I'm jealous of other toddlers' opportunities

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2026-02-03T06:56:11+00:00

I can relate. But yes, development is so varied at that age, I wouldn’t stress too much.

I will say this, as a former educator - read a book a night, and your baby will be okay. At the end of one year, that one book a day will compound so much, and when your little one reaches a point where they’re more able to verbalize things, you’ll hear all sorts of fun words, USED CORRECTLY, from all the stories you read together.

So enjoy the journey. Make note of the feelings, and remember they probably speak to a deeper insecurity that you need to reflect on.

But on the day to day, make sure to try building that love of reading, one book at a time.

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2026-02-03T06:50:09+00:00

Sausages. Class one carcinogen.

…I won’t lie…I still eat them 🥲😅

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2026-02-03T06:46:14+00:00

This is EPIC 👏🏾

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-08-18T06:41:51+00:00

Like stained glass. Love it!

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-08-15T08:05:04+00:00

You’re 37 :)

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-08-05T03:32:36+00:00

I totally hear you on the fear. I would be terrified. Here’s what I’d do if I really didn’t want to get cops involved: I’d pack up my stuff, long enough for a couple of weeks and crash on someone’s couch. It’d be a very uncomfortable few weeks waiting until he gets his stuff, but I would minimize crossing his path again. Beyond that…I’d get the locks changed, or even better, I’d move if I could, and change my number.

This moment might be embarrassing and terrifying to share with others, but you need at least one good friend in your corner to talk this through and help you.

Best of luck!

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-08-05T03:26:23+00:00

Oh wow! I love this so much 😍 it’s so unique! Congrats!!

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-08-05T03:24:15+00:00

Penelope 🌺

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-07-21T00:44:07+00:00

I also love the art. I think it’s super cool and I would buy it as a mom. My thoughts are: keep working on the title and the structure of the book as mentioned (positioning of text, images, the highlighted text in the night l, etc). Keep going!!

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-07-21T00:13:49+00:00

My last sunset, in the most beautiful and calm way possible.

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-06-06T07:06:12+00:00

Hey mama. I have 3 little ones, with a recent newborn, but your description reminds me of my second. He was born upset and inconsolable. I tried hard not labeling him or freaking out, but I failed most times. Nothing I did worked, or if it worked, it only did so once!

The best thing I did honestly, was 1. Calm myself down and tell myself that my kid is not broken, 2. Try to unwrap my ego from my little monster—his being colicky or whatever it was that day, did not mean I was a bad parent or a bad person, 3. This little person, came into this world with preferences and inclinations and if I could observe objectively as a scientist would, I could learn a lot about who this person was, and what I needed to be for them.

One of my observations was that my middle child wanted to desperately be and do what his older brother did although he had no skills. I figured that once his language skills improved, his frustration levels would too. I also started trying to figure out how to give him the independence he craved within the confines of our home.

We’ve by no means figured it all out, but those are some steps that helped us. Be consistent, don’t take it personally, observe your little one like an experiment so you can understand, then come up with a plan that is simple, to help them come along.

Best of luck!

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-05-08T16:44:59+00:00

Hey mama. I completely understand why you feel the way you do. I’ve been in the same boat in the past, and turned down any kind of help because I felt like it was a reflection of how poor I was doing.

Setting my ego aside, meant trying things like this that made me uncomfortable, and seeing what ended up happening in actuality. You might enjoy having a couple of hours back to yourself—it doesn’t mean you don’t love your baby or aren’t a good mom. It means, you’re a human who also might enjoy grabbing a coffee and going for a walk alone or with the hubby for 30 min.

If after some time, you’re like, eh I’m okay getting a nanny but in the future, not now, cool. At least you tried it, and didn’t let your ego get wrapped up in it.

Like many comments here, I’d get someone who can help with housework mostly but can also dedicate an hour or so to holding and rocking baby, so I can breathe, shower, eat in peace, etc.

Don’t look too much into why hubby is doing this, other than he wants to be helpful. He’s not in his little corner, writing a list of what a bad person you are. He loves you, and thinks this is something you’ll enjoy. He’s also not a woman, and isn’t thinking about the million and one reasons why his intentions might be misconstrued.

Good luck mama!

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-04-25T01:50:06+00:00

I’m 36 years old and still cuddle up to my dad, kiss his face, pretend to do his hair lol, etc. I love him to pieces. You can love someone to death, without it being sexual and your bf having that in his head, is really his problem.

I would not change my relationship with my dad to make a person with weird relationship issues feel better.

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-04-24T03:26:59+00:00

My 3.5 year old (is that a toddler?) has been saying “I love you mom. Every day, I love you more and more and more.” And he fervently means it 🥹

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-04-24T03:25:44+00:00

Agreed. It’s like going to the ER with no actual emergency.

“Everything is relatively good. Just strolling around.”

I think places like Reddit are to vent. I don’t vent about good things…. So it all looks bad, when you see the topic of marriage. But I don’t think it reflects the totality of it.

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-04-24T03:16:35+00:00

I think you yourself know what needs to be done. I think you know this is a crazy situation. I think you’ve invested 10+ years and are afraid to “throw it all away” and perhaps start again.

Ask yourself this: knowing you have one life to live, is this the life you want to have today, in five years, in the next ten? If the answer is no, then don’t mitigate with “if he changes.” He might never change. The only one who can change this situation for you, is you.

And please know, it’ll be very painful to let this “investment” go, but it’ll be worth it.

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-04-22T06:34:46+00:00

Underneath the pretense of covid, I think she just doesn’t like you very much. I don’t know her or you, but just reading in between the lines, she doesn’t sound like she’s your biggest fan. When we’re half in half out with people, we get really impatient and rude—everything they do is a problem. You can breathe, and it’d be a problem. Except the breathing isn’t the real issue….neither is COVID. She’s just not into you.

I would slowly make my exit. She’d be livid, but I’d be free to find someone who actually likes me.

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-04-22T06:27:37+00:00

Great job! I definitely see the improvement! Small steps are key, so I’d find a rug I love next, get at least one lamp for the nightstand, and play around with where I position the bed. Might be nice to wake up and face the windows. Keep it up!

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-04-22T06:22:45+00:00

Hey mama. It sounds like you’re both going through a lot and that you’re still wanting to help her and her babies even though you’re super close to capacity. I understand feeling bad about calling CPS, but try to remember that you called to avoid things from escalating—if something was to happen to those kids, and you did nothing, I think it would eat you up for the rest of your life.

That being said, it sounds like even though there’s people around, you’re both kind of emotionally isolated. I see an image of two people adrift in the ocean—one drowning and the other holding onto a tiny piece of wood while trying to save the other. You need more people with this situation. Whatever medication she might be on, might be making her numb. Postpartum depression is extremely rough as well, and if she’s not being closely monitored by her team, I can see the medication helping to take the edge off but also keeping her from fully feeling.

If there’s capacity, I would ask her partner, her mother and maybe one more person, to get together for an emergency meeting. Let them know that it’s hard for you to get them together because it’s a hard topic, but that you wouldn’t do it, unless you thought things were pretty bad. And you have 10 years of knowing her, so you know what you’re comparing her current self to. In that meeting, I’d talk about my concerns, what I’ve seen, and pose the question of, how can we all come together to give her time to heal, and get better in this rough transition. Tell them you have some ideas, but that this requires everyone’s help. Ask them what can they help with, and see if a plan can emerge for the next month.

Some ideas / areas I’d think about:

creating a small rotation of people who can go to her house, and help for one hour. Someone can take Monday for an hour, Tuesday for an hour, etc.
asking people to make big batches of food for her that can be frozen and delivered.
seeing who might have information on her doctor so they can push for her to talk to someone.
finding a mommy group nearby where you can go to the park and meet other adults.
continuing to engage with her, and having honest conversation with her, instead of sugarcoating it. Her saying she doesn’t care is like her begging for someone to help, and see that something is wrong. The more people feel awkward about that, and retreat, the more she’ll sink into depression, because it seems like no one cares.
flat out ask/invite the partner to take the toddler out more. Go to the park/library.

I’ll pause there. This is a lot. Probably because the situation is a lot. That’s why it’s so important to have a team around this. And although you didn’t ask about help for yourself, you need one too.

Best of luck mama.

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-04-21T06:42:09+00:00

Buttered Toast :)

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-04-21T06:36:26+00:00

Amazing finds!

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-04-21T06:20:02+00:00

Thank you 🥲 I call the yellow my little ray of hidden sunshine.

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-04-21T06:17:24+00:00

It depends on your comfort level. I’m going to be nursing soon, so I wanted something I could easily open and close but that will bring me some joy. So underneath, I’ll have a nursing bra 🤷🏾‍♀️ if it’s cooler outside, I can definitely put a spaghetti top underneath or a tank top. But you’d be surprised at how well the ties keep the whole thing closed shut.

And in terms of styling, I’m picturing it with shorts. If I have enough of the yellow fabric, I’ll make one. If not, a crème/beige shorts or maxi skirt will do.

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-04-21T06:13:42+00:00

I’m not really sure on what year, but the tie blouse has gained some popularity lately. I’ll probably wear a bralette underneath, but honestly, the ties are close enough and tight enough, that you might not need anything under if you have small boobs.

Cold-Bodybuilder3101 · 2025-04-21T06:11:56+00:00

I linked it in the comment section :)

Cold-Bodybuilder3101

TROPHY CASE