Parenting Contents Archive

Thoughts on baby’s first birthday being a day to celebrate mom instead?

I saw a post on Instagram where mothers were suggesting that since baby won’t remember their first birthday, that the day should be about celebrating mom for making it through the toughest year of her life. Has anyone actually done this or is this total nonsense?

5 year old keeps using "my leg hurts" as an excuse to do nothing

I literally have arguments with a 5 year old because she gets so lazy to do anything that she even pulls the "my leg hurts" excuse to do nothing. Everytime she says that, I would give her a time out, a grounding, no tv, no toys, no screen time, etc. She would stop after I say I would ground her but would still continue after things calm down. I would even say that we should go to the doctor to check her leg because it is always hurting. She immedately begs that we don't go but she still uses "my leg hurts" to do nothing. Even when it's time for bed, she immediately goes "my leg hurts". When it's breakfast, "my leg hurts" and that I have to feed her instead. It's driving me crazy and I honestly don't know what to do. The laziness is driving me nuts.

Covid and parenting in 2022

I found out today that our daycare of choice isn't masking (staff not masking, parents dropping off/picking up don't have to mask)... It is no longer mandated where I live, but of all places to stop masking in response to a government mandate as opposed to following the science, a good-quality (and expensive) daycare??!! I am so let down by this. The majority of my friends and potential parent friends are acting like Covid is over; many of them are, like me, still waiting for the vaccine to be approved for their kids (I'm in Canada), but they're doing all kinds of normal life things. Some have half-vaxxed or unvaxxed kids. There is no lonelier feeling that I've experienced in 40 years. Wondering if anyone can relate.

Running out of toddler activities

Need ideas here, we like to be active on the weekends with our 16 month toddler and go to parks, libraries, stores, farmers markets etc... But it has been 100 degrees on the daily lately and im running out of ways to entertain our toddler. It doesn't help that he is at an age where he has learned to yell at the top of his lungs the moment something doesn't go his way, so grocery stores and malls and stuff are difficult. I recently got a membership to our local natural history and science museum which was wonderful, but with the heat there are a ton more big kids who don't care and yank things from him and knock him over (with nary a word from the parents). Where do you guys take your toddlers on the weekends that is tiny kid friendly and is preferably indoors to escape the heat?

what are you feeling especially guilty about right now?

For me, it's the amount of naps we do in the swing. For some reason, my LO does not nap well in his bassinet, but he does so well in the swing. It's a very safe, reclined swing that has him basically flat, but I still feel weirdly guilty about it. What about you? Do you have anything you do that for some reason makes you feel guilty?

How do you punish your kids when they waste food?

My kids genuinely enjoy wasting food. This morning my five year old woke up before everyone else was up and went to the kitchen. He got out the 8 pack of special dessert yogurts(the kind with m&ms and oreo toppings) and ate all of the toppings. Then he stuck his finger in each yogurt cup. He left the fridge cracked open and it was at about 50 degrees when we found it. I told him he is paying for the yogurts from his piggy bank(he gave zero fucks). I am floating the idea of making him come to the grocery store and buy more yogurt and only his sister can eat it. Feels kinda cruel though. I grew up in extreme poverty so I learned to not waste food out of necessity. My children don't have to experience that but I just don't know how to teach them not to be so wasteful but also not give them an eating disorder.

my manchild husband

The brand new coffee table I have had for exactly one week now has a condensation ring on it, put there by my 40 year old husband. This is the kind of stupid, careless, childish stuff I have to deal with on a regular basis. And he wonders why I feel like he's just another child for me to instruct, correct, and take care of. Things like this are a constant problem in our relationship and, ladies, I am getting TIRED.

If you raise your kids with gentle parenting, how do your (adult) kids handle authority?

So if you’re the kind of parent that doesn’t do punishment and tries to focus on emotional well being and all the things that come with trauma informed parenting and gentle / choices instead of consequences type parenting… how’s your kid doing with authority and responsibilities outside of the family? Are they successful in their job with their boss? How do they react to being told what to do instead of getting choices?

my husband got snipped today

I'm both happy and sad. Logically it's the best thing. Emotionally I'm sad I won't have a 3rd.

sensory videos

These aren’t the same as just plain tv right? I try to limit tv very much but sometimes I need to get something done and it will occupy my 6 month old to stare at the dancing umbrellas and little sun shines. They play classical music too!! 30 minutes to an hour per day while mom runs around the house and does some chores is okay right? I’m very interactive with him most of the time

How great are baby kisses?!

Just started getting ‘kisses’ from LO. It’s the sweetest and funniest thing ever to have her absolutely maul my face with her slobbery mouth. She’s just the greatest.

Any info on breastfeeding with nipple piercings?

To clarify - I do not currently have jewelry in. It was taken out a few months ago, and still have a couple months before giving birth, BUT I've had the piercings for 10+ years, and they will not 'close up'. I am wondering about others who have breastfed with pierced nipples. Is there anything I should know? Any tips/tricks? Or is it basically the same?

Water flavoring

Hey, everyone! Despite all efforts, my son will not drink water. I’m convinced he would let himself get dehydrated it we didn’t intervene. However, if I add just a squirt of Flavoring to his water, he drinks it no issue. So my question- what’s the best (health wise) possible water additive to buy? I know the answer is “none”, but I’m getting quite exhausted fighting with my son to get Him to drink something, and I don’t like giving more than 4oz of diluted juice a day. Feel free to drop tips on getting him to drink water, but I’m afraid I’ve tried them all. My plan as of now, is to give him one sippy full of water with a squirt of flavoring a day, and offer just water with meals. He also gets 6oz or milk in the morning, 4 at nap time, and 6oz of milk at bedtime! Thank you in advance !

Working parents of K-5th children - what do you do with them during the summer?

I have a couple toddlers right now, and they both go to daycare. But I was thinking about how when they get to kindergarten, they won't be there during the summer. But both me and my wife work all day, and at 5/6/7 years old, they still need a lot of attention and guidance. I don't want them just watching TV all day every day, but at that age they aren't really old enough to wander the neighborhood on their own. So what do y'all do during the summer?

Currently hiding out in the bathroom because...

My two kiddos (6 & 3), are actually playing together cooperatively. I know that as soon as I leave, the play will end. What's making you hide today?