u/1tangledknitter

Basically the title. Do you think it will ever improve or is it destined to only get worse?

Specifically north/south considering the poor design of the train where it takes almost 1.5 hours to get downtown Ottawa from Barrhaven.

Our toddler (26 months) has recently started waking up between 5-6 am. She used to sleep until 6:15-6:45.

We cap her nap to an hour as she was fighting bedtime. So nap is 12:30-1:30, sometimes 2 if she doesnt fall asleep, and bedtime is between 7:30-8.

I feel like her schedule is good and she never seems tired except for before her nap (since she is waking so early). It still takes her at least 45 minutes to fall asleep at night, every night.

Could this just be a phase?

So torn between these two names! Last name starts with S.

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Anyone know of any place that sells good slab cakes (i.e. can feed 25 people?).

Want to get one to celebrate my mom's retirement this weekend but forgot to pre-order.

Preferably in Barrhaven/Manotick/RSS area.

If I'm out of luck I guess I'll just buy two grocery store cakes lol.

Are Metro's vanilla/chocolate slab cakes any good? Apparently they always have those available.

My husband and I do bedtime routine together (pyjamas, brush teeth, books) right up until lights out. At the end of the routine, I put away the books and kiss her goodnight and leave, and daddy tucks her into bed.

I never want to put her to bed because I am afraid of her reaction when I go to leave. With her dad, she is fine and happy. I know if it was me, she would melt down when I tried to leave (she is much more attached to me). But sometimes she wants me to do it and I tell her "mommy's job is to put away the books, daddy does bedtime". She always accepts this response but I just feel so guilty.

Also because she is so attached to me and has been in a mommy phase her whole life, it's nice for her dad to have a thing that's just his?

Am I overthinking it? 😅

My toddler is 26 months. She wakes up most days between 6:15-6:45am most days. Bed between 7:45-8pm.

She previously napped two hours but started fighting bedtime hard about a month ago. Is regularly awake for 45 minutes-1hr (though this has been the case most of her life, she's always taken a long time to fall asleep).

Lately though it's been worse. Crying, fighting bedtime, jumping on the bed, playing, just being generally restless.

She used to nap 2 hours but we recently started capping it down to 1hr when she started getting mad at bedtime. Some days she doesnt even nap. No matter what we do bedtime, it's a struggle.

Are we putting her to bed too early? Too late? I have heard both and it's so confusing.

I'm hoping it's just a phase :(

I had posted earlier asking for recommendations for a place that charges the same rate for a haircut children, regardless of gender (i.e. no pink tax for little girls).

Thanks to this community we found La Moda Barbershop in Bells Corners and it was perfect! William is so kind and was so good with my daughter. It was her first haircut ever and she didn't cry at all. And it was a flat rate for all children regardless of gender which is sadly hard to find.

The shop has a private room in the back with one chair (she sat on my lap) and with lots of sensory toys. It is designed to be inclusive for people on the spectrum too!

Cannot say enough good things about La Moda and William!

Does anyone know of any hair salons for children that don't have a pink tax for girls?

I've seen at least one salon where appointments for boys and girls were the exact same time duration (20 minutes) and had the same description (temporary colour, glitter, styling products) but the girl's cut was 25% more expensive... even if it takes the same amount of time.

Hoping to support a children's salon that doesn't discriminate :) preferably downtown/south/west Ottawa

To anticipate comments justifying the pink tax: I accept and pay the pink tax for my own hair because I need more care (I.e. layering, blow dry), but for a little girl that just needs a straight across cut and it takes the exact same time as a boy, I don't want to go somewhere that charges more without any justification.

EDIT: Found a place! Thank you to everyone who suggested La Moda Barbershop in Bells Corners! They don't discriminate against little girls (all children are charged the same rate) they were AMAZING with her, and it will be our go to place for years to come! William is incredible and so kind. Highly, highly recommend :)

My daughter is a couple of months over 2. She has been fighting bedtimes hard.

Two weeks ago she lifted her knee/foot onto the crib wall twice before her dad put it back down. She hasn't done it since, except tried in her travel crib which is shorter/smaller.

Is this a sign we still need to switch now, or since it's been a few weeks and she hasnt done it again, we can wait and see if she tries a third time?

Daughter is 25 months old. Has always taken 30-45 minutes to fall asleep regardless of how much or how little sleep she got.

Lately she has been refusing to nap or go to bed on her own saying "she's scared". For naps we have been occasionally letting her sleep in our bed with me (I'm pregnant and nap too), or she skips it. At daycare she naps for 2 hours.

Also at bedtime she cries and says she's scared so my husband has been doing check ins and saying he'll "be right back". Eventually she will fall asleep on her own but it takes up most of our evening. Previously she would lay in her bed on her own happily.

Is this just a phase and we'll eventually be able to put her in her bed and walk away like we previously did?

I only have one child right now and another on the way.

Currently my 2yo is going to bed a bit late because she still naps during the day. I assume she will go to bed earlier once she drops her nap.

How does it work when you have a second that still naps? Does the younger one have a later bedtime than the older one that doesn't nap?

Thinking way into the future at this point but I got curious and decided to see what other people's experiences have been.

Thanks!

We are currently installing a pool, as my hope is that it will be a gathering point for our family to spend time together as my kids grow. A place to play together, a safe space to relax and talk, etc.

That got me thinking - how do families connect with their "older" kids (i.e. 8-18)? What other things encourage your kids to spend time with you?

I only have a 2yo so she naturally wants to spend all her time with me. I want to keep it that way (lol) but figure it changes as they get older and I don't know what that looks like at different stages.

Curious as to what other ways people connect with their older kids since we aren't at that stage yet!

I am 24 weeks with my second and have a 2 year old. They will be 2 years 4 months apart. I'm terrified as I feel things are just getting easier (in some ways) and I'm already so exhausted.

Do you really have that much less time with two kids? My husband and I don't really have hobbies and we love hanging out as a family.

I guess what I mean is there that much less time for cleaning so we can relax after the kids are in bed? For example right now we tag team while one cooks or the other cleans. Is that still possible with two kids?

I know things will be harder, but are they THAT much harder?

Please share your stories!

We started allowing TV in the 30-40 minutes before dinner, and 30-40 minutes on weekend mornings after breakfast.

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Do you have specific TV times in your house, or do you allow it whenever?

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One challenge I have is if my daughter forgets/doesnt realize it's "TV time" is it just that we miss it for the day? I don't want to proactively offer it if it's not on her radar but I feel bad for her if after dinner she asks for it and we say no.

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Daughter is 2 for reference.

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Thanks!

And do you love your second as much as your first?

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I always wanted two of the same sex, but recently learned I will have one of each. Logically I know sex doesn't determine anything, but I picture my second being SO different from my first (which logically would happen even if they were the same sex) and because of this I feel like there is no way I can love my second as much as my first.

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If you had gender disappointment, how are things now (especially if it's your second)?

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I keep hearing how boys (and second born children in general) are crazy and wild, and ngl I'm nervous! My daughter (just turned 2) is so high energy I can't imagine anything more high energy than her... I don't know if this 100% a stereotype, but I keep seeing everyone saying boys are a different kind of wild when they are young.

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My daughter is constantly running, jumping, climbing, going down the biggest slides, wanting to fly through the air... and I'm a tired momma.

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Anyone have a chill toddler boy or is that a pipe dream? lol