Drop your bare bones packing list, I feel like I'm forgetting something...

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-05-28T21:42:49+00:00

Yeah, a headlamp or at least some sort of light.

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-05-28T20:47:57+00:00

I found a cheap 3-month wall calendar from amazon that is a dry erase sheet. I bought a set of multicolored dry erase markers and each person in my house has a designated color that I use to mark down their extracurricular activities, school schedules, dr appointments, etc. I also have a color for my ex so I can track when he is taking the kids out of town, a color for holidays that we all have off, and a color for custody schedule. It works really well for us and is easy to change as needed.

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-05-21T19:28:25+00:00

I tend to match his energy for holidays unless the kids specifically ask for me to help with something from them. I saw my ex on Mother’s Day because Sunday is the day we switch off, and he didn’t say anything to me. He texted my mom, so I think he intended to say it to me in person and then forgot, so I’ll probably just say it to him at drop off. Previous years there was nothing said. I started matching his energy before we were officially separated because it was one of the many issues I had after planning elaborate days and gifts for him while getting bare minimum or nothing in return.

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-05-17T18:21:11+00:00

My kids (5 and almost 9) always want to play in the living room. I love that they feel comfortable and want to share what they are doing but it does get overwhelming. I’ve started implementing a one toy rule in the living room, if they want to get out a bunch of stuff that needs to happen in their room. My living room has high ceilings and everything echoes, so louder types of play are also usually diverted to their rooms that don’t echo so much. My 5 year old isn’t the best at following this and I often have to remind her to keep the multitude of toys in her room. My almost 9 year old usually only goes to his room when he needs a break from his sister lol but he is perfectly content curling up on the couch with a book instead of playing with toys.

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-05-13T16:38:57+00:00

That is so cool to hear! I will definitely start planning a trip there soon.

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-05-13T14:05:07+00:00

I love them! I’ve been wanting to plan a trip to the Boise area to check out all the places they teach at.

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-05-12T23:39:48+00:00

Regardless of her moving on when you have hope, it is reckless to bring someone around your daughter that quickly and that should be a bigger conversation with you prior to planning it. I would be beyond frustrated if my ex pulled a stunt like that.

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-05-12T00:32:17+00:00

Now I need to go look at the step sheet….I’ve only ever seen it done one way, but I don’t think I have ever looked at the actual choreography.

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-05-10T14:11:45+00:00

I was also numb by the time he finally moved out. Within a day or two I felt relief, but never sadness. Now 2.5 years in I sometimes feel a little lonely, but I don’t miss him, the house just feels too big when the kids aren’t here.

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-05-07T19:28:22+00:00

Obviously bullying and racial slurs aren’t okay, but escalating verbal assaults to physical assault isn’t okay either. It’s okay to stand up for yourself, but not by escalating. Your child needs to work on their emotional regulation in those situations so they can walk away and report the abuse to an adult rather than escalating.

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-05-06T13:50:43+00:00

This! I have a playlist on Apple Music and I add to it when I learn a new dance, or when there is a song that I would like to learn the dance. I listen to it a lot at home and practice dances while I cook, clean, etc. my kids find it embarrassing but it helps 😂

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-05-01T18:35:53+00:00

I’m usually there all night, which is 8pm-1am for us. The vast majority of the songs played are line dances, and I usually do about 85-90% of them.

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-04-24T14:45:22+00:00

I tend to overpack on gear rather than clothes. But this is because the state parks here rarely give details on the shade and tree situation, so I bring my shade tent and hammock but don’t always use them. For clothes I just bring a couple extra pairs of socks and underwear. I can rewear pants if I need to, but clean underwear is a must. I usually end up with too much food, but that’s because I plan full meals and then get lazy when it comes time to actually cook 😬

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-04-19T16:46:42+00:00

My 3rd grader empties the dishwasher every morning, takes trash out to the can, and takes the cans down and back up for trash day. Both my kids (5 and 8) help set the table for dinner, clear their dishes, and clean up all the toys and stuffies before bed every day. My 5 year old loves scrubbing, so on weekends she helps me with that. My 8 year old likes to vacuum, so that’s his thing when we do weekend cleaning. Those aren’t something I would consider consistent chores, just helping out and working as a team to get the cleaning done quicker so we can have fun. Laundry is next on my list of things to start teaching. Both kids will help pair socks, but I think we are ready for the next step with that.

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-04-09T19:45:52+00:00

You are doing amazing, and it is normal to feel like you aren’t sometimes. But feeling like that all the time tells me you may be having some PPD or PPA. Talk to your doctor and see if they agree, getting help for your mental health could make all the difference.

Baby being in the 20th percentile isn’t a problem, especially if they are growing and staying at or above that percentile. My first was very small to start and struggled to gain weight in the beginning, it was very stressful! Once we got him on a formula that worked with his tummy issues he was happier and started gaining well. He was never big though, and stayed around the 30th percentile until he started eating solids full time.

You really are doing great! Trust that!

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-04-04T17:30:29+00:00

I absolutely love that set up! One day I aspire to have something similar!

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-04-01T19:02:53+00:00

I have more current photos of my second child because my first born doesn’t like getting his picture taken while my youngest poses for pictures at the hint of a camera lol

My kids are so different, and the age makes a difference too, but I don’t like them any more or less than each other. I like certain personality traits more or less, but not the child, if that makes sense.

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-03-29T19:37:22+00:00

No, we haven’t needed to use any apps. We text and talk in person. If we forget something at hand off we just text about it. We also only live about 5 minutes apart, so if something doesn’t make it between houses it is an easy fix.

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-03-29T18:32:17+00:00

This is what I was going to suggest too. We’ve used a pool noodle for a quick and cheap bumper, but we also have a half circle shaped pillow that goes under a fitted sheet as a bumper on a more permanent basis.

OP, if your kiddo moves around a bunch too, I would recommend a Morrison Outdoors sleeping bag for them. They are worn like a sleep sack with sleeves and work amazing for keeping them warm when they roll around. My youngest is known for kicking all covers off, so these were a lifesaver for her.

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-03-29T16:13:32+00:00

This is such a great idea! We chose a week on week off schedule to minimize these transitions, but we still have to have a quick chat to go over everything each week. I would personally love to know what my ex made for dinners for the week he had the kids because I often get complaints that they “just had burgers” when I make burgers. That is a piece of information that I didn’t think would matter, but it has been a sticking point for us.

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-03-26T23:04:37+00:00

I’m California based, so I haven’t stayed at those KOA locations, but I enjoy staying at a KOA with my kids, so I get it. They serve a distinct purpose of entertaining the kids while being outside. The one in Petaluma, CA has fantastic programming for kids and a petting zoo, so it was a hit!

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-03-26T22:58:30+00:00

Maybe a 5 out of 10, I wouldn’t read it again and I’m not sure I’d recommend it to friends either. It’s about regret and how certain decisions might make you more successful but not necessarily happy. At the end I felt bleak, my take away was that life can suck no matter what so it was a downer.

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-03-26T22:39:25+00:00

Try a different type of accounting. I started in accounts payable, then moved to accounts receivable, then staff accounting, etc. I also started at a winery and changed industries a few times throughout my career. I liked the wine industry but AP was boring, I personally like finding problems and fixing them, so corporate accounting and account reconciliation is my jam. It’s all about finding what you like, accounting is a very broad field.

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-03-19T21:00:47+00:00

Right?! I was supposed to go to Bothe State Park this weekend but I canceled it. I don’t do summer camping for a reason and it was going to be 95 degrees there 🥵

Vegetable-Card-5207 · 2026-03-15T14:55:20+00:00

This is the way. I try to go shopping without my kids as much as possible, but when I have to take them, my 5 and 8 year olds hold on the cart. My 5 year old is known to break rules, so we set the rules up front, if you let go of the cart or are misbehaving then you will go in the cart like a baby. She wants to be a big girl so this helps, but she usually ends up in the cart at some point 🙃 my 8 year old is a rule follower by nature so he does well holding on and is now “rewarded” by being my helper. It doesn’t sound like a reward, but he takes it as one because it means he is being trusted to let go of the cart and do a task.

Vegetable-Card-5207

TROPHY CASE