“What does it smell like? Is it bad?”
“Yeah it smells like armpits”
…she’s 4?! Geez kid sorry that I’m 36 weeks pregnant and trying to stay alive slash sorry my mornings are dedicated to getting you up and ready for school instead of showering right away!
What did your kid say today that was inadvertently insulting 🙃
I’m 33 weeks pregnant and overstimulated by my own body 24:7 and it’s like my 4 yo knows this and has been absolutely testing my patience every night. Normally we lay with her for bed but that’s been causing chaos so we’ve started to leave after the routine / saying goodnight. It’s mostly been fine.
But lately when I do bedtime (versus my husband) she has been going buckwild- getting physical, jumping, giggling manically. The other night, I totally lost it right off the bat. She got upset. I wasn’t happy with my behavior. The next night, when it happened again, I just tried to act really calm and bored/unperturbed. It worked.
But tonight it didn’t work. Here’s a breakdown of what happened, I just don’t know what to do anymore. I’m completely at my wits end, what would you have done differently?!
Tonight: we did Bedtime routine - bath, teeth, books. As soon as I finished books she stands up and starts jumping on the bed. Calmly I say: “Ok you know I’m not going to lay with you when you start getting wild, so I’m going to leave.”
I go to leave and she lays down on my entire body, hurting me with her weight. I remove her and calmly say “we can snuggle and hug Goodnight, but you’re hurting me.” Repeat x3, she’s not listening to me and laughing / giggling. Every time I go to stand up, she grabs onto my back like I’m doing a piggyback ride. I say “no it’s bedtime, not piggyback time.”
I manage to get up, she follows me to the door and tries to block me from leaving. I stand there while she jumps and giggles and blocks me from leaving.
Calmly: “stop. It’s bedtime. Are you done yet?”
She keeps jumping. Pounding the floor over and over. I quietly sit on the edge of her bed to show I am bored and unbothered. She runs over and starts pulling my dress to get me to stand up. Slamming into my pregnant belly. “Hey, this hurts me. It hurts my pregnant belly and your baby sibling.” I physically remove her hands. Repeat 4x.
I stand up, she grabs at my skirt. The skirt is a weird stretchy thin jersey material and I’m legit afraid it’s going to rip. “Your hurting my skirt.” I remove her hands but she keeps going. “The skirt is delicate, I don’t want to rip it. If you rip it, we’re going to have to take away a dress you like because you took away a dress I like.” I physically remove her hands a few times.
She keeps jumping. I sit there. I ask her “stop, it’s bedtime. are you done?” In a neutral tone. A minute goes by. I ask again. Finally I firmly grab her by the shoulders to get her to stop jumping (she’s been jumping the entire time and laughing), look her in the eye and sternly and slowly say “are you done. It’s bedtime. Time to stop.”
She ignores me, so I worm my way out of the room, try to change the vibe. She follows me into the kitchen and I start washing dishes, again trying to just show that she has no effect on me. She’s jumping and laughing and singing and screaming the entire time. A minute or two goes by. No change.
Finally, I yell at the top of my lungs “HEY. GO TO YOUR ROOM. ITS BEDTIME.” To my surprise She walks to her room and goes to bed without fuss.
WTF MAN. I hate screaming at her but it worked after all this bullshit???? Should I have just done that first???? I feel like I am completely unprepared for this age. I never feel like I’m doing the right thing.
A bit of an unorthodox post, but I am extremely pregnant and this heat has me craving fruit / juice / smoothies but sadly I need to consume a lot of protein with my meals / snacks or else I will become (ahem) sick.
What are everyone’s favorite protein packed orders from the smoothie and tonic bar? Bonus if it doesn’t even taste like there’s protein powder inside (a tall order, I know).
I wish they had nutrition facts!
I’m in my third trimester. I am struggling. It’s been hot so my usual activities are getting harder. Some days even making dinner, something I enjoy, is a struggle.
Normally: My 3 yo kid gets home around 4 or 5pm and we’ll play in the yard (read: me sitting very still, sweating, and trying to distract their requests for hands on play cuz I am so slow and tired). Then a tv show while I’m making dinner. Then usually my husband comes home and has some 1:1 time while I do (you guessed it!) as little as possible.
But lately he’s been working late and we’ve been doing so much tv. I feel horrible! I just really am struggling with like. Basic movement? lol I know it’s going to be a whole other struggle with a newborn around in a few months but I’m banking on being able to like, pick up a toy without getting winded at that point at least.
Here’s to better and more mobile days…
Ok it’s been awhile since we did one of these! I’m a nosy bitch and these instructors fill way too many hours in my life. I’ll go first-
For some reason these are basically all plastic surgery adjacent? lol 🆘
- Tunde is a human goddess but she totally did something to her boobs. If you scroll back a year or two they look totally fuller now. Doesn’t seem like implants, fat transfer maybe?! I want what she’s having
- Selena Samuela had twins 6 months ago and she is downright gaunt already. I know exercise is her job but with a side of glp1 perhaps? 👀
- Becs Gentry annoys me and I don’t like her picking and choosing when to use the nEw yAwker card iykyk
I’m losing my mind? My kid is 3.5 and has become SO annoying. Speaking in gibberish, making noise nonstop, whining over everything, climbing on my (pregnant) body and hurting me, tantrums over things they were doing with ease at age 2.
I am not cut out for this shit…
Oh man I love this creator. All of his food looks so good and I recently found out he competed on cooking shows when he was younger so he’s incredibly quick and organized in the kitchen (which I personally learn a lot from because I’m always trying to get better in the kitchen).
I started following him because he’s a private chef in the Hamptons and he just posted that he’s on his way back for another summer. Anyone know who his client is?! They sent him on a private jet! I know private jets are slightly more accessible these days so it doesn’t necessarily mean his client is like a billionaire or whatever but I am so nosy…
Ugh I hate this. Most of my friends are childless by choice or not in that season of life yet. They care about my kid so I will occasionally share details but they just DONT GET IT. If I complain they think I’m evil. If I celebrate they think I’m annoying/braggy. My husband says to stop chatting so much about the kids to other people but idk, I’m a human I like to celebrate or commiserate! I obviously talk to him about the kids but lately I’ve felt annoying because I’m pregnant and he’s sick of hearing me talk about my aches and pains lol. He takes it well but I can tell.
I have a therapist that I started with after a traumatic event, but as I’m healing a bit most of our sessions have just turned into me sharing parenting or pregnancy updates because I have no one else to talk to, and that feels weird too? You mean I’m paying someone so I can complain about my kid having potty training troubles? wtf
Like a friend just made a joke about food and in turn I made a joke about furiously snacking in a meeting because I’m pregnant and ravenous and she judgmentally said “are you really THAT hungry?” Well, let’s see here. I’m actively creating an entire nervous system and bones in my uterus so yeah, I’d say I AM THAT FUCKING HUNGRY. But she just doesn’t get it.
Between moves and such my family has been in a transitional phase for the last few years, but I’m really hoping some stability and consistent school enrollment, etc. leads to some mom friends cause MY GOD. something has got to give. It would be nice to have some community.
/rant
*i should say this specific preschool
My daughter is 3.5. She’s been in the same daycare/preschool for a year. Overall, we like the school and the teachers. But she recently started to transition to the oldest class, for kids ages 3.5 to 5, and her behavior changed a lot. She was always a very sweet / focused kid, but I worry about the wild behaviors I see from the other kids. I wonder if they’re rubbing off on her.
TLDR I’m just trying to figure out what the baseline is??? Are my expectations too high? Is this due to age or are the other kids influencing her?
For example:
Is this…going to end? lol. We’re going to be switching her school in the fall (due to other reasons, not solely behavior-based - though I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t excited). the new school seems a LOT more calm and serene. We toured the facility and yes it was only one visit but the kids seemed a lot less wild and loud…
I can’t figure out if my expectations are too high for her age group, or if her behavior is problematic in other ways - eg something that might require an evaluation (the stimming stuff esp). and look, I know it could always be worse - we’re not dealing with epic meltdowns or biting or anything like that. Her classmates are just frenetic as hell.
A couple other things to mention:
- Technically she’s still transitioning into the new class: she splits her time between this class and the slightly younger class. Not sure if this is a contributing factor. She had adjustments the other two times she changed classes at this school, but nothing this bad. Also, it’s a really small school so she knows everyone in each class - and all the teachers.
- I’m pregnant and expecting her sibling later in the year. We talk about it a lot and she seems excited but obviously I know it’s going to be a big change
I love a good mani pedi but I’m sensitive to synthetic fragrances. The places I’m used to are your dime a dozen nail salons that use super low quality oils and lotions that reek of fake perfumes and give me a headache.
For some reason, nail polish smell does not affect me so I’m not worried about finding “non toxic” polish. OPI is fine! I’m just trying to find a place that uses something on my limbs that’s a step above bath and body works lol
Bonus if it’s east of Hollywood, closer to SGV, but I’ll drive wherever!
It’s nearly 6pm where I am after my husband said he was “coming home early” after I had a pregnant meltdown this morning because me and my toddler have been home sick for the last three days. She’s been whiny and unmanageable. I’m large and winded and at my wits end. I want a break.
Currently watching him sit in the parking lot at work (his car has location features), not moving. It’s been like that for 20 mins. Probably arguing with his mom on the phone, talking to a coworker or trying to last minute buy me some shit I don’t need for Mother’s Day.
Don’t need anything. Just need you to have a better sense of time management and come the fuck home like a normal person.
Yes I know I need to tell him this. I’m working on it. He gets defensive because he’s the primary breadwinner.
My kid is 3.5, she’s been potty trained for about a year. But 80% of the time someone is reminding her to go pee, whether at home or at school. If someone doesn’t remind her, she’ll wait until the very last second and a little underwear dribble is inevitable. It really bothers me and Im curious if this is normal / going to stop any time soon 😔
My first home birth with a duo of midwives went wonderfully. I didn’t have a doula; my husband was my doula, ha. It was mostly fine - I progressed faster than expected and had no idea because my contractions weren’t evenly timed. Midwives listened to my vocalizations over the phone and had my husband and I do a digital exam. We felt the babies head and midwives said “whoa ok let’s go.” They rushed to the house just in time to deliver the baby within ~ 2-4 hours. It was a little hectic but not traumatic or bad at all. Ultimately no regrets about lack of doula.
This time around I have a three year old who will be present for the birth. I don’t really know what to expect. She’s a good kid but I just worry about the overall care of a young child interfering with birth. I’m hung up on the “what ifs” and admittedly spiraling some.
Pros of a doula:
- We don’t have nearby family so this would be our solution: husband cares for toddler while I am cared for by the doula.
- What If my husband needs to pick my daughter up from school or she needs dinner or it’s her bedtime? I’m sure I can be left alone for a while but I worry about him splitting his time. He doesn’t seem worried. “There’s always tv” he said, haha which is true most days when we’re in a pinch.
- It would be nice to have someone who knows what’s going on, unlike last time when there was a bit more guessing about things like “hmm did my water break?” Again, my first birth was fine but there were definitely moments of “wait, is this really the thing we’ve been waiting for?” But maybe the second time I would be more experienced?
- My intrusive thoughts keep going to, “What if I need a hospital transfer?” Will I go alone to the hospital while my husband stays with our toddler? He said we’d all go together but I really have no clue if that’s practical.
Cons of a doula:
- Cost, we can swing it but it’s certainly a consideration
- It’s another person/personality entering a delicate situation and adding to the chaos when the whole reason I want to birth at home is for the peace and relative quiet. If I didn’t have a toddler, I wouldn’t even consider having a doula.
- I interviewed a few doulas. The one I’m considering was a little awkward and “cold”. She’s very experienced and I think I’d get along well with her but it’s just so hard to tell before you’re in the heat of the moment. Compare her to my midwives - when I met them I knew immediately they were perfect; so warm and personable.
I will say I’m more of a solitary birther; at least that’s how it went last time. During labor I didn’t really want cuddles from my husband, I just wanted to be left alone in my own world for the most part. it was great to have him around to get me water, change the music, or run a bath etc. but I hardly remember him being there haha.
Anyone have advice/experience to share?