Parenting Contents Archive

A friend's 13 month old baby passed away today from RSV

I cannot function right now. I just have no idea how to support her, how to comfort her. I am at loss for her. That poor baby...and momma...her family... Please pay attention to the signs and symptoms of RSV. It's so dangerous and scary. Even if you think it's a regular cold. Please...

How to politely decline Christmas gift?

Mother-in-law just texted husband and I that we’re going to need a babysitter on 12/28 cause her Xmas gift to us is a function that night. Given that she didn’t offer to babysit, I’m assuming she’s planning for us and them to go together. Couples things: 1. Babysitters are expensive 2. I go to bed at 9 pm (toddler wakes early and I’m pregnant) 3. I think it’s a random concert and I don’t really like loud music when I don’t know the band. She always gets things I don’t want and I usually donate them to goodwill. I can’t think of any way this could be enjoyable for me. I’m so uncomfortable.

New podcast: “Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong”

Listened to an NPR podcast interviewing Emily Hanford about her new podcast, which details how most American school systems continue to teach reading using an ineffective approach that directly contradicts decades of evidence. Essentially, science knows how to humans learn to read, and yet that’s NOT how most schools teach. Add this to the setbacks many kids experienced due to the pandemic, and it does not paint a pretty picture for the future of literacy in the US.

What's your least favorite part of parenting? I'll start...

I think setting AND holding boundaries with my preschooler is going to be the death of me. The constant "testing the proverbial electric fence for weaknesses," the unexpected challenge to long-established boundaries, etc. My kiddo is so smart, empathetic, funny, and kind. But holy moly, I was not expecting how draining it would be to hold that line in the face of angry/sad meltdowns.

I wish I had had someone who loved me at my side while I was giving birth.

My son's father forbade anyone else from being present. He threw a massive fit and shouted at me and called me a disrespectful traitor for telling my Mother we were going to the hospital. Then he ditched me to go smoke pot, returned an hour later just to pass out high for the night. I may as well have been alone. He didn't stir as I suffered and listened to our son's heart rate repeatedly crash. Hardly showed any emotion when they woke him to tell him I needed an emergency C section. I wish every day I had had security throw him out and asked my Mother to come and be with me instead. I will eternally regret that. My advice to others: hold the people who love you close, and don't let anyone come between you... Now more than ever, you need the people who love you. Truly.

Here are strategies you can use to introduce shortcuts to your students to ensure that they have the skills they need to navigate digital spaces efficiently. @ClassTechTips @edutopia https://t.co/1xQTVJH4zG

Sometimes we don't give dads enough credit - so to all the fathers out there, this one is for you. ❤️ https://t.co/0qkljk9BGm

Keep your dogs away

Some playgrounds explicitly stated, "no dogs," yet people blatantly ignore the rule. Results in a shit show, as there's usually a handful of kid not yet adapted to dogs. And at school pickup? Are you kidding me? Not the place. Be considerate please. Not everyone enjoys being barked at and licked by a dog.

Is this normal

Fiancé took a job six days a week from 7am to 11pm I hate it we have two small kids he says this is what MEN do. I’m not happy advice?

“We adults have to be honest; we’re often being hypocrites with the amount of time we spend online, AND we’re not empowering youth to find alternatives to spending time online.” https://t.co/EJZIu1NOBx @NextGenMen https://t.co/lsusiosdXZ

Thoughts on in home daycares?

Between the formula shortages and the lack of childcare spots I am completely overwhelmed. I tear up just thinking about sending our baby to daycare at 11 weeks old and not being able to find a childcare spot is rough. I feel like I have to send her to any place with an opening rather then being able to pick out a daycare that I feel like is a good fit. I have been on several waiting list since I was 32 weeks pregnant and every list is still full. I am now debating about in home daycares even though I really don’t want to send our daughter to one.

Keep my old consoles for kids or not?

When I was a child, I got my dad’s old Atari, and loved it. As I grew older, I got a lot of Nintendo, gameboy and Xbox consoles. I’m keeping them for my 4.5 year old boy, but at the same time, I’m thinking: ‘why? Shouldn’t I sell them and invest in more time with my son instead of dumping a lot of old consoles on him. What do / would you do? Keep or sell?

Is there scientific evidence for infant wake windows/overtiredness/undertiredness

Lots of parents create schedules for their babies based on these recommendations, myself included, and stress about when babies are napping or staying up too short/too long. My twins have been crap nappers recently and when I asked my pediatrician, she basically shrugged and said if they’re sleeping fine at night, then it doesn’t matter how their naps are. Which leads me to think that maybe these strict age-based schedules aren’t very scientific?

Fear of doctors > fear of what’s wrong with me.

I’m sick. There’s something wrong with me - I’m tired all the time, my hair is thinning rapidly and the hair I have left is dull/limp, I have perma brain fog … I also have real life medical trauma. I can’t seem to bring myself to go to an appointment. I’ve ditched two appointments already because I had such horrible panic attacks I couldn’t seem to leave the house. I know the easy answer. JUST GO. It’s a little like telling a depressed person to cheer up. Or a hoarder to just let things go. Even if I knew what was wrong with me I wouldn’t follow through on continual care - so there’s probably no point in me going anyway. There’s no point to this. It’s probably frustrating to read this and know someone like me is out there … I’m not stoked about it either lol. I just needed a place to purge I guess. Sorry.

My 8 week old BF baby slept 9.5 hrs

WTF. My alarm didn’t go off and he normally wakes up for one feed. He usually goes anywhere from 5-7 hours but this is a first. I am freaking out (in a bad way). Is this okay!!??