Parenting Contents Archive

Do I have to get a mini van?

So I have two kids (2yo & 6month). My husband and I are planning on having a third. If we do I have to upgrade my car because we don’t have a 3rd row. My question is for parents with 3+ kids in car seats : what do you drive? I feel like a mini van is the most practical but I have sworn I wouldn’t be that mom. Aesthetically I just hate them. But it makes the most sense for the 3rd row option that is a true 3rd row not like those midsized suvs that have no place for your feet and doesn’t guzzle an absurd amount of gas like the full size SUVs. The car would also have to have second row pilot seats so the person can access the third row without having to climb over the car seats. Wondering if there is a way I can get around it. Maybe someone knows something I don’t?

How can I force my ex to take the kids more than a few hours once a week??

I'm exhausted. My kids are in daycare M-F because I work M-F. They are 3 and 6. My ex lives with his dad but he doesn't want his grandkids at his house. He has already kicked out my ex a couple of times. So my ex uses that as his reason why he can't take his kids because he won't have anywhere to take them. He also uses Child Support as the reason he can't afford a place of his own. I've been suffering from deep depression due to constantly working and constantly having them and doing everything. What I wouldn't give to wake up one day without having to stress about child duties and just do what i want one day. I'm slowly losing it...

My wife passed away suddenly this morning. Can I get any tips on what to store away or write down for our 9mo son?

Right now I’m just so lost trying to figure out how I’m going to do this without her. I just lost my best friend. We were just prepping for the little guys first Christmas that she won’t be able to be here for now. Im sorry to bring the mood down. I think I’m just hoping to get some advice on what kind of stuff I can set aside for him for later when he’s old enough to understand and how to do it. I’m thinking about sealing off her favorite pillow and blanket and when I have a clearer head I want to write down some stories. Any other suggestions on what he might want would be greatly appreciated. Please give your family hugs and kisses.

I had a baby out of wedlock....

This post is just to get out a rant against my mom. She's a great mom, she's a great grandma, BUT she will always hold it over my head that I had a baby out of wedlock and ruined her reputation (and my own?). She raised me and my siblings to be very religious, we went to Catholic school, then I got pregnant 6 years ago (at age 25), dad shows up when it works for him, and she brings it up at least once a month. I'm not really sure what answer she is looking for. I know from the outside view, it sounds toxic, but she really does bend over backwards to make sure everyone around her has what they need. By no means am I struggling, or depend on her financially. I'm a Pharmacist, I make 6 figures, we have our own place. But it makes me want to see her less and less because of the disappoint I have caused her.

My 6 year old is still peeing in the bed.

So my 6 year old daughter is still having problems peeing in the bed. When she does , she hides her clothes and I find them later. Just asking if that is normal or should I seek medical advice.

“Toxins” in cleaning products?

I see so much information about how every traditional cleaning product is “toxic.” & how parents need to try to live “low tox.” Is there any research about how using normal cleaning products compared to “cleaner” alternatives actually impact babies? Or is this just an issue fabricated by crunchy moms on Instagram? Thanks in advance.

You guys are going to hate me

But I've never been good about picking up after myself. I leave clothes all over the place. Dishes undone. Shit laying all over the guest bed. My husband does most of the cleaning. Reading all your posts about how the man is usually the one who is useless and messy has been slowly encouraging me to be better. I'm still not very great at it, but I'm doing better. 27 weeks pregnant and I'm going to be a SAHM for a while. I need to snap into it.

Anyone else missing their baby?! 😭

He’s about to turn 6 months in a few weeks.

Where does santa deliver during split custody?!

Super excited father of a groovey little 2 year old who I have shared 50% custody of, but need some santa advice! So we have agreed to rotate Xmas yearly, one year with me and the next with his mam and so on. We are struggling to come to an agreement about santa and who or which house santa comes to! I suggested santa leaves gifts at both houses as they are both his home and no one is left out, plus double excitement for the kiddo! I also wanted to keep Xmas gifts funding seperate to keep things simple (we both make about the same) My sons mother would like to split finances 50/50 for the santa gift or I give her my gifts for him to open at her house or vise versa. She also insists santa only deliver to one house. She also is refusing to tell me what gifts she will get him. My question is how do shared or rotating Xmas day parents deal with santa if sharing the day is off the table? Do you normally plan or discuss gifts together idea or funding wise?

4yo thumb sucker

My daughter is almost 4 and still sucks her thumb. She has obvious buck teeth because of it. She'll need orthodontics in the future. How have you all gotten your kids to stop? She never took to a pacifier when she was a baby. She sucks thru the disgusting nail polish. She can take off gloves. We tell her 50 times an hour to take her thumb out.

Kid stole my son's money and school isn't doing anything about it. What should I do?

My 12 year old son was out playing basketball after school at a local park and he said he wasn't watching his bag (you know how kids get) and some other kid from the same school walked up to him with his bag after mistaking it with his own bag. Son says the bags looked clearly different. He looks inside and his $5 is missing. I told him to tell a teacher since the kid goes to the same school, and he did. The teacher said he'd deal with it, but it's been a month now and nothings been done. What should I do?

Speech - Fox and f*ks 😅

My 2.5 YO recently started learning English (we live in the Canada and speak French at home). And cannot distinguish the difference between “fox” and “f*ks” yet. She’s into this program lately called “Little Fox” and every time the introduction comes on, she scream “Little f*ks!” I’m a bit concerned that people might think we curse around her all the time when that’s never the case. Any advice?

Does a baby need a hat and a blanket for the 30 second trip from the house to the car?

My parents keep telling me the baby needs a blanket and a hat when it's cold out, but the baby's not going out. The baby's going from one warm environment to another. Also it's not that cold out, it's 8 degrees Celsius. When we go below zero, obviously I'll give the baby a hat and a blanket.

Minivan vs model Y for 3 kids??

Baby is due early next year. We will have 3 kids total. We live in the city. Right now we have a Subaru Forester. It’s tight with two kids. My husband is sold on the safety features of the model Y (and because it looks cool). I spoke with a representative from tesla and they confirmed that all the back seats are car seat adaptable. My plan if we get the model y is to sit in the middle row with infant. The two toddlers would then sit in the third row. I looove the idea of the minivan , the sliding doors, easier for kids to pee kn the potty, easy to change clothes and change diapers. if anyone has tried out the model y or has looked into it please help. My husband test drove the y. I can’t since I’m on bedrest for the pregnancy. We’ve tried looking at vans but everybody is sold out so we can’t even loook at one.

Sitting/kneeling to standing without needing something to pull up on

My daughter is 14 months old and can walk very well. However, she still needs to be near something, like the couch or a chair, to go from sitting to standing. When did your child achieve this and approximately how long after they started walking well? Thanks :)