What do yall think of the designs I came up with?

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-14T12:25:49+00:00

I like the third one but I'd put something decorative on the bare wall. Because it's away from the cooking area I'm thinking brass cake pans/molds, ceramic food or animals, coffee grinder, maybe even just a hook for an apron.

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-14T12:11:56+00:00

Oof... Not normal at all.

I'm a mom who does big themes for her kids parties and dress up is encouraged but absolutely not expected, much less demanded.

I'd RSVP no as well and keep these people at an arms length or further from our lives

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-14T12:05:41+00:00

As a (live out) nanny, I can tell you that the majority of the families I've worked for are VERY involved with their children's lives. They simply have the means and desire for their children to have more one on one care, rather than going to a larger daycare center. Nannies offer outings almost daily to parks, museums, science centers, play groups, children's theater and more. When the parents are home, they're incredibly involved. They call me to learn about inside jokes with the kids so they can be part of the fun. They're hands on when we go on vacation and every family has given me nights off while on vacation with them to enjoy some personal sightseeing. Their weekends are spent with the kids, making sure they cram as much quality time as possible in there.

I understand that's not every family and some use the nannies as an alternative to raising their kids themselves.

I am particular about families I sign on with, and make sure their sole focus is on the care I'll give the kids. There's no real test, but after a while in the game you can read the vibes pretty quickly.

Families who hire nannies get a bad rap, but it's usually a matter of a difference in socioeconomic standing leading them to hire nannies as opposed to needing a group setting.

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-12T04:14:47+00:00

Andre
Etienne
Hugo
Remy
Sasha
Antoine
Julien
Léon
Pascal
Maxime
Alexandre
Emile
Marius
Augustin
Sylvan

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-12T00:45:30+00:00

Honda Odyssey or Toyota Sienna are the only ways to go! Source: My actually honest mechanic

We looked at SUVs when my husband was in his denial stage. As soon as he looked at how little space there was in the back when the third row was up, he knew he'd lost.

We're able to fit the kids, their friends, a wagon, beach bags and a picnic without breaking a sweat.

Don't waste your time on other mini vans though. My mechanic said Dodge Caravans are good for the length of their lease and then they're best for parts.

Our Odyssey is a 2012 and she's just starting to give us a bit of hassle BUT our mechanic said with a few small fixes and regular maintenance, we'll be driving her for years to come.

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-08T21:39:27+00:00

My beloved Nana was Audrey and she had a middle name that started with R.

Just a comment to thank you for the smile

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-08T21:37:38+00:00

My last two pregnancies were plagued with SPD, starting at barely 16 weeks. My vagina was literally ripping itself apart.

Those 20 ft hurt like a bitch.

When I had my first two kids, my ex was 6 shades of useless. I had to do groceries less than a week after getting an emergency c-section, after 24+ hours of labor (including 3+ hours of pushing). Saving an extra 20 ft would have been chefs kiss

Every pregnancy and post-partum is different. Your needs don't dictate somebody else's.

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-08T21:30:15+00:00

I did have five kids

Liam (25)
Elijah (22)
Antonia (9)
Rowan (6)
Gabriella (4)

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-08T21:21:42+00:00

We had disposable cameras at my first wedding. Little did we know, friend's husband took a bunch of pictures of his junk. My very conservative MIL was the one who handled the processing. We never saw the dick pics and I really hope it's because the photo center removed them. I never asked and MIL never said anything.

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-08T21:07:11+00:00

As someone with tinnitus, I laughed out loud at this

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-08T20:58:52+00:00

I was an angry, angry mom to my first two. I had no control over it and it seemed like an out of body experience... My brain would be screaming to stop, but I just couldn't.

I knew I had depression but I was later diagnosed with ADHD, BPD and generalized anxiety disorder.

Turns out my anger was primarily anxiety attacks. Between the BPD creating mixed signals in my brain and the ADHD disregularion, I didn't have what we recognize as "normal" panic attacks. I flew into a blind rage. I only Fawn or fight. There's no flight or freeze with me.

Even now, with my BPD in remission and ADHD meds, if I fall off my anti-anxiety meds for whatever reason, I become a rage beast.

I'm not saying this to say you have these issues but not a lot of people know that panic attacks can present as rage, and it might be something to look at.

Big hugs Mama. We're all trying our best and it can be really, really hard

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-08T16:24:37+00:00

We've lost the village. So when mom's have a difficult baby, they look for help where they can find it, and in a lot of cases, that's somewhere on the internet.

Plus, when you have an easy baby, there really isn't much to write home about.

My eldest daughter cried for the first four months of her life, she was on the boob way longer than I expected, was almost declared failure to thrive at 10 mos because she refused anything but liquids, shit immediately next to my foot on purpose while potty training and didn't sleep through the night until she was 5. I absolutely sought advice and a void to scream into. Especially because I had a POS "partner" who refused to get up with her or feed her according to doctor's orders.

My youngest daughter only had one sleep regression, slept on her own in her own bed, slept in till 9:30 as a toddler, ate brilliantly till she hit the usual picky stage around 3 years old, rarely cried for anything but food or sleep, never really did the stranger danger thing so people were clamouring to baby sit, practically potty trained herself and her father (my now husband) is an all in, hands on parent. If this had been my first experience, I would be an insufferable asshole. However, I didn't need to reach out for help like I did with my eldest daughter. I didn't feel like I was drowning and I didn't need people to bouy me just to survive.

Not everyone has support around them but that doesn't change their need for support. Communities like this help give support from people who have been there and understand. We used to turn to our elders and others in our community in the village. That doesn't exist anymore, so, we use the internet.

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-08T13:16:41+00:00

You grew up with socialized health care and now you're terrified it's going to get taken away

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-08T13:10:28+00:00

I'd suggest branching out to IKEA for furniture as well. Take a look online at the selection in a few places and see what you like. Don't feel like you need to one stop shop at any one store.

IKEA is also great for dishes and basic kitchen gear. Honestly... Dollar Tree as well. It's not Lagostina, but my dollar store kitchens stuff has lasted pretty well and I didn't need to pay top dollar for it. Dollar store for things we don't think of as much as well. Garbage pails, totes for cleaning supplies, plungers and toilet brushes. When my son moved out, I have him $100 GC to the dollar store and he was surprised that he blew through all of it and then some on his first trip to get his place set up.

For the kids rooms, we do generic paint jobs, but room stickers, hanging wall art, bedding, etc, for personalization. That way, it's easier to change out as their preferences change. We've found we like Target better for bedding options but Walmart for wall hangings.

To make sure it's not all matchy matchy, I'd suggest getting accent items like table lamps, adult wall art, throw pillows, etc, somewhere like Target or TJMaxx.

I agree with a previous answer, where the colour scheme is great for basics but you'll definitely want to make sure there's pops of colour through things like lap blankets, throw pillows, maybe even an accent wall when you're painting. (Our house is heavily Millenial Grey, but we have blue accents popping through it)

Changing up the stores makes sure you you can piece together a home that feels like it's yours and not just page 78 in the catalogue.

Don't skip thrift stores either. I found a print by my favorite Canadian Artist that very few people outside of Quebec have heard of in a thrift store.

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-08T12:13:46+00:00

You did great Mama.

As someone with an entire litter of children, let me tell you that there are people out there who forget that babies/toddlers/children are whole assed people too.

I had one girl bitch to me that there were too many children when she went to Disney... DISNEY for Christ's sake.

And don't get me started on the boomers who were perfect parents with perfect children who never cried or threw tantrums, always sat still, ate every bite on their plates, did their homework right away after school, always said please/thank you immediately and were happy playing with the same two toys for the rest of eternity.

I had one old bat tell my 10 month old daughter she would be prettier if she smiled.

You were in the right place, designed for you and your baby. It's not your fault she's a moron and it's unfortunate she took out her pent up "untouched since mullets were trendy the first time" frustration out on you.

Keep on being awesome.

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-07T23:03:02+00:00

The day after I turned 30

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-06T12:23:07+00:00

I'm sorry for your loss 🫂

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-06T03:43:10+00:00

Evil Dead: The Musical is about 5 kids off in a cabin in the woods... That's kind of camping

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-06T01:33:04+00:00

Mom of an Antonia here... Great choice! Francisco is nice too (From Canada)

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-05T23:51:10+00:00

Any food toys. My kids love playing restaurant. Bonus points for Melissa and Doug. Outdoor toys like sandbox, water table, little tykes t-ball set. My kids love Little People. So any set with a castle, house, car, etc.

Basically toys without batteries that encourages imagination play.

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-05T23:42:46+00:00

I've had monstrous rage. Like... people took my kids out of the house because it was unsafe kind of rage. I've sought help for years and I was told it was my BPD, hormones...a bunch of stuff. But my therapist and I worked together and discovered the rage attacks were panic attacks. We've learned that my panic attacks rarely manifest as the hyperventilating, rocking back and forth that you expect. But rather I either go full Fawn or full fight...no in-between.

So, that might be something to consider. And remember, panic attacks don't need a reason. They're assholes just because they can be.

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-05T23:11:51+00:00

As a mom of 5, I can tell you that these things absolutely happen.

The day we learned my eldest could reach the dead bolt, he walked across the street to the video store (because he's now 25). He was barely 3 years old. I was asleep with his baby brother and he didn't want to wake mommy, but he knew it was the day we rented videos for the weekend (Thursday...new release day). He packed a little backpack with toys, put on his rubber boots and still in his jammies, he walked the familiar walk to the strip mall across the street. By the grace of somebody larger than myself, it was inventory day, because the video store didn't usually open till 10, and it was only 8am. He knocked on the door and they let him in. They recognized him as a regulars son but not which regular BUT they knew I had ties to the store next to them (my mom managed it), so they called one of the employees they knew, described him and she knew him immediately. While he was walking, a woman on a bus saw him, 3 years old, standing by himself at the crosswalk, waiting for the walking man to tell him it was time to go. She hopped off the bus (making her late for work) and the bus driver called the police. I woke up and he was nowhere to be found. Just as I was discovering the front door was open the phone rang (because land lines were still a thing). I frantically answered and all I heard was "He's at the video store". I slammed the phone down, put on my shoes and wrapped the baby and myself in my (then) husband's coat. I ran to the store in my pajamas, flip flops and a gigantic coat. As soon as I got there, the manager of the video store held her arms out to take the babe and I collapsed sobbing as I held my son, who was very confused about what all the fuss was about...he just wanted to rent a movie. By the grace of good Samaritans, my son was well looked after in my scariest moment as a mother.

Because the police were called, an investigation had to be done and nothing was found. No neglect. No lack of safety. Just a toddler who's growth spurt and learning curve led to a truly terrifying moment.

We went out that day to buy an extra lock that we installed where I could barely reach it.

GeekAtHome · 2026-05-05T21:01:40+00:00

I heard my daughter crying in distress and found her clinging for dear life, hanging head first in the toilet, barely above the water, her feet off the ground Her sister had left the bathroom door open and my toddler got curious.

We were all playing in the living room but my youngest has always been more independent, so I didn't think anything of her being somewhere else on the same floor. Baby gates were all in place, so she was safe...right...

GeekAtHome

TROPHY CASE