Six months into the new schedule and my kids are actually doing great. My 6yo's teacher said he's more focused in class, my 12yo's grades came up, and they seem less anxious about transitions. I think a lot of it is just that the routines are finally solid and predictable. No more guessing games. ...
My 12yo convinced me to add a payment method to his Epic Games account for "cosmetics" (I still don't fully understand what that means). Long story short, someone apparently accessed his account and spent $47 on skins or battle passes or something. Epic Games won't refund it because he's the one who...
I've been going to therapy for a while and it's helped but there's something about talking to other dads who get it that's different. My therapist suggested I might benefit from a group. I'm in the Jacksonville area and I can't find anything that fits. Thinking about starting a monthly meetup for da...
Starting to think my son should learn about money management but I have no idea what's reasonable. Should I tie it to chores? Just give him a set amount? How much money are we talking - like $5 a week? $10? Our area has a higher cost of living (Portland metro) so I'm not sure what the baseline even ...
Who's doing the pumpkin patch thing this year? We usually hit it up in October but honestly the crowds and the prices are getting out of hand. $50 to "pick" a pumpkin that's already been picked and dug up, $15 for a basic caramel apple. Feels like a trap. Maybe we just find an actual farm and pay o...
Just dropping this because she suggested it specifically for helping with anxiety spirals and I've actually been using it. Better than the paid apps imo? Lots of free content, not pushy about upgrades. Helped me chill out a couple nights when my brain wouldn't shut up. Figured I'd mention it in case...
My 5yo has eaten nothing but buttered noodles with parmesan for literally 6 days straight. ONLY this. No sauce, no veggies, nothing. Our pediatrician said it's fine as long as we keep offering other stuff and don't make it a battle. Still feels like I'm failing somehow but at least he's eating??? Is...
Finally watching the latest season now that it hit streaming and man, it's not hitting like it used to. The magic kinda wore off? It's too try-hard wholesome now. Was anyone else disappointed or am I just being a cynical old dad? My wife loves it though so maybe it's just me.
Genuinely. Game changer for weeknight dinners. Pot roast in 45 mins, chicken for tacos in 15 mins, chili that actually tastes good. My wife was skeptical but she's been using it more than me at this point. If you're on the fence about getting one, just do it. Makes me actually look forward to cookin...
Oof. That one stings. I was gone Wed-Fri, and when I got home my 7yo was like "oh hey dad" without looking up from his Switch. Wife said he asked about me once on day 2. Meanwhile I'm tearing up at the airport because I missed him so much. I know it's irrational and I should be happy he's secure and...
Taped a tarp down, added dish soap, connected the hose. Seemed like a solid plan. What actually happened: the tarp shifted, my 9yo slid into the fence, my wife slipped and twisted her ankle, and the hose detached and flooded half the yard. Everyone's fine but tbh I'm sticking to the sprinkler metho...
My 4yo has watched Prehistoric Planet like 47 times. We're talking full dinosaur sound effects at the grocery store, asking every adult he meets if they know what a Therizinosaurus is. Wife is losing her mind but honestly it beats the tablet time we used to do. Just wondering if other dads are deali...
Son starts K next month. He's excited but also getting anxious about new stuff. Any tips on making the transition smooth? He's a sensitive kid so I want to do this right.
Some nights I lie in bed and wonder if I'm doing this right. My kids are good kids but are they growing in faith? Are they seeing Jesus in me? Am I praying enough, teaching enough, leading enough? Feel like I'm always falling short of what God's calling me to do as a father. Anyone else in this plac...
Made a simple list: find a pinecone, a rock, something red, a leaf with holes in it, etc. My 7yo and I did it on a 30 min walk around the neighborhood and she was SO engaged. No screens, no complaining about being bored. Probably the easiest win I've had in a while. Gonna do this weekly now.