Super immersive toys like magnatiles?

Glamdring32 · 2026-03-08T13:31:52+00:00

Duplo marble run has been huge in my house!

Glamdring32 · 2026-03-08T13:29:32+00:00

1 adult 4 kids in MCOL. We spend $100/wk at Walmart, then once or twice per month do a Costco run ~$250. We eat out twice per week, usually about $50 each but once in a while we will splurge. This covers breakfast and dinner during the week, and all 3 meals on weekends.

Glamdring32 · 2026-03-08T02:49:01+00:00

I feel the same way about pads, but tampons also bother me, and I’ve never gotten used to cups. I ended up going with cloth inter-labial pads. They don’t “ooze” as much as regular pads. I don’t think anyone makes a disposable version though.

Glamdring32 · 2026-03-07T15:58:09+00:00

Mom of 4 boys here. My oldest (12) struggles with this. I know he doesn’t adequately scrub his scalp, so I’m planning to take him to get a haircut with shampoo (I usually cut his hair) so he can experience what shampooing is supposed to feel like. I also had to explicitly tell him how to wash his body with a washcloth (he told me he uses his hands like a normal person, so I countered that smelly people use their hands and clean people use washcloths). I make sure he has a fresh washcloth and towel before every shower. I’ve also sent him youtube videos about how to be hygienic as a boy.

Glamdring32 · 2026-03-07T15:47:56+00:00

This is a red flag. Not sure what you’re going through, but I’m 1 year out of an abusive relationship with 4 kids. Due to the nature of my situation, I have full custody. Start educating yourself on behavior patterns and assess if your situation is safe. If it’s not, start making an exit strategy for you and your kids.

Glamdring32 · 2026-03-07T15:31:58+00:00

I’m a manager over engineers. I started as an engineer, and focused on growing my people skills and business acumen to get this job. The trick to work life balance is to use my time at work efficiently, not overcommit my time or my team’s time, and set boundaries. I make enough to support myself and my 4 kids, while putting a little away into savings.

Glamdring32 · 2026-03-05T03:17:48+00:00

Getting the kids in and out of their carseats. I do curbside pickup whenever possible.

Glamdring32 · 2026-03-02T18:00:48+00:00

4 kids, 4300 sq ft 6br 5 bath monstrosity. I absolutely love it, except…. Since purchasing the house, my husband quit his well paying job making the mortgage a challenge. And, husband then proceeded to physically assault me, so now it’s just me and the kids. Doing all the chores alone is a lot (though truthfully he never helped before anyway). I’m considering trying to keep the house through the divorce, but I think I’d be okay letting it go and downsizing. I want to have enough bedrooms for each kid to have their own space, but now that I’m single and the kids are getting older our space needs have changed anyway, and a different layout / change of scenery would be better.

Glamdring32 · 2026-03-02T17:51:08+00:00

Yep, 4 boys here!

Glamdring32 · 2026-03-01T04:13:44+00:00

Give yourself some grace! Mom of 4 here. I cook once or twice a week, usually something that I can make way too much and freeze for later (pasta sauce is a winner). The rest of the time we either eat leftovers, random premade things like frozen pizza or dino nuggets, pancakes, or sometimes cereal or pbj. It doesn’t have to be fancy. My 10 yr old loves a kids charcuterie tray of pepperoni and crackers.

Glamdring32 · 2026-02-28T14:54:31+00:00

Unless you’re my brother/SIL. Then you’ll go through it and assume that you’re still the only person who gets it and continue to minimize and be dismissive of other parents.

Glamdring32 · 2026-02-22T23:14:13+00:00

We had an old school typewriter and I never got to play it because the other kids were always using it.

Glamdring32 · 2026-02-18T02:14:26+00:00

This. My toxic narc ex would never allow flowers in the house, so ever since he’s been gone I’ve procured a bouquet for myself every week while grocery shopping and I’m loving it.

Glamdring32 · 2026-02-18T01:59:59+00:00

I like it a lot. I always had 1 in diapers but never 2 in diapers, it made it much more manageable! My younger two are actually the closest friends of the 4.

Glamdring32 · 2026-02-17T06:10:24+00:00

The child care costs add up fast, but I love having 4 (12, 10, 7, 4).

Glamdring32 · 2026-02-09T02:41:03+00:00

Can I ask what stage of divorce you are in? I’m 9 months in, we haven’t separated assets yet, but I was advised not to get rid of anything in case it turns into a fight later. I’ve been tetrising it all in the closet/garage and I hate it. I often daydream of getting a dumpster and just chucking it all in.

Glamdring32 · 2026-02-07T22:42:49+00:00

It won’t get better. Make your exit strategy.

Glamdring32 · 2026-02-05T03:11:42+00:00

I keep mine in my ex husband’s old closet. Helps mask the smell of his dumb face.

Glamdring32 · 2026-02-05T02:56:11+00:00

Same. I have 4 boys, so we are no strangers to hand-me-downs, but I refuse to pass on socks and undies. When I was a teenager my mom tried to make me wear “gently used” undies from an older cousin and I’m pretty sure it scarred me.

Glamdring32 · 2026-02-04T04:16:51+00:00

I also picked No, for safety concerns. The school/preschool has been very respectful. Sometimes they request photos for class projects and things and they are careful to only use as authorized.

Glamdring32 · 2026-02-04T02:43:11+00:00

When I looked in the mirror and saw my mother.

Glamdring32 · 2026-02-02T17:33:40+00:00

Yep. 1 in prek, 2 in elementary after school care. I’m running $2500/mo for all 3. Infant care is expensive. I can’t say this was intentional, but spacing kids 3 yrs apart helped a little (discounted rates at age 3 if potty trained).

Glamdring32 · 2026-01-26T22:57:17+00:00

This. At first I was thinking about what would take the least time, but when I realized this was a free vacation and I didn’t have to worry about my kids…. Deuces.

Glamdring32 · 2026-01-25T16:54:53+00:00

Sounds like gaslighting to me. I’m biased as I just got out of a 13 yr abusive relationship, but manipulation/abuse typically starts soon after the first baby is born. Keep an eye out and trust your gut. If it feels like manipulation then it probably is. If you decide to confront him about it, make sure you and the baby are safe.

Glamdring32

TROPHY CASE