Parenting Contents Archive

Locked doors (13 year old)

My oldest likes to keep his door locked, and it really bothers my wife. We both grew up in pretty controlling/ conservative homes, but I am trying to be better at respecting kids’ autonomy when possible. I’ve told him I don’t want it locked when at night, for safety reasons, but otherwise don’t care. I knock, he opens. Wife knocks, tries door, gets angry at having to talk through the door. (Before he has a chance to open.) I’m not really worried about what he is doing in there. I think he mostly just likes to have that barrier. I understand because I’m the same way. Wife always goes to the “I was raised to…” or “growing up a locked door was a privilege…” Clearly from my tone I think I am in the right, but open to suggestions, explanations, similar stories, etc.

Amazing men haven’t gone extinct considering how helpless they are

I was napping with my 7 month old since of course I do everything for her and I’m tired. 4 year old comes to tell me she can’t find her cup of milk and daddy can’t find it either. I sigh and get up - she usually will run right past her dad to wake me up to ask me to get her food or find a toy so I assumed she hadn’t actually asked him to find it. Anyway, I get up, go in the kitchen where her dad is cooking. As I open the fridge and pull out milk he goes “oh, I would’ve gotten it but I didn’t know where her cup was!” So apparently she did ask him for once. I slid a water bottle over and ta da, kid cup right there. Not to mention the 5 other clean cups in the cabinet he could’ve gotten if he couldn’t find the one. I just handed it to her and went back to lay down. It’s truly a miracle he’s survived this long.

Why doesn't anyone respect my time?

My one year old has a very set schedule when it comes to naps. He's up for two hours then he naps, wake up, up for three hours another nap, and he's good till bed time. It keeps him happy, it keeps me sane. But no one seems to care! Grandma coming over? Oh yeah I'm just getting dressed, 40 minutes later, gotta walk the dogs, 30 minutes later I'm leaving soon! Well great because by the time you get here he'll be ready for a nap! But no you'll want to play with him! And I'll get to deal with an angry baby. Why didn't dad walk the dogs if it was going to take you 40 minutes to get dressed? Arg! And of course on the same day his playdate mama is giving me the old, oh I don't know when we'll be free so just sit around all day waiting for me to text you! Cause I have nothing else I could be doing on the one day this week there might be someone around to help me run errands. God damnit!

Slow looking is the practice of observing detail over time to move beyond a first impression and create a more immersive experience with a text, an idea, a piece of art, or any other kind of object. https://t.co/L9OtUW4cZM

ℹ️ It can be hard to keep up with all the apps and platforms that are popular right now. 👉Our Explainer Guides are a great way for #parents to stay up-to-date on how they work, and what the risks are. #OnlineSafety

When children are upset, a parent’s empathy helps them feel understood. -@howtotalker, #parenting

I planned myself a special treat today

Yesterday I told my husband I'm dying for an hour to myself to take a nice long, hot bath. He said why don't you do it. I was so excited and thought this is going to need the works. I hit up amazon prime and ordered some bath salts, a hair mask and a face mask with next day delivery. When it all arrived this afternoon I handed the baby off to the husband, locked the bathroom door, lit a candle, put all baby bath toys out of sight and indulged in a long soak until my fingers pruned up. When I got out, I put on fresh, clean pajamas and for an extra special treat I buttoned them up, right to the top! I feel like an actual normal person tonight and it feels glorious.

When you have a kid free day, but it's not a kid free day... #freemiepump

Daddy Doesn't Go to Work Because His Job is Here with You https://t.co/LfGB0wTecE #citydads #dadlife #parenting

Husband tells me to cover up in front of our 9 week old son

I think this is so weird of him to say. He says don’t be naked in front of him and cover up.

Husband wants a romantic getaway for our anniversary but baby will only be 5 months

I’m really struggling with this. We have a 3 year old and our baby will be 5 months when my husbands wants our romantic getaway. He wants it to be just us two, like the good old days and of course I want to spend time with him too but I’m a mom. My baby won’t even be a year old. The plan would be to have his parents babysit, we would only be gone 1 night. But all I can think about is SIDS and what if my baby cries all night. I’m trying to find a healthy balance between my motherly and wife duties. I don’t want to hurt his feelings but our lives have changed. How do I stop worrying about my kids and make my husbands happy? Am I in the wrong here? Or is it too soon for a romantic getaway?

What’s the thing you regret not buying before the baby arrived?

Baby not here yet. First one. Im not sure about what to buy as a whole but have some ideas. I was curious if somebody was willing to share on things they wish they had thought or about your must buy. Thanks!

This is such an insane question that I can’t believe I’m even asking it…

…but is it ok to take a picture of LO’s diaper area and send to ped or would that fall under the category of child porn? She has a persistent diaper rash on the outside of her vaginal area and I’m getting concerned because it’s been there for so long despite my keeping the area dry, changing frequently (and immediately for a poop diaper), and using the highest strength of Boudreaux. Maybe she needs a prescription cream or something. I would rather take her in but the ped’s office prefers pics if it’s not a serious issue.

Resources for First Weeks

My wife (33F) and I (34M) have our first child who is 2 weeks as of Friday. We are the oldest of our generation and the first of our close friends to have a child. To say we are inexperienced around babies is an understatement. And we're drowning. Our baby will only sleep on a person, not in her bassinet. Any movement away sends her into fits (she's crying in the bassinet as I type this). She cluster feeds like no other, alternating hungry feeds of 45+ min with 5 minute snooze-fests. Neither of us are getting any sleep unless a friend or family member comes over and literally holds the baby while we get a nap. Every resource online for sleep and feeding seems to start with some version of "At 4-6 weeks...". Can someone please point me/us towards newborn resources that might help us course correct without having to power through another 2-3 weeks of this? Thanks in advance!

Age for babysitting and "mother's helper"?

I'm asking because of a discussion with some friends who have infants. How old is old enough for someone to be a babysitter for babies and toddlers? This would be during the day or early evening, not requiring bathing but requiring the ability to change diapers and other things for a toddler. Also, at what age should a kid be to be a "mother's helper" helping a mother taking care of babies and toddlers, with the mother there and in charge. I am beyond the point of needing advice. My kids are old enough to be on their own for a few hours, and we have a regular babysitter, now in college, for all night work when necessary. But several friends and I were discussing the matter today.