Parenting Contents Archive

My mom died

My mom had a massive heart attack yesterday and has been on life support with no signs of improvement. After talking to the dr and learning she is going through multi system organ failure, we made the choice as a family to remove life support. I’m not ok. She was fine on Thursday. I had plans with her for all sorts of things the next few weeks. We were supposed to go strawberry picking and have dinner at my house tomorrow. How am I going to explain to my 3.5 yo that his best friend isn’t coming back? Fuck Mother’s Day now. My face hurts from crying so much. I need my mom. I’m not ready.

Is it weird when somebody always asks to change every baby?

I have a family member that always asks to change every new baby. Every time my sister brings over her baby and as soon as that baby needs a change this person is quick to ask if they can change them. Is this weird? For possibly relevant context, this person does not have kids of their own. I'm about to see this person for the first time and I'm not sure if I should let them change my baby when they inevitably ask.

Fuck Zelda.

Husband took 3 days of PTO because the Zelda game came out and is literally acting like he shouldn't have to lift a finger because "he just wants to relax and play his game." Hi, we have 3 kids, one is six months old. He's made I made plans for this afternoon having a kids friend and their parents come over and he's pissed that tomorrow is mother's day. And he's 100% serious. I literally cannot even right now.

What to feed a sick 4 year old for dinner?

My 4 year old vomited unexpectedly this morning. He says he feels great one moment but his face is pale and he’s wallowing with a tummy ache the next. Repeat for the last 6 hours. He has successfully eaten toast, some applesauce, some chicken noodle soup, and sipped some water. He did say his tummy hurt each time after eating but hasn’t thrown up since the initial puke fest this morning. He has had an appetite all day and keeps asking for food so I know he’ll want dinner. He is napping now so I’m trying to get some prep done. I don’t want to serve normal food since he is still complaining of a stomach ache. Whatcha got for me?? Lol

Does anyone get aggravated when non parents tell you how to parent?

My husband and I have a good friend who is separated from his wife so we have been inviting him over a lot. He is a great guy with strong opinions. I don’t generally have a problem with that. However, he has been more vocal about what he thinks we should and shouldn’t be doing with our 16-yr-old regarding a summer job, discipline etc. and I realize I am resenting it. Most parents sympathize with your parenting issues but generally don’t butt in bc they know how hard it can be. I guess I feel like non parents just don’t have a clue what it’s like and probably shouldn’t offer suggestions unless asked. I am not sure if I should ignore it or say something like, parenting is harder and more complicated than it looks.

Am I just being too emotional?

I’m a first time mommy, so this will be my first Mother’s Day. It, honestly, means a lot to me. We don’t have much money, so I told my boyfriend that all I’d like for him to do was watch over the baby for me so I can finally play Hogwarts legacy as it just came out on ps4. I told him that I would still put him down for naps, change him, and do his bedtime routine. I would just like for him feed him and play with him just so I could have a day to be able to enjoy the game without as many interruptions. His response to this was, “I don’t know, babe. Mother’s Day is just another day to me”. I just feel defeated. I just wanted a little something to feel like I’m at least a little bit appreciated. I barely get any help from him as it is. One day would’ve been nice. Am I being too emotional? ( sorry if this isn’t for here. I just needed to vent really)

The real kicker is that you don’t know that you don’t enjoy being a parent until you have kids.

That’s it. That’s the post. I don’t enjoy being a mother. I really thought having children and having a family would be so incredibly fulfilling. It’s not. Parenthood is relentless. Suffocating. Monotonous and boring yet also crushingly overwhelming. I constantly daydream about moving by myself to a loft apartment in the city and not being obligated to spend my time with anyone or doing anything.

In honor of Mother’s Day coming up, what is funny situation you never thought you would be in until you became a parent ?

I’m sitting here trying to get my child to nap and he’s discovered I have eyelashes and he’s been repeatedly poking a pudgy little finger in my eye… and he thinks it’s the funniest thing ever. I want him to stop, but the little giggle he’s giving me is making me not want to stop him because it’s so cute….Never did I think this would be how I spent an afternoon 🤣 Any other funny little stories mommas?

Decisions your own parents made that strike you as insane now?

My mom (SAHM) didn’t send me to daycare, preschool or pre-k. I was “homeschooled” for second and third grade. (I have nothing against homeschooling on principle). She didn’t follow much of any curriculum. I don’t remember much actual schooling and spent a lot of time going with my mom to do her errands. I never felt that it was the best choice for me academically or socially and had to do a lot of catching up when I did go back to school. Now that I’m pregnant, I can’t imagine why she would want to do that to herself. Does anyone have similar stories?

Birthday registry…bad idea?

Our little girl is turning one in September. We are working on invitations, and throwing her quite the party since her momma missed out on a baby shower due to pregnancy complications. That being said, what are your thoughts on birthday registries? I don’t want to come off as a dick for registering…but you guys know how it is. And I’d rather she have something she will actually use rather than something that gets thrown in the toy box and never seen again. What would you think if you got an invite to a birthday with a registry? Give it to me straight, I’m torn either way.

Is every adhd post universally relatable or….

Real question here. I’ve never suspected myself of having it. For some reason I started getting reels when my son was being assessed and they targeted me with a bunch related to women. Now I’m questioning.

What did you guys do the cycle you conceived?

Hi! Me and my DH have been trying since August of 2021 to conceive, we took a break in December of 2022 and are ready to try again. I went to the doctor and all of my tests came back normal. My doctor kept pushing back using clomid or letrozol and it seemed like she was avoiding it because at the time I was just 19, im turning 21 now in July and am still firm on my decision to keep trying. I’m going to of course look for a new doctor and my DH has not tested his sperm yet due to him not having any medical insurance. I would love to hear your experiences and things you have tried.

I’m at my breaking point

I have been carrying the family financially while my husband is attempting to be successful at real estate. Now I have to find a second job to pay off the 20,000 dollar debt he has so I don’t have to continue to pay for all the bills and he can hopefully at some point in our lives start to contribute financially. He didn’t plan anything at all for me for Mother’s Day. I feel so unappreciated. It literally could have been a hand written note on a piece of paper and I would have been happy. I have been upset all day so I tell him why I am upset and he blows up at me saying all I do is nag him and make him feel like crap. It’s a lose lose situation. I feel so helpless I don’t know what to do anymore. I hate this. Edit: I have always carried the family financially on top of dealing with all of the house stuff and kids appts.

How much did your costs go down after the daycare years?

We live in a HCOL, with daycare expenses about 60K per year for 2 kids (one there now, another starting in the fall). Fortunately we're planning on public school after they age out of daycare. Am I right to think that our overall child costs will go way down at that point? What will they be replaced by? There's always going to be food and clothes, and activities can be expensive, too. And camps to fill the summer gaps, and after school care depending on how we need to swing it... how much relief will we really feel when daycare is done? Grateful for any experiences you can share.

Constantly covered in breast milk

I have a 2.5 week old and I’m constantly covered in breast milk, whether it be from me leaking or his spit up. Tips to prevent leaking so much? I want to start going out in public but am worried about leaking through my clothes. I use reusable pads but they get soaked through. Also, how do you breastfeed in public and avoid spit up getting all over you? I swear he purposely aims off the burp cloth.