u/Weary_Joke_9525

To ANYONE. Friends, family, teachers, workers at the grocery store who offer him a sticker and say goodbye.

We've asked him to say goodbye when his grandparents leave after a visit, we've prompted him to say it to friends at school who say bye to him "John is saying bye, say bye bye!"

I've asked him about it and he says he 'doesn't likes saying goodbye' but can't explain why.

Is this normal 4 year old behavior? Should I be concerned?

He's a really polite kids (lots of pleases and thank yous) so I'm less concerned about him appearing polite and more about the fact that this seems to really stress him when we try to encourage him (and sometimes gently pressure him) to say goodbye.

I know it’s not the season yet but I’m looking forward to my first fall of NA beers. Anyone know of a decent (or any) pumpkin NAs that are made?

And in case you haven’t tried it, the Athletic Octoberfest is excellent!

Asking becuase I don't know anyone in real life who has read these books and I got the reccomendation from this group so hoping someone can weigh in!

I just finished Book 1 (Burn for Me) in the Hidden Legacy series. I thought it was FINE. The world building was interesting to me but the romance was just lacking (IMO). I swear I'm not yucking anyone's favorite book here. Romantasy just normally gives me a FEELING and this didn't.

Is there more romance in book 2 compared to book 1? Did you like book 2 better than book 1? Trying to decide if I keep reading.

Thanks!

Update: Alright, the consensus has sold me. Starting it tonight. I apprecaite you all!

Having trouble sorting through research but looking for two specific things. For context, my husband is addicted to his phone. It's a problem but not the problem I'm trying to solve right now. I have a 4 year old boy who is visibly distraught every time he looks for his fathers attention and my husband is staring at his phone. (This happens multiple times a day when my kiddo wants dada to watch/see something he does.)

My husband thinks this is not a big deal since there are plenty of other things that pulll our attention away from our son. (e.g., If we're cooking dinner or helping the baby, etc)

#1 I'm worried about how this impacts their connection. Any research showing how phone use / distracted parenting impacts relationships or emotional security or child regulation or anything of the sort?

#2 I don't see how my kid seeing his dad constantly on the phone doesn't impact how he thinks about using devices in the future. What research is there out there that shows how our (adults) phone usage impacts kids (future) phone useage?

Feel free to add any anecdotes about how you became a less phone-focused household!

I haven't even started yet, but I definetly need an SSRI (zoloft as decided by my psychiatrist) in my life. I am happy to be on it for a short period of time (ideally less than a year but definetly less than 2 years) but am terrified of getting off of it when the time comes.

Everyone makes it seem like the process is so terrible, I can help feel that maybe I'd be better just not taking the meds.

Can I get some positive experiences of (slowly) coming off zoloft? (I'd even take just not horrendous accounts.)

Husband and I have a 4 year old and 6 month old, married for almost 10 years.

We are truly mired in the roommate phase (which I knew would come) but I’m honestly surprised how little we seem to like each other right now.

Neither of us has done anything egregious but wow do I find myself disliking him most days. He travels for work a ton so his parenting is pretty limited (not his fault) but when he’s home, it’s like he’d rather do anything else.

He’s largely acts uninterested in me or my day or how the kids are doing when he’s gone. And then he comes back and makes snide comments about the house being a mess after a week of solo parenting + working a professional job, etc.

Is disliking your spouse just part of this phase or do we have bigger problems? How did you start liking your person again?

You are all amazing and I hope you take time to do something special for yourself as Mother’s Day (US) is this weekend.

Even if you don’t have someone in your life to recognize how amazing you are (or even if you have a partner who just doesn’t put in the effort) here are some ways I’m considering celebrating myself (with baby in tow since I’m currently on leave and my husband is away!)

Would love for folks to add other ways they make themselves feel special!

- Drive through coffee and walk at a local nature preserve

- Grocery shopping at the “nicer” grocery store this week so I can get myself a treat or nice lunch

- Strolling around the bookstore during nap time and picking something new to read

- Glass of bubbles and bath after kids are asleep

I will first acknowledge that optionality in life is a privilege and this is no exception. (So you don’t need to come for me for being ungrateful.)

Husband and I are both pretty senior in our respective careers. We have two kiddos (4 years and 4 months old) and I’m still on leave with my second.

My husband’s role expanded this past year so he’s gone a lot more and with a second, everything is just busier. He asked me a few weeks ago if I’d ever consider staying home but I legit love my job. It challenges me, I work for a great company, and I have fantastic coworkers.

So while the decision to keep working seems like the obvious right choice for me, I feel immensely guilty, like I should be grateful for the opportunity to stay home and be with my kids more.

But truthfully, while I LOVE planning adventures, activities, crafts for our nights and weekends, if I had to do it all day/every day, I don’t believe I’d be happy.

Anyone else? Did the guilt dissipate?

EDIT: Thank you all. Motherhood is so lonely sometimes and I’m grateful for this community ❤️