Name: DALady

South Seaville, New Jersey

Number of kids: 1

Ages of kids: 12

When my son decided it was time to be potty trained (or at least to COOPERATE) it seemed like I was always getting up and down to turn the light on and off for him in the bathroom. It was way too high for him to reach and he wouldn't go in there with just a night light on. Leaving the bathroom lights on was no answer, because there were 8 bulbs burning (too much electric waste). I also found myself, from time to time, saying, "Wait a minute" if he needed to go at night because I was up to my elbows in dish water or something. So I got this idea. I had my dad install a dimmer switch in the bathroom. When it gets dark, I turn on the dimmer switch enough so it lights the bathroom but doesn't burn all the lights full blast. My son could use the bathroom whenever he wanted without Mom having to drop everything and run to turn on the lights.

Feel free to send in your own parenting tips and tricks Please submit your tips and tricks via our Tips and Tricks Form.