Growing up Sesame Street

Growing up, I almost never missed Sesame Street – Big Bird was one of the best characters and I loved his talks with Mr. Hooper – and oh, who couldn’t fall in love with Cookie Monster, clumsy Grover, or snuggly Mr. Snuffleupagus?  My boyfriend’s partner Brett and his wife Melissa took their two kids to a Sesame Street event this past week. I remember last year (November 2009), New York City (where I live) proclaimed November 10th “Sesame Street Day” in New York. Who wouldn’t want to? After all, New York City is the inspiration for Sesame Street. The brownstone at 123 Sesame Street was inspired by the buildings along Amsterdam Avenue. The Sesame Street subway station was modeled after the original 72nd Street subway station. (In case you didn’t know, Sesame Street just last year, celebrated its 40^th birthday!)

Harris, 3-years-old and Evyn, 17-months-old. Adorable right?

Hearing about Brett and Melissa taking their kids to see Sesame Street made me start to wonder:  Do our favorite Sesame Street characters as children provide a looking glass into our personalities as adults/parents?

I’m not really sure if anyone has done this research, but it makes sense that there would be connections between our favorite Sesame Street characters as children and now as adults. For example, my mom says she always has loved Oscar the Grouch because she says she can be grouchy. Or even my nephew Wade used to love Elmo and his personality always reminds me of being ticklish and giggly.

It’s more likely that we indentify with the character we’re similar to. To be honest, there are so many characters now on Sesame Street; it would be impossible not to relate to one! According to Dr. William Braun, a child psychoanalyst in NYC, “Oscar has positive attributes, too. Even though he’s the pessimist, there’s something that we like about him. You can take that negatively, but we all have these characters in us. We might have a more predominant personality type, but every once in a while we’re all a little Oscar, or we’re a little Elmo.”

I love the humanity of Sesame Street. I personally feel it connects to any kid anywhere in the world, and every parent, grandchild and even grandparents! I look forward to watching it with my kids one day. Re-live some of your best Sesame Street video and click here:

http://www.sesamestreet.org/onair/history/videos

Who is your favorite Sesame Street character?

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Potty Training…Is there a magic word?

Okay – it is true confessions time!  I am at a loss, and hate to admit that my almost 3 year old daughter seems to have managed to best me on potty training.  I was impressed that Jamee seemed to have had a pretty easy time – but it certainly has not worked that way for me.  Lilah is very capable of going without diapers – and has proved this during weekend shopping outings.  She seemed to easily manage – communicating when it was time to visit the restroom.

Lilah wearing her pull-up as a hat

At age 18 months I ‘introduced’ Lilah to the concept – and purchased a small seat that sits on the toilet, with a stool used for accessibility.  I had heard that it was important not to push too early, so we waited until she was 27 months before we started really trying to ‘train’ – not wanting to make her feel uncomfortable and losing her cooperation in the process.

When Lilah is at home she does not wear a diaper, and uses the potty when needed.  She follows all the ‘rules’ – and always remembers to wipe and flush.  We praise her for her actions, hoping this will be the positive reinforcement needed.  When she is at daycare she ALWAYS chooses to wear diapers!  Perhaps she does not want to be bothered with interrupting her play?  I give her a choice of wearing her new Dora and Sesame Street underwear or putting on a diaper – and the choice is consistently to wear her Elmo diapers.  Is it a problem that I am giving her a choice?

Lilah’s daycare has other children her age, and they all seem to be wearing diapers.  The children are regularly taken to the potty – and receive stickers and praise when they successfully use the potty.  Perhaps when one switches the others will fall in line?  Of course I would love for Lilah to be a leader in this arena!  She will be moving to preschool late next year and will be required to be potty trained by that time.  I really want this to happen sooner than later – since it is obvious she is capable, but chooses not to ‘participate’ fully.  The le•top staff has contributed suggestions – including ‘you’re getting to be a big girl’ and the pretty panties angle.  Nothing has worked so far. Is there a ‘magic word’ I should know?  Let’s share!

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