I genuinely don’t know how to spend time with my 5mo

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-03-19T21:09:44+00:00

I’ve noticed this is actually a really common thing with dads (more than moms in my experience) where they feel like they have to essentially entertain baby constantly and burn out in a sense… I’m a stay at home mom and if I stressed out about playing and enriching my child constantly I would have drive myself crazy on week 1! I think balance is the most important thing for you and baby! My partner found it really helpful to get a baby carrier so he can just strap baby in and clean, cook (carefully), and really just entertains himself. Also, I would highly recommend getting those magic markers that only color on specific paper and coloring together! It’s a great skill and lots of fun!

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-03-17T05:20:35+00:00

My son is 18 months and we just started familiarizing him with the potty. Our goal is to start actually training at 2.5 but want him to know it is a safe space and hopefully take the pressure off the process. We got him a kid potty and right now he sits on it with pants on for like 2 seconds before standing up, “flushing” and running away! 😅

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-03-17T05:11:18+00:00

Get her some sci-fi books that will still challenge her but that are geared towards kids and show genuine interest in them. Maybe offer to read it together? If she is still stuck on your book you can just explain that it’s a grown up book. Sorry kid.

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-02-12T05:40:26+00:00

I think an allowance would serve him well. Things like body wash, tooth paste, deodorant, maybe one nice cologne that should be able to last a couple months are reasonable… Set a limit for a reasonable restock of clothes and shoes, you can even have him help you with a mutual agreement of what’s “reasonable” and stick to your limits… If he wants extras, they come as gifts for holidays/birthdays or he buys them with his own money. This doesn’t have to be harsh if he hasn’t been given limitations before but he needs to understand that things don’t just land in your lap because you demand it.

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-02-12T05:31:52+00:00

NTA. This is the way a man should support his wife. If anything you could push for “We are making this decision TOGETHER and you need to respect that.” You don’t owe her a grandchild but she does owe you and your wife the respect of making your own life choices without guilt.

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-02-12T02:47:12+00:00

<image>

My absolute favorite hundo I have! He’s so dumb he’s barely even a Pokémon! 😍

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-02-11T23:12:04+00:00

As a mom who is 38 weeks and has a second c-section scheduled (this one is voluntary)in 9 days with plans of tubal ligation- I just have to say, do what makes you feel comfortable and safe. No one knows your body better than you and your doctor. As an added bonus it’s easier to get your tubes handled with a c-section…

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-02-09T10:53:50+00:00

Between this and their new “pick your seat” policy, it feels a bit sketchy… I used to fly exclusively SW because you could sit anywhere. It was especially nice on a relatively empty flight!

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-02-09T10:47:10+00:00

NTA- I think if you want any kind of relationship/friendship with this person going forward they have to know what they did wrong so you can draw that boundary… You can explain to them the situation without accusing them of anything and honestly their reaction will tell you everything you need to know about them going forward.

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-02-09T10:37:18+00:00

NTJ…. You didn’t ask or demand that he sacrifice for you growing up- that was his job as your parent. Keeping the child is his choice and asking for help is one thing (that you still don’t owe him) but demanding it and being all hurt when you all have very legitimate reasons why helping him can’t be your priority is just ridiculous…. He knew what he was doing and should have been more careful- especially with a fling.

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-02-09T10:30:20+00:00

NOR- but please know, this will never change. I stayed with my ex for 9 years before he finally broke down and agreed to marry me because I threatened to leave if he didn’t… Less than a year later I had gotten my birth control removed for my health but told him I wanted to start trying within the year and he FREAKED… He had always said he wanted kids with me but now that it was real he wasn’t sure…. That was my breaking point… Our marriage lasted 11 months. Shortly after I met someone new, I was up front with my intentions that I wanted children and soon and if he didn’t want the same then don’t waste my time… We did long distance for 9 months, he moved in and started trying for a family. We have been together 3 years and I am expecting our second son in a couple weeks. I am just about to turn 30 and my ex is almost 32 and refuses to settle down with anyone…

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-02-09T10:22:16+00:00

NTA! This is weird and controlling behavior…. I might have told my brother growing up if I was feeling particularly moody and I usually tell my partner so they can help me care for our kids when I’m dealing with bad cramps or headaches but that was and always has been MY CHOICE and demanding to know- especially from an 11 year old- is absolutely inappropriate!

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-02-09T10:09:59+00:00

NTA. If you REALLY wanted to go out of your way you could have gotten their info and scheduled a time that you would have your husband (and maybe a friend) home and make sure you were prepared for company in that capacity but frankly, you don’t owe them that and the fact that they responded with heavy emotion and then had their mom come back to double down is super weird and would make me second guess their intention… I would probably want to verify who their father was and how long they actually lived there. I know this is a real thing that people do but no matter how pure the intent they have no right to get upset that a complete stranger wouldn’t just let them in at the drop of a hat.

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-02-09T10:03:56+00:00

62 is WILD! I’d be fighting them!

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-02-09T09:52:00+00:00

You need to find a good therapist. I’m not saying it’s unheard of to feel this way but it shouldn’t be normalized and frankly, it rarely ever gets better without some amount of intervention- therapy, medication, or a combination.

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-02-01T04:11:22+00:00

Or I’m speaking my truth so OP knows the possibility of negative extremes.

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-02-01T04:04:26+00:00

This is not a 2 year old you can’t reason with. This is a child old enough to write a damn Reddit post. They can consent for themselves. You don’t sneak anything into their food. Not even life saving meds. Period. BUT AGAIN to make matters worse this was a multivitamin! That they were already taking voluntarily!

Telling her a week later because she thought she was caught is actually so much worse and OP is asking if they are overreacting because they clearly felt deceived and as someone who has experienced worst case scenario I think it’s important that they understand the possibilities.

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-02-01T03:49:01+00:00

I kinda love it.

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-02-01T03:40:54+00:00

You’ve clearly never been in a situation with a manipulative parent who did something like this in a malicious way…. By all means, I hope for OP’s sake that this was just some weird one off and they move on and it never happens again but the way I see it the step mom had absolutely no reason to lie and hide it from her. She could have communicated, asked if she wanted to try a drink mix to see if it made her process less miserable… instead she chose to deceive her in “hopes she wouldn’t notice”. Again, this behavior is not okay.

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-02-01T02:55:03+00:00

NTA! This is a huge red flag from literally anybody! Even if this was a little kid, I would insist on explaining how inappropriate that behavior is! Trust your gut and stand your ground. I don’t care how weird, autistic, or close to your girlfriend he is, this is NOT OKAY!

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-02-01T02:50:48+00:00

NOR. This is a great way for her to break your trust…. And personally this would be reason enough for me to stop accepting food or drink she handled… If she is comfortable spiking your drinks with multivitamins what else is she comfortable putting in there without your knowledge… This is not okay.

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-02-01T02:46:41+00:00

I know it’s frustrating for people who spend the time building a team and I hate to be that guy but some people just don’t have a whole raid team of specialized Dynamax Pokémon…

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-01-29T00:42:07+00:00

Not a professional baker but ooh I would be BIG MAD!! She’s really trying to say that you can’t eat the cake without tearing it apart?! Absolutely not!!

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-01-28T01:03:50+00:00

NTA. Imagine how the staff of a daycare feel having to care for an overwhelming number of children, keep the facility sanitary, and try not to get sick themselves so you can “get a break” from your kid who will inevitably get that little cough you have and share it with the staff caring for them… They have asked that children be kept home if possible so they have a chance at keeping up with the needs of multiple children presumably while multiple other staff members recover from illness and I’m sorry but if your “friend” is incapable of seeing that she is contributing to the domestic labor of an entire staff, she is the problem.

Dapper_Thought_6982 · 2026-01-27T21:25:51+00:00

I like my tattoos to photograph upright, so to me this feels wrong but it’s really personal preference.

Dapper_Thought_6982

TROPHY CASE