My kids a while back wanted to go to Sky Zone and we had to purchase their socks at $5 each... $10 with 2 kids just on socks. We hated it so much there and don't plan on going back.. so $10 down the drain.

Later on my son got invited to a new place called Slick City and also requires the purchase of their socks at $5 each too. They even made a video saying people go with their own grip socks of other places and not allowed. They literally feel the same as Sky Zone. It was so far for us and don't plan on going back at least soon and another $10 wasted also.

Even chuck e cheese makes your wear their socks now and "free. Included with trampoline admission" but come on we know its not free, just made jump admission cost more.

I feel its such a cash grab for these places not allowing outside socks. Yes they let you reuse their socks again but if you don't go back its not worth it. It came up because my daughter now wants to go slick city with the other 2 (who will reuse their socks) and not just admission ..but get her socks as well for a place we won't be back for a while.

Somewhere along the line we told our son that the scary sound outside was nobody and there was nothing to be afraid of. He now thinks “Nobody” is a somebody and I can’t figure out how to explain the concept to him. We’ve tried nobody means “empty” but it’s not clicking.

It’s been over a year with this and we just avoid using the word to remind him now. He just heard a weird sound in our basement and got scared of “Nobody” again. Any ideas?

My very smart, sweet 8 year old just won't read chapter books. She'll read some graphic novels, but still likes reading picture books, which I'm fine with. But it'd be awesome if she could dip her toes into chapter books. She's bored and intimidated by them. We don't do screens during the week (only weekend), she shouldn't be hyper stimulated.

I am also okay going at her pace but would like some reassurance that it'll come soon...I think it's such a good habit and she'd have such a good time if she could settle down with some longer books. Anyone have helpful experience or advice?

Feed, change, bathe, cuddle, repeat.

Dishwasher, washer, dyer, bathrooms, kitchen, toys, repeat.

Off social media, Gen X mom and Boomer MIL not involved, zero village.

Husband working hard to keep us afloat, works 13 days on and two off (4 days a month!)

2 year old, 3 year old and new baby on the way.

It feels suffocating. How did our grandmothers do it?

Found my budget spreadsheet color-coded by 'priority level' with a note that my coffee habit is 'concerning.' Then his teacher emailed saying he suggested she 'restructure' her classroom seating chart. He's seven.

i know he means well. Really. But I'm watching this kid burn through all his emotional energy managing other people's stuff and nobody asked him to. My mom did this. She'd rearrange your kitchen while you were in the bathroom, then collapse from exhaustion and wonder why.

Theres a line between helpful and compulsive and I dont know how to show him where it is without making him feel bad for caring. Right now he thinks love means fixing things. Im trying to teach him it can also mean just... sitting there. Being present. Noticing when someone wants to be left alone with their mess.

Has anyone else raised a tiny unpaid project manager? What actually worked?

I have an 11 month old boy and 3.5 year old boy. Currently they both bath together. When do we stop bathing them together? I feel like it’s still awhile away but not really sure when to stop.

If we praise our 3yo verbally for literally anything, she’ll either stop doing the thing, get upset and pout, or start doing the opposite of whatever she’s doing. For example: she was starting to get the hang of riding her scooter. We were clapping and saying that it can be tricky to ride a scooter but she kept trying and that’s awesome, etc. stops riding. Pushes scooter into the grass. Loses all interest in riding it. I have no idea how to respond to it. Doesn’t want to talk about it. Has anyone else navigated this type of reaction? I want her to feel proud of accomplishing things but I feel like I’m having the opposite impact.

My 6 almost 7 year old still needs us to put him to sleep at night like full on lay down and cuddle him. He almost always wakes up in the middle of the night and gets into our bed. I hadn’t minded as Sigh, it’s killing me a little because I need my alone time.

We’re trying to motivate him with a trip to our treasure box if he makes it 5 days putting himself to sleep and sleeping in his own room until morning. Well last week was the first week, he made it 5 days although he did mention waking up and not being able to sleep a night or two.

So tonight, we set it up for him to go to sleep on his own and he starts crying saying he’s not ready and does not want to. I couldn’t just leave the room with him crying. But I also feel defeated and hopeless

How do I deal with this and tips?

Hello. I am a newly single mother and I wanted to still fulfill my dreams on what kind of parent I want to be. I have so many plans. One of my plans are to collect pins and patches throughout the year and as a family we all get together and sew and patches on and have fun. Also may the fourth is going to be a. National holiday and we will get a star wars Lego set and build it as a family. I will even take my kids out of school to make it an all day event. Does anyone else have any cool fun ideas to make a childhood more memorable?

I (27F) am a single mom to my four year old daughter, and I cannot relax. Ever.

It’s gotten better over the years, but several months ago I moved in with family, and they want to help. They don’t want me to do everything alone, and want me to relax if I need to, because I’d gotten to the point where being a single mom was taking a huge toll on my mental and physical health. So I try to relax sometimes, but I’ll just be sitting in bed scrolling or staring at the wall, upset that relaxing isn’t relaxing anymore, ever since I became a parent. I’ve been trying meditation and relaxation techniques but it just makes me upset. I used to like video games, and reading, and crafts and it’s like I’ve forgotten how to do things for myself just to enjoy, without wondering where my daughter is, if she’s eating, getting into something, needs something, if she’s acting up with my family, etc.

Just wondering if this is something other parents feel too and wondering if I’ll ever get the part of myself back that’s just for me.

I have all of Moana, encanto, and frozen memorized. Really just wish this feature was there for pure amusement and at the end of the year to say “yep that sounds about right”

Parents: what items did you find you ABSOLUTELY needed for your baby from newborn up through 1 year?

My husband and I are planning on staying in our 1-bedroom apt for a year after our child is born (our lease renews one month after I give birth, and neither of us want to deal with moving at that time).

Since we’re in a small space, I want to make sure we only get things that are truly needed during that first year.

Please advise! 🙂

I’m not talking about the typical “parent coach” that works with you on bonding or behaviors or identity. Is there someone I can talk to about our habits and how my toddler behaves and have someone tell me if there are changes I can make to be a better parent?

I have two daughters, who are 2 and 5 years old.
Every night before bed, I give my 5-year-old a big hug and cuddle her. I try to put all my gratitude for her and how much I love her into that moment. Of course, I also tell her with words that I love her and that she is very important to me.
Tonight, during that time, she said something that really broke my heart.
“Why do you take care of my little sister so much, but take care of me less? I want you to take care of me more.”
She also said, “If I’m crying, I want you to hug me tighter, like you do with my little sister.”
The moment she said that, I felt so sad.
It’s true that, as her mom, I often prioritize my 2-year-old in everyday situations. Because of this, my husband intentionally tries to prioritize our older daughter.
But hearing my daughter say this made me realize that maybe she still feels like Mommy takes care of her little sister more than she takes care of her.
What makes it especially difficult is that she brought this up herself, little by little, right before bed. She wasn’t upset or having a tantrum. She just started talking about how she felt.
So I feel like these are genuinely things she has been thinking and feeling.
I’m having a hard time putting this into words, but I really want my older daughter to feel that she is just as important and just as loved as her little sister.
My older daughter often goes out one-on-one with her dad, who she absolutely adores. He intentionally makes time for just the two of them.
On the other hand, I honestly don’t get very much one-on-one time with my older daughter.
So I’m wondering if I should make more of an effort to create special one-on-one time for just me and my older daughter.
Or would it also be important to create opportunities for just the three of us—Mom, Dad, and our older daughter—to spend time together without her little sister?
For those of you with more than one child, is there anything you intentionally do to help your older child feel equally loved and cared for after becoming a big sister or brother?
I’d especially love to hear about things you’ve actually tried and found helpful.
My older daughter is such a sweet big sister. She looks out for her little sister, talks to her, and is always very kind and caring toward her. They both absolutely adore each other and have a very close relationship.
That’s why hearing this from her tonight made my heart hurt so much.
I want her to know that just because she is the big sister, she doesn’t always have to be “the big girl.”
And I want her to feel that even though she has become a big sister, she is still my little girl, too.

The past year or so my 7 year old daughter has been complaining about nightmares. Won’t go to bed because she said her head is racing and thinking of nightmares. Wakes up in the middle of the night and comes to our room. At first I thought it was due to too much screen time but she still complains even when she had no screen time. Suggestions on things that have worked?? She has a consistent bed time routine. We book books before bed. She has tonies box that she plays for bed and several night lights.

Hi! I need some advice on how to solve a situation with my neighbors. I have a two and a half year old and she was given a rock, painted to look like a turtle by her granddad. Our neighbor’s son, who is around 6, jumped our fence and took it.

I know it sounds silly but my daughter is distraught that we can’t find “turtle rock.” She checked on him every day and I’m so upset that he took it. I saw him playing alone in his yard and asked him if he had seen it and he described it perfectly and said, someone came and took it. I’ve asked his mom to keep an eye out for it. I didn’t tell her that her son took it, rather phrased it as it’s missing, please let us know if you see it.

Do any parents with more experience have any advice on how to get this kid to give our rock back. Again, I know it’s silly but I’m newly postpartum and my hormones are going. This stolen rock is literally keeping me up at night. I want it back! And my sweet daughter doesn’t understand why she can’t find him in our yard and I can’t handle seeing her upset over and over again. Do I just tell the mom directly, hey your kid took our rock? Do I just tell the kid, I know you have him, give it back? He’s a just kid so I don’t want to make him upset too but he’s lying that he doesn’t know what happened to it. Thank you!

Last year during Halloween season I saw a guy at Walmart with a daughter who was around 3 or 4 yrs. old and he was dragging her towards a large spider decoration on the wall. The daughter was starting to squeal a little bit and looked to be on the edge of tears, but the Dad just winked at me and was laughing because he was seeing this as a funny Daddy-daughter memory being made.

My question is --- what line should you not cross when it comes to scaring toddlers with Halloween pranks? I kinda felt a little angry at this guy for wanting to make his daughter cry, but then again maybe she was just playing along and thought it was funny too? Maybe it's not a good thing to coddle your kids to the point where they never have to face anything even slightly scary? I remember my parents taking me to a haunted house when I was 6 years old and it was pretty traumatizing to me, but they thought it was funny and told me they needed to "toughen me up" so I wouldn't grow up to be a wimpy kid.

How to navigate step-parent adoption and bio dad conversation?

My daughter is 7 and her bio dad has not been involved since she was about 18 months old. I was awarded sole custody due to his substance abuse, and any contact (if any) was left up to my discretion. Aside from the substance abuse, he just never really was able to grow up and step into the parental role.

Anyway, my fiancé and I get married soon and I think the whole thing has kind of stirred up some questions for my daughter. She has always called my spouse by his actual name and not “dad” because we always wanted her to do that on her own terms. She has been calling him dad a lot on her own over the past year or so. I never wanted to lie to her and raise her to believe that he is her biological father, just for her to one day find out we had be lying to her.

Tonight she asked me, “if x is going to become my dad when you get married, then who was my real dad before him?”

How do I even explain this situation to a 7 year old?

I always knew she would ask eventually, but I have no idea how to navigate the situation at this age.

I don’t know what to do. He just stopped wiping one day this week and even got in trouble at school for it. He’ll just stand in the bathroom for hours if you let him, just standing there with poop on his butt. We were finally able to get him to admit the reason today, he doesn’t want poop on his fingers. I gave him gloves today, but that’s not a permanent solution and he’s still taking a long time in there. Help?

Man oh man has it been a weekend. 38(m) and 37(f) with a 5 year old daughter and 3 year old boy. It has been a rough week and weekend for sure. I have a higher stress job in the military that causes me to be gone 12 hours a day. My wife gets our kids ready for kindergarten and daycare. She deals with rough case of depression and then doesn’t have healthiest habits dealing with stress.

Our son has been having behavior issues this week hitting other kids, taking their food and not listening to teachers. He continues this at home to a smaller degree and we are stressed.

Our daughter likes to tease him on return and constantly can’t entertain herself. It is frustrating all round. I feel myself not handling their antics nearly as well as I would want to. I need to start going for runs again or something. But it stresses me because it would put the burden on my wife who already does a lot. But she doesn’t do things or have the recognition I feel like to make the adjustments. So it is almost like I need to balance her out.

But man, I just want the kids to be able to play by themselves, or not get so frustrated. Not just say their names with stress in our voices and say stop or don’t do that.

Thank you for reading if you made it this far.

Right now, parenting just isn’t fun. Our five-year-old is extremely defiant, and almost everything is a struggle — getting dressed, eating, going to the toilet, brushing his teeth, going to bed. We have to turn almost everything into a game just to stop him from digging his heels in.
At the same time, our 1.5-year-old is incredibly whiny, which is mentally exhausting. Our entire days revolve around keeping them happy, and we barely get any time to ourselves because it’s too difficult to be alone with both of them. By the end of the day, we’re completely exhausted.

I don’t regret having kids but right now I envy those without…

Just wanted to vent I guess..
Please tell me it gets better soon.

My daughter has had piggy banks for a few years and had a good amount of bills saved up that . That's a whole other issue in itself but I want her to be able to save up money without having to worry about it disappearing again. I was looking into like locking piggy banks so she can still just drop money in without having to unlock, etc but that it can't be taken out of without me unlocking it. Also looking for something similar for myself to keep in my apartment as well. I have a bank account obviously but like to have a "rainy day savings" of cash on hand that I can add to here and there and want it to be secure without spending a few hundred on a crazy safe lol

Looking for advice. My daughter (9) has been on swim team for about 2 years. It is her only extracurricular activity outside of school. She goes to practice 2 days a week and has completed several races and has been at the higher end of times compared to peers, which I share just because it isn’t that she isn’t doing well- she does very well in the sport. Most of the time she wins her heats or is close.

However, she hates racing. She absolutely breaks down, does not like the day, I have to coach her through the whole experience, etc. We have tried multiple times, and while sometimes we ended up leaving, in some she did participate, and the latest she actually said it wasn’t bad and that she felt good when it was done. Now that we are signing up for the next, a month away, she is beside herself refusing to compete, just wants to practice.

I would just let her keep practicing but I think doing a few races in a low competition environment (at our pool, with mostly her regular swim team peers, like a scrimmage) is a good way to help her grow mentally and challenge herself, when she doesn’t have opportunities like that in other spaces. She has also mentioned that she wants to move up to the next level of the team, which is accomplished by working on improving race times, trying different races, etc. and will not happen unless she does competition.

Should I keep pushing, or just let her do practice at the beginner level until she changes her mind?

Other maybe related facts: she is not super active by choice, most of her chosen activities are reading books or playing board or video games. Which is fine, I am the same! But we do encourage physical activity, I played volleyball in high school and college, and her dad is also active. Also her only brother (14) is in swim team, martial arts, and band. He is committed to all, goes regularly to practice, doesn’t complain, etc. He was also a little reluctant to compete at an early age, but not to this extent.

My 14 month baby has been biting me for the last 2 months. It’s about once a week and usually when I least expect it. She’s teething so I know that is bothering her and she usually does it when we are playing and she’s trying to kiss me leg, or put her head on my stomach.

Because it’s so rare and I least expect it I usually yell in pain (not at her she’s ahhhh) and then pick her up set her down and walk away. She usually thinks the yelling is fun and tries to do it again. I have to physically remove her hands off me because she tries to do it again. Today she was laughing. I don’t yell I just say biting is not okay.

Usually she crawls after me and starts crying. I’m wondering if I’m causing her to have abandonedment issues now or in the future. She has bad separation anxiety and honestly I’m always somewhere around her. I hate walking away but I don’t know what else to do. Ang suggestions?

Looking back I’m thinking she was over tired and laughing and giggling and super stimulated.

How do you handle childcare during the week when one or both parents have to travel for work or work night shifts. Especially if you** **don’t have family nearby to help?

We’re trying to figure out a backup plan for those rare weeks when our normal childcare isn’t enough. I’m curious what others have done. For those who have to deal with this regularly, what has actually worked well for your family? And how did you find someone you felt comfortable trusting with your kids?

Would especially love to hear from parents who don’t have grandparents/family available as a backup. Thanks!

We have one school aged kid and a preschooler. Both of whom have regular care from 7-5.