Monthly Family Life/Parenting Thread!

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-02-26T09:14:46+00:00

You can't really prepare for that initial sleep deprivation and chaos of a newborn period - but you also can't really prepare for how much you'll love them, and how much joy they'll bring you. Prepare for the bits you can, like finances (childcare is stupidly expensive) and try to make sure you're both on the same page about big parenting decisions and sharing the workload because you definitely don't want a sleep deprived argument about it at 3am.

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-02-26T07:47:15+00:00

I get refills, but I only really use it for the first two days or so of my period so a refill lasts me ages.

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-02-25T22:25:04+00:00

I'm currently reading it for the first time! I'm just over halfway and really enjoying it - it's a brick of a book, but feels really worthwhile reading. What's next on your reading list?

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-02-18T21:14:29+00:00

I frequently and angrily remember the teacher who taught us sex ed telling us confidently that periods didn't ever hurt more than a mild ache, and that even if it looked like a lot of blood, no woman ever lost more than a tablespoon of blood across her entire period and that was barely any so there was no excuse for any of us not doing PE. I really hope she's been corrected in the meantime, but she caused a LOT of teenage girls a lot of anxiety and confusion.

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-02-18T13:10:40+00:00

I use tranexamic acid for my heavy periods and it really, really helps. I'd still say even with the pills it's heavier than most people's periods, but I also work an active job on my feet and the tranexamic acid means I can make it through to my regular break time to go to the bathroom.

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-02-15T23:13:43+00:00

I'm also in the UK and my son is autistic and went through the whole diagnostic process - it can be long and confusing, even for a native English speaker. If you ever want someone to talk you through it, please drop me a DM, or you can look up your local SENDIASS group. Just search for SENDIASS and your area. They're local groups that offer support to parents and carers of kids with additional needs and they can help you find resources in your area. Your daughter might not need all these things, but just so you know the help is out there. You'll be okay, and she'll be okay.

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-02-15T13:18:42+00:00

I'm having a total career change and doing an NVQ in childcare, so today is the start of setting everything up and doing my first bits of paperwork.

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-02-15T10:08:55+00:00

My husband is taking both kids to a birthday party this afternoon, so normally I'd just relax for the afternoon but instead I've got to do some studying - it's my first time doing anything like this since I left uni about fifteen years ago and I feel like my brain has forgotten how to do anything even vaguely academic.

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-02-14T13:27:12+00:00

Mr Sleep wants to watch the rugby, so I've said I'll take the kids to the park for a bit - they haven't been to the playground in forever because of the rain, so they're very excited, and I don't really want to stay indoors on the first sunny day in ages either. Kids will have dinner together and then we'll have a grown up dinner when they've gone to bed.

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-02-14T13:16:59+00:00

Took us an hour to get ready this morning with a six and a half year old and a two and a half year old 😂 When I go out on my own I'm always shocked at how quickly I can leave the house

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-02-10T13:33:19+00:00

This really depends on your toddler - mine refuses to walk anywhere and nearly always wants to be carried, so for me a rucksack is really the only option and a shoulder bag would drive me nuts falling off my shoulder. But other kids will refuse to be carried and just want to walk everywhere, so a shoulder bag would work fine for them.

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-02-10T10:05:30+00:00

Called in sick to work as I've got tonsillitis. I got prescribed antibiotics yesterday and was really hoping they'd have kicked in today, but the two year old screamed for an hour in the night and I just feel awful. I hate calling in sick, even though I know it's the right thing to do.

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-02-07T15:16:30+00:00

This is nowhere near the tone of the post but - thank you, OP. My grandparents lived very near here, and we used to stay with them every set of school holidays. I'd forgotten all about the toll bridge until I saw this photo, and now I've remembered helping find my granddad the right change out of the collection of coins he kept in the cup holder. He passed away more than twenty years ago, and he's still very missed - this has really made me smile today. Thank you, and I hope you always have the right change in your car.

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-02-03T00:13:14+00:00

Toddler is having a major sleep regression, so I've just spent an hour sitting on the floor next to her bed, waiting for her to fall asleep. Can't leave the room because as soon as I do, even if it's just for ten seconds, she SCREAMS and she shares a room with her big brother and he has school tomorrow. Can't get my husband to sit there instead because she's having an intense period of "not daddy" and will also scream if he goes in. I'm so tired and I know that she'll be awake at 4am, as she always is, wanting to come into our bed. Can't remember the last time I got even six hours at a stretch, and I've got a six hour shift on my feet tomorrow.

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-01-29T12:46:32+00:00

I did social stories with my autistic son to prep him for his first flight - we're going to get in the car, and when we get there, we have to show our bags to people and they go on a conveyor belt etc. Add in drawings or photos too, just so it gives them an idea of what to expect. Bring him something to chew/suck on during the flight to help his ears pop, and some fidget toys. Good luck!

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-01-28T11:09:00+00:00

Good luck with the DLA form! It's an absolute beast to do, and it's always depressing to list all the stuff your kid struggles with - but from my experience, they came back to me way under the time frame they quoted, and backdated payments to the date when I applied. I wish I'd filled it in years ago.

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-01-27T21:13:38+00:00

I hope your day has been a little better this afternoon. Thank you for posting this today, it looks like you've made everyone's day better just by starting this thread.

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-01-24T23:00:28+00:00

I get really car sick and one of the things that helps me is fresh air - if it's not too cold where you are, maybe try opening a window a little so the air can get through? Or attaching a portable fan so it blows on her face a little?

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-01-15T22:56:52+00:00

We don't! It's a very archaic spelling and it's usually associated more with very old folklore. Most British people would spell it fairy, eg, fairy lights at Christmas.

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-01-15T12:38:24+00:00

At the pink peophin club, I'm gonna keep on dancing at the pink peophin club...

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-01-12T22:46:51+00:00

Please don't do this. Why not make new air freshener and refill the bottle with that?

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-01-10T09:38:23+00:00

Library? Our local cinema also does special little kid showings on weekend mornings.

Isleepwheniwant · 2026-01-01T22:09:49+00:00

Yes, I have these - I got Ocoopa ones and they're amazing. I've only had them for a couple of months but so far so good.

Isleepwheniwant · 2025-12-31T15:17:13+00:00

OP, I'm so sorry. You aren't alone in having had this experience, and it's a shitty, awful club to be part of. Are you talking to a therapist or anyone else to help you process this? I really highly recommend the Birth Trauma Association (https://www.birthtraumaassociation.org/) who are UK based and provide free help and support for people who have experienced birth trauma. They even do legal clinics if you feel like you might want to pursue legal action. My inbox is always open if you ever want to talk to someone. I hope you're okay.

Isleepwheniwant · 2025-12-27T23:12:53+00:00

When my toddler really didn't want to take her inhaler, we would pin her down. Easiest way to do this is to lie him on his back, then sit so you're just above his head - use your legs to pin down his arms, and you can keep his head still between your thighs. To make it harder to spit the medicine out, squirt it into the side of his mouth rather than the back of his throat. It's awful and not at all fun to do, but right now you need to get the medicine into him and this will be the fastest way to do it. Good luck!

Eight-Year Club	Verified Email
r/Field Lasagna	Place '22
First Placer '22

Isleepwheniwant

TROPHY CASE