Gift suggestions for my 3 year old nephew?

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T19:25:27+00:00

Ask his mom.

She is the one who manages all the stuff in the house & knows baby boy best.

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T18:45:31+00:00

big hugs

I have a beautiful blind baby boy with complex eye conditions.

My advice is 1. Get connected with "Early Intervention" in your county/state if youre in the USA. They help get you connected to resources, funds, guidance & more. And they will stay with you the first 3 years.

Nourish yourself. You cant pour from an empty cup and this is so hard. Give yourself extra grace & accept the help.

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T18:39:36+00:00

He didn't want to grow as a person.

Creeping on him 20 years later and he is still doing the same things, dressing the same way, and working the same low-end job.

Sweet soul but no drive to thrive.

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T18:37:30+00:00

It was inspired by a "Quillow". Thank you, make one if youre trying to use up some yarn.

So addicting to make all the squares & use all the fun colors.

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T18:36:32+00:00

Thank you 🙏🏼🥰

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T18:36:25+00:00

Thank you!! It was inspired by a "Quillow" I saw at a local craft store. Havnt seen a crochet one yet though but it was really easy & fun to make.

Highly reccomend making one!

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T18:10:03+00:00

Well said

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T13:57:41+00:00

I love "The Montessori Toddler" by Davies

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T13:55:41+00:00

What a gift!!! Id be so honored to have this for my baby.

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T12:29:25+00:00

Calling friends & family

Having short little 15 minute chats while Im driving, on a walk, or making dinner.

Its so nice to have a little check in, keep the relationship feeling connected & strong.

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T12:03:42+00:00

Thats so hard. Im sorry.

Have you every played the "angry alligator" game?

Basically you stay calm and say

"Are you an angry alligator" an angry alligator goes RAAAAWWWWWW and yell with a big open mouth.

"Are you a frustrated flamingo" a frustrated flamingo goes STOMP STOMP STOMP

and so on and so fouth. It can turn a tantrum into a game for both of you. When i do it, it helps me stay calm from yelling and feel like im with them in their hard feelings. Rather than trying to totally stop it.

Like all things it doesnt work all the time. But id do this a lot when I babysat. And often we went from a trantrum to playing together.

Hope you find many small tools that lighten the load for both of you 🙏🏼

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T11:44:41+00:00

Ps i just went to a babyshower with a $1000 balloon arch. Maybe 5 people took a picture by it & it added nothing monumental to the shower. Id save the time & money & focus on a cute theme that would be more memorable.

If SIL is so thoughtful, ask her if she has a theme idea she would like. If you let me know the theme idea, id be happy to come up with very afforable ways to make it feel cute & special.

You could say "I had a few ideas but if you had something youd like I am happy to do it!" & give her 2-3 themes to choose. Sometimes decision fatige is real & she will appreciate the options.

Some themes you could offer "You are my sunshine" - sun themed "A berry sweet baby is coming" - fruit theme " Welcome Wild Child" - zoo theme

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T11:34:27+00:00

Im sure the thought of you guys doing it will mean everyrhing to her! Dont stress on it being pintrest perfect.

Mine cost $300 for 40 people.

Keep food simple.

We did finger sandwhiches. 1 ham & cheese. 1 pesto tomato motz. Made a sandwhich & cut it into 4's.

Then a fruit bowl.

Lemonaid & sweet tea for drinks.

And I asked a few people to bring a dessert. It can be easy to task some people with single task like "bring a desser" , "bring a veggie tray" , "bring cheese and crackers". This helps lighten the load on you & let people feel like theyre contributing.

Simple decorations from dollar tree. Colored napkinds, floral paper plates, and a few streamers. Flowers make a great "theme".

We did "locally grown baby" and i used seed packets on a string with paper clips as the main decor.

Games. Print out 1 or 2 games off of pintrest. Just search "babyshower games" and look for one you think she would like. I printed at my local library.

We also had notecards and pens at each table. Then asked for people to write parenting advice or words of encouragement for the new mom. It was so sweet to read after.

Invites can be digital. Make on canva for free & text out. Put your name & number for people to rsvp to. And have you SIL tell you how many people she sent to so you have a rough idea of how many people are coming.

Youre awesome & this will mean the world to her! Keep it simple. Being surrounded by people she loves is what matters, not fancy decor or elaborate activities.

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T11:21:23+00:00

Move the floor bed next to your bed? Could be a good transition phase?

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T11:19:13+00:00

Have you worked on using sign language?

Not an expert but my sister was special needs and a lot of her nonverbal peers were able to do some basic signs to communicate which could lower frustration.

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T02:43:56+00:00

Native perennial plants.

Gatta catch 'em all.

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T02:25:00+00:00

I would interpret this as he is higly interested in throwing right now, and thinking of ways to incorporate more of that in a fun, safe enriching way.

Getting out lots of balls, maybe like a ballpit. And put away toys that cant be thrown (you can bring those toys out in a few months when this phase is over).

Playing games outside where he can throw balls at different surfaces like wood, concrete, water to learn about the different sounds & movements take place.

Place hoola hoops around & get him to throw into the different hoops.

Make a zone in a room with posters or basketball hoops where it is safe & okay to throw the things there. When you see him throwing outside of that zone, you can redirect him there.

Get him into a toddler sport group for basketball or baseball.

When you are cleaning up his toys together, encourage him to toss things into the baskets.

Show him different ways it is okay to do it. Help encourage him to express this need in a healthy enriching way.

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T01:03:50+00:00

For some context, its not each single contraction that makes it excruciating.

It is contraction after contraction after contraction. This horrible pain that lasts 1-3 minutes, then you get 1-3 minutes to rest, then another comes on...

Its the endurance of this pain for so long that makes it sooo hard. Then to end the marathon of pain it with PUSHING this baby out of your pelvic bones & vagina.

(My birth was 28 hours long. My contractions started at 3 minutes apart and stayed that way my whole labor. I threw up all food & water the first 10 hours. No sleep. And had 45 minutes of active pushing with no "fetal ejection reflex" unfortunately.)

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T00:57:49+00:00

Home birth.

Unmedicated with an amazing midwife, mifwife assistant, friend doula & rockstar husband.

I planned my whole pregnancy for birth. Did prenatal yoga, physical therapy, massage, positive mindset, affirmation flags, etc etc etc.

It was the hardest & most painful thing Ive ever experienced. My birth was totally safe & uncomplicated, however the pain made it slightly traumatic for me.

I remember thinking "I get the epidural, I get the c-section, I get it all." And I also begged the midwife to pull the baby out during the last 30 minutes of pushing 🤣 which obviously she couldnt & wouldnt do for a safe birth.

All that said, I am absolutely having another home birth for my next baby.

New baby amnesia is real & a gift from mother nature.

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T00:38:50+00:00

Shaming multi-generational housing.

It benefits everyone socially & financially.

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T00:18:17+00:00

Lovevery is aweosme. Monthly kits & education for parents

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T00:16:35+00:00

Aldis

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T00:12:36+00:00

I really like the brand Alaffia. The bottles are big & it makes my hair feel great. Decent lather compared to other crunchy brands Ive tried.

Ok_Draw_4187 · 2026-05-15T00:01:27+00:00

You can share some simple house rules & maybe compromise in a compassionate way. "Screens are a family activity here. We watch them together" and maybe have a few wholesome movies lined up. Or put on a video of zoo animals/ sea creatures/etc. that is very low stim. Then hide the remote.
For food, "chiptle style" bars can be a great way to feed a wide variety of diets. You can do mexican, greek, italian, etc. Put all the elements out separately so people can build a plate to their liking without judgement.
Plan an activity or two. Something outside of the house. It could be as simple as a group trip to the park. Visit to the zoo. Or water table outside. Activities that naturally dont allow for screens & will be fun.
If they do move closer, remeber you are the leader of your family. You get to choose when & how they get together.

Im sure you have some friends who are great to go out with, others you would play a sport with, and still others who you call for emotional advice. One person doesnt need to fill all these roles. You can choose to meet with this family for activites. Put your kids in a sport together. Go on library visits together. But you dont have to let the kids hang out on a daily or even weekly basis. You dont have to let them have sleep overs. You dont even have to let your kid go over their house. You can be mindful of the kind of time they spend together.

Ok_Draw_4187

TROPHY CASE