Why are we handing out trophies to kids who finish last? My 10 year old came home with a medal for losing his baseball tournament and I about lost my mind. What happened to teaching kids that hard work and winning matters? You don't get a participation trophy in real life. This soft generation talk ...
He's been waking up at 5am for the past month and coming into our room. We've tried everything - blackout curtains, a "wake up clock" thing, later bedtimes, earlier bedtimes. Nothing works. Is this just a phase? Any dads dealt with this? I'm losing my mind.
We went to this trail near Boulder that everyone said would be too hard for her age but I packed snacks, brought extra water, and didn't push it. Took it slow, let her stop whenever she wanted, and honestly? She crushed it. 3.2 miles, only complained once (fair), and was SO proud of herself at the e...
Why do they always ask during the ONE time I can't check my email? Now there's only "snack helper for field trip" left and everyone has already claimed the good stuff. My kid is gonna think I don't participate in school activities but I literally CAN'T during my work hours. This system sucks. Do oth...
My son keeps trying to one-up my jokes and honestly half of them don't even make sense but I'm so proud I'm considering recording them. Like today he said 'why did the banana go to the doctor? Because it wasn't peeling good!' He made that up himself and I've never been more afraid of the future.
Never thought I'd tell anyone in my family about this but I texted my brother a few days ago about how I've been struggling since our second kid was born. Instead of judging me or making it weird, he just said 'I've been there' and we talked for like an hour. Turns out HE struggled with the same thi...
No exceptions except school events. Been doing this for two weeks and already seeing them open up more. My oldest talked about his day, my middle shared something bothering him, my youngest just wanted to be near us. Family dinners are where real parenting happens.
Need something that works on Android and iPad for 3 kids (ages 7, 9, 12). Currently using Google Family Link and iOS Screen Time but feeling like I'm missing something. Any of you use actual third-party apps like Bark or OurPact? Worth the money?
Mornings: me = dropoff guy. My commute starts later so I do 7:30am school run with my 2nd grader. Afternoons: wife does pickup because her job is flexible. It's working surprisingly well but some days I'm running 20 mins late to work because of traffic/kid needs. My boss hasn't said anything yet bu...
My 11-year-old randomly asked me this last night while I was making dinner. I wasn't expecting it. I said no (which is true - I'm not angry, more just... done with her). But now I'm wondering if the way I talk about custody stuff or logistics is making him think I'm mad. I don't badmouth her to the ...
This has been going on for months. We'll put socks on him, he tears them off immediately. We've tried different brands, textures, colors... nothing works. He says they "feel funny." I don't get it but now I'm just accepting that his feet are going to be cold. My daughter never did this so I'm wonde...
My 4yo has decided broccoli, peas, spinach, literally anything green is basically poison. We've tried the usual stuff - dipping sauce, mixing it in, calling it "dinosaur food" whatever. His 7yo sister will eat anything but this one? Nope. Thinking about just accepting we're gonna have a scurvy situa...
My son is 11 and starting middle school in the fall. Like half his class already has phones, and his mom (we're split custody) is pushing to get him one so they can "stay in touch." I get it but... I'm not ready. He loses everything - his retainer, his glasses, his homework - so a $700 phone feels l...
I grew up barely talking to my dad about feelings or anything real. He was just... there but not really present. Now I have three boys and sometimes I catch myself being exactly like him—physically present but mentally checked out, not asking about their day, just going through motions. It scares me...
This happened last weekend and I'm still processing it. Picked up Jake from school on Friday and he mentioned that when his mom drops him off at my place, he sees her crying in the car. He asked me why. I didn't know what to say. I kept it simple - "mom loves you very much and sometimes parents fee...