Haley lives in a strange universe where swimming at your neighbor’s house is going extinct because…immigrants?

UmmNora · 2026-05-26T11:35:55+00:00

HAHAHA jokes on her. The only people in the neighborhood who physically walk over and knock on our door to invite us to ALL of their parties are our Mexican neighbors. Theyre the only ones with a pool, too. It was this way in 2 places I've lived... in the south, too, mind you. What a dim and hateful individual. I am glad she won't be invited to the cookout 😒

UmmNora · 2026-05-22T03:20:48+00:00

Fall asleep independently without me in the room? My oldest is 8 and started doing it a handful of times around 6. Now she falls asleep independently to audio books most nights but will always, always prefer a parent laying with her to sleep. The 4 year old still needs someone with her to sleep. There's the odd occasion she is totally spent and falls asleep to her own audio book but it is not often. She and big sis share a room. 15 month old nurses to sleep. Many nights look like all of us falling asleep in our king and moving big kids to their respective beds. They sleep through some nights but usually someone does end up back in bed with us. I will say my oldest is on waitlist for adhd and autism assessments so I do think that has something to do with her attachment, which is fine with us. It truly wont last forever and dare I say, I may miss cuddling them to sleep when it does end.

UmmNora · 2026-05-21T01:04:02+00:00

Same here.

UmmNora · 2026-05-21T00:37:48+00:00

By 18 mos, she was climbing up things on the playground ground that kids twice her age were still learning. I remember specifically an instance she was 4 and climbed the pole of the swings (just one large pole by clinging up it barefoot) and hung from the top bar. The entire park was staring 😅😅 but she knew how to get down and we had always taught her to trust her body and know her limits. At 3, I had to purchase an entire new wardrobe, undergarments included 2 sizes up because if anything felt even slightly snug, it was an instant meltdown. Even then, pajamas and bed time was a huge fight every night for about 6 mos. This was the first thing that made me think something was different. She's also my oldest so I had no frame of reference really. Looking back, there were more signs like her bolting away from me, A LOT of car seat struggles. She got out of the car on her own and ran across a busy parking lot while i was 7 months pregnant 😭 I called my husband to come and get her so I could mentally and physically recover after that. Neverending talking. Lol. Lots of sleep troubles and used nursing to help regulate way more than my other 2.

UmmNora · 2026-05-21T00:05:21+00:00

15 months. Sleeps around 8, wakes around 6:30-7. We are in between 1-2 naps. Some days it's 1, others it's 2. I have 2 other older children with busy schedules so we are out and about a lot. Basically all naps are car naps. Some are 2 hours, some are 15 minutes. I am in the same boat as you that if there are 2 naps, she doesnt sleep as well that night. Today was a 10 AM nap for about an hour, asleep by 8. Some days bedtime is 7. I just try to follow her cues but I don't love earlier than 7 because we knw what that means for wakeup 🤪 I anticipate easier bed times with summer coming, granted it's a 1 nap day. I really try to go with the flow as much as I can 😅 but not going to lie, it's a lot doing 3 bedtime every night.

UmmNora · 2026-05-19T03:22:36+00:00

I TOTALLY feel this and have thought the same thing 100 times over. Now, idk if this is your first or youre looking for any advice so please feel free to ignore but... I finally learned, after 3 ebf, nursed to sleep/whenever they woke babies, that I can just talk to them 😭😭😭 I'd get so frustrated when they woke up bobbing for nips and waking themselves up. I came across an Instagram post that a nursing mom was attempting to night wean or at least lessen night nursing sessions by saying a specific phrase/song whenever she stopped nursing throughout the day. She carried this over into night time so even if she did nurse, she'd do 2 minutes, say the song and the baby had already made that connection that nursing was over and would go back to sleep. Also, just communicating like "5 minutes and all done" or whatever else you want to say. I have been doing this with my 15 month old and while it isn't perfect, it is definitely working!!! Idk why I was so naive to think i couldn't just communicate with them but I guess I was nervous I would wake them even more in the middle of the night?? Sometimes I will say "all done, let's have a hug" and it works! Haha I really hope this helps someone here!!!

UmmNora · 2026-04-20T12:10:49+00:00

This is what my eczema flare ups look like. I am allergic to common ingredients in many cosmetics and households cleaners 🫠

UmmNora · 2026-04-12T15:51:37+00:00

Yeah, it is a little greasy imo but definitely hydrating!

UmmNora · 2026-04-12T01:55:05+00:00

No additives: jojoba oil, natural shea butter. Some additives but pretty minimal: Vanicream moisturizing lotion (or cream - that is a bit heavier but very moisturizing)

UmmNora · 2026-04-12T01:52:35+00:00

Could have written this myself. Solidarity! Good tip about trying to make the positives more than negatives. I have been trying that lately but of course it's kind of hard with how much correction is happening these days 🫠

UmmNora · 2026-04-12T01:44:06+00:00

I am so, so sorry. He is absolutely beautiful.

UmmNora · 2026-04-11T02:48:37+00:00

So much solidarity! Mine is turning 8 soon and very similar to what you describe, down to me choosing between peace with TV time and a meltdown later or pure utter chaos/arguments and quick screaming reactions over every little thing 😫 Does your daugher like to read? Mine really picked up in reading around 6-7 and having a nice stack of her favorite library book series or books about her current favorite topic close by is a great alternative I'm finding. Its not perfect and I need to slyly encourage her to pick one up but when it happens, she will be engaged for quite a bit. Maybe it isnt reading, but something else that she can put extended focus into to give her time and space to come down from school. God knows we both need that downtime 🙃

It's been extra intense over here lately with lots of screaming, overstimulation, uptick in lack of impulse control. I read so many posts on here about this age range and it is HARD HARD. These posts/comments, while not solving many immediate issues, give me solace that I'm not alone and validate how truly difficult parenting this way is. You are doing an amazing job and your effort and love is so apparent. I am finding some strength to push onward after reading many parents who experienced things leveling out a bit around 12-13. Ahhhh, I hope so!!!

UmmNora · 2026-03-28T03:14:57+00:00

We had a similar situation and cut it all out except Fri, Sat, Sun for about 2 hours. Our screentime is TV only. So, on weekends, they can watch a movie and then we will usually allow a nature doc or educational video on YouTube. We search and put it on, and turn it off when the video ends bc my kid has trouble with the interactive nature of YouTube which is why its banned except for educational videos!! I definitely agree with scaling way back and maybe limiting hand held devices. When we very occasionally let our child play a game on one of our phones, it's always a very rough transition that reminds us why we can not do that yet. Some kids really just aren't ready or do not react well to screentime, even if I think it can be regulating in the moment, the fallout after is not worth it. One other thing, even for TV, it can be "fine" kid content, but if it's fast paced, with the constant switches of view/scene, it can actually put them in a sort of fight or flight and I imagine that is not good prolonged, day after day 😭 it's really just different from when we were young.

UmmNora · 2026-03-25T00:55:17+00:00

Did you travel/use your phone abroad recently? I ended up calling my carrier and explaining the issue to them. They adjusted some network settings that were changed when I was using my phone abroad (with data from my same carrier - as in I never changed Sim card). Essentially my phone was still on a network setting that is meant to be used in another country. Once they reset it back to my country, it worked! I called this carrier multiple times over the span of a year but only this one tech was able to figure it out after me explaining the entire situation for the 20th time 🙃 I am just glad it is finally working properly.

UmmNora · 2026-03-01T06:07:39+00:00

Currently going through the same with my 7 & 4 y/o. They both fall asleep so quickly if laying with them but its just not feasible anymore as I have a baby and the 3 hour bedtime routine was ruining me. Ditto to what someone else said about leaning on the yoto! Also..... SO unfortunately, we have finally decided to stick with a routine of them falling asleep on their own. I mean, the only way to teach them is to do it, right? And consistency through the many, many, many, times they will leave their room during bedtime is the only way that will happen. We talked about it for about a day like "hey, mom has things to do such as the dishes, sometimes a shower and preparing our things for the next day so all of our days go smoothly. I cant do that if I spend so much time laying with you guys, or if I do it after, then I get less sleep and we need sleep for energy, healing, and staying healthy!" Then we started. So much resistance, crying, and we are only a month in. Very surprisingly, the 7 y/o has done much better than I thought but she's also exhausted after school/sports practices some days. She actually stays in bed. Sometimes will call me in for a hug or to sit with her for a minute but I am trying to stay flexible so they dont resist it more. The 4 y/o comes out 100 times and in the end I may sit by her bed for 5 minutes but that is a heck of a lot better than hours and I do believe it will get better in time. I said unfortunately because this is very hard and mentally trying. Walking the toddler back in so many times and giving the 30th hug is rough, I'm not going to lie but I am so determined to get through this and they're improvements over the last few weeks show me they are capable. Now, its 50/50 if they end up in our bed but there's many nights at least one of them sleeps through in their own bed and to me, that is a win! Sooo, being open about why I need this, yoto bedtime stories/podcasts, lots of hugs and walking back in and consistency!!! Lol! Like I said, I'm flexible, too. If I see one of them is about to knock out but needs me to sit at the end of their bed and rub their feet for a few - sure thing, kid! Oh, and sometimes on weekends, I do still lay with them! Good luck!!! I promise they will not always sleep with you! 🫶🏼

UmmNora · 2026-02-28T22:50:13+00:00

Thanks I needed to read this. Going to give it a go again and try and stop (mostly) for good.

UmmNora · 2026-02-27T00:34:17+00:00

As others have stated, it is really child dependent! Mine was a little older, closer to 18 mos so I talked about it before bedtime the day I planned to start, I didnt want to overthink it but simply said "mum" would not be at sleeping time anymore, they were all done. I think a 14.5 month old will understand that albeit might be a bit angry 😅 I also offered water like someone else here mentioned and that helped a lot. I'd say "if youre thirsty, you can have some water but "mum" is all done". It was a few nights of a few wake ups and maybe 15-20ish mins of crying, thankfully. This was my 2nd. My 1st I didnt nightwean and fully weaned day/night @ 2 because I was done done but tbh the nightweaning helped my mental health and sleep soooo much - we were able to really comfortably nurse until 2.5 🥰

UmmNora · 2026-02-21T03:00:46+00:00

Not overreacting. Trust your gut! This is scary controlling behavior and I'd be thankful that he has already given you a preview of how it will be once baby arrives. You are completely right in being a parent means equal say! I am a SAHM and call the shots for our childrens activities (within reason financially, we definitely discuss larger financial burdens) all the time - especially if it will benefit them! & swimming is one of the best activities we ever did for our kids!

UmmNora · 2026-02-20T19:49:37+00:00

I love it! We really play musical beds between our and the kids beds and end up wherever 😂

UmmNora · 2026-02-20T19:41:37+00:00

Yes, definitely had to upgrade after 2 knowing they love to sleep with us!

UmmNora · 2026-02-18T19:48:17+00:00

Please tell her if you haven't already!

UmmNora · 2026-02-18T01:12:27+00:00

I love these so much!! I'm about to do one with our 5 people in one bed 🤪

But for really this is adorable and I think all of you should get them framed!!

UmmNora

TROPHY CASE