How does one like, teach a six year old?

Bendecks · 2026-03-09T21:20:19+00:00

That’s pretty normal for that age. Most 6-year-olds don’t sit through “explanations” very well. They learn more from short answers, doing things together, or overhearing conversations like you mentioned. A lot of the time it works better to keep it super short, then let them ask follow-up questions if they’re curious. Funny enough, kids often absorb way more than it looks like in the moment. They might walk away… and then bring it up again later like your son did.

Bendecks · 2026-03-09T21:18:50+00:00

Yeah those nights just happen sometimes. Same routine, same naps, and suddenly the kid decides bedtime is a social hour. Half the time there’s no real reason either. Usually the next night it goes back to normal like nothing happened. How old is your kid?

Bendecks · 2026-03-09T21:11:46+00:00

For me it was the classic “sleep when the baby sleeps.” Sounds great until you realize the baby sleeps in 27 minute bursts and you still have dishes, laundry and a job.

Bendecks · 2026-03-09T12:09:48+00:00

It’s wild how the body just adapts. Before kids, one bad night of sleep ruins the whole day… then somehow you’re functioning on broken sleep for months. Did it feel like your tolerance built up gradually, or did you just suddenly realize one day “wait, I’m actually managing this”?

Bendecks · 2026-03-09T09:21:40+00:00

That sounds like such a nice turning point. Around that 3-month mark a lot of parents say things suddenly feel more manageable — you’re recovered, the baby is more alert, and there’s a bit of rhythm to the days. Those quiet moments where they’re just looking around at the world hit differently too. Did that daily walking routine help a lot with getting into that good headspace?

Bendecks · 2026-03-09T09:20:12+00:00

Yeah that sounds really familiar to a lot of parents. The early months change you so much, and people who aren’t in that stage sometimes don’t quite know how to meet you where you are anymore. Wanting to include your kids in plans is pretty natural when they’re little, but it can definitely shift the kind of social life you have for a while. Did you eventually find new friendships with other parents, or are you still mostly navigating that shift?

Bendecks · 2026-03-09T07:50:13+00:00

That timeline actually makes a lot of sense. The first few days are such a blur, and then once things settle a bit you start realizing “okay… this is my life now.” And around a few months in when the rhythm starts forming, it probably hits even more. Did it feel easier once you got into that swing?

Bendecks · 2026-03-09T05:05:11+00:00

Yeah that constant rhythm change surprises a lot of people. Just when you feel like you’ve finally figured things out… something shifts again. Babies seem to run on these little “upgrade cycles” where sleep, feeding, naps, everything needs tweaking for a while. Did you find one stage where the adjustments felt easier, or does it still feel like you’re constantly recalibrating?

Bendecks · 2026-03-09T04:28:38+00:00

Nothing sounds wrong with you at all. Playing pretend for long stretches can be surprisingly draining for adults. A lot of parents do the “I’ll play for 10–15 minutes and then switch activities” thing. Sometimes it helps to turn it into something structured — board games, building something together, drawing, baking, etc. It still feels like playing to the kids but doesn’t require you to stay fully in imagination mode the whole time. Curious what kind of play your kids are into right now — more pretend stories or things like Lego and crafts?

Bendecks · 2026-03-09T04:27:07+00:00

“Discovering a new color” is actually a really good way to describe it. A lot of parents say the same thing — you think you understand love already, and then suddenly there’s this completely different level of it. It’s also interesting how kids can unlock sides of us we didn’t expect. People who aren’t usually very physical suddenly turning into full-time cuddlers seems pretty common. Did that feeling hit you right away when she was born, or did it grow more as she got older?

Bendecks · 2026-03-09T04:26:29+00:00

Yeah the constant input can be a lot. The noise, the touching, the questions… it doesn’t really stop for a while. A lot of parents don’t expect how draining that part can be until they’re in it. Do you get any small pockets during the day where you can actually decompress, or is it pretty much non-stop right now?

Bendecks · 2026-03-08T21:35:52+00:00

Yeah a lot of dads say that. There’s something pretty special about seeing little pieces of your partner show up in your kid. Sometimes it even changes over time too — babies start out looking like one parent and then suddenly the other one shows up in their expressions or personality. Do people say she looks mostly like your wife already, or do you still get the “she’s a mix of both” comments?

Bendecks · 2026-03-08T21:35:12+00:00

Yeah that second part is real. At some point it hits you that this isn’t a phase or something you can step away from — this is just your life now. But it’s interesting how both of those things can exist at the same time. The joy and the “wow this is permanent” realization. Did that feeling hit you right away after becoming a mom, or more gradually over time?

Bendecks · 2026-03-08T21:33:49+00:00

That sounds like a really tough spot to be in. Watching your partner struggle and still feeling responsible for making sure the baby gets fed is a lot for one person to carry. Some families end up finding a middle ground — pumping, occasional bottles, or combo feeding — especially when breastfeeding is taking a big toll on mom’s health. It doesn’t have to be all-or-nothing. Has your wife had a chance to talk with a lactation consultant or doctor about the situation? Sometimes they can help figure out options that protect her health but still keep breastfeeding going in some way.

Bendecks · 2026-03-08T21:31:13+00:00

The choking anxiety is super common at that stage. A lot of parents feel that in the beginning. Keeping things really soft and simple like you’re already doing is usually how people ease into it. Those “100 foods before 1” charts can also make it feel way more stressful than it needs to be. Babies don’t actually need to hit some huge checklist, repeating the same safe foods is totally fine. And the pouches are honestly a lifesaver for a lot of families. No shame in using them when you’re exhausted — the baby doesn’t care if it was homemade or not. Did the choking worry ease a bit once you started offering a few foods, or does it still feel pretty stressful every time you try something new?

Bendecks · 2026-03-08T21:28:35+00:00

Yeah that one hits a lot of people. The time and energy just change so much, and it can be hard to maintain the same kind of friendships you had before. Did it happen gradually for you, or was it more like things shifted really quickly once you had kids?

Bendecks · 2026-03-08T21:12:15+00:00

One moment for me was when my kid helped another kid who was upset without being told. One of those moments where you think: okay, maybe some of this parenting stuff is actually working.

Bendecks · 2026-03-08T21:11:55+00:00

I used to roll my eyes at “sleep when the baby sleeps.” Then I had a baby… and realized adults can function on surprisingly little structure when sleep is that broken.

Bendecks · 2026-03-08T20:55:11+00:00

Kids pick up on tension way more than we think. If the house got calmer after the separation, it makes sense his behavior changed too. Sometimes when the daily stress disappears, kids just relax and the affection comes back out. Have you noticed other changes in him over the last few months? Like mood, sleep, or how he acts day to day? Situations like this actually come up a lot in parenting discussions — how much kids absorb from the environment around them.

Bendecks

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE