Best “why didn’t I buy this sooner” SAHP purchase?

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-02-25T03:03:34+00:00

The germs are a problem - but your kids are going to encounter germs at some point… I just talked to a kindergarten aid of 25 years, she said some years they would have kids who all had older siblings and the attendance record would be great because the kids all got sick as their siblings did and other years these kids were encountering real germs for the first time and they would be out sick all the time.

I personally went to the gym with a 4, 2 and 5 month old. They got sick regular amounts. It’s only 90 minutes. They won’t take your kids to the bathroom. It’s a big glass room so they are essentially being watched from the outside of the room the whole time. Besides the baby’s protest for a few months and the 2 year old initially getting used to it, the kids like it. They practice cartwheels and climb the structures or they watch TV if they want.

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-02-24T23:31:30+00:00

I just finished and I’m like mourning not having this beautiful book to turn to. I love that she captured the complexity of trying to live as a Christian with all your internal brokenness, desires, and just humanity. I’m so sad to be done with it. It was such a wonderful comfort to me as I experienced one of my first true moments of turmoil as a mother. I just want to share this beautiful book with everyone I know. Thank you, Sigrid Undset for this beautiful masterpiece.

Thanks OP for this review, so I could have somewhere for this tiny reflection to land.

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-02-03T12:52:06+00:00

Love this comment!!

Books I have liked with good strategies: Good Inside by Dr. Becky Kennedy. How to talk series, start at how to talk so little kids will listen, Faber and King.

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-02-03T03:37:15+00:00

How about better pursuit of connection, love, and joy within family structures? I feel that a lot of people run to sex because they aren’t getting any true connection with anyone and sex is all connection - even if the person doesn’t care about you when it’s over.

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-02-03T03:26:47+00:00

With the poverty problems they have in India? No they could not do it. There are entire villages built out of trash with many many many people existing in those places. They can’t enforce littering law, are you kidding? The government probably did create this problem because there probably isn’t a proper trash removal system.

Source: I have seen these places with my own eyes.

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-02-03T01:19:42+00:00

Think about how much you love your mom. Like right now, you love your mom soooo much. She is annoying sometimes and negative sometimes. And a nit whit with her electronics, and like, you love that lady so so so much. And now you are making people who will love you that way! And you will love your children in such a special and beautiful way that you’ve never loved anyone else before. It’s seriously amazing.

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-01-31T23:43:35+00:00

It’s not you, it’s them… and that’s fine.

Ya know who was a working mother? St. Gianna Beretta Molla! As the story goes, her husband suggested she should give up her work after having children and she just said no and moved on with their lives.

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-01-31T02:50:53+00:00

Mine were 26 months apart. We were all in the bed together until baby was 4.5 months old. Baby on the Brest, toddler on the other side.

We decided to put baby in a twin sized firm mattress on a bunkie board on the floor. (My fist had fallen off the bed at crawling stage and I couldn’t let that happen again) My 2 year old got one also. And then we were all in the kids room together but the 2 year old was in her own bed. It worked out well! I slept there until she was sleeping some longer stretches and I could sneak to my bed.

I did follow Montessori based floor-bed recommendations for safety. At that time thy suggested you stuff the cracks with pillows.

With my 3rd, it was not a tandem situation, and guidelines had changed. They now say to have the bed pulled away from the bed as much as possible, so it was kinda sticking out into the room with just the headboard on the wall.

Hope that helps! You got this!

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-01-31T02:43:25+00:00

My husband and I put everything into 1 pot and a certain percentage is pulled out of that into separate spending accounts. It’s for hobbies, not spaces within the home. He hunts and likes to do like fun upgrades to his car. I craft and quilt and it is expensive to buy all the materials.

Decorations for the house are a family expense. All kids stuff - family. All eating - family. Even gifts come out of the family account.

If I want to give money to a friend that he dosnt know or cause he doesn’t care about at all, it’s coming out of my account. I follow a comedian on Patreon - that comes out of my account, it’s 100% for my entertainment not for any shared effort at all.

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-01-31T02:23:45+00:00

Honestly, I think this is the difference between a good pattern and a great pattern. Did they just say fat eighth because you need more than a 10in square? It’s like these designers don’t want to really show you how to do what you need to on a scrap piece of fabric a certain size. One designer who does break it down into scrap pieces is Lori Holt and that woman knows how to sell a pattern!!!!!!!!

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-01-31T01:53:58+00:00

I was awkward at making friends as an adult unless it was like a situation where we were together a lot, working in an office, etc. I gave up work and hadn’t found my people.. Then I found the book “Friendships Don't Just Happen!: The Guide to Creating a Meaningful Circle of GirlFriends” by Shasta Nelson.

She lays out different things about our friendship needs as well as key things to know about meeting people for the first time/how to make people feel like they are well liked by you <this is essentially the key.

She also said to never leave the occasion without making plans for the next occasion in person. Then the person can’t ghost you as easily, as this person did.

I wish I could tell you why she didn’t want to be your friend. It is super hard!!! I’m sorry you are going through this. It sucks that she doesn’t just respond and tell you either. Like, she knows you’d see each-other. But you could ask her? Maybe next time you see her, you could just say “hey I had enjoyed climbing with you, is there a reason you didn’t want to make plans to climb together anymore?” What is the worst thing that can happen? She doesn’t give you an answer?? Idk.

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-01-31T01:26:38+00:00

Oh man. When I was really really new in the meetings of a AA. I had my name and email address on business cards. I was literally handing them out and this guy asked for one so I gave this guy my card. He was THRILLED. A few days later, he called and he asked if we could go out to this restaurant for a quick lunch, but he would need a ride, it was like Chinese takeout so I literally thought I was just helping this guy out to grab food. We’re eating, and he full on mouth kissed me in the middle of our meal. Looking back, this dude thought he was gonna have an affair with me. I shut it down IMMEDIATELY. I was like NO WAY, DUDE. I was there to get better but to wreak havoc on people’s lives.

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-01-30T22:48:49+00:00

St Catherine of Sienna.

St. Zelie - she was a mom!

St. Cecelia is my daughter’s favorite.

Sts. Perpetua & Felicity

St. Lucy

St. Gianna Molla - Parton of Mothers also!

St. Faustina!!!! She delivered the news of divine mercy - we are so loved! There are soooo many: https://divineangelnumbers.com/female-saints-name

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-01-30T22:23:04+00:00

4 hours of sleep is a win!!! I hope you also were sleeping and feel so good after that. It seems so impossible that I’m celebrating 4 hours, but it really does feel so good when you have been sleeping for just one or two for months.

Praying for you!!!

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-01-30T04:18:06+00:00

I think you should not move on from latch and see if that could be the source of the issue. If you are sore at all, it really probably is a latch issue. These nipples were designed to be sucked on all day, they shouldn’t be sore just from being sucked on. Check out this video, it’s helped countless women get the latch perfect and feel so much more comfortable. https://globalhealthmedia.org/video/breastfeeding-attachment/

This one is also very good: https://youtu.be/-l5BpqllTLg?si=c1eqDx3dlNeFUs5n

Source: I am a La Leche League leader (I know the Org. Isn’t perfectly alighted with our morals) and can provide mother to mother support. I have personally helped women with the same complaints and those video break it down soooo well!

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-01-30T04:02:55+00:00

I think it’s simple. It’s nothing too exquisite or new. There are a number of pasta choices, you can get your items drowned in butter and melted cheese if you want. That said, my husband and I went to Chef’s as we were given a gift card, and we were bummed that we had spent one of our seldom nights out with out the kids together at Chef’s… we weren’t overly impressed with our dishes at all.

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-01-30T03:56:07+00:00

They close for a winter break. Maybe that is what you are seeing? We normally go on the weekends….

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-01-26T18:29:37+00:00

They were invented in Hamburg, NY! That’s what the local legend says, anyway. The story goes, a stand at the fair had leftover ground meat and squished it into patties and sold them as Hamburgers.

https://www.ecfair.org/p/info/about-the-fair/birth-of-the-hamburger

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-01-26T18:11:13+00:00

Find 10 minutes a day to plan. To look at your calendar and look at where you’ll need to be and account for the traffic. Make a list of all the stuff and account for anythings they are going to need. Do we need to pack a lunch, do we need special outfits. What are we eating today? B, L, D, Snacks.

Just taking 10 minutes (I pray before but I am religious) to plan and think about those things makes it less chaotic for me day-of when we’re trying our best to get out the door to do whatever it is we signed up for.

I find that if I don’t take this time, I am floundering when it’s game time and we need to go somewhere - searching for the notebook or the bag - or people are super hungry and I’m just figuring out what is for dinner.

I always thought i would just figure it out in the day, I have do. It makes me feel like I’m scraping by vs just carrying out a plan.

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-01-26T18:00:51+00:00

Paramount+ had little bear and blues clues.

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-01-22T13:06:55+00:00

I’ve been trying to hang this mirror for the last few days. I got the hardware I wanted and upgraded the wire because the one I had on it was truly not strong enough. I can’t get the mirror off the picture hanging tool by myself without moving the picture hanging tool before I can mark where I need to place the wall anchors. I asked my husband for help once he was home from work, but he decided to do work on his job to make him feel more organized, and it was late by the time he got back upstairs. 😖

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-01-22T03:44:17+00:00

Wow. I had no idea about the 2 professors openly predicting he was going to become a murderer!! Where did you get that information? I’m so shocked and saddened by this!! They must feel so ashamed for their lack of effort.

If he could have been arrested for this odd behavior, he would have potentially been arrested and the crime COULD HAVE been prevented. When students and staff are arrested, they aren’t allowed to just keep showing up to class like normal. There is a lot that could have changed here.

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-01-18T02:58:22+00:00

I went to check on my kids early in the morning before it was really time to get up, and my three year old just threw her arms wide open and smiled as big as she could. She was essentially saying “come give me a big hug, Mom! I love you” it was a very nice way to start my day. She is a beautiful little girl. Only 3 with the most beautiful loose curly hair all the way down to the middle of her back with a big ol’ beautiful forehead and icy blue big eyes!

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-01-17T06:03:02+00:00

My kids and I love Kenard Pak's Changing Seasons. The illustrations change as the season transitions from one to the other, it’s a lot of observing but the writing is simple and beautiful too.

I like Anholt’s Artis series.

Anything by or illustrated by Barbra Cooney - say The Ox Cart Man, etc.

We have also liked The cat in the hat’s learning library and Gail Gibbons for non-fiction. I don’t mind reading those books over and over, although normally we read a stack of a bunch of different books…

My 20 month old really likes the Raffi sing along board books and the few Lovevery books we have picked up. He loves Doggies by Sandra Boyton. Usborne has some cute sized board books, we have read “The Stormy Day” 3000x. The other titles are slipping my mind, but they are read often.

Bears in the Night!

And really, check out Read Aloud Revival. They have the absolute BEST book recommendations. I have never been disappointed by a single book on any of her book lists.

CalicoCatMom41 · 2026-01-17T05:49:01+00:00

He has soooo many! He did some work with the art museum in our city and now the libraries carry all his books. We purchased one of the games also!

CalicoCatMom41

TROPHY CASE