Took paternity leave for our third baby born last month. Two weeks. TWO. Got back to work Monday and immediately had three meetings, emails piled up, and my boss asking why I wasn't in the office the week before (I wasn't, I was home with a newborn and a traumatized wife). I genuinely don't unders...
Our kids are with me 3 nights a week and by night 3 they're absolutely wired. I'm doing everything right - no screens after 8, consistent routine, calm environment. But they're bouncing off the walls. Meanwhile at their mom's they apparently go down at like 8:30 no problem. I'm starting to think the...
Been using Apple Screen Time + some additional filters and honestly it's been the least confrontational way to manage things with my 13yo. The key for us was involving her in SETTING the limits rather than me just imposing them. She picked 2 hours on weekends, 45 min on school nights, and I swear sh...
Okay so my son discovered YouTube shorts like 3 weeks ago and now he's literally watching the same 15-second clips over and over. Like the same ones. I set a 30 min limit per day but he's figured out how to restart the timer by logging out and back in (I didn't even teach him that lol). The algorith...
Our oldest just turned 10 and his friend group is starting to have group chats. He's asking for a phone so he can be included. We're leaning towards waiting until 12-13 but curious what age range other parents here went with? And did you regret it either way?
I leave at 4:30pm every day to pick up my kids. It's in my employment agreement and everything - I don't work late or weekends to compensate. Not ideal hours but I deliver results. New manager said in a one-on-one that he's noticed I'm 'not as available as some of the other team members in the even...
This is dumb but we did a family chalk art thing last Saturday with categories - most creative, funniest, messiest, etc. My wife, me, and the kids (8 and 11). I have NEVER seen my kids take something so seriously. My 11yo girl spent like an hour on a detailed tree scene. My son made an elaborate vi...
So a few months ago I posted about signing my son up for a coding class thinking it'd get him off screens. Turns out he just wanted more screen time lol. He hated the class, said it was "boring." Dropped it after 4 weeks. Back to square one I guess. At least I learned he's not a coding kid.
My 12yo got into woodworking with me like 6 months ago. We built a birdhouse together, then he wanted to keep building. I set him up with basic tools, some scrap wood from the garage. Yesterday he built a legit shelf. Like, it's level, sturdy, looks actually good. Better than anything I've made tbh...
My 5yo has now invented 'one more question' which turns into 47 more questions. Pretty sure he's lawyering up for future negotiations. Asking for survival tips here because I'm running on fumes
Thinking about getting a membership to the climbing gym in our area. Kids are 6 and 10. Seems like it could be fun for all of us instead of me going to the gym alone while my wife watches them. But I'm nervous about the cost and whether my 6yo will be interested or just scared. What's the minimum ag...
My 4yo asks me every morning if I'm going to the airport today and I hate how his face drops when I say yes. I was away for 5 days last week and missed his soccer game. He told his teacher "daddy is always gone." I feel like absolute garbage about it. The money is good and I can't just skip these tr...
Installed 3 beds in spring with my 6 and 8 year old. Added soil, planted tomatoes and beans, and honestly expected *me* to do all the maintenance. But they actually check on them daily, water without asking, and got genuinely excited about the first tomatoes ripening last month. It's teaching them s...
Got tired of my 6yo complaining on walks so I made a scavenger hunt list with small prizes from the Dollar Tree at the end (tiny cars, bouncy balls, stickers). Laminated it, printed it in color. Holy cow. She actually WANTS to go for walks now. Looks for rocks, specific leaves, birds, whatever's on...
Been a months-long negotiation but we FINALLY got him genuinely interested in joining the local rec league. Started with limiting gaming to weekends only last fall, then made a deal that if he tried out for the team, he could pick his own screen time schedule (within reason). First game is Saturday ...