everything is new!!!

I’m looking forward to our homeschool journey, and I’m super excited to see how LilKsby continues to progress! If there are any resources you think I need to checkout, please post them in the comments!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Instagram: thegreatkaysby

Soapbox Session

Warning…normally I try not to write about political things because I do not like arguing with people, and I have found that you cannot have civil conversations about a lot of topics when people feel their beliefs are the only right ones. However, I feel the need to pull out my soapbox because I’m trying to be understanding which means I need to put my thoughts in writing. If you don’t want to read my ramblings, then I’m okay with you closing this post now. If you can read them without being judgmental, then feel free to proceed.

1. If you’re against things that help people because they don’t help you, then is it possible you need to do some self reflection? Lately it seems that anytime something good happens for a group of people, there are naysayers who have to voice how displeased they are with people getting help. What’s really disparaging is how many of the naysayers claim to be religious because I’m pretty sure that the majority of religions are founded in helping people and loving others.

2. Why are there so many people who shouted “My body! My choice!” when the government was mandating masks and vaccines, yet they applauded and praised the government when the government restricted access to abortion? Doesn’t it seem hypocritical to only care what happens to a body when it is yours?

3. Along the same lines, doesn’t it seem that a vast majority of people who claim to be “pro-life” are really just “pro-birth”? Being pro-life should mean helping people through all phases of life. It should mean finding ways to take care of the elderly; it should mean finding ways to help those with physical and mental health needs; it should mean making sure children are clothed and fed with roofs over their heads; it should mean finding help for those living with trauma. There is a lot more to life than just birth!

4. Why are people such Judgey McJudgersons when they don’t know a situation? It drives me bonkers when people make snap decisions and blanket comments about things like unemployment, food stamps, and debt forgiveness. I cannot stand when people act like everyone who has relied on assistance at some point in their lives is a bad person. This is one where I am quick to defend those who need help because at various points in my life either myself or a family member has relied on assistance to survive. Spoiler, if you know us, then you know we’re some pretty good people. Second spoiler, even good people who try to live right sometimes fall on hard times and need help.

As I put my soapbox away, I want to offer some free advice. The most important thing to do is “love thy neighbor”. For Christians this is the main thing that Jesus asked if you. Other religions believe that what you put out into the world will return in your life. Some people aren’t religious at all, yet they still strive to make the world a better place. No matter the case, instead of putting people down because you don’t agree with them, maybe it is time to start building people up and promoting love. Until next time…

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

10, 7, 5 Principle!

This evening I was listening to a recent conference from my direct selling business, and there was a concept that really stuck out to me. In 2017, Pamela Waldrop Shaw discussed three things that drive change. Her three things were as follows: 10 – Significant Events, 7 Critical Decisions, and 5 Influential People. When I heard this, I immediately thought about the recent change in my life to Work From Home Mama and how the 10, 7, 5 Principle applied to that change. Here is my reflection so that you can see the Principle in application!

10 Significant Events

First Pregnancy & Miscarriage – 2018
Princess Court of Sales Achievement – 2018
Second Pregnancy – 2018 and 2019
Birth of LilKsby – 2019
Mr Kisby Layoff – 2019
Covid Pandemic – 2020-Present
Pandemic Teaching – 2020-2022
Mr Kisby Graduates – 2021
Mr Kisby New Job – 2022
Social Issues and Injustices – Ongoing

7 Critical Decisions

Mr Kisby deciding to go to school instead of finding “just another job”.
Keeping LilKsby at home during the 2020-21 school year. This made me realize how much I longed to be at home with him.
Realizing that I don’t like being made to feel expendable. Also the existential dread associated with starting the last two school years during Covid peaks was mentally overwhelming to me.
Deciding that homeschool feels like the best option for us as we want our child to grow up with an education that reflects our values. This means more than just intertwining faith and academics. It means teaching equality, respect, fairness, and how to be an ally!!!
Determining that an abundance of money is not as important as living a fulfilled life by our priorities. Yes, I know things cost money. Yes, I know you have to have enough money. Yes, we like to play the lottery. However, money is not the most important thing to us.
Realizing that it is more important to live by our priorities than the priorities others give us.
Making the choice to leave teaching after 11 years.

5 Influential People

The Holy Trinity – I prayed a lot over the decision to make the change from teaching to work from home mama. Ultimately I was able to follow what was put on my heart, and even though my brain wants to panic sometimes, I’m doing my best to follow FAITH over Fear! When change is imminent, I highly recommend praying to your Deity. Not religious? Then I recommend lots of self reflection!
Mr Kisby – My husband, my partner in life, my biggest cheerleader!
LilKsby – My Sweet Boy and the one who learns more from watching us than anything else.
Homeschool Friends – I see the magnificent wonders they have worked in their children’s lives, and that is what I want for LilKsby.
Entrepreneur Friends – Seeing them live their truths by their priorities is impacting!

So there you have the 10, 7, 5 principle! My 10, 7, 5 spanned a four year time period. For others their time period might be longer, and for some it might be shorter. Also, a lot more than 5 people influenced me, but that gives you the concept. As I’m embarking on this change, I think it is good to reflect. It keeps the perspective fresh and the path set right.

What change are you contemplating?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

The Great Resignation

By this point most people have heard of “The Great Resignation.” It is a phenomenon happening in our country where people are leaving jobs in mass. This is not occurring because people don’t want to work (despite what certain groups want you to believe). It is occurring because people want to find work that does more than pay the bills; it is occurring because people want to feel valued and purpose filled. On June 30, I joined “The Great Resignation”.

People who know me know that I’m a hard worker to the point that I’ve been known to work so much it’s bad for my health. With only a few gaps, I’ve spent the last 21 years of my life working. Of those years, 18 were with my last employer in a couple different positions. A lot of great things have occurred in my life involving work. So what changed and led to me joining “The Great Resignation”? In short, I changed.

For me becoming a mom and the Covid pandemic reshaped my priorities. My top priorities have become faith, family, and living by my beliefs along with living a purpose filled life based on said priorities. So when provided the opportunity to become a work from home mom, I couldn’t pass up the chance. I’m still transitioning to work from home life, but I can already say that I’m doing the most rewarding job I’ve ever had.

From my own experience, I encourage you to re-evaluate your priorities. If you’re not living by them, then consider if it is time to find something new. Joining “The Great Resignation” could bring you more joy than you ever knew possible!

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

I’m Playing in the Rain

In the song “I Am” from Kid Rock’s self titled album there is a lyric that asks “Have you seen the Nothern falls, ot the Midwest seasons changing? A Montana storm, or a warm Kentucky rain?” While I’ve never seen the Northern falls or a Montana storm, I can attest to the beauty and calm of a warm Kentucky rain. One of my favorite things to do in summer is be outside when it is raining. There’s something naturally refreshing about having rain pour down your skin on a hot day. I can’t put it in words, but it is a feeling that I hope everyone can experience at least once a summer.

Today, we got to experience our warm Kentucky rain for the summer. It hasn’t really rained where we live in almost four weeks, so when I saw the rain clouds today, I figured they would be like all of the others and pass us by. Thus without thinking about the weather, LilKsby and I started on a parking lot walk while Mr Kisby had to run an errand. As we’re walking, it began sprinkling. In my mind this was all it was going to do, so we kept walking. To our surprise a warm rain shower began! It was over quickly, but it had enough water to make some puddles. So we took advantage of the occasion and went “puddle hunting” as LilKsby loves a good rain puddle! As we were “hunting” a deluge came! The deluge wasn’t as warm as some rains, but it was so fun! We splashed; we laughed; we got thoroughly soaked. It was peaceful and calm while also being thrilling! The deluge gave us five minutes of fun that will be remembered for a lifetime! It was 100% worth driving home shoeless and being chilly in the AC for a little bit!

If you’ve never played in a warm summer rain, then I suggest putting it on your to do list. There’s nothing like it in the world! If you’ve planned in a warm summer rain, did you enjoy it?

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby

Captain’s Log – Potty Training Day 1

Captain’s Log – 28th of May in the year 2022 – Daily Journey 14 Hours

Today we began the journey of potty training. After one day I’m far from an expert, but I thought other toddler parents might like to know they aren’t alone in the journey. So here are my learnings thus far…

1) Don’t force the potty on them if they aren’t ready. We were guilty of this last summer because we thought as soon as LilKsby turned 2, we needed to push potty training. Well we pushed too much, and he stopped going to the potty all together. He was not ready for the potty, so he quit using a diaper too. It took weeks of doctor calls for advice and lots of pleading to get him to pee regularly again.

2) Wait until they understand what the potty is for. We’ve spent the last few months in preparation by modeling to him how to use the potty. We even verbalize what we’re doing so he would be familiar with the steps. By this I mean saying things like “I’m going pee in the potty. I peed now I get to use toilet paper! I used toilet paper, so now I’m going to flush! Now I get to wash my hands!” This repeated modeling sunk in because today these were the steps he wanted to follow.

3) Don’t let a book make you feel like a bad parent. I read most of a potty training book. At one point it made me feel like a horrible mom because according to the expert, I had failed my child by missing the perfect window of 24-30 months old, and I failed my child because he didn’t have the speech skills of his same aged peers. Side note: the book was written pre-pandemic, and I recently noticed that the CDC has updated their language milestones to levels lower since the pandemic had limited so much socialization and verbal communication without masks. In hindsight I realize that I shouldn’t let a book make me feel like a bad parent, but at the time I wanted to throw the book against the wall.

4) Some tips from books/online articles are helpful. For example, having little potties upstairs and downstairs was helpful. Having him go without a diaper for the first day was also helpful because we could watch more closely for potty signals. It was also beneficial to explain at nap and bed time why we were using a diaper again after making such a big deal over getting rid of it.

5) Potty training takes commitment from the parent(s)/guardian(s). For potty training to be successful you have to be willing and able to commit enough time for them to get the idea of going potty in an environment where they are comfortable and won’t be embarrassed by an accident. To do this, we waited until we had a three day window with no plans which meant for me waiting until school was out. I’m hoping that three days at home solely focused on time together watching for potty signals will give us enough of a window to realize how often we need to go to the potty, how long we can leave the house without the potty, and what trips will require taking the little potty with us. Also, we had to be committed to not getting upset about accidents. We knew they would happen, so instead of getting mad, we addressed what to do different next time. Finally, knowing his love language helped. LilKsby loves words of praise, so you can bet every little tinkle got lots of positive praise!

I’m sure there will be more wisdom learned along the way, and I’m prepared for varying levels of success. Captain’s log signing off…

XOXO,

The Great Kaysby