Parenting Contents Archive

Chewing with mouth open

Maybe I'm a crusty and cranky old man but all my life I've been severely agitated by people that chew with their mouth open. Maybe it's mysophonia. Either way, God has seen fit to bless me with a son that I love deeply. And he chews with his mouth open. Constantly. He's 7 and he's generally a very good kid. He is a kind, considerate, child, who easily makes new friends. He has some attention issues that we're dealing with. The chewing with an open mouth and mashing food like a cow just drives me. I'm after him constantly. All the time. He'll chew with his mouth closed for about 10 seconds then go right back to mashing his food like a bovine. As far as parenting challenges go, I understand this is pretty minor. I am blessed to have such a good child. I just wish I could change that behavior.

I just spent 30 minutes putting my *very* tired 4mo to sleep…

And she napped for 17 minutes. For the third time this week. You don’t know what I had to do to get her to sleep (or maybe I’m not alone here). I broke a sweat. I almost threw my back out. She requires rocking so aggressive, I feel like we’re flirting with shaken baby syndrome. I’m not doing this anymore. Parents of 4 month olds, what are your sleep/nap schedules like? How do you know it’s time to drop a nap?

My heart hurts for children who don’t have the love they deserve.

Just a random thought. My 4 month old woke up from a nap startled and crying, I was right there to soothe her and she immediately stopped crying. When I looked in her eyes, she was at ease and then I started thinking that many kids don’t get the love they deserve and my heart hurt for them. Lately I have been wanting to volunteer somewhere so I can at least make a little difference in children’s lives.

What would you do?

How do I get my husband to care more about the inappropriate tv shows and movies he exposes our children to? Every time he picks something to watch I have to look up the content to see what bullshit my kids will see, and when I tell him it’s too inappropriate he either ignores me or resorts to calling me names for caring about what the kids might see. What really bothers me the sexual nature of some of the things he chooses to watch, and a lot of the time he will fall asleep and I’m rushing in to turn off sex scenes or brutal murders. For example, he chose to watch Beef recently, fell asleep and a scene where she is clearly sexually aroused by a gun came on and she’s rubbing it all over her body. No matter how many times I bring this up, he refuses to watch on his phone in another room. I’m sick of being called an idiot and told to shut up becuase I give a shit about what they’re exposed to. My kids are 10 and 6. I don’t think I’m the idiot in these scenarios.

At my breaking point

Lovely BroMo’s, I need to vent. I feel like I’m at wits end. I can’t take it anymore. I feel so much hate in my heart. I hate being a girlfriend. I hate being a friend. I hate being an employee. I just want to run away and never come back. Life is so stressful, and trying to provide a GOOD life for your kid by yourself is goddamn near impossible. Even when I attempt to reach out to let someone know im not okay/ need help, it’s always “you got this girl! you’re a great mom btw 🤪” and it’s absolutely infuriating. I’m damn near ready to give it all up so I don’t have to spend another day in the life of me.

How do yall working moms do it?

How do you do everything for your child, work, keep the house clean, cook, stay sane, take care of yourself, and have enough energy and patience to survive. I just started working again and I'm not okay or doing well at all. My house is in shambles. I'm even more cranky and exhausted now. I am a mean mom because im stressed out. My laundry is piling up. I need the village I was promised.

We have COVID

I’ve seen several posts on here about families getting Covid, but I just need some encouragement right now. We have a 3.5month old and we’re exposed over the weekend. Mt husband just tested positive and I’m sure the baby and I are next. My ped told me that babies typically do fine with Covid but I’d love to hear your experience with your LO getting it. I’m scared friends.

Anybody have a funny or memorable story from the delivery room?

FTM here! I'm due in October. While very much excited for the new arrival, I've got a bit of nervousness around the actual birthing process. I know it's not always bad though! Does anybody have a funny or otherwise lighthearted story from the delivery room? (Your living room, of course, counts if that was the room you used.) :)

Is it unsafe to wear earplugs while taking care of a baby?

Here’s the scenario: you put your baby down for a nap in his crib. He always fusses/whines for a few minutes before falling asleep. To cope with this, you wear earplugs while he naps, and you check the monitor every few minutes. (Without this measure, you are a nervous wreck) Is this unsafe? [View Poll](https://www.reddit.com/poll/13805xh)

TW: CSA I need some words of encouragement and some guidance- CSA case

Several months ago my ex husband confessed to molesting my son but the charges were dropped due to my son not interviewing well, there not being enough evidence, and my ex claiming psychosis because he was in a mental hospital when he confessed. Last night my son told me in his own words what my ex did to him. He also to his home health aide the same thing today. Me and his aide both spoke to CYS and they are opening the case back up. An investigator is going to try to talk to my son tomorrow but I honestly have no idea how well that will go since he has a hard time talking to strangers. Has any one here been in a similar situation? I kind of just want to hear from people who also dealt with this kind of thing who can relate I guess. Any type of advice would be helpful here. I’m upset the case was dropped last time. I feel like my ex should have been locked away already.

The most important job of a new parent:

Money can buy all snoos, nanits, and mamaroos in the world but it can't replace the most tender touch of a parent... ...that of holding the pacifier in the baby's mouth while praying to all that is holy that they fall asleep and stay asleep.

6 year old is a sore loser, how to help him?

My 6 year old has become a really sore loser ever since he started school last year. He’s otherwise well behaved, polite, intelligent, no behavioural issues whatsoever. Whenever he doesn’t win or get picked first he gets really upset and cross, then instantly quits and won’t try to work at it or improve. He also turns everything into a competition ie crying for ages if someone gets out of the car before him because he wanted to be ‘first’, but it’s constant over everything. It’s not a nice trait and it’s making him miserable because he can’t just enjoy himself, if he isn’t perfect and the best straight away then he refuses to try anything. I’ve never been a competitive person, I prefer getting things done as a team and hate the spotlight being on me so I have no idea how to deal with this or what it is that he’s feeling inside. Any ideas?

I can’t keep pretending to be happy anymore

I have so much pain I feel numb. I wish I could take off work and manage my mental health. He told me to get an abortion before she was born and I didn’t believe him because she deserved to live to me. But now I’m raising a child with an absent father. Doing everything on my own. No money. No support from his family because he doesn’t want his family to know about her. No support from mine because my family is toxic/abusive. I don’t know how to be happy anymore. And even despite the few people I’ve talked to about my emotions everyone just moves on.

Oooo I'm so fucking pissed!

I just got the baby down. We're at the 3 month sleep regression and sleep has been awful for all of us. I put a sign on the front door, door bell, and gate to the front patio that says, "Don't ring/knock sleeping baby thx!", also my husband is working from home with an important meeting at the same time.....And this guy not only rings the door bell but knocks too, so my dogs are losing it. Baby starts to cry. I'm furious. Husband's meeting is interrupted. The guy left a card for tree removal with his number on it. Idk how stupid you have to be to think after all of that, and leaving your number behind, that someone would want you to do their landscaping but the audacity. By the time I got to the door the guy was gone. Jfc, dkendkdmfkrnf AGH!!!!! Alright I'm don't ranting. Time to go play with the VERY not sleeping baby. Rip my sanity and sleep life.

Is it wrong that i dont want a child with special needs

I 24 f have come to realize that honestly rather not have a child with special needs. My boyfriend 44 m has 2 children with ADHD and some other things. I don't mind helping him with the kids or anything. It makes him happy when I help out as it is stressful for him. He has to deal with really tuff choices and trying to discipline is a battle all on its own. Seeing what he goes through the actions and emotions he feels. People treat you and your kids so differently it's almost isolating. I know that I can't handle that. It seems so draining and tiring. Am I wrong for feeling like this?