Parenting Contents Archive

My son dropped out of college to become a garbage collector

My son (18) never really liked school, but still he ​​managed to have good grades in high school (mostly As/Bs). He talked to us several times about how unhappy he was with college and we even suggested a gap year. Still, he said he was an adult now and, as an adult, he felt that college wasn’t for him. After a lot of talking and crying, we told him that if he didn’t want to go to college, it was fine as long as he had a plan. Last week, he told us he finally had a plan: he was getting a commercial drivers license and he was becoming a garbage collector… We really feel like he could be doing more with his life, but he won’t budge. Should I back off? I really really think he has more potential than that. Should I try to convince him it’s a bad idea? I really don’t know what to do.

Child lock on cars 😅

Currently stuck in the back seat because my so forgot that the back doors have the child safety lock on and he walked inside the store 😂😂😂 yeah I could climb to the front seat if I really wanted to but my preggo butt ain't doing that. Just going to see how long it takes him to realize he left me in the car. Safety locks are great for kids not for adults.

Mother’s Opinions

Why must mothers or MIL’s constantly tell you what you should do or give advice when you don’t ask for it?! My mom texted me this earlier: “A little rice cereal and she’d probably sleep better. Lol but generations of old mama’s don’t know anything. It’s true!” SO ANNOYING. She’s been on and on about rice cereal for weeks now. I’ve told her it’s not something I think my child needs and if it were, I’d discuss it with her pediatrician. I know pediatrician’s are generally against rice cereal anyway and of course my mom had to point that out too “they will just tell you not to do it.” Just because you did x y z with me, doesn’t mean I wanna do it with my baby. I hate that “I did it and you turned out fine” mentality. Just ranting and/or looking for other parents who have experienced this to commiserate with me I guess.

The pandemic is what is strange — and wrong — in the world, not the child’s emotions. @nytimes @PerriKlass https://t.co/wOFKSKuLf9

The hardest part of parenting is dealing with other people's children

I never knew that that would be my biggest challenge. My son got bullied for three years by the same kids and now my daughter's been sexually assaulted by a boy in her class. I wish I could have my kids out of society so we didn't have to deal with these horrible kids that are going to grow up to be in prison or a rapist. Don't have kids if your not going to spend 10 minutes of your day getting them into therapy because you couldn't be bothered. I'm so furious.

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People's fingers inside my baby's mouth

What is it with people thinking it's okay to shove their food covered fingers inside my 4 month old baby's mouth???????? No, Karen, just because you assured me that your fingers were clean does not mean you get free access to my kid's mouth. I spent the past few days policing my kid's mouth because this woman kept wanting to let my baby taste food with her fingers, oh and you know what's worse? Said food was ice cream, chocolate, and frosting: processed junk! I told her 7392 times we are not doing solids before six months, and baby isn't showing interest in food yet but noooooo "yOu GoTtA lEt HeR gEt UsEd To It". Fuck that, and you know? "I" wanna be the one who makes her kid try things for the first time because "I" wanna watch her initial reaction, not hear about it secondhand. I know she means well but God it's annoying how the mother's wishes are often ignored.

Daughters biological father….

Just texted me an hour ago after not speaking with him since our daughter was born. Told me he had no interest in being a father at that time. I feel like I’m going to vomit. I haven’t answered him back yet. I can’t even imagine why he’s texting me. It’s been almost 4.5 years.

How are you? Tired? Haha oh well that’s expected

Anyone else just sick of the zero sympathy you get from people? I find especially parents of older children will be like oh hi are you doing? And when I say tired they go hah well that’s just part of it, deal with it, zero sympathy for you… Like there is a difference between ok I’m generally not sleeping 8 hours a night / still feeding at night / etc and last night when I had such a bad migraine I was throwing up and my almost 6mo baby woke up crying every half an hour for the millionth time this month because teething / cold / regression / mysterious reasons, and I absolutely cannot function most days. Just don’t ask how I am then?!? /rant over thank you for coming to my TED talk

What’s the issue with my newborn?

3w old good weight and checked by pediatrician to be fully healthy. Problem is she doesn’t sleep well. Here’s the the full flow: (Assume she is swaddled with arms locked up) 1. Rocking dance soothes her where she is held mostly vertical with head on my chest. 2. Continue for about 5-8 mins until eyes are closed. 3. Gently roll her into bassinet laying straight on her back. 4. Wait about 5-10 minutes Problem: Gurgling sounds, a bit of spit/milk sometimes leaks from her mouth, and her entire body slowly squirms inside the swaddle. Eyes flip open, sleep is immediately broken. Pickup and repeat 1-4 again. Soothe her if you waited too long and she’s already crying. After about 3 rounds she usually falls asleep. Some nights, she will not sleep even after 12 rounds of this. Other nights the crying can’t be soothed for more than 20 seconds before crying ensues. So what’s the community diagnosis?

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Today has been tough

So, I have been very fortunate with my bub so far, we have made it to 4 months and she has been a decent sleeper and feeds well and has just been lovely. Untill a week or so ago, now, each day is a battle, she's tired but won't nap, hungry but won't feed and just screams at me all day then, infuriatingly smiles and giggles at my partner. Today I took her for a walk in the wind and rain so we could both cry it out and she then fell asleep leaving me just crying pushing a baby around like a mad woman! Anyway. Just wanted to say. To all mummies out there, I admire your strength and resilience. Never knew I could be such a grump!

Dress code

My daughters middle school (she’s in 8th grade) emailed about her crop top being inappropriate for school. She wore sweatpants and a lose tshirt crop top revealing an inch of her belly. They also informed me that they spoke to her about her skirts being too short. She wears shorts underneath her skirts FYI. We do live in a small sheltered town and my daughter is a fashionista but my question is: am I being too lenient or is the new male principle creating a mindset that girls should contain their expression of self?

What do you know that your kids don’t think that you know?

For example my 8 year old thinks I don’t know that he stays up past midnight reading. He just finished the 6th Harry Potter book, and I intend to get him The Lord of the Rings around the time he finishes the 7th. He reads during daylight hours but he thinks he’s sneaky about reading after hours too. I will never tell him. What “secrets” do you know about your kids that they don’t think that you know?

Tips on urine smell in bathroom?

I have a son that’s almost 5. He’s been potty trained almost 2 years now. We used to have one of the frog urinals on the wall in his bathroom and a few months ago I took it down and told him he needed to start using the toilet. We’ve worked on aim, lifting the seat, etc. but he inevitably still has messes and I for the life of me cannot get the smell of urine out of this bathroom! It’s only gotten worse with the removal of the urinal. I clean a constantly and wipe the floors, the entire toilet etc. what is going on!? Anyone else have this issue? How did you solve it? Thanks!