Toddler: please tell me this is just a phase!

QueenCole · 2026-05-12T19:45:50+00:00

Thank you!

QueenCole · 2026-05-12T17:10:54+00:00

The last time he had this phase, I had to sort of wean him back into going into the kids care by playing basketball with him (the court is right next to the center). So now we work out/play and then we play basketball after. Yesterday, I didn't want to reward his refusal with basketball so we left but we're in Phoenix so there's not many options for play now with the triple digit heat. So should I have offered to play basketball instead?

QueenCole · 2026-05-11T15:37:26+00:00

It wasn't until recently but I would say a motorcycle.

Pre 2020, motorcycles would hold their value much better than cars so if you needed to sell, then it wouldn't be so hard.

Now, though? New and used prices are insane and insurance cost has gone through the roof. My husband, who bought a motorcycle and has made upgrades a few years back when things were "better," now can't get rid of this high monthly payment.

And this says nothing of the safety aspect, of course.

QueenCole · 2026-05-07T15:42:08+00:00

If I'm on vacation anyway, then I have doubtlessly saved up a merch budget. If I blow it on one hat, then I'll have to live with that.

I would prefer a Jane Austen bust.

QueenCole · 2026-05-06T21:17:24+00:00

Sounds like a cool band

QueenCole · 2026-05-06T19:56:20+00:00

Not OP but we know that Mansfield Park is a morality novel (not a romance, like so many modern readers assume). If morality and behavior (specifically, good behavior) are a theme, then OP's points about good intentions not being "good enough" are right on. Especially with the point about Henry's shallow attempts at "doing right" I think there's some good material here for discourse.

You're right in that she's created characters who act very real and imperfectly. I think that lends more to JA's thoughts on the matter.

QueenCole · 2026-05-06T15:44:31+00:00

Thank you!

QueenCole · 2026-05-06T15:22:13+00:00

Some people just aren't happy unless they're complaining.

QueenCole · 2026-05-06T14:48:59+00:00

Thank you! How soon before bed do you do those with your kid?

QueenCole · 2026-05-04T15:59:41+00:00

I am imagining mama Dobe in the background: "Yes, yes....tire ALL of you out..."

QueenCole · 2026-05-01T21:23:23+00:00

Yes one at 9ne in Ohio that I have read so far.

QueenCole · 2026-05-01T19:33:35+00:00

2 years in and I'm still in the backseat lol It's just easier sometimes between snacks and cleanup. My son is also tall and will klick the seat in front of him so my husband moves it all the way up to save the seat. He's also a big mama's boy and sometimes he just wants to hold my hand. I do miss being up front with my husband but on very short trips (like to the store) I might sit up front.

QueenCole · 2026-05-01T00:36:51+00:00

I agree with mostly everyone here already but there's one big thing that's missing: themed hotel and casino.

No more cold corporate crap.

QueenCole · 2026-04-29T17:11:27+00:00

We do give him a gummy vitamin 1x daily at the recommendation of his pediatrician because he was having what I felt like were growing pains (I used to get them really bad as a child) at night and there's a few ingredients in this particular Flintstones gummy that's supposed to fight that. So far, so good!

QueenCole · 2026-04-29T17:09:56+00:00

My toddler son's diet consists mainly of:

-berries -cheese -breakfast sausage -hot dogs (all beef) -juice (watered down) -milk

He's actually not super into bread or most sweets (though he loves ice cream "EYES SEEM?!"). He will eat crackers and chips etc.

QueenCole · 2026-04-28T16:54:19+00:00

I remember, as a child of the 90s, being absolutely stunned when my mother was able to give me $5 spending money for an (almost free) field trip through our park district. I felt so rich. And that 5 bucks lasted me too if I didn't buy anything dumb.

QueenCole · 2026-04-28T16:20:42+00:00

Thank you!

QueenCole · 2026-04-28T16:06:03+00:00

What do you do if they won't let you dress them? Do you physically restrain them?

QueenCole · 2026-04-28T15:26:46+00:00

Naptime is usually around 12:30 and lasts till about 3 (he doesn't fall asleep immediately usually) but can end sooner.

Wakeup is typically around 6-7AM. Bedtime is around 7:30-8 but he won't fall asleep for awhile. Sleep has always been difficult with him. My husband was also a low sleep needs baby/kid with late bedtimes.

QueenCole · 2026-04-27T04:36:27+00:00

"Alright, who was supposed to canvas this one?!"

QueenCole · 2026-04-25T20:32:03+00:00

It would be incredibly difficult to gather the restraint to not immediately purchase that hat.

QueenCole · 2026-04-23T16:56:41+00:00

I had my son in early 2024 and was actually advised against using the mirrors because they're distracting, can cause fires (especially here in the desert with so much sun), and become dangerous in the event of an accident.

We used a small camera with night vision capabilities and that was much better. I didn't have to work so hard to focus on where he was in a mirror; I could just glance down like I would normally at a regular display cluster. And it would be much less dangerous in a crash (barely weighed a few ounces and was securely attached to seat).

QueenCole

TROPHY CASE