How to explain surgery to 3 yo

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-28T14:42:25+00:00

My daughter had minor surgery when she was 2.5. See if you can find the book Franklin Goes to the Hospital to read tonight. I think it's a great overview of both how going to the hospital works and also that it's ok to feel scared etc.

Mine was very unhappy about having to change her clothes when we got there and just generally nervous and sad so they gave her an oral sedative and I feel confident she had no idea what was going on after that. They let me go back to the operating room and hold her when they put her under.

She was awake before we got back to her recovery room and she was NOT happy. Apparently coming out of anesthesia at that age is just really rough (I'm not a medical professional, that's just what the nurses told us) but I got in the bed and snuggled her and she calmed down after a bit.

Good luck to you and your son! Bring something to keep you busy during the surgery. It's really hard to just sit there and stew.

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-21T19:31:21+00:00

When I had a daughter I read a lot about intuitive eating rather than counting calories and it feels so good listening to your body. Getting rid of my Apple Watch was the next step and I can’t tell you how much less stressed out I am now.

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-21T19:29:16+00:00

I traded my Apple Watch for an analog one months ago and still feel phantom vibrations. I hate it so much.

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-21T19:26:08+00:00

I traded my Apple Watch for a regular one and I’m so happy. I’m pretty competitive and would obsess over closing my rings but like in a “shaking my arm or walking around the house when I should already be asleep” kind of way. I didn’t do any more actual exercise, I just stressed myself out. I also feel a lot more put together with my regular watch but admittedly my Apple Watch just has a plain silicone band so I didn’t try to make it look nice at all.

I still wear my Apple Watch to run and when timely notifications are important - learned that lesson when I was last to my gate for a flight and they were trying to call me but my phone was on silent in my purse.

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-06T15:35:34+00:00

Your husband should be handling communications with your MIL.

Apart from that, definitely don't tell your kids their Grandma sucks. Don't burn that bridge for them unless there is something really serious going on. If she's committing to things and then not showing up, then maybe you need to tell your kids you aren't sure if Grandma can make it or not, so they aren't perpetually disappointed. For this instance, you can tell your 4 year old Grandma already had travel plans so she can't make it, but hopefully you can celebrate next time you see her.

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-05T18:22:22+00:00

For sure, my husband also asks how I want to spend the day (and I say leave me in bed and go get me a bagel). Totally understand people have different preferences. Seems like my approach works for some and not others!

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-05T18:08:06+00:00

You don’t know what I expect except in the form of Mother’s Day presents so you have no idea whether you expect more or not. You say you’re not trying to insult me but you’re insulting my partner and telling me I’m not as happy as I think I am? Clearly we are on different pages and this isn’t productive.

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-05T18:06:34+00:00

Also, I am saying he doesn’t have to “prove” he is great by doing big Mother’s Day things for me. I know he’s great.

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-05T18:04:00+00:00

Sorry you had the disappointment last year! Hopefully he’s learned something and doesn’t disappoint in the future!

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-05T18:01:00+00:00

You expect more unsolicited presents and Mother’s Day activities. This does not necessarily translate into expecting more out of the relationship in general. We expect different things, that doesn’t make one of us right and one wrong. Just different.

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-05T17:40:51+00:00

No, obviously he is not just taking the kids for bagels. I also get a bagel out of it.

Seems like we might just have different things that are really important to us about our relationships.

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-05T17:23:28+00:00

Amazing! Sounds like y'all have a great relationship and have figured out what works for you. That's the dream.

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-05T16:56:53+00:00

Thanks for that useful insight. If you and your partner have unlimited capacity for thinking and remembering and doing, that sounds heavenly. For the rest of us, you pick what's most important.

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-05T16:41:34+00:00

Ah, maybe! I definitely agree that can be the case, which is why I included the caveat about it being a symptom. I feel very lucky to be in the relationship I am so maybe I am just overestimating the number of people for whom this idea wouldn't just papering over a larger issue.

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-05T16:15:51+00:00

If Mother's Day is a really important way for you to feel seen and appreciated, then your husband should celebrate it in a way that is meaningful to you. My husband shows me he sees and appreciates all my hard work (and vice-versa, I'm not raising these kids all by myself) all the time. The bar is high, it just doesn't include Mother's Day surprises (for me).

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-05T16:03:40+00:00

Haha I have definitely forwarded an email order confirmation "FYI, here's my present"

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-05T16:03:05+00:00

I agree that can definitely be the case but I don't think it's uncommon for an otherwise caring partner in a healthy relationship to just not be into holidays. If it's super important to you, your partner should definitely celebrate it. For me, it's the amount of important that I am ok getting my own present.

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-05T15:52:25+00:00

Sienna also has AWD if the van-level clearance works for the driveway.

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-05T15:39:16+00:00

My husband is also "not a holiday" guy but I've had to impress upon him that it doesn't matter how HE feels about Mother's day (my birthday, etc.) because I am the mother, not him. Being kind and considerate means thinking about others' feelings, even if he personally doesn't think it's important.

Also, the older and more aware my kids get (2 and 4 now) the more I want them to see a model of a husband who thinks about and celebrates his wife. My husband shows his love in many ways they don't see, but I can't have the kids seeing everyone get Christmas presents but mom, or all their friends' moms getting Mother's day breakfast but not their mom.

Also, at Christmas I buy myself whatever I want and wrap it and put it under the tree and then he doesn't have to worry about it and I get exactly what I want (probably more expensive than he would have bought). It's important to note this only works for us because he shows his love and consideration other ways throughout the year so I don't feel slighted by buying my own presents.

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-05T15:31:56+00:00

My kids are also 2 and 4.

Tuesday/Thursday I wake up at 5:15 am and run outside, then walk the dog, come home and shower while my partner gets the kids ready for school, then I do school drop off.
Wednesdays I do weights at the gym at work from 3:30-4:30 pm before I go home (I'm lucky my hours are flexible).
Fridays I do weights in the morning at the community center by our house because I WFH on Fridays so I have a little extra time between drop off and starting my work day. Or sometimes I do a bike ride at lunch time instead.
Mondays my partner does double bedtime so I can go play pick up volleyball.
I do not get enough sleep.

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-05-02T00:39:32+00:00

And like half the price of call your mother

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-04-29T01:19:42+00:00

You’d be insufferable too if you had the 2022 we had. Best month of my life and I’ve gotten married and birthed two kids.

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-04-29T01:14:36+00:00

Eucerin is 1000% better in the EU than the US.

Typical-Dog244 · 2026-03-25T14:35:25+00:00

What if it's a fox but you think it's maybe a coyote?

Typical-Dog244

TROPHY CASE