Parenting Contents Archive

7 year old know tooth fairy is fake. Wife still wants to give tooth fairy money. Thoughts?

My wife is outraged at my saying that we shouldn’t give tooth fairy money anymore. 7 year old knows it’s fake but wife insists on the whole ceremony. I think it’s indulgent and devalues money. I give him an allowance for chores and good behavior. I don’t think it’s a good lesson just giving him money for his tooth. Thoughts please?

What traditions/customs/rules will you NOT require your kids to follow?

Just to give a small example- my mom was always very strict about “no elbows on the table” when I was a kid. I think that’s a stupid rule, there’s no logical reason why putting your elbows on the table is bad for anyone. Someone just decided once that it was rude and it caught on. So, I’m getting rid of this one. What about you?

Going on vacation without kids and husband for a week?

I have the opportunity to go on vacation abroad (5 hour flight) with my mother and brother at the end of February. I would have to leave my husband and kids (almost 4 years old and 1 year old) at home. The trip would be about a week. Both the kids are in daycare and my husband would be off work for that week. Would you do it? I struggle with mom guilt and I worry that I won’t be able to enjoy my trip.

What parenting life hack didn’t work for you?

I’ll share mine- I’d read a tip somewhere, probably Reddit, that you should put multiple sheets down in your crib, so that if one gets dirty in the middle of the night you can just pull it off and not have to bother putting down a clean one. I thought this was a great idea so I put all four of my crib sheets on at once. Then my baby spit up in the night so I pulled off the top sheet, only to discover that the spit up had soaked through all four sheets. So that wasn’t much help. I guess I should’ve realized this would happen considering how thin sheets are.

I haven't shouted at my kids for two full days!

I know it doesn't sound like much. I know I shouldn't be shouting at my kids in the first place. Everything has been so stressful lately that I would just fall back into shouting. It was awful. The days would start with me shouting and end with me shouting. On Saturday night, after a particularly awful day, I said to myself that I need to stop. And so I did. It's not easy by any means. I've looked into therapy but there aren't really any options for me right now. So I'm just going to keep trying as I have been. Two days isn't a lot to most people, but it's a lot to me. I'm going to not shout for as long as I possibly can. Wish me luck!

Baby playing “alone”

My 3 month old is very content playin on her mat with her overhanging toys sometimes for a good 20 minutes? Is this ok that I’m not interacting with her then? I feel like it’s good for her to have some “alone” time (I’m still in room.. just doing dishes etc)

My daughter is turning 1 and I'm afraid to feed her solid foods.

I usually feed her mashed potatoes, yogurt, oatmeal, peas, ice cream. And Itty bitty tiny peices of food I eat like French fries or some meat. Sometimes she gags when she takes roo big a bite and I freak tf out. My wife and my mom like feeding her new things and I worry so hard. She's never truly chocked on anything but she's coughed and gaged. Anyways what can I do to either not freak out, or feed her better. I don't want her to miss out on eating food just because I'm being overprotective. What do you recommend feeding 1 year Olds

Annoyed sahm rant

Excuse me if this sounds insensitive. But ever since Covid has been around I have been hearing from my ( some childless) friends and family members how much they are struggling mentally. They stare at a screen all day, have no interaction with the outside world, have no real motivation to do much because all they do is sit in the house day in and day out. I get it. But as a stay at home mom who has been struggling with postpartum anxiety/depression for the last 4 years after having 2 kids during a pandemic I just have to laugh. (I’m not laughing at mental illness). But I vividly remember trying to vent/explain my feelings of being trapped in the house, poor mental health, need for interaction with humans over the age of 4 to these same friends and family who are now venting to me and they all brushed it off. Told me to “get out more.” Now they want me to be a shoulder to cry on?! HA! F all y’all! What you telling me for???! Go for a walk or something! Tuh!

True engagement is about people — and rests at the intersection of motivation and active learning. @ASCD @dneebe @sharon_sikora https://t.co/DcO2H0ctCE https://t.co/gFLI8lT1A8

We want #kids to care-but let's show HOW so they can put their #Empathy in Action. Role play age-appropriate ways to Console & comfort; Assist & help; Reassure; Empathize. Point out CARING/Reinforce. It's how we raise good people. #parenting #education https://t.co/sfjFEQNtl5

.@gardainfo Crime Prevention Officer Sgt Graham Kavanagh encouraging communities to get involved in @safeinternetday 2022, highlighting resources for schools and families on tonight’s crime call #TalkListenLearn https://t.co/snuPOYmzZR

As a kid, Olympic curler @MarkNichols_NL used to run around the neighbourhood playing tag on warm summer nights, street hockey or baseball on a back field. He later discovered the sport that changed his life. But it all started with play! @TeamCanada https://t.co/IoLrZOcDAZ

Moms who swear

Hey fellow mamas I have 5 blended kids. Ages 13,12,10,9 and 8. I swear 🤬 do you? 🤣

Giving your baby a bath for the first time can be pretty scary! Put your mind at ease about keeping their umbilical cord site safe from infection with the first ever umbilical cord stump cover; Button Safe. Read more about it here: https://t.co/MU7bSyBtc3 #sponsored

I’ve found the holy grail! …and by that I mean the best way to trim baby’s nails

My LO is 6 months old. I’ve tried everything for her nails and it’s always a struggle and I feel like I constantly have to trim/file them. UNTIL NOW. Trimming toenails: lie LO on changing table. Give baby a distraction toy if necessary. Put headlamp on your head (yes, like you’re camping!) and aim light so you can clearly see toes. Get your face right up in there and, using baby nail scissors (I like frida brand), trim those suckers! Trimming fingernails: same as above except seated with baby on lap. My LO is so interested in the light shining on her fingers that she actually relaxes her hand (half the battle!) and watches me trim. It’s amazing! Tl;dr—use a headlamp and nail scissors. YMMV, maybe this is age specific or baby specific. But I wanted to share what worked well for me!