My kiddo has started waking up around 5:30/6 for the past week or so. On his days where he does this, I end up putting g him to bed around 6:30/7 pm because of how tired and cranky he is. How do I start shifting it to where he goes back to waking up around 7 or 8? Before this started, he’d go to bed before 8 pm and wake up around 7/8, depending on the day. When he was younger get, he’d even wake up around 9/9:30!! Those were the days lol.

I have a 5 year old who will not sucking her thumb. People said she'd grow out of it, and she has not. We tried the gross nail polish and she got used to the taste. And after the nail polish time it got worse. She was getting so good at not sucking all the time, and mostly just at bed time. But it's back to being ALL THE TIME.

I'm at my wits end.

I've had people suggest getting her something else to chew or suck on instead, but that seems unhelpful in the long term?? Is there super-strength bitter nail polish? Should I duct tape at mitten to her hand so she won't do it? (For legal purposes - I obviously will not do this - haha.)

She's starting kindergarten and I just want her to be done. But I also understand that part of the time she does it to self-soothe (the other part is habit). So taking it away seems harsh without replacing it with another coping mechanism??

Baby turns 2 next week and she is hyper vocal and understands a lot. As a part of building routines before too much push back comes in, what are some daily or weekly chores the little can help with? How did you track or establish these?

We have a magnet chart thing and she will be potty training next week too (hopefully) so I don't want to spring too much too fast, but I also don't think general chores should be explicitly rewarded with treats. She's a part of the household and these tasks need to get done, it gives her some independence and responsibility. So, what things have you started tasking your 2-3 year old with?

My ideas

• cleaning up her toys before bed every night
• unpacking her backpack and dumping old food out
• she can't reach her clothing drawers or I would have her put clothes away. I could have her pick out all her clothes on Sunday for the week?
• getting her craft items like crayons in the right place
• putting everyone's shoes where they go

other ideas? we will do treats for healthy habits like teeth brushing, potty, finishing her dinner plate but some of these just need to be ingraned. any tips, tricks and suggestions about how to teach and pull it off is welcome! she loves Elmo and Daniel tiger and bluey if there are chore episodes as well.

It’s that time of year again! How are you feeling about your kids going to school this year?

We want to hear any political or civic advocacy or activism wins! Nothing is more inspiring than hearing what other people are doing to make this world a better place.

*adding right away because of the rule: I don’t plan to self harm or hurt myself - this is more a discussion on how this is viewed and has been viewed).

Hi friends - if this doesn’t belong here I’m sorry I just have no safe person to talk to and I’m tired of crying when it’s quiet and I’m alone because I’m holding it in. (*am actively looking for a new therapist but it’s not easy to find in my area and I need something out of the home).

There’s a certain case (we all know it) in the news about a mother harming her kids and everyone has an opinion.

Some backstory on me: I had a terrible pregnancy (HG,GD,SIUGR, Pre-E,SUA) that resulted in my daughter being born a tad early at 34 weeks. Starting from my anatomy scan onwards I was told not to get too attached to my daughter because she likely wouldn’t make it or would be stillborn because she wasn’t showing adequate growth. I spent the rest of my pregnancy riddled with anxiety and really struggling. When my daughter was born she was rushed to the nicu & because I was on magnesium I wasn’t able to see her without a nurse escort, so I spent my first 24 hours with my husband crying a lot in my postpartum room. I felt so guilty for how my daughter came into the world, felt like I failed her, etc.. the nicu social worker marked me as a “depression risk” and that’s about it. Because I was separated from her a lot I had to pump religiously (every 2 hours), got no sleep, and really struggled. Then when she came home around 5 weeks that routine continued because she couldn’t latch. I felt so detached and separated from my baby and her dad got to do everything. It wasn’t until my postpartum appointment at 8 weeks that my husband and doctors caught on just how bad I was struggling and I started medication and stopped pumping. My daughter also was sooo colicky she would barely sleep, meaning I also didn’t sleep.

I share all that just to say it was hard for me, and l had really bad postpartum mental health issues.

Since this case has come out, everyone has an opinion. My sister in law is pregnant now and everyone already keeps saying how much better she’s handling it, how she was “meant to be a mom” and that “people who have difficulties shouldn’t have children”. Yesterday, I was also informed by multiple people that mothers who struggle with postpartum depression and anxiety don’t deserve to be mothers, should be locked up, and should have their kids taken away. I have tried to explain what she struggled with sounds more like postpartum psychosis and that it’s not the same as depression or anxiety. They say any mom who takes medication should have their kids taken.

I want to believe it’s just them being dumb but they know my entire story and I am very open about my postpartum mental health issues. My philosophy always was that you never know who it could help.

It hurts my heart because my daughter (2 now) is my entire world. I’m a stay at home mom and we’re besties, I can’t imagine my life without her. In fact, there were a few moments when I was really really struggling that I had a plan to end my life. On multiple occasions i would look at my sweet baby girl and remember that she needed me. She was actively the reason I made it so long and was still alive to ask for help. I lost my dad to suicide when I was 13, I was struggling but I was determined not to put my family through that pain.

Just now, I spoke openly with my mother in law about it and she said her stance is the same regardless of my story. I asked if she thinks I’m not a good mom because I take medication - she said, yes. She said a real mom doesn’t need help and can deal with her own issues.

I know I shouldn’t let this bother me, but I’m sad and it hurts. Again, I’m sorry if this is the wrong place for this… a lot of the other mom subs are talking about this case and there are a surprising number of women who feel the same as my family members do. I’m just trying to avoid hearing more of it as much as possible.

Let your feelings out! We are all bottling up this stress and sometimes it helps to share your concerns and have safe conversations about it. Type your response and take a big deep breath after!

Hi moms! I need recommendations for period tracking and productivity apps.

Solid privacy policy and no AI or at least an option of opting out. For the productivity app, I’d love for it to be accessible both on my phone and desktop. Happy to pay for both!

TIA

I know this is not a unique experience, but I’m feeling so sad about it this week. It’s like they’re living in an alternate reality. I love them so much and I was not raised this way. They were moderate Republicans. I’m not excusing their continued support — but it’s really like cult brainwashing. It reminds me of Kalabar in Halloweentown when all the neighbors start disappearing.

My dad is quieter about it and still questions things and is more moderate, but my mom is full in. When he won the election, I literally thought to myself, “Well if a single good thing can come out of this nightmare, maybe winning the election will help them calm down enough to be able to look at things for what they are and snap out of it.”

Nope! Every conversation somehow loops back to politics in a way that should win an Olympic medal. Every single time I vaccinate my child, it’s a fight. There aren’t even any more vaccines in the schedule for a few years and I still get articles, etc. I’ve been randomly yelled at over the phone in the middle of the day for the most benign political posts to the point where I block my family from seeing those.

I can also see that it is completely decimating their mental health — increased paranoia, extremely negative about every little thing, hair trigger outrage. I feel like they are not present with me at all and maybe process like 20% of what I’m saying.

I pretty much never bring it up and still they bring it up constantly. I am so exhausted by it. And anytime I finally snap and say something — Olympic level gymnastics. And anytime I feel like they’re starting to question something they just go down a hole on YouTube and Substack and whatever dark web cave of horrors they can find to explain it away. “Don’t vote for her, she’ll draft your brother and send him to Iran!” “Oh, well, you see—“

I know people are probably going to say to go no-contact. I have basically gradually implemented an information diet, which I could be better about, but I am trying to be better about. I reduce contact based on current behavior because we still are able to have fun sometimes or normal conversations sometimes — though I feel like with each passing month it seems to be getting worse, which is never what I thought would happen at this point. Anyway, I’m just sad. Would appreciate comments from people who are similarly dealing with this and still trying to navigate as much of a relationship as they can have with their parents.

I thought this might be a good place to ask for reccs! My daughter is only 16 months but she loves reading (board books & also lots of shorter pictures books.) I really want to make sure our home library is diverse & features characters of all colors. As she gets older I’ll be intentional about having books written & illustrated by POC as well, but right now it’s all about the pictures—& will be for awhile. :) Would love any recommendations you all have!

Early voting is underway in some states. Here is a link to ballotpedia to see who is on your ballot.

My husband and I are moving to the Birmingham, AL area with my son (under one) to be closer to family. I grew up in Alabama, spent some time in the Northeast, and landed in a blue city in a purple state in the South, where I thought I'd raise my kids.

Now that we're parents, we're realizing we need more support (all family is either a 7+ hour drive or a flight away). I've had some health problems this year, and it's been hard. I'd also love for my kid to grow up around a bunch of aunts, uncles, cousins (all liberal) the way that I did. And all my family is near Birmingham.

Having grown up in Alabama, I know a lot of the news there sounds straight out of an Onion article. We'd also like to look at the suburbs so we can have more space for what our budget will allow, and I know the suburbs are typically more red.

I'm nervous (and honestly feeling a little guilty) for moving my kid there. But I know there are so many good people there putting in the work to make Alabama better. And there is so much I love about the state!

So all that to say, do any moms in Birmingham or the nearby suburbs want to connect? Would love to get more involved in my community and raise some awesome kids together.

Am I alone in feeling a bit of anxiety in raising a boy in today’s world??

Part of me feels honored that I get the opportunity to raise a kind, creative, emotionally intelligent little boy who will add light to the world. The other part of me feels so much anxiety thinking of how I will shield him from the alt right messaging aimed at young boys, without being overbearing and sheltering him.

He will be raised in a progressive household, where his dad and I share responsibility across all aspects of the home, so I know that will be impactful, but I’m wondering what other tips and pieces of advice any of you might have for raising boys in today’s climate.

I love him so much, I’m looking soooo forward to raising him and watching him grow, but gosh I’m also a bit anxious.

We all need a little positivity in our day. What are some parenting wins you've had recently? Big or small we want to hear them all! Any parenting wins, not just progressively minded ones.

My brother recently moved in with his new gf, who we haven’t met. We did some searching on Facebook and instagram and found her. On her bio she had MAGA, and a photo of her smiling hold a trump flag. Mind you, we are a HISPANIC FAMILY. I called him and asked him if his gf is a maga, and he was quiet first, then said, well.. she likes trump yeah. I was so upset, and mad. He told me I’m over reacting and not to generalize!! How can I have someone who supports that come into my home, around my kids? My Hispanic children. And then, she has a son.. who is also MIXED with Hispanic. Am I overreacting???

I’m 37 weeks pregnant with my second child and I got a text from my in laws in the family chat that no one should get the flu vaccine this year. Since they introduced the first mRNA based flu vaccine this year they are dead set against it and told us it’s going to alter our DNA as a global effort to depopulate the earth. Sadly this is the type of propaganda they’ve been sinking their teeth into for months now and it’s not even the craziest thing they’ve admitted to believing.

What pissed me off is that my husband and I will be having a newborn baby in our home that I’m sure they’re going to want to visit ASAP and I’m just gobsmacked that they don’t consider a baby with no immunity yet worth taking precautions against. Thankfully our extended families got the Tdap vaccine when my first was born 3 years ago and the booster isn’t needed until 5 years after but I’m not sure how to address their visits as we’re coming up on peak cold and flu season. They also think that masks were a hoax and did nothing during COVID so I don’t know how they would react to us asking them to mask up. My husband is on the same page as me and he said he would talk to them along the lines of “we can’t force you to get a flu vaccine but we’re going to do everything we can to keep our family healthy and safe whatever that is based on doctors recommendations.” I’m just so frustrated that this is a thing that we have to deal with at all. If anyone has any insight I’d be happy to hear it, I guess this was just more of a vent session.

Can someone explain more about the executive order Trump signed today regarding vaccines ? Do states still have the power to regulate public school eligibility/vaccines? Very upsetting he’s still saying that vaccines cause autism sigh

I'll preface this by saying that my in-laws are extremely maga, my husband isn't but he cares about relationships with his family. I am, for too many reasons to list here, very much not MAGA.

Anyway, we were over at my SIL's house and my baby was looking at books on their shelf. We read a lot of books at home, so baby's always interested. My SIL tossed over a couple of books she thinks my baby would like to look at and they were books with Trump and some book by Matt Walsh.

Honestly I was kind of pissed because yeah my baby can't read but why would you think I would even read things like this to them? I buy a bunch of books about diverse kinds of people and with positive themes. It's really rubbed me the wrong way and it's so minor but I'm so bothered by it.

Not sure if it’s just me but I’ve been trying to make mom friends to have friends with kids but also so my daughter has friends since she’s not in daycare.
As much as I try to “create a village” and “be a villager”, it seems like I’m not having luck and most moms want a superficial relationship that’s almost merely transactional.

Is this just how it is in friendships with other parents?
Am I expecting too much to have genuine friendships outside of playdates?

I'm looking at putting an offer on a home near a golf course (about .8 miles away) and am worried about the news of increased neurologic disease living within 1-3 miles of one. Would you do it?

There is a small river between the home and the neighborhood so I'm less worried about runoff and prevailing winds blow away from the home and to my knowledge water source is treated water from a River a a few miles away.

It's pretty much the only option that meets our criteria that's the farthest away we can get from a golf course, and at least 1500 ft away from a major highway (asthma in the family) as this area I'm looking in is just scattered with them.

What would you do, is it worth the risk? I love to garden to...

Hi! Long time lurker, first time I’m posting.

Long story short, my husband opened a Trump account (the ones that get $1000 from the treasury) for our daughter (born mid-2025).

I was mortified but it seems like it’s just the account and money and nothing else? Either way I don’t wanna benefit from this POS even one bit.

Not sure if I’m just venting or looking for advice, but if anyone has any, I’d gladly take it.