Ouch. That one landed. I'm scrolling through work Slack and Outlook when I get home, barely present with my 8yo. He asked straight up: "Dad why do you like your phone more than playing with me?" I don't have a good answer. I'm working on it but man, that hurt.
Been EBF since birth, totally our choice, but now that I'm going back to work part-time my wife needs to be able to give him a bottle so I can actually leave the house for more than 45 minutes. We've tried like 8 different bottles - Tommee Tippee, Dr. Browns, MAM, literally everything. He just screa...
Real question: I had a genuinely good day with my 3 kids today. Everyone was happy, nobody cried, I wasn't stressed. But then later I felt this weird guilt like... was I ignoring some problem? Should something have gone wrong? I swear my brain immediately starts looking for what I must have messed u...
Before I became a dad I was the guy who could talk your ear off about movies and music and tech stuff. Now when people ask me what's new I just talk about my kids' developmental milestones and which formula didn't give them gas. I don't even recognize myself sometimes. Had to consciously remind myse...
Just wanted to post this for the new guys out there spiraling in the newborn phase - it gets SO much easier. Like ridiculously easier. My son is almost a year and a half now and the first 6 months feel like a fever dream honestly. I was googling 'is my baby normal' like every 47 seconds and now he e...
Picked up a lightly used SNOO Smart Sleeper from Facebook Marketplace in Chicago for $750 (retail is like $1600 lol). People kept saying it's a waste of money but honestly our 2 month old sleeps like 4-5 hour stretches in it and we finally feel semi-human. I know you can't use it forever but for rig...
Been thinking about giving my boy an allowance but want to make sure he learns the value of a dollar and not just thinks money grows on trees. My pops had me doing chores for money by age 7 and I turned out alright but times are different now. Anyone else struggle with this? Want to do it the right ...
He's 3.5 years old and apparently at daycare they call teachers by first names. Now he's started doing it at home. "Hey Mike, can you help?" It's... weird. I know it shouldn't bother me this much but there's something about being called 'Dad' that makes me feel like a parent, you know? When he says ...
Been doing 50/50 with my ex for about 2 years now (kids are 7 and 9). The original schedule was Mon-Wed with me, Thu-Sat with her, alternating Sundays. Sounds simple right? Except now she's started picking them up early "when she can" and dropping them off late, and I'm supposed to just roll with it...
Work is insane right now, kids are 6 and 8, wife's got her own stuff going on, and I literally cannot remember the last time I did anything just for me. Not even anything crazy—just like, sat quietly for 20 minutes. Everything feels urgent and I'm running on fumes. I know the answer is probably "tak...
Saw it recommended on here a bunch so I got a subscription. Honestly the kids' stuff is great - my 7yo actually does a 5min meditation with me now which is wild. But the adult sections feel kinda cheesy to me? Like the guy's voice is too calming and it makes me more anxious somehow lol. Might just b...
Remember when you just had cake and pin-the-tail and you called it a day? Now it's "experiences" and I'm supposed to book a venue and hire entertainment. My son's friend's mom just did an entire escape room party for 8 kids. AN ESCAPE ROOM. For 8-year-olds. I'm just doing pizza and cake in my backya...
We had to go through a custody evaluation because we couldn't agree on placement. Our evaluator was Dr. Patel in Portland - honestly she was fair and thorough. She spent time with both of us separately AND with the kids, which I appreciated. It cost $3k (split with ex) but it saved us from a messy t...
Went to restock my tackle box and nearly had a heart attack. Eight dollar crankbaits? Seriously? I remember buying these for like three bucks not that long ago. And don't even get me started on the fancy new tech stuff. When did fishing become a rich man's sport? Pretty sure the fish don't care if t...
Wife had a work conference. Packed up the van with kids ages 4, 7, and 10. Set up at Point Lobos near Santa Cruz. Honestly thought it would be a disaster but: - Everyone slept in their sleeping bags - Made s'mores without anyone falling in the fire - Only one kid got stung by a bee (minor, they're ...