u/Temporary_Style5559

I know I’m very lucky to have my parents who are retired and able to care for my 12 month old and 3 year old all the time!

My issue is they genuinely cannot respect my parenting decisions regarding food and screen time.

Apart from a visit to the park, my kids are sat in front of the TV and pumped full of sugary treats and fast food. I’m talking constant offers of juice, ice creams, oreos, lollies etc while watching absolute garbage like baby lia cha cha or these little russian children that act ridiculous and play with giant toys. They live in an apartment so I understand it can be difficult to keep them entertained.

They love being grandparents and love my kids so much, but I’m really struggling with our differences.

I’ve tried talking to them about it, but my mum in particular gets extremely defensive. She has always been difficult in this way. The slightest bit of criticism will send her off the edge. She will guilt trip and go to extremes.

I’ve gone as far as ordering and delivering groceries and making healthy lunches and snacks. They feed them the lunches but the snacks collect dust and juice somehow always ends up in their water bottles.

Am I crazy for thinking my kids are better off in daycare twice a week instead of my parents while I work?

I am passionate about pursuing a career in social work after 15 years in corporate exec roles in the healthcare industry, however with two little ones and a traumatic childhood I am terrified of being in one on one high risk situations like home visits with offenders. Is it possible to go through with this career?

My partner is loving and involved with our kids most of the time, but has a short fuse and frustrates quickly, especially when tired or stressed. I have fairly severe postpartum depression/anxiety at the moment, which means he’s carrying more of the mental and physical load than he otherwise would, on top of work. I think that’s part of why his patience is thinner lately, though I know it’s not an excuse on its own.

Our toddler is also in a big tantrum phase right now, and recently things escalated during bedtime — my partner got frustrated, was rough with objects nearby and it ended with our toddler in tears and me stepping in to take over.

This isn’t a daily occurrence, but my partner does run generally short on patience and stern rather than calm when our toddler pushes back or whinges. I don’t think this is abuse, but I do worry about the effect of raised voices and visible frustration on a small child over time, even when it’s not directed at them.

I don’t want to come across holier than thou when I am also not my best self, but tonight broke my heart for my little boy.

I would love all the advice.

We have 2 sons - our first just turned 3, and our second is 10 months old.

The 10 month old takes up a lot of my time as a mom. He breastfeeds a lot and has a few complex health issues under investigation, so I am frequently in hospital with him.

This has been a big change for my mom obsessed 3 year old. He gets a lot of quality dad time, but quality mom time has definitely decreased and quite significantly. I try to have one on one outings, or 30 minutes of dedicated quality time as much as I can.

Recently, the 3 year old has been doing what I can only describe as drive bys. Pushing the baby over, stepping on his arms or legs, and poking at his eyes quickly as he walks past. I always remove him from the situation and say I won’t let you hurt the baby, but this has become more stern and angry with how frequently it is happening.

Today, though, he has said a few concerning things. In the bath together, he said I want to push baby’s head into the tap. Then he said he wants to push baby down the stairs. Then when we were getting changed, he pointed at the light and said the light might fall on baby’s head and he will need to go to hospital.

Can someone please tell me this is within the realm of normal? I am so concerned! But his imagination has exploded over the last few weeks too. Help me!

I am passionate about attachment parenting. We co-sleep, side lying breastfeeds throughout the night and naps, baby wearing and I respond to every cry. I also have bad PPA which I am receiving support for/taking medication for.

However, my 10 month old cries quite literally whenever they are on the floor and not touching me in some way. It’s not a whinge or a small cry, it’s an intense cry that gets louder until I cave and pick them up. It’s even worse when on tummy.

Baby has not learned or attempted to crawl, pull to stand or move around independently apart from pivoting in circles on their bottom.

I believe this is because they get no quality independent time on the floor. Ever. I’ve got a PT coming fortnightly to help with activities and exercises and they just hysterically cry the whole time.

I rush through self care basics like brushing my teeth or having a shower, and can barely get chores done unless baby wearing or doing it one handed.

There has to be a middle ground here? Not only am I worn out, but I am genuinely concerned about how my baby will ever learn to move.