How long does it take????

This afternoon, I sit and refect as my children soak up a little afternoon quiet time. We had adventures this morning. The fish market, the park, shaved ice, frozen fruit drinks, Old Panama, and probably 2 miles of walking in 90* temperatures and 100% humidity. (It was a warm one today).  But do you know what I remember. Not once did my kids ask to go to the bathroom. Before this trip I might not have thought to much about it. As we planned and put together our budget, the bathroom was not what I accounted for.  I remembered that the bathrooms would not always have toilet paper, so I brought some toilet paper so we would have it as soon as we got off the plane, but in our budget I forgot the bathroom. There are no public bathrooms, each one can cost 25-50 cents per person. Well for a family of 4 that can add up. The sit down restaurants will have a bathroom but we did not plan on eating every time someone needed to use one. Nor was every meal planned eating at a restaurants. The second day here was interesting because we found that there were often not bathrooms conviently located when we needed them. Our children where used to bathrooms being available. Our family constantly uses the bathroom before we leave the house. It was a normal part life. 

Before all the grandparents out there flip out thinking that the kids are dehydrated, I am not saying that they are going to the bathroom less.  What has happened is that the behavior has changed.  When a bathroom is available they go. While stopping for some air conditioning and fruit smoothies, there was a bathroom and it was utilized twice by our children. Upon arrival back to the B&B the bathroom was the first place they headed.  Within 3 days they now understand what it means to use the bathroom when it is available, and even if you just went 1/2 hour ago you might want to try again while there is one available.  

In 3 days my children can change their behavior. With a change in environment, support from others, the behavior changed. There will be times and places where we are going to be looking for the bathroom. But how true it is for all of us in life. We desire to make a change. We pull people and environments around us to support us, and still we slip up.  We are so blessed to have a Heavenly Father who is there to help us change and then forgives us when we slip up.