Moms Talk Q&A, A Place for Moms to Offer Support

Loma Linda Patch invites you and your circle of friends to help build a community of support for mothers and their families right here in Loma Linda/Redlands.

Each week in Moms Talk, our Moms Council of experts and smart moms take your questions, give advice and share solutions.

Moms, dads, grandparents and the diverse families who make up our community will have a new resource for questions about local neighborhood schools, the best pediatricians, 24-hour pharmacies and the thousands of other issues that arise while raising children.

Moms Talk will also be the place to drop in for a talk about the latest parenting hot topic. Do you know of local moms raising their children in the Tiger Mother's way and is it the best way? Where can we get information on local flu shot clinics for children? How do we talk to our children about the Tucson shootings? How can we help our children's schools weather their budget cutbacks?

Because our feature is so new, Local Editor Gina Tenorio will kick off the conversation.

QUESTION: Well ladies, I hope you're out there reading because I have a doozy that is driving me out of my mind. I have a 3-year-old, nearly 4, who REFUSES to use the potty. He will run and hide when he has to go -- all so he does not have to sit on the potty.

My husband and I have tried story books, we've tried rewards, we've tried stickers, an Elmo video, using a seat with his favorite Disney characters and even told him he we won't go to his beloved pizza place if he did not start trying to use the potty. But he just sits there with a stubborn look on his face. We're nearly at the end of our rope. Any suggestions?