Parenting Contents Archive

Could you please share songs about domestic abuse?

Three years out, and I’m still trying to emotionally process what happened to me. But my brain keeps noping right out of there whenever I try to focus on it. Songs like “Face Down” by the Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, “His Hands” by Jennifer Nettles, and “Only a Memory” by Icon for Hire really seem to help me break through to my emotions, emotions that I need to feel so I can try to process everything. But now I need new songs as mine are less effective with repeated listens. Any genres are welcome as I have eclectic tastes. It doesn’t even need to explicitly depict domestic abuse (but can). I still cry when I listen to “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman. Really, I’ll take anything that can help make me feel.

When did you switch to a toddler bed

My daughter is only a year old, so this isn’t some thing im doing now, but I’m just curious as to see when everyone switched from a crib to a toddler bed.

Want a divorce every month before period starts. Why?

Yeah, why is that? I'm not in love with my husband for starters. But I love him, I care about him, but that's it. Every month before my period starts, I fucking hate him. I Google how to divorce and divorce lawyers and look for houses to buy for me and my son to scape. He has gotten better at being a partner and father but he's still a mediocre man-child who thinks he is perfect and above all other people. Anyone else in the same boat.

Measles outbreak in Maryland. Looking for peace of mind

Just saw a report about a measles outbreak in Maryland. So that feels not great to have a five week old. I am looking for some science about transmission risks. Specially, if me and my partner are vaccinated, what are the chances we somehow get it enough to pass to our baby at home? We aren’t taking the baby out except for neighborhood stroller walks, but the two of us still need to get groceries and stuff. Similarly, my MIL works part time and helps watch the baby, do we have be to worried about her?

I'm more patient with other people's kids than my own

Today we and our 2 kids (aged 2 and 4) went to a picnic with another couple and their children of similar age, because my son and theirs are best friends. At one point i was watching all 4 kids while the couple went to buy food, and i noticed myself being an angel around their kids while they were naughty, when i usually would nag at my own to stop their shenanigans. My kids are actually less cheeky than theirs. I didn't feel impatient when they made their faces dirty with chips and dirt and sand for example, I'd just say "oh no" and clean their faces, whereas I'd say my kids' names disapprovingly when they do this or make a mess or whatever children do. I am afraid it's a symptom of wanting to win strangers over while ignoring your own people. To be fair, i have intimacy with my kids and have a lot of laugh with them too, i don't scowl by default around them. Thoughts?

Correlation btw sleep training and later sleep habits?

Our LO is 11 months and we haven’t sleep trained. She wakes up twice a night, though recently she slept through the night and I’m hopeful she’s trending in that direction. I’m comfortable with our decision so far, but lately I’ve heard anecdotally from family members that their children who were sleep trained are now much better sleepers as 8-10 year olds than the ones who were not sleep trained. I thought the decision not to sleep train was just a short term decision, and that eventually LO would figure it out. Now I’m a bit worried we’re setting her up for an entire childhood of bad sleep. Is there an actual correlation or could this just all be coincidental?

Airplane must-haves for traveling with a baby?

I’d prefer not to travel at all but we’ve got a family emergency. Im traveling with a EBF 3mo and would like to know of any tips/tricks y’all have!

What does self-care look like for you?

I'm 5 weeks postpartum still recovering from a c-section and feel like a blob still. What do you do to feel like yourself? Looking for inspo from all stages!

Accidentally called the baby by the dogs name-

And accidentally told her to hush in the same sentence😂 my love is almost 4 months old, and we own a husky, earlier today she was being her usual happy self but in the split second it took for my brain to distinguish from “happy baby” to “my dog sounds like a fire alarm” out came “Jupiter! Shut up!” Before the realization set in and I got confused looks from a judgmental husky, a baby, and grandma🙃

Finally! My kids have friends.

My family lives in a nice neighborhood. With a decent amount of kids. But just at the beginning of the school year, new people moved in behind our house. They have been everything I've ever wanted for my kiddos and myself. I have a almost seven year old boy and a almost 5 year old girl. The neighbors have 10 and 8 year old girls. The parents are awesome and the girls are sweet as can be. They spent all day playing today outside and it has been bliss. Not only are the kids having fun but I got to enjoy their laughter and smiles and equals. I'm very thankful for my Sunday off, the beautiful weather and good neighbors 🌞

2 year old starting daycare, separation anxiety?

My just turned 2 year old just had their first day at “school” (Montessori center). She cried at drop off and pick up. In all the pictures they sent she was away from the other children and hardly ate anything that day. (About 6 hours). I mentioned it the next day and she immediately stopped playing and ran to find dad, cried, and wanted to hug him. She woke up in the middle of the night for the first time in a year and was crying. I could afford to do an in home nanny, and she did have one before she did ok with. It’s just twice the amount of money with no socialization. I’m now worried I’m messing her up for the future or something and tempted to pull her and just find another nanny. From what I’ve heard the findings are mixed for 2 years olds in daycare. (Although this school is very strict they are “not a daycare, but are Montessori.”) Thoughts welcome!

Come and go

Why is it men/fathers can just come and go without even letting me know he left the house but when I want to fo out I have to plan almost 2 weeks in advance so it doesn't bother him. I don't want to be a nag, I don't mind him going out but wtf. It's constantly, sometimes just because he wants to. If it's me who wants to go take a walk or go out for a bit I have to bring the baby everytime or fkg book him in advance to babysit longer than an hour. I'm so frustrated

First day of big kid school, any advice?

My boyfriend's daughter, Sara just turned 5 and will be starting Kindergarten in August. I am so nervous and have been trying to hype up how much fun she is going to have in big girl school as we call it but I am still nervous about her going. Any advice from parents out there who have done this before? How do I make sure she has a great first day/week/month whatever?

Did you have kids to have someone at old age?

This is the only reason I’m considering having kids. Was this a consideration for you while you decided to have kids ? I imagine life getting pretty lonely and not having much to live for at old age especially when ppl around you are dying. Having a grown kid that you hear from now and then would be a nice thing and something to look forward to. If they take care of you even better.

I think I’m going to strike against holding the entire load of the house.

I’m so tired. I’m tired of cleaning up after my kid and my husband. I’m tired of him not trying to get her back to sleep because “he’s tired too.” I get it. I do. But our bed is too small for the three of us, especially when you both take up 3/4 of the damn thing and the cat takes up all my foot space. I’m tired of cooking all of the time. I’m tired of making decisions. I’m tired of “do you want me to make her a bottle?” I want you to fucking parent and make your own goddamn decisions is what I want. Fuck. He couldn’t sweep or do laundry a couple weeks ago because “it was too hard” with her. I was outside in the garden. This weekend? Home by myself yesterday, I swept, did laundry, put it away, cooked, and still did all the fucking shit for my garden. Like come the fuck on. Figure it out. I’m just so tired.