u/clemmersincanada

Our daughter is nearly three and is generally wonderful. She is whip smart, empathetic, kind, loving, etc. All that goes out the window when we are out in public because every single time, she goes nuts and sprints away from us at random. ESPECIALLY at crowded public events and shopping trips where our hands are full. It’s heart stopping and insanely stressful. You can actually spot the twinkle in her eyes when the urge hits.

She will rip herself out of holding hands, and ends up halfway across a room, park or a busy sidewalk while we have to go full Olympian, all the while yelling her name like she’s a naughty otf-leash dog. When we finally have her, she is usually dying of laughter, then dramatically collapses to the ground, which makes it look like we are dragging her or being rough, which is so not the case. We end up feeling frustrated, flustered and defeated and it ruins whatever activity we were doing.

All this to say: is there any preventing this, apart from getting one of those leashes my parents used on us kids in the 90‘s? When does this phase end? Adding to my frustrations is the fact that none of my friends‘ kids did this, and I always get it with the “Wow! That’s so crazy, no, *insert name* never did anything like that!” when I ask for advice.The internet says she has ADHD, which honestly might be true, because her Dad has that and used to do the same thing growing up. I‘d ask his parents what they did about it, but they were not attentive or involved parents, so I wouldn’t take their advice. Anyway, some day I’d love to take a walk outside with my kid without having a heart attack.

Our nearly 3 year old has been in the same crib since she was 3 months old and in her own room since 11 months old. She has always loved it and found it so cozy. She is a high energy gal, but has never been a climber, so we have always slept soundly knowing that she is contained in the night, calling out when she she wants/needs us to come.

Now the time has come and I know she is ready for a big girl bed, and I know to expect all the standard things like having to repeatedly take her back to bed at bedtime, etc. Aside from the worry she will get up and walk about the house getting into trouble, there is one more thing that terrifies me, and that is the thought of her coming into our room/bed in the wee hours. The idea of waking up to the silhouette of a small child, whispering my name in the dark, completely creeps me out! I am someone who sleep talks, sleep walks and has very vivid dreams. Most recently, I awoke from one where our door had been bricked over and I was clawing at them to try and escape. I woke up to realize I was standing in front of our closet, thinking that was the bedroom door area. I’m just so worried I’m going to see her creeping around in the dark, and my irrational brain will think she’s a little demon or something and throw a pillow at her, or scream and frighten her.

Anyway, apart from putting a little bell on her doorknob to alert me awake when it opens, what can I do? Note: part of the fear comes from knowing I WAS the creepy kid the night. I never wanted to disturb my parents but I wanted to get in their bed, so I would silently walk into their room and stand there quietly until one of them would open their eyes and gasp awake, lol.

We’ve just received an email from our property management company that there will be someone coming to our unit in two days to install a dryer vent hood, and that we must be home to allow the technician entry to the unit during the window of 9 AM to 4 PM. Personally, I do not work from home nor do I have the ability or want to take a full vacation day for this.

Are tenants actually required to be home to let in technicians for a repair/replacement? I don’t care if the install takes place without us present, but I thought the landlord was supposed to accompany someone?

I can’t even list all the repairs that have been conducted on my 2022 Ford Escape in the last 1.5 years I’ve owned it (let’s say I’ve had 10 per year, ranging from minor to major), but I can tell you that on average, it is at the dealership/mechanics every 3-6 weeks with some ridiculous issue. This vehicle has pushed me to the absolute brink, but I owe slightly more than it’s worth.

Today (while at its monthly service appt) I was informed that it needs new sway bar links. I had new sway bar links done in March 2025. What the actual hell. I have read that this is meant to be a once every 5-7 years replacement. I do a lot of winter and highway driving, but the vehicle only has 120kms and I take really good care of it.

Two weeks ago, I had to replace the windshield wiper links for $500 because the wipers would go halfway across the windshield and get stuck, before slowly shaking on the way back. They say this repair will cost at least $1200.

Is anyone else in the same boat with their 2022 escape? The dealership wants me to trade it in for something else and I probably should do that, even though I can’t really afford it right now. What I do know is I can’t afford to keep paying for these kinds of regular repairs. If I were to get another Ford, what are people getting right now that have not been reported to have lots of issues?

Just putting this out to other toddler parents in pure solidarity, because I see you and you’re not alone. Last night, our toddler woke up at 1, 3 and 6 am to throw up all over herself while we were away together for a family wedding.

Poor girl had an action and attention-packed weekend as the flower girl and sole kid at the wedding, and I initially thought maybe it was heat exhaustion from running around outdoors most of the day. Of course I’m now thinking it may be the dreaded g-word (Gastro) and we’re now playing the “are we gonna get it too?” game.

I hate this disgusting guessing game that will take place over the next four days. When it hits me, while I be at work doing a presentation? At the grocery store? in the pool with toddler at swimming lessons? Stuck in my car in bumper to bumper traffic? In the middle of trying to wrangler her into her car seat? If I have to suffer this fate, I wish there was a button I could press to get it over with NOW because the wait is horrible. I’m out here trying to make sure the garbage bins are bagless and right beside the toilet in case it strikes in the night, with a plastic bag in my handbag and avoiding foods I love because I want to eat them again.

Again, this is a solidarity post. I’m sorry to all others going through this game right now!