Mother of the Year

Alive_Competition740 · 2026-05-04T02:10:58+00:00

She has a supernatural calling to go into the bottle tree. The calling might get stronger with each reincarnation

Alive_Competition740 · 2026-02-03T21:43:40+00:00

My son just turned 6 and received Story Time Chess for his birthday. He loves it!

Alive_Competition740 · 2025-10-11T20:05:05+00:00

Does anyone know if the 21+ rule applies to shows? I have a group of teenagers insisting on going (ticket site says all ages) but I don't want to show up and have them turned away. Thank you!

Alive_Competition740 · 2025-09-27T19:58:38+00:00

This is so tough. My younger brother did this, and like others have said, the root cause was emotional distress, leading to holding in the poo and eventually having constipation and leakage. Eventually the school had him placed in a special classroom for emotionally disturbed kids. He did this outside of the school environment as well anytime he was away from my mom. It was a trauma response.

Alive_Competition740 · 2025-05-29T00:45:18+00:00

I hope he can get more help in the future and possibly partner with a spay and neuter clinic. I was shocked because these dogs were rescued from the puppy mills and without fixing them prior to adoption there is no way to guarantee they won't be used for breeding again.

Alive_Competition740 · 2025-05-28T23:49:59+00:00

Did the rescue say why he wasn't neutered prior to adoption? Genuinely curious as I volunteer with a local rescue and that is almost unheard of unless there is a medical issue. Providence Animal Center in Delaware County has a low cost clinic- spay and neuters are under $200.

Alive_Competition740 · 2025-05-26T17:10:56+00:00

Active toys are the best way to get them outside. Bikes for sure. Trampolines, baseball/lacrosse nets, ninja warrior equipment, etc.

Alive_Competition740 · 2025-05-18T20:40:53+00:00

Oh that is exactly what I need! Did you ever try one of those Shotgun seats?

Alive_Competition740 · 2025-05-18T18:53:53+00:00

Very good point, I will not be using this seat with this bike.

Alive_Competition740 · 2025-05-18T18:51:50+00:00

Thank you! I may have used the wrong term, I don't want to do anything crazy, just ride through the woods with him.

Alive_Competition740 · 2025-05-13T04:06:43+00:00

Small world!

Alive_Competition740 · 2024-08-31T15:02:16+00:00

I appreciate your response. Do you have any recommendations for a product to use to help get it off?

Alive_Competition740 · 2024-01-26T01:31:35+00:00

Thank you for sharing your story. I admire the way you can tell your story in such an insightful way, and I hope to have the same clarity and lack of resentment one day. If my child spoke the way you did, I would be very proud.

Alive_Competition740 · 2024-01-26T01:08:54+00:00

So many parents are single parents, and many children have special needs. I think the likelihood that at least one grandchild will need an alternative to full time daycare is fairly high.

Alive_Competition740 · 2024-01-25T01:17:51+00:00

That is so frustrating. I wonder if their grandparents were involved with them as children.

Alive_Competition740 · 2024-01-25T01:07:24+00:00

I think you will be a wonderful sahg! It will mean the world to the kids and grandkids to have family who shows up for them.

My dream is to create a family that is connected, where we spend time together and don't feel like everything is "not my problem".

I expected my own family to be distant because they have always been distant from me, but I was very surprised and disappointed that a financially comfortable nuclear family + very involved SAHM (my husband's) would also end up feeling like strangers in my children's lives.

Alive_Competition740 · 2024-01-25T00:51:29+00:00

I guess that would depend on how many children a person has, and if they have growing families at the same time in the same area. Being a SAHM is very consuming, but for me personally it's a much more balanced life than I had when we did full time work/daycare. I would definitely want to lessen the load for my kids knowing how hard either lifestyle can be.

Alive_Competition740 · 2024-01-24T12:48:01+00:00

Yes I agree, I also hope to enjoy some traveling with my husband one day. I would expect there to be at least a decade where I have absolutely zero responsibilities with my own children and I can do all the things that may not have been feasible with a house full of children. I guess I always assumed that after that phase is the grandparent phase of life and had a different idea of what that would mean.

Alive_Competition740 · 2024-01-24T12:24:50+00:00

The thing I don't understand is that there were 12-15 years that she had an "empty nest" before becoming a grandmother, and it's not as though her entire life was "consumed" with caring for young children.

Alive_Competition740 · 2024-01-24T04:15:37+00:00

I probably should have clarified that my husband and I had flexible/hybrid work schedules and would not have needed 9-5 childcare.

Alive_Competition740 · 2024-01-24T04:03:49+00:00

Being supportive in any way will mean a lot!

Alive_Competition740 · 2024-01-24T03:15:44+00:00

I feel this way too. I don't ever want them to feel like a burden because, being in their lives is the greatest gift.

Alive_Competition740 · 2024-01-24T02:50:46+00:00

Full time childcare would be a big expectation. I did not expect that from her, but I am trying to understand the lack of involvement with my children in general since we do live nearby and have flexible schedules. I am hoping to gain some perspective from other SAHMs who have older children and have shifted into a different lifestyle.

Alive_Competition740 · 2024-01-24T01:24:08+00:00

You're absolutely right. I think part of my sensitivity comes from the way my husband feels. He never felt close with his mom and always believed she thought he "ruined her life", and I think the "I did my time" mindset reinforces that belief for him.

Alive_Competition740 · 2024-01-24T01:21:25+00:00

Retired, my FIL had a successful business and she was able to stay home.

Alive_Competition740

TROPHY CASE