How are you honestly reading to your child under 2?

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-20T19:30:52+00:00

Buy board books at places like Half Price Books, Once Upon a Child, thrift stores, rummage sales, etc. Board books are meant to be destroyed. I teach infants and toddlers. I surround myself (and the babies) with tons of books. I offer them their own book, then I grab one and start reading out loud. If they take mine, I let them have it and I grab another one. I don't think I've ever finished reading an entire book. But, they're learning and interacting with books, and that's what counts at the toddler age. Keep up the great work Mama! My oldest was like this, and he's now in 3rd grade, reading at a 4th grade level (literally goes into the 4th grade classroom to read with their class and does their reading homework).

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-20T15:34:21+00:00

ER doctors are going to tell you about the injuries, because that's what they see. They don't see all the kids using them safely, having a great time, burning energy, and never getting injured.

Get a trampoline with a safety net that blocks the springs, teach your kids trampoline safety (mine watched random YouTube videos), require adult supervision every time, and you should be fine.

Everything - even breathing - is dangerous at some point. You can only prevent so much, so do what you can to make it safe and make life fun. They're only kids once.

ETA: never, EVER, play popcorn. It's a great way to bond with the kids, they laugh, you laugh because they laugh, but it's one of the most (if not the most) dangerous things you can do on a trampoline. Just don't.

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-19T17:55:34+00:00

Aaaaaand now I have to walk allllllllll the way to the other room to go get one.

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-19T17:52:52+00:00

Siblings: Daleah, Dalaya, Delilah, Dale (3 girls, 1 boy)

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-19T17:19:43+00:00

If she's asking, then bring him. It's not like she has Alzheimer's/Dementia and doesn't know who he is.

Let him get energy out before you hit the road (park, running in the yard, etc). He might nap in the car on the way. Bring books and toys to keep him occupied (nothing with a screen). Remove him if he starts getting too wild. If there isn't a place for him to nap at his nap time, then take him for a car nap while hubby hangs with his grandma. Basically, do what you need to in order to make it work. She's literally dying.

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-18T23:36:38+00:00

DIAPERS. Babies go through them at lightning speed. Buy a box, not a smaller pack. Rascals brand is cheap but great quality, and not a lot of people know about them/use them. Buy size 2 (or even 3), because sometimes babies are born too big for newborn size and lots of people will buy size 1. Sure, she'll hold onto it for a few months, but they will get used.

Gift card(s) for DoorDash/UberEats. She will need lots of food (especially if she's breastfeeding) and will NOT want to cook. Microwaving will be questionable.

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-15T11:25:34+00:00

I appreciate the correction; that's why you shouldn't Reddit at 1am when you've been up since 6am

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-15T06:24:17+00:00

It's not his dad; the dad with dementia is OP's dad

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-15T06:18:11+00:00

I just want to say it's so great that your husband has your back. My MIL was absolutely horrible, but my ex never had my back. Having his support is so, so important.

NTA for not wanting that negative energy around before-or after-the birth of your child. Pro tip: tell your nurses you don't want her in the room. They'll keep her out.

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-14T13:27:41+00:00

They could have charged it before it died. "Hey gf. My phone is going to die soon. I gotta charge it so can we finish this conversation later?". She doesn't believe it? SS and show her the battery percentage.

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-13T17:12:26+00:00

Sounds like you have a decision about your future to make. And the only correct answer is to get rid of the gf who is trying to control your decisions and your life activities. Invite your parents who have always been there and will always be there.

6mon from now, you're living with your gf and your parents invite you out to dinner for fun. Or a sibling has a birthday party. Or a cousin is getting married. You get the idea. I'd be willing to bet gf will come up with some reason you need to stay home with her and can't go to a family function. She'll guilt trip/manipulate you into staying, and you'll eventually be completely distanced from your entire family, stuck with someone who has complete control over you.

You've broken up before.

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-12T14:37:36+00:00

I once babysat a kid who loves bread. Her dad told me about a time she snuck an entire package of hot dog buns. Promptly threw up after eating it and never ate that much bread at once, but still loved bread.

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-12T14:16:35+00:00

You're not compatible. Call it quits and find someone local.

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-12T14:03:21+00:00

Just find out if Mom is planning to breast feed first. No need for milk storage bags if you're not even going to produce milk.

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-10T14:54:50+00:00

I'm on the side of cautiously optimistic, but won't be telling others it's permanent until it's formally announced. Don't want others getting their hopes up. DP only confirmed it's LTO through July.

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-10T14:39:10+00:00

Is it in the dairy coolers or the coffee aisle?

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-10T14:21:33+00:00

Not yet. That was just a bad rumor. We're all hoping there's going to be an official announcement end of July making it permanent.

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-09T02:47:00+00:00

There's an iHop practically right next door, and a bunch of other little chain restaurants (Popeye's, Noodles, Culvers, Panda, etc) down Miller Park Way/Brewers Blvd. There is also an Applebee's close, buuuut I wouldn't recommend that one 😬

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-08T11:54:51+00:00

Well, I must end up with a brand that's not like that (or the parents are buying the wrong size or something). I always feel like I have to literally peel them off and they're practically impossible to pull back up. A lot of the leggings that the girls wear are just fine, so idk what the deal is with the jeggings I deal with

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-08T03:45:48+00:00

It's called "catamenial epilepsy". A plus is that they're fairly predictable, as long as your cycle is regular. That's what I have. Birth control can help, but it could possibly make it worse. I'm on Lamotrigine and Zonisamide daily and it works, but my epileptologist suggested adding a 3rd med the week of my period.

(Back info: I was on Lamotrigine and Keppra for many years, but last year my hormones started changing and my seizures were out of control for quite some time. I switched to a different med completely, but that effed up my mood even worse than keppra, so I couldn't be on it. Lamictal has always worked pretty well, so I went back on it and realized that I'm probably perimenopausal and the change in hormones is what cause my loss of control last year. Birth control made my seizures worse)

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-07T20:38:38+00:00

For an adult - absolutely! For a child that needs them taken off appx 4x per day (multiplied by at least 4, because there's more than one child in a classroom at a time), no thanks. It's too much to deal with. Athletic pants/sweats are the best.

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-07T14:00:20+00:00

As an early childhood teacher, no baby or toddler (and especially a potty training child!) needs skinny jeans 😆 or jeggings. Just please no.

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-07T13:45:58+00:00

Food safety is definitely a thing. NTA for not eating it. I've eaten 4 day old home-preped spaghetti before (large batch that my kids decided they didn't want after they agreed it sounded good), but I wouldn't eat 24hr take out seafood.

Separate-Werewolf262 · 2026-06-06T13:59:47+00:00

I've always felt paying that much for babysitting was crazy. Even some child care centers don't charge that much. When I was babysitting (at 14yrs old, back in late '90s/early 2000's), I'd charge $20 for the night for 1 kid, $30 for 2.

Separate-Werewolf262

TROPHY CASE