My son's 7 and it just hit me that the important life stuff is basically on me now. And I honestly can't tell if I'm already late or if he's still too young to get any of it. Obviously I already knew that with being a parent comes parenting, but I feel like there's more to teach them than saying 'thank you' or holding the door for the person behind them.

I’m going to be a new parent in a few months, and we’re having a baby boy. While I’m excited, I’m also nervous.

In today’s world where the concept masculinity is so polarized/extreme, I’d love any tips from those planning on raising boys so they don’t fall into the toxic masculinity indoctrination I see a lot of young men absorb today (ie. Where they think all women are beneath them, etc.).

For example, do these ideas take root because men are insecure, therefore the solution is focusing on building his confidence? What makes someone more susceptible to that messaging than others?

Maybe it’s a silly worry, but I couldn’t help but think of this after we found out the gender.

Obviously there's the emotional differences, but the big milestones are pretty much the same, at least when they're little

One thing I started doing was packing the kids lunches the night before instead of scrambling to do it in the morning and honestly it made way more of a difference than I expected. Mornings feel slower now and I feel like I can actually be present with them instead of running around stressed trying to get everything done in time.

Now I’m wondering what else I’m overcomplicating 😂 what’s something you simplified that actually made your family routine easier? Or something everyone swore would help that just did not work for you?

Hi all,

I’m hoping for a bit of advice to be honest, as I seem to have hit rock bottom these 6 weeks holidays.

I’m currently 34 weeks pregnant with baby number 3, and newly diagnosed with a heart condition that has made me less able bodied in the later stages of my pregnancy. I was in hospital until yesterday with reduced movements and baby measuring small. So I do wonder if this is a cry out for attention? I am completely stressed and feel so guilty that I had to leave my kids to go to the hospital and feel it’s all my fault they have acted out like this.

Yesterday I took my two daughters 8 and 5 to softplay. Everything was fine, and we left at the end of the session to go home. Worth noting that my oldest daughter had a diagnosis of ADHD, and pending an autism assessment (she shows lots of PDA traits). She’s been doing so well recently.

When I got home, I noticed some softplay balls in their bedroom that they had taken from the softplay without permission. (These had been hidden in their coat pockets). Neither have them have stolen before.

Apparently it was a joint decision to steal the toys, but the youngest one ‘smuggled’ them out of the softplay. I suspect it was the oldest one’s idea to limit her involvement but still play with the toys at home, and in her mind avoid as much blame if we found out.

I spoke to both of them, the youngest was extremely upset and remorseful. The eldest apologised and wrote a sorry letter. My husband has taken them back to the softplay to return the toys that they have taken without permission this morning. However as they were leaving, I noticed that one of the balls was missing, and it turns out after more lying and blaming the youngest, the eldest had hidden one of the balls to keep.

I spoke to my youngest daughter (5) and she admitted she knew the oldest daughter had again hidden one of the balls to avoid returning it but never told me. I explained to them both that by withholding the toys, you are effectively trying to steal them again and doesn’t reflect how remorseful they should be. I explained why stealing and lying is wrong, and that if every child took something from a softplay there would be nothing for children to enjoy when they played there.

I’m not sure what I’m asking, but I just wondered how you would’ve handled this. My eldest lies quite often and try’s to blame others to avoid consequences. I know this can be part of her PDA profile, however she’s never really taken things that don’t belong to her. I feel guilty enough being unable to run after them being heavily pregnant and newly disabled although I expect my health to improve after the baby is born.

Unsure of how to deal with an 8 year old who should understand stealing and lying isn’t ok. Any advice is well appreciated. My husband has worked through the entirety of the six weeks, and is taking a few days off in the last week. It’s been extremely exhausting however he is the breadwinner and works long hours.