Parenting Contents Archive

5 year old and field trips?

My 5 year old soon to be kindergartener is enrolled in a summer program through her school district where one day each week they get to go on a field trip. The field trips are different each week for things like roller skating, bowling, museum, trampoline park, an MLB baseball game. I am having a hard time with letting her go as she is only 5 and hasn’t even started kindergarten yet but my husband thinks everything will be fine. I am just wondering what I should do to prepare her for these field trips. I have told her she needs to stay with an adult at all times but I keep worrying she might get lost from the group and she doesn’t know our phone number or anything. The only thing I can think of is having her wear an ID bracelet with my information on it. My husband suggested putting an air tag on her but I don’t see what that will help with if she actually gets lost.

Looking for positive postpartum experience stories

I’m so excited for my baby girl to get here! She’s due in August and I’m hoping and praying that, regardless of my labor and birth experience, I will fall in love with her once she’s in my arms, and that I’ll be so happy to hold her, kiss her, and just look at her. However, I feel somewhat naive for hoping/thinking that’s what my postpartum experience will be like, because it seems like I read a lot of stories on these types of subreddits where people have an incredibly difficult postpartum experience! It seems that so many new mothers don’t bond with their babies, deal with PPD or PPA, are horribly sleep deprived, or in a ton of pain after birth that seems to overtake the enjoyment of being a new mom, etc etc. So just looking to hear some more positive experiences or stories… or even stories from those who feel that, despite physical and mental postpartum challenges, they were still over the moon to finally get to hold their baby.

Destination Christmas vacation. Any potential downsides?

I know it is early but my wife and I have been talking about this for a while. We normally do Christmas with my family but moved across the country last month. We thought about traveling back but are now talking about doing a tropical Christmas vacation. We are thinking Hawaii. Our kids will be 12, almost 10, and 8. My twin brother is thinking about joining us with his family, two boys who will be 14 and 10. Are there any downsides to this that we aren't considering? We don't do the whole Santa thing so that's not a concern.

What’s something you didn’t realize you needed until you had a baby?

What’s something you didn’t realize you needed until you had a baby? I’m feeling overwhelmed by the amount of things I didn’t know and I don’t know what all I need 😅 I didn’t know shopping cart covers were a thing, so now I’m wondering what else I need and don’t know about 😅

Is there like a Pareto Principle of parenting?

Feeling overwhelmed recently and trying to cut some of the nonessential and refocus on priorities. One of those priorities are my children, but they unfortunately often get the short end of the stick in regards to my planning/scheduling. I realize that’s partly because I don’t really have any “metrics” for parenting like I do for work. So I’m trying to figure out what to make sure I do every day with/for them. In short, I’m looking for the 20% of parenting causes are responsible for the 80% of parenting outcomes. So what would you put on your Mt. Rushmore of most important parenting metrics/habits? As an example, I’m thinking of something like: -total time spent together -communication (“did I honestly share and earnestly listen to each child today?”) -praise/positive reinforcement (“did I show them that I notice and appreciate them today?”) -collaboration (“what did we work on together today?”)

Is it biological to feel disappointed each month you aren’t pregnant even if you don’t want a baby?

Ever since I started having kids, I feel disappointed every month when I get my period. Even though I don’t know if I even want another child, I already have two and would be scared to be pregnant again. Is this biological? Or do I actually subconsciously want another baby?

3mo old with a cold sore :(

LO has already been seen by his pediatrician, im just here to vent. My husband has history of cold sores, yesterday when he woke up for work he told me he felt like he had one coming in. I wasn’t super worried about baby because we both make an effort to not kiss him on the face or hands. Later that morning I noticed a red bump on LO lip. I brought him in to be seen that same day and the pediatrician said it for sure looked like the start of a cold sore. They swabbed it just in case and got him started on some antibiotics to prevent spread. I’m so heartbroken for him and it’s almost like a slap in the face because I’m obsessive about people not kissing his face and washing their hands when they hold him …for this very reason. I can’t stop thinking about it and get so sad when I see LO lip. No other symptoms, thank god! But I’m an anxious mess. :(

How do dentist and baby/toddlers work?

I was not privileged to go the dentist growing up so i dont really know how it goes. My baby is about to be a one old tomorrow. He has eight teeth and he went to the dentist for the first time last month and she said everything looks great. But not when to go back or anything. So when does he? Does he get two cleanings a year like i would? One a year? Only when needed?

I REALLY dread summer break

I dread being someone's bitch all summer. The endless requests and lack of freedom is something I'm not looking forward to. Anyone else?

Was this mean of me?

So I went outside today with my kids and my newly 1 year old is learning to walk with shoes on, and I kind of have a little one liner which makes people laugh when they see him walk which is “he’s learning to walk with shoes on, but at first it’s kinda wobbly, kinda like if you put socks on a dog, haha”. Well I told that to the maintainence man at my apartment and he replied with “well mama, that’s kinda mean but okay” and walked off. Wtf? Am I mean? I won’t ever say it again, I’m not married to saying it, but him flat out saying I’m mean to my kid is fucking me up.

So, when does a baby sleep all night?

My 3month old sleeps from 8:30/9:00p to about 3:00-4:30a then back to sleep until 6:30/7:30a. He’s very chill, falls asleep right away, and is good at self soothing. He only drinks formula, about 5.5oz every 3hrs during the day. We recently stopped swaddling and have been leaving his arms out. Also just moved him from the bassinet to the crib which we still keep in our room. We have a nightly routine which consists of 7:45 bathtime, a little lotion massage then 8:30 feed before bed. He takes about 3-4 little naps during the day after 1.5/2hr wake windows. Looking for any tips or tricks to get baby not to wake up in the middle of the night. *I refuse to use the weighted sleep sack as I have heard risks of sids.

Baby does not like breast milk but is fine with formula.

Any reason to why this would be? Whenever we try to give our baby breast milk they bring it back up and don't like the taste. When we try bottle formula they can't get enough of it.

Did anyone else here get diagnosed with gallstones postpartum? I’m staring surgery in the face and feeling upset.

Has anyone had this happen to them? If so, what’s your story? Were you able to resume a normal diet afterward? I’m looking for some solidarity and reassurance. :)

First overnight trip away and leaving 1 year old with dad.

My son just turned one and I will be going away for a girls trip in July. My son does well if I leave the house for a few hours to get groceries, hair done, etc. but I have never been away for two nights. My in laws will be staying at the house to help my husband out. I’m nervous my son will know I’m gone and not be easy to handle while I’m away. I’m a stay at home mom, so he is used to being around me all the time. But I’m also hoping he will have lots of fun and distractions with his family that I will be out of site, out of mind. Has anyone been in a similar situation with any tips? I was thinking of starting to leave the house a little more here and there so he can get used to me being gone.

Husband appreciation post

We’re in the thick of the newborn phase and I truly don’t know how I would do any of this without him. He works full time and then comes home and immediately checks on me. He does more than his fair share of childcare and housework and still asks me what else he can do. On top of that, he notices when I’m not okay before I even notice, and is always pushing me to take a break or do something for myself. I truly don’t think I could ever love anyone more. I’m so happy I chose him to have a baby with. I’m so glad my daughter gets to grow up with such an amazing example of what a man should be. If you’re reading this honey, I love you❤️ you’re doing a great job