Parenting Contents Archive

Active kids need healthy snacks to fuel them up! Here are a few of our favourite ideas for when you're out and about between sports and activities! 🚗 Read Healthy on-the-go snacks for active kids, here: https://t.co/6bsY24Kqry https://t.co/1BY6ewicnK

How is mom doing?

My partner and I were walking through the supermarket with the baby yesterday. An older woman stops us to admire baby from a comfortable distance and then she asks "how's mom doing?" I was so caught off guard that I just sort of stared at her blankly for a moment. I told her I was doing well and thanked her for asking. No one EVER asks how mom is doing.

Cesarean Survival Kit

Hey everyone. I am expecting child number 1 with my long time gf and I can’t wait. She opted to have a cesarean. I want to put together a gift basket of sorts for her for when she comes home. I need some advice on products to get her. I’m looking for things that will help her heal and make her comfortable. I’ll also take any general advice you have. Thanks in advance!!

Your children’s grandparents, or if you yourself are a grandparent.

Regarding your children’s grandparents, or if you are a grandparent- Are they involved in every day life?(By choice) If their grandparents live near by, do they offer on their own terms to come over for a bit, watch the kids while you get some things done like go to the gym or do household chores? (Being a SAHM, I rarely get a break)And do they spend leisure time at your house just because they want to sometimes? Do I have unrealistic expectations from my mom? I always thought as a grandparent, she would spend time helping me in their tough young years and offer help for my sanity… not just ask if we want to go out to lunch once a week. Am I really just looking for a nanny?

Paying for childcare when the facility is closed

Including today, in the last 10 business days, my son's daycare center was closed for 6. The first day was a snow day, and the subsequent 5 business days of closure were due to a covid quarantine for my son's entire classroom -- teachers, kids. It suffices to say that I was shocked to see a full bill posted to our account for the two week period. Now before anyone suggests referring to the contract -- which was the obvious first step -- what's everyone's experience with paying for care when care's *not available* (versus available but you don't participate for any number of reasons), particularly now during this pandemic?

I'm being petty

My husband has called me multiple times. I've picked it up just to hang up. Why? This morning he couldn't show compassion, and told me he would be "busy & unreachable all day". I'm holding him to that. Because fuck him. I'm pregnant. It's rough this time, plus life is just handing out the lemons like I opened a fruit stand. I express it and get "I've done it before, why can't you" instead of "what can I do to help?" I've also blocked him on everything else. I might not go home today.

It's date night....

.....and I am fucking STOKED. Ya'll, my kids are 3 and 1. Both were EBF (aka stage 5 clingers). My youngest still nurses, but not a lot. It's been years, and I mean years since my husband and I had a real date night. Usually we grab a quick 45 min meal, and hurry home. But our kids are finally at an age that I feel comfortable leaving them with a trusted friend, for the whole evening. Both of them go to bed pretty independently. I'm going to wear jeans, and real mf bra, and actually do my makeup. And probably just stare at my husband all through dinner because there won't be anyone interrupting us every 3 minutes 😂 Anyway, that's all I had to say. I'm just excited and wanted to share. Love my babies so much, but I'm so glad we've reached an age where we can comfortably leave them for a while 💗

I hate sleep training. I hate teething. I hate baby lead weaning. I hate milestones. I hate poop. What do you hate?

But what do I love? I love my baby!!!! Who isn't even technically a baby anymore, since he's 13 months. But he's still a baby. I hate anything that makes him cry, even when I know it's for the best. I never thought it would be so hard to not spoil my child. And I hate anything that makes me question his ability or doubt him or leads me to make comparisons, no matter how hard I try. At first I used the "vent" flair, but this isn't really a rant or vent. It's just, especially in this moment, I am reflecting on how much I love him. Still, could really go without the alligator death roll every time he has an especially messy poop. 🥴

Why do I find being a SAHM so difficult when I’m alone?!

I’m not talking to my mom right now and just need a place to vent or maybe someone can relate. I have 2 kids (7 yrs and 3 months). My husband works FT day shift but he’s starting to have to work more and more overtime and swing shifts periodically throughout the year. I get stressed thinking about it. I feel like I can handle it during the day but sincerely need that hour I get when my husband gets home. He takes the baby so I can eat, shower, and get to bed early since I do night feedings. It’s so helpful and knowing there’s times where I won’t have it brings me to tears. Anyway, I expressed this to my mom and she said she wasn’t the person to talk to about it because she had to work. That I don’t work and I get to stay home all day. Then why do I still find it so difficult?

What is a great, useful and non-wasteful present for a 2 yera old girl

I am the uncle. Want to get my niece a nice present she'll enjoy, and won't end in the wastw once ahe grows out of it. Was thinking to get her a keyboard (music). Any other ideas from experience? Edit: Of course she'd grow out of everything I'd buy her at this point (even a keyboard) would need an upgrade overtime if she loves it), but what I mean bu wasteful is some generic plastic toy she'd be over woth a week later.

A sizable portion of the American Rescue Plan will go towards tutoring. But much of the tutoring will take place through a computer screen — and not always with a human on the other end. @DanaGoldstein @nytimes https://t.co/Vrs4xqOAmv

Days are so unpredictable with our children, therefore us. I always say travel requires maximum flexibility. I think that's parenting in general!

"PARENTING IS ESSENTIALLY A GUESSING GAME...Imperfect parents (which we all are) can (and do) raise perfectly healthy children." -- @monadelahooke in Brain-Body Parenting

Living the SAME DAY over and over and over

Anyone else feel like they live the same day over and over? SAHM of 3 years here. I have a 3 yo and 10 month old. Youngest still wakes every 2 hours at night. Toddler wakes at the ass crack of dawn. I live in Minnesota and wow I can’t wait for summer!! Make breakfast. Clean up breakfast. Change diapers. Make lunch. Clean lunch. Clean toys. Clean kitchen. Do laundry. Hold baby because she screams when I put her down. Try to get into the bathroom to brush my hair or look halfway presentable. Make dinner. Clean up dinner. More diapers. Wrestle toddler into the bath. Long ass bedtime routine. Repeat every day.

2mo old sleeps 6-8 hours a night…am I neglecting him!?

So little man used to feed every 3 hours in the night and sometimes I would wake him to do so on the advice of my midwife. Once he reached weight, she said I could stop doing that and let him sleep if he wanted. I also invested in the dream sheep which soothes babies back to sleep at the first sign of them stirring. All of this combined means I now get 6-8 hours unbroken sleep from him most nights. Everything I read however suggests that he should definitely still be waking for a feed at some point…. It’s making me anxious that I’m depriving him in some way but I never get woken up by his noises until he really kicks off about 6am which is when I know it’s time to get up and feed. Should I be waking him up? He’s gaining weight on 60th percentile and eats like a champ through the day