Parenting Contents Archive

🎧 LISTEN: There’s a growing movement to teach data science in schools and students are enjoying it. Some experts hope data science will disrupt maths education and lead to more diversity in STEM. @callmeKi https://t.co/ByhfnOyWYr

Did you know it is very important for parents to allow their children to play independently? Being able to be alone is a skill all children (and adults) must have! https://t.co/iodC5OftxZ #parentingtips #childdevelopment

What's the first solid food you gave to your child?

Starting solids soon and I'm pretty excited! Curious to see what everyone started with, and what your kid's reaction was!

COVID just cost me 400 bucks and is destroying my marriage

Today was going to be amazing... We had been planning it for weeks. I had bought my wife an early Christmas present and got good seats to see the Nutcracker ballet nearby. 400 buckaroos for those puppies. My 4 year old and 8 month old were all set to stay at my parents house for a sleepover. My wife and I were going to get an entire day and night to ourselves!!!! SHE BOUGHT SEXY LINGERIE LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. Until a message comes through from our Daycare notifying us that a teacher in my 4 year old daughters room has COVID and that my 4 year old has been exposed and needs to quarantine. She has no symptoms. Fan fucking tastic. In my fit of disbelief I say to my wife, let's just send the kids over to my parents (my parents don't care about the disease) and act like we didn't even see this. Shes never broken a rule in her life. And she's right. We can't send them. So 400 bucks down the tubes. No refunds. And 4 year old has to stay home from school all next week...I LOVE LIFE

“Boys are often under represented or even ignored in the fight against child sexual exploitation” https://t.co/u7cZUK9PjY https://t.co/wCU5BsKvz7

Planning for Environment means arranging safe places indoors and outdoors where a toddler can play with as few “no’s” as possible. -Irene Van der Zande, #family

I am giving Christmas Petty Revenge Gifts

This year we are giving the most useless/annoying gifts. I am also seeking gift ideas...

A few ideas so your teens don't spend the entire #winterbreak on their screens. #parenting https://t.co/UEr5BIygDp

I can't handle hearing or reading anything bad about babies.

Since having my own baby, I can't handle anything sad or upsetting dealing with babies. The worst thing is that they get stuck in my head like intrusive thoughts, and it takes a bit of time and effort to get them out. I usually hug my daughter and try to focus on her, but the thought usually jumps back in my head randomly over a few days. For example, I have read the Harry Potter books countless times over the years. The thought of a little baby watching his parents die and left alone in the world breaks my heart. Then he's left with the Dursleys, who probably left him to cry in his crib. In the last movie, where his mom is kneeling next to his crib and saying "Harry you are so loved" while he is crying brings me to tears. I'm crying as I type it out now. I'm being treated for PPD but I have always been this sensitive. I am like this about animals, too. Any one else like this?

Instagramming our toddler in fake designer clothes

Preface. Wife only does this once a month and her profile is closed to only 250 friends and family. I don’t know where to draw the line in my wife’s obsession to instagram our daughter in fake designer clothes/bags/accessories (LV, Chanel, Gucci, etc). These are high quality fakes so they definitely still hurt our wallet as we’re only middle income earners. I understand this is my wife form of retail therapy, living vicariously and daughter/mother bonding but are we setting her up for failure? Will my daughter look back at these pictures and think this is life’s goal to wear designer clothes? What does my daughter think of my wife being glued to instagram all day looking for ideas for the next perfect photo? Thank you. Concerned Dad.

I've just stopped breastfeeding and this is the worst I've ever felt in my entire life

I posted a few weeks ago asking about how I can stop breastfeeding in order to take some medication I need. I've finally made the choice to stop, and I haven't breastfed my 10mo daughter in 2 days. She seems to be dealing with it pretty well for the most part. She drinks formula from her bottle, and she eats really well, so I'm not too worried. We had tapered down to two night time feeds, so it isn't like she depends on breastmilk. I'm an absolute wreck though. My boobs are insanely painful, which I expected would be the case. I also feel like I've caught the flu- headache, achey bones and muscles, fatigue, the works. I'm also really low, I'm just lying in bed crying. I feel like a connection has been severed, and like I'm doing something to hurt the relationship between my daughter and I. I had to do this, it was time, but I just don't know how to feel better both physically and psychologically. Does anyone who's been through this have any advice for me? Thank you x

Not enjoying parenting at all.

No judgement please. I have a two year old boy and I am struggling with motherhood. I feel like I am running out of patience constantly. He is constantly trying to test me and push my buttons which I understand but it’s endless. I feel disconnected, I feel overwhelmed and I feel stressed. It feels like I am living and doing things to get through to the next day, I’m not enjoying these moments. I am hoping it’s the baby/toddler stage that maybe I don’t like as opposed to being a mother as a whole. He is very smart with a lot of vocabulary which is amazing but he really will do things to get a reaction or will just whine all the time over the most minor things or even nothing. It makes it insufferable to be around him with these things. I wish I could hide away. Is this a phase? Can anyone who has experienced this please advise?

Comparing milestones

Don’t do it. Don’t be that friend who randomly pops into your friends’ lives to ask what milestones their babies have achieved so you can measure your own kid’s milestones. It’s annoying and gives some of us anxiety. And if you’re feeling anxious about milestones, talk to your kid’s doctor and/or yours (because you may just have post partum anxiety and are projecting your anxiety onto your kid’s stupid milestones). /end public service announcement

Study showing parents who smile while eating veggies, had children who consumed more veggies

Vaccinating my 4.5 year old

My 4.5 year old is tall and filled out - what are the risks in getting her the COVID vaccine that’s intended for a 5 year old? This feels like an arbitrary cut off age, am I wrong feeling that way? I know science isn’t about “feelings” but I’m so frustrated by the Pfizer study and so anxious to get her vaccinated.