It's time to toilet train your son when...

It's time to do something I've been dreading: Toilet train my kid. The last time I had to do this was with my daughters, ages 7 and 8, and I still have bad memories. My youngest daughter screaming blue murder because she didn't want to do number two in the potty. My oldest daughter hiding in a corner of the living room because she wanted 'privacy'. Oh, the mess, the mess. Ugh.

Now the time is upon me once again. My son is two and a half, and already very concious of when he needs to be changed. I guess the first inkling I had of when it was truly time was when he walked up to me a couple of weeks ago, handed me his soiled diaper, and with a disgusted look on his face, said, "Mommy, I need to be changed."

My problem is achieving the toilet training stage. I'm not a boy, used to dealing with girls, and his father is really no help in this area. Thanks to him our son insists on standing up, not sitting down, which can get really messy. Secondly, I don't think "If you shake it more than once you're playing with it" is sound advice for a two year old who clearly delights in playing with his protruberant member.

My little man loves to run around the house, sans pullup, and will race up and announce to me exactly where he has marked his territory. It's not that he doesn't have any control at this stage, I think it's just that he loves to do this and not feel it against his skin after. So, I think I will have to resort to what worked with his sisters: Much applause and mucho bribery, because he doesn't trust the potty either.

What you see in this picture

The picture on the left, The Kiss by Robert Doisineau, was taken over five decades ago and is still a favorite with people like me. The picture was taken spontaneously, two anonymous people in Paris. One has to wonder exactly what was going on with that picture, other than the actual kiss. It's obviously passionate, and impulsive. Something tells me this couple was just walking along the street and the man just up and planted one on his sweetheart.

Considering the location, Paris, and being that it has the reputation of being on the most romantic cities of the world, seeing a kiss like that in the photo does not surprise me. It has always evoked a feeling of longing, though, to experience that again whether it has just been a short time in between embraces like that, or a long time. The rollercoaster passion, that feeling in your stomach that makes it drop when you're away from the person you want to be with most, the passion that would make you make an absolute fool of yourself for the love of your life. Looking at this photo, I wouldn't be able to determine how long these people had been together for, whether they had just recently met, or were married. All I know is that it is inspiring, and makes me want to always keep that aspect alive in my love relationship.

I want to welcome you to this page, which will evolve in such a way that it has something to interest everyone -- work and fun, family and relationships, entertainment and the latest news tidbits. I'm inviting comments, suggestions, and any relevant questions you may have as well. Looking forward to this journey,

Tobi