Parenting Contents Archive

PSA: If you RSVP'd YES to a birthday party ... please show up.

Unless your child is sick or there is a family emergency, if you told a family you will be attending a birthday party please show up. Even if you need to come a little later or leave early, communicate that, but make every effort to come. My poor daughter is sitting at home with a cake, decorations, snacks, drinks and dinner food has been ordered already; 2 of the 3 girls who were invited have cancelled last minute. Only one is coming, I really hope she shows up. Not only is there the planning, money and now wasted food, it really probably doesn't make the birthday kid feel good to have no one show up. I don't want to cancel/reschedule the party because one girl is still coming, trying to see if we could move it to tomorrow night. And now I feel like I need to spend more money to do something special for my daughter to make up for this. So please ... if you commit to attending a birthday party, do everything you can to make it.

How do you keep toddler in their room after transitioning out of crib?

Basically what the title says. My son just turned 2 and is ready to make the switch to a toddler bed, I’ve done everything in my power to make his room as safe as possible because I fully expect him to get out of bed and wander around. The only thing I can’t do is install a baby gate (not for a lack of trying but that thing kicked my ass and I just can’t get it up in a way that im sure is safe and would contain him) and I worry about him leaving his room and getting hurt trying to wander around the house in the dark. Is it safe to put a childproof latch on the outside of his door effectively locking him in? That just doesn’t feel right to me. How did you guys keep your kid in their room after transitioning out of crib?

"I believe in a system with less standardized learning and more emphasis on flexible deadlines, peer collaboration and teaching, smaller learning communities, and sharing learning," writes @ZacharyMorita in this @EdSurge opinion piece. https://t.co/gd01Omnf8t

Nor is it always huge activities that provide it. Look for the simple ways. https://t.co/oiESFberFR

Do/did you pay your 5 year old an allowance?

Our daughter (5.5f) has been asking about money recently. We thought it would be go to introduce an allowance of $2.50 per week ($0.50/year of age). This is not associated with chores, which she's expected to do regardless. It's just to familiarize her with the concept of spending/saving. Do/did you pay you 5 yo an allowance? Any regrets? At what age did you start? (We also have an almost 4 year old who might want in on this.)

Best baby shower gift no one thinks of

Hi all! I swear I've seen comments about this on every baby registry post but i can't for the life of me find them now. Just got invited to a shower, i forgot to ask their registry, don't know the person too well nor the gender but would like to get something thoughtful they wouldn't think of putting on the registry. Bonus points if it's something to care for mom and also if i can get in a store today. I just had a baby you'd think i know what i needed but i guess my brain is already erasing memories about the first few weeks.

On Spring Training and Lessons in Failure https://t.co/exZMXggILz by @whithonea of @LADadsGroup #parenting #CityDads #baseball #dadLife #MLB

Can't get your kids to sleep? Try a cucumber!!?

This is bizarre but I have a new way to get my four year old to sleep... put cucumber slices on her eyes! She gets to feel like a posh lady in a spa (I think her uncle mentioned it to her one day), and because she has to shut her eyes and lie totally still (so they don't fall off), she just listens to her music (requesting Beyonce 'Halo' a lot lately) and is asleep in 10 mins! Normally it takes...a LOT longer than that, but this has worked quite a few times now 😂

Vent

Y’all I just need to vent. I love my husband and my in-laws but: - They all refused to get vaccinated so I told them (and my husband) I didn’t want anyone holding the baby at least until end of winter but came out of my office the other day to find his brother sitting on the couch holding the baby - my MIL has been really grabby with the baby like when we come over she’ll intercept us in the foyer and grab the baby without asking. She came over to see the baby today while I’m working from home in my office, I heard the baby cry so I went out he seemed hungry so I took him to nurse in my office (I still have to work) and husband just came in and said “well, my mother did come to see the baby…” as in hurry up. Too fucking bad! He’s my baby and I’m nursing him!! /end rant. They’re are really great people otherwise

Do mom friends exist?

Hi, I’m writing to understand if I’m searching for something that really doesn’t exist. My first child (2F)was born right before the pandemic started so I never got a chance to make any mom friends. With my second (1F), the pandemic was still going, but I tried my best to make at least one walking buddy of a mom friend and it looked like it was going to happen until it fizzled out. I feel like I did/said something wrong, but I honestly know that logistics played a huge role in why it just never took off. I’m feeling quite defeated and down as I really want other people to talk about parenthood besides my husband. I’m now starting to think that my expectations of meeting other moms and forming a bond/mommy group might just be a myth and I should stop trying. So my dear community, should I keep trying to make mom friends or is it all I lie and I need to acknowledge that’s it’s just going to be chitchat at the park or whatever venue I’m at and nothing more?

Because why would we want to cover women's health issues???

Turns out that practically NO ONE covers (insurance wise) pelvic floor PT in our network. BECAUSE WHY THE HELL WOULD WE WANT TO HELP WOMEN, AMIRITE???? It's all out of network which means I pay out of pocket until my deductible is met and then it's covered at 70%. But that's only if they think it's medically necessary. You know what, USA Healthcare? Fuck you, that's what.

Partner: hey you want anything from the grocery store?

Also partner: throws his goddamn phone into a river immediately after sending this and literally never gets my messages asking for the luxuries that he somehow doesn’t know we need. You know, like milk, spinach, potatoes. The crazy stuff that nobody could possible just think of off the cuff while in a store. What’s up with this. Why can’t these fools just buy some staples without needing to be asked? For the record he went to get peanut butter and beer. Because that’s what he eats most of the time. Cool cool

Struggling with newborn monotonous life at home.

Background: have a 10 day old baby and am already feeling anxious/depressed sitting at home. I live in the Midwest and weather is not great right now so walks are hard. When did you venture out with your LO? Tempted to go to a brewery or Target but also feel like it’s too soon. Also any tips to battle anxiety and depression from the change in lifestyle to being home 24/7? I’m deeply struggling.

#Agency -an “I got this!” Mindset-is a key to helping kids learn #resilience. We have to helping kids develop control from the INSIDE out. Stop the gold stars. Help kids learn that effort is what gets them over bumps. #Thrivers are made not born. #parenting https://t.co/lSQQlKKTcp

I’m ready to accept that my child’s adhd is more debilitating than my adhd. And I am grieving.

I had adhd as a kid but I was still able to do things like attend preschool, take gymnastics classes and learn as part of a group. I was well-behaved and made friends, although it was a struggle sometimes to maintain friendships. My kid is so dysregulated that he can’t do any of those things. None of them. At this point, he can attend school but only for a couple days a week, and even then he spends most of the day tantruming, laying in a corner, begging for food or hitting people. The most heartbreaking thing is he is so smart. He wants to go to science camps and do fun academic activities. Those are his most favorite things to do. And he just can’t make it through a day without physically attacking someone. It’s so sad. I am grieving every day for him.