Parenting Contents Archive

In the past few years, some parents have received a new item to put into their child-rearing tool kits: the school mental health day. The question for parents will be deciding when and how to use the option. @ElizabethGChang @washingtonpost https://t.co/0HpbRC2h0j

When spouse controls finances…

My spouse has controlled our finances for years. Yeah, I know, bad idea. I got busy raising twins and let him do it. I want to change that. I keep asking for logins to credit cards, savings accounts, and any other investments/debt. He tells me I’m nagging or he is too busy. I don’t even know which bank has our mortgage/the balance. Some of the credit cards/accounts are in his name only. How can I get logins to know what money/investments/debt we have? How do I find out which bank has our mortgage and what is left on it? How do I find out how many credit cards he has and balances? He won’t give any of this info to me and gets angry when I keep asking.

Should I tell my friend I saw her babies first steps?

Hi, aunt here. Was babysitting my friends 14month old daughter and she took her first steps. Should I tell her mom? Or should I just keep quiet until she walks in front of them so they can experience that special moment? Is it a big deal? It’s their first kid so I think it would be? Idk I don’t have kids yet so kinda confused. Thanks!

STOP SAYING YOU MISS THEM WHILE MAKING 0 EFFORT TO SEE THEM

Parents, siblings, friends … you can tell me you miss my kids as much as you want when you see me. If you do not make an effort to ask about them, call them on their birthday, ask to see them, I DONT CARE. My mom lives close enough that she just dropped by without an invite or even a text, to give me something to do for her. The kids were napping. “Ohhh, I really miss them”. Do ya? Because you live close and we only see or hear from you when you need something. Post a pic on IG, friends comment “OMG, they’re so big! Have to get together soon. Miss you guys!” Do ya? Because you never ask about my kids and when we do get together you bawk at the idea of me bringing them along. We have family. We have a circle of friends. Yet, we have no village. Ok, rant over. 🙃

Today I got my period, I’m not ready.

Well after 15 months of breastfeeding, my period finally came back today. I cried and then downed 3 donuts in the parking lot while I’m waiting to pick my older kids up from school. I knew this day would come, but I was ‘milking it’ (lol) for as long as I could….

My wholesome son…

Two years ago I made an amateur cake for my son’s birthday. It had graham cracker ‘dirt’ and little bulldozers etc. He loved it. 2 weeks later, for my daughter’s birthday, my snooty MIL declared she was getting a professional cake and I kinda took offense but whatever…anyway my son’s birthday rolls around again and I asked him what kind a cake he wanted and he requested another bulldozer cake. Winning! Lol. I got a bunch of Minecraft toys for this year’s cake.

problem: can't stop kissing baby

He's almost 10 months and I thought it would get better, but for the sake of me I can't stop kissing him!

What is a crazy myth about babies that your in-laws or parents stand by?

I’ll go first.. my in-laws think that when a baby looks up, it’s rude. Another one is if it’s a little chilly, the baby gets hiccups.

When is it appropriate to allow alcohol?

I'm kind of anticipating getting roasted here, but at what age is there a sane argument for allowing alcohol? I'm talking heavily diluted wine at the family table if they want to try it. Allowing a small amount of beer or a shandy with a pub lunch. Taste the champagne at a wedding, stuff like that. We've a nephew staying for a sleepover this weekend and compared to his home we enjoy a drink or two on the weekend. I got to thinking tonight that if he was interested I'd allow a finger of wine topped off with water (he is 12). I mentioned it to my partner and she was pretty annoyed at me saying there is no age or reason to do that ever. I asked about our own children (toddler) and she thought that maybe 15 or 16, like shandy with the goal of at least removing the allure of the forbidden. I think this is very naive (too late) and honestly thinking have no real lower limit, I'd say it is completely dependent upon the context.

Sometimes we all need to be reminded of the simple truths. #parentingtips @jesslahey shares three rules for parenting teens. https://t.co/un81IVselq

Actions are remembered long after words are forgotten - Lolly Daskal. This is great for #parents and children

most of umbelical cord fell off at 2 weeks. baby is now 3 weeks. can I bathe him?? is this normal?

Mold on baby mattress

Before I put my baby (9m) down for his nap I pulled his sheets out to change them and found mold on his mattress. I was shocked as we pull his sheets often because he loses his binkys every other day. He has some symptoms similar to a cold (runny nose, congestion, styes) that I now think he’s experiencing because of the mold. I’ve reached out to his doctor and I’m currently waiting on a response to see if maybe I should take him in for a check up, but what do I do with the mattress? I’ve been searching for answers online but everything seems to be mixed from throwing away the mattress to cleaning it. The spot is about 2 inches. Any input would be greatly appreciated! FYI for now he will be sleeping in his play pen in our room until I figure out next steps.

An antidote to this contentious D in parenting https://t.co/cJmoN5xZaX https://t.co/ecC99wS74K

Ugh.

This is marginally mom related and mostly me bitching about office culture… again. But thanks for being here. They can try to re-write history all they want - but I was hired as a full time remote employee. That means that if they’re going to tell me I need to be in the office twice a week… I’ll be finding a new job. Even if *that* job is hybrid, at least they didn’t lie about it. My life has not gotten more accommodating as far as working in the office. It’s gotten less. I have 0 interest in missing my sons’ appointments (early intervention and therapy) because corporate has changed their minds about being in office. End Rant.