Parenting Contents Archive

Wife passed, my kids and I are going under quickly.

We were a 2 income household, my wife being the educated one brought in the majority of our income. But now, it’s just the kids and I. I have been doing my best to try and pick up the pieces. But we’re now to the point where I cannot afford the roof over our heads and just getting the next meal sounds like an immeasurable challenge. I have applied to Cal Fresh, and a variety of other assistance programs. I’ve been denied for all of them. I make $16 an hour and somehow that is supposed to be sufficient to feed my kids I don’t understand how I unable to qualify for any help, I make a dollar above minimum wage in CA. I don’t know what to do, I feel more desperate by the minute. How do I carry my family out of this hole? Are there any meaningful options I can pursue?

In no state are teachers paid better than or equal to similarly qualified professionals in that same state. But in Rhode Island, Wyoming and New Jersey, the disparity is less glaring, with a difference under 5 percent. @ByEmilyTate @EdSurge https://t.co/D8ElCVZCno

“He is healthy. He is growing. I feel him kicking now, and I am so grateful for his little nudges on my belly. Separating loss and grief from my happiness for my baby boy is one of the hardest things I've ever had to do.” https://t.co/jrkCUFFSy0

I'm making my daughter get a job and everyone is against me

My 17 year old had all summer to work and instead sat around doing absolutely nothing, sleeping till noon, and eating all day. I worked all summer and am a single mom raising her alone. When she asked for money from me, I would make her do chores to earn it. When she recently asked for her permit to drive, told her she will be paying for her own car insurance to be added or she won't be driving my car. I explained to her that she will be working this year to pay for her dresses to homecoming and prom also because she has worked a job every summer in the past and see no reason she physically can't work. My mom and dad, her boyfriend, and she all think am way out of line because I work so "why can't just pay for all these things". They all think her senior year should be a big celebration before she turns 18. This is unrealistic. I don't want her mooching off me and whining to me because she can't afford Starbucks every day. AITA?

From collecting biometric data, particularly “faceprints” and “voiceprints" to dangerous and illegal challenges, here's what parents should know about #TikTok. https://t.co/sIKDWPoacB

[Rant] Yes, my baby is skinny

My 9 month old daughter is in the 57th percentile for height and 26th for weight. I'm constantly hearing about how skinny she is from everyone, and passively being blamed for it. "Do you make her eat all her food? Is it caloric enough? Does she eat enough milk? Do you make enough milk?" She's healthy and eating as much as she wants. I'm so sick of hesring it. Thing is, her legs, more specifically her thighs, are huge. The doctor wondered how she can have such big legs for her weight. She has the exact same body type I had as a baby, fat legs and all. She's developmentally ahead of the game, as she says some two word phrases and is almost walking. So why is it so important that she's not super chubby? I don't get it! As a side note, her doctor isn't concerned at all, and I've told people this. It doesn't seem to matter. I'm at the point where I might ask them if the food their eating is too caloric, but I'm not that kind of person. Rant over

Baby boy is 8.5 months in 18 months clothes

FTM here, Just need to hear other parents commiserate with how quickly babies grow and how inaccurate baby clothing sizes are. My 8.5 month old has a huge appetite and is in 18 month clothing. I can’t buy clothes fast enough!

Currently sobbing in the bathroom

My kiddo starts pre-k tomorrow at a new school. He’s really been in pre-k since age 3 due to a speech delay, but it was part of a daycare and so he really didn’t ever think of it as school. This school is a private pre-k through 8th grade school that I have dreamed of him attending since I was pregnant with him. I just learned that it’s a car drop off type of situation so even on the first day I’m going to have to allow a teacher to come get him out of his booster seat and walk him into the building without me. I don’t know why it never occurred to me that this was a possibility but evidently it is and now I just can’t control myself 😭😭😭😭😭 and I was doing so well handling my emotions on this one. Mamas who have to do this, please tell me I’m not traumatizing him. I feel like he’s going to think I’m just abandoning him 😭😭😭😭😭😭

How do you keep your infant entertained?

We interact with our almost 10 week old by playing with him on his two mats, we take him for walks every day in the stroller, we've bought an inflatable pool to take him swimming among other things but he still gets bored easily. Is there anything you do with your baby to interact and keep them entertained?

I wrote out my victim impact statement today

Tw: this mentions child abuse. This was also mod approved. So I asked! My daughter was abused by her biological father when she was 7 months old, her and her twin sister are now 20 months old and I had write the victim impact statement today. They want to know how this has affected us. The better question is how hasn’t this affected us? My daughter needs weekly therapies. Her dads family keeps harassing us, they’ve sued me, they’ve filed false CPS reports, they like to drive past my house, all in an effort to intimidate me. I get no child support. I am exhausted and drained and tired from doing this alone. But I will continue to be alone because I don’t trust anyone to watch my kids. Not anymore. I’ve just been crying all day. I want him back in jail (he’s out on bond) and I want this over.

My husband got the best surprise gift ever: the 12' skeleton is back!

They were not supposed to be released onto the floor until tomorrow but he was able to secure one of the 12' Halloween skeletons this morning for me. He is friendly with the guys who work there since he goes there for work practically every morning. And he got it for retail price, not the ebay marked up price! He knows I love Halloween and beguiled by a bargain, whatta guy. I'm so excited I had to brag ❤️🎃 Also, get thee to the big box orange chain hardware store if you, like me, need one of these in your life.

Finally got a diagnosis.

As an autistic parent I’ve been noticing a lot of the same symptoms I experience with my almost 3 yr old and have been since she was pretty young. Her doctor has been concerned since she was about 1.5 as well without me bringing up any concerns. Today we finally went to the evaluation I’d scheduled a year ago (the last evaluation we had earlier this year wasn’t one to diagnose but to see if she qualified for different therapies/preschool funded by the state). They finally diagnosed her with autism like I’ve been suspecting. I feel so relieved. With myself it’s been a battle getting diagnosed as an Afab, doctors never wanted to take me seriously. I’m so happy that’s not the case for my daughter. Nothing has changed. My kid is still the same kid as before. I’m just glad she’s not being dismissed or ignored the way I was and still am at times. Plus now when she starts school it’ll be easier to get an IEP if she needs one.

Feeding To Sleep

Anyone have knowledge, thoughts, studies on feeding to sleep? So many books I’ve read say for a routine, follow the “Eat, Play/Activity, Sleep” model. I try to follow this with my 3 month old, and he still wants to comfort suck/feed to sleep for naps and bedtime. Curious what the science says. Side note- he refuses to use a pacifier.

Birth certificate

Im a ftm and my baby was born two months ago. I guess I misunderstood the person doing the paperwork. I thought I would receive the birth certificate in the mail at some point. Am I suppose to order the birth certificate online or go in person? Or does the hospital do it?

Moms of older kids- did I miss it?

Do you know that popular Instagram reel voice-over? Something like “You only have a little kid for 4 years. If you miss it it’s gone forever” My wonderful girl turns 5 in a couple of weeks. I feel like I don’t remember anything from the last 5 years. I have spent almost every single second of her life right beside her and yet…it seems like a blur. I feel like her childhood is slipping through my fingers. I am so aware of the fact that these are the days I’ll miss the most. These are the years I’ll feel nostalgic for. But I can’t remember any of it! I'm just trying to get through the day most of the time…how has it been 5 years? Are birthdays this emotional for other parents? Every birthday feels less like a celebration and more like a mourning of what was lost.