Parenting Contents Archive

[Rant] $125 behavior management fee for a 5 year old getting a single cavity filled??

I really didn’t think she was that bad…it was her very first appointment outside of the initial X-rays and exam (never had a cleaning). She cried and I had to hold her hands down but I’m disgusted and have no idea if Medicaid will cover the charge. It’s the closest pediatric dentist at 1 hour away that takes our insurance. They rushed us out and said they can’t get her back in until the end of the year for her other cavity - which is the tooth that prompted the dentist visit in the first place. I’m sure they’re making a killing off that fee, there were kids screaming like crazy, even scared kids in the waiting room were crying.

Sleep training is emotionally damaging??

I’m seeing a lot of fb mom groups complain about their little ones not sleeping through the night (they are like 3) but also saying it’s emotionally damaging to sleep train. When did this become a thing? I’ve never seen any scientific research that it is - in fact our pediatrician told us we should and that sleep is super important for brain development! That’s fine if people personally don’t want to - we sleeptrained our daughter at 4 mos and she’s been an excellent sleeper even now at 3 and happy as can be. But I don’t like that people are saying those who sleep train are emotionally damaging their kids?! Is this some new social media trend to shame parents who do sleep train?

We're delighted to be at the @CiiTweets Excellence Awards this evening with our lovely partners @DellTechIreland – here’s hoping we’ll bring home the gong! We’ve been working with Dell for 6 years now and together have created a transformational impact for so many. #CEA2022 https://t.co/M5j82S73qz

My mom is canceling on watching my kids one week before I’m supposed to leave for vacation.

She isn’t obligated to watch my three kids. I know. But I wish she would have said “no” when I planned and paid for this trip four months ago instead of the week before I’m supposed to leave. It was supposed to be a five day stay in New Orleans. I’ve had such a hard year, y’all. I separated and moved away from my STBXH. I had a miscarriage. I’ve been to court for child custody. I’ve been working 60+ hours a week. I started going back to school full time online. And I’ve been looking forward to this vacation for months! My mom asked me to hire a babysitter instead. My sitter charges $20/hour. Absolutely no way I could afford to pay her for five days. Anyway. I am just bummed and wanted to share.

how did this become my life?

Ripe age of 22 with a 3 year old and one on the way. No education, stay at home mom, bipolar, zero income, live off my husband. I love my life and wouldn't change it for the world but sometimes when I step back and look at my life I feel pathetic.

The crazy things we do as parents

I know this has been asked a ton but I always enjoy reading the different answers on each instance anyways and I wanted to share mine! I’m pregnant with our second child and in the third trimester so I’ve just been exhausted lately. After doing a ton of cleaning, I sat down on the couch with an uncrustable to relax for a moment. My 1.5 year old came over to investigate so I offered him some bites. He decided instead to grab a handful of sandwich and squeeze it in his little fist lol I seriously did not want to get up to get a paper towel and I also didn’t want him to get jelly everywhere so I grabbed his hands and licked them both clean! I’m not proud of it but I’m pretty content still sitting on the couch and he thought it was hilarious so whatever! I would’ve been super grossed out if I saw someone do this years ago! What have you done recently that you would’ve never done before becoming a parent?

What do you feed your bottomless pits to fill them up for snack time?

Both my kids come home starving from school and wants to eat a full meal amount of snacks and I'm at my whits ends to figure out what is even reasonable.

what book/book series do you irrationally hate?

No clue why as she hasn't seen the show but my 2year old is obsessed with Thomas the tank engine books. But my god they are the most boring things in the world to me and my partner... in the older books everyone is horrible to each other it's all the worst character traits, conceitedness, laziness, etc. Newer books there's a lot less but they are just so boring! Of course she likes what she likes so I got her lots of them so at least there's a variety for me to read.

Child got beat up at school, principal is protecting the attacker

My daughter was playing with a group of kids at recess today. She only knew a few of them and a few others in the group she didn’t know. They were playing pretend fighting, while one of the boys started punching and kicking her irl. I picked her up and when asked what is going to be done to ensure the s-head doesn’t assault another child, I was told they are “working with the parents”, and when asked for the kids name the principal won’t tell me. I asked for a written report and the principal told me there are only “accident reports” at the school, this wasn’t an accident. So I got nothing. I have the feeling nothing is actually being done by the school about this. This is an awful situation, my child wouldn’t hurt a fly and it’s heartbreaking that the school isn’t doing enough to prevent such incidents.

Triggered by seeing photos of my daughters with beauty filters

I have 2 daughters under 2. My SIL is obsessed with taking selfies with them but always adds these Instagram-like filters that make it appear like they are wearing makeup which saddens and disturbs me. It’s triggering to me because 1) they are absolutely perfect the way they are and these filters blur their features 2) I don’t want them growing up with unrealistic beauty expectations How do I communicate this with my SIL while being sensitive to her own insecurities she might have? Am I being too overbearing?

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TINY BUGS GAAAAAAAH

I have a lot going on in my life right now, but the thing that is tormenting me and I have chosen to fix all my attention on is these TINY EFFING BUGS that are all over my house. I don’t know WHAT they are or HOW they got in here, but I am going to lose it. I can’t sit down or stand still without one of these damn bugs buzzing around my face and flying UP MY NOSE. I can’t. They are making me insane. They fly into the cat and dog’s water dishes and drown and the animals won’t drink the water. I can’t even set a glass of water down for myself without picking it back up again and one of these damn bugs are in it. What are they?????? How do I get rid of them!???!!! Does anyone know??? They’re smaller than fruit flies, so I don’t think they’re that. HALP. I need to take my frustration out on something and regain some control, and I’m fixating on these bugs!!!

This summer school program was designed to strengthen English language skills for elementary and middle school students who speak another language at home and have not yet mastered English. @zstavely @EdSource https://t.co/AajYQ8TQ41

Have you heard of @OPALOutdoorplay? It focuses on healthy, engaging play opportunities for all students, and recognizes that play is developmentally important! Read more about the power of play & the importance of outdoor child-led movement at school: https://t.co/W5Je9MGnXI https://t.co/3svKhKFo9s

What would your ideal part-time work schedule be?

Work just in the mornings/afternoons/evenings? Work x full days per week (which days?)? Work x hours per week and fit them in whenever? When you're not working, are you always at home with the kid(s)? Or do you have them in childcare some of the time so you get some solo time? Let's say you do have to work at least a little but money isn't the main factor of how much you work. For context, planning on having our first in the next year. Partner will likely continue to work full time but I'll be able to do part time and my workplace is super flexible. So daydreaming about what the best schedule will be!