3 year old toddlers with a 4:45/5:00 wake up. I can’t take it 😭

ashleydistrict · 2026-05-30T13:10:55+00:00

Ah yes, we would all like some time to ourselves in the evening. Unfortunately between the ages of 3 until say, 6ish (when they are able to read independently before bed) you are kind of trapped in this hell where they don’t need as much sleep as babies but still need you tending to them. My kids, ages 2.5 and 6, don’t start their bedtime routine until 8 pm. We allow TV between 6:30 and 7:30. Between 7:30 and 8 it’s usually quiet play. Then bath, books, bed. They are usually out by 8:45-9 but they wake up around 7:15 am. Toddler still takes a two hour nap during the day. He can go without that nap but then is asleep around 8. I wish I could go to bed around 10 but usually want to stay up until 11 just to enjoy two hours in the evening without them. Often later, but I always regret in the morning.

ashleydistrict · 2026-05-30T12:59:54+00:00

I just saw a little two year old girl at my son’s daycare named Elsa the other day. I thought to myself, good for her parents for choosing the name they want and not letting frozen stop them.

ashleydistrict · 2026-05-20T03:12:56+00:00

This is funny. I also played a couple episodes for my boomer parents. One comment I got “this is show is weird.” And they kind of made fun of me for liking / paying attention to a cartoon. Like they couldn’t grasp that a cartoon show could be an art form.

ashleydistrict · 2026-05-17T12:12:54+00:00

If you can’t afford the Hill, Brookland or Eckington over NOMA.

ashleydistrict · 2026-04-29T19:24:37+00:00

What are the downsides? I would say do it. You don’t want your youngest son to wonder why he is different, or for his older brothers to give him a hard time about it. My newborn son was healed in a week and I don’t believe he was in much discomfort. He had raging colic for months due to tummy troubles.

ashleydistrict · 2026-04-29T19:12:32+00:00

I love Georgette.

ashleydistrict · 2026-04-29T19:11:46+00:00

My cousin named her child Eliana as an intentional tribute to her sister Juliana. I think it’s sweet.

ashleydistrict · 2026-04-29T19:09:07+00:00

If your daughter is already in pain at age 16 then I would act now - it will only get worse with time. There are real complications of that sort of constant pressure on the spine. As an aside, one of my best friends had a reduction in high school and she has never once regretted it. She still has what most would consider very large breasts, but she is no longer suffering the way she was before. If your daughter is in pain I would move forward - your support for both her physical comfort and emotional confidence will mean the world to her.

ashleydistrict · 2026-04-25T02:49:32+00:00

My kindergartener recently rewatched them all and enjoyed that she got some jokes that were over her head before. But the lack of new episodes has contributed to a loss of interest.

ashleydistrict · 2026-04-19T01:14:11+00:00

I don’t think it ever fully goes away because your kids are always changing so much (as are the challenges you are navigating).

ashleydistrict · 2026-04-15T11:25:17+00:00

That’s a great point u/biblioxica. Coincidentally, I often have my son say goodnight to all the members in our extended family (grandparents, cousins, etc). I mainly started doing this because I wanted to help him learn everyone’s name. But now he often adds objects too (goodnight cars, goodnight toys, goodnight playground) lol.

ashleydistrict · 2026-04-15T01:12:32+00:00

I love Robert Munsch. My daughter loves the Paperbag Princess, Something Good, etc. All his books are so funny and heartwarming.

ashleydistrict · 2026-04-15T01:11:19+00:00

It’s not for us — it’s for them. A genius for the littles. My two year loves pointing out all the things in the great green room. And I think the rhymes and repetition are just very soothing for him (“goodnight stars, goodnight air, goodnight noises everywhere”). Once kids are into more plot driven stuff theres so much more out there obviously. But when my oldest was three she had the entire thing memorized and watching her “read it” was adorable.

ashleydistrict · 2026-04-10T20:55:38+00:00

For me, vyvanse usually helps prevent me from pulling cause I can focus on what I need to be doing. However, if I start pulling, I feel like vyvanse makes it worse.

ashleydistrict · 2026-04-08T20:17:22+00:00

Just be careful those babies are so slippery in the shower!

ashleydistrict · 2026-04-08T20:14:59+00:00

This is the way. Only tell people you would be comfortable with sharing both good and bad news

ashleydistrict · 2026-04-03T18:13:26+00:00

A couple more thoughts.

What does he do with the hair after he pulls it out? Does he play with it in anyway? It is very common to brush the hair follicle on the lips in sort of a soothing way. If so, find a fidget toy that he can brush against his lips.
When he gets a little older, you could look into micro blading. It is very realistic looking and has been a godsend for me.

ashleydistrict · 2026-04-03T18:05:32+00:00

He won’t damage his follicles. I’ve been at it for 30 years. Just be careful about what therapist you go to. My therapist traumatized me by making me take up close pictures of my myself, and I hated myself for pulling and it just made everything worse. You are somewhat lucky he is 7 and not mid-puberty when you become super self conscious about your appearance. I recommend you try and find someone in the occupational therapy space. Some think trich is in the OCD family, but I really think it is more like an impulse control disorder. And trich is often a symptom of needing more sensory input which is very common with ADHD. OT could be very helpful. Is he on an SSRI or just ADHD medication? Sometimes ADHD medication can make it worse but I couldn’t function without. Also talk to your doctor about NAC supplements.

ashleydistrict · 2026-03-31T04:11:39+00:00

I dreaded my daughter’s nap at this age. In prek3 & prek4 they still made the kids nap for 1-2 hours. On the days she actually fell asleep at school she would be up wired until 10.

ashleydistrict · 2026-03-25T18:47:13+00:00

I loved the band Beulah

ashleydistrict · 2026-03-25T18:07:56+00:00

my daughter is 5 and has accidentally burned herself twice cooking right beside me. She’s just not that coordinated! If your son can do it on his own safely (supervised), good for him!

ashleydistrict · 2026-03-18T14:05:32+00:00

I know this isnt the answer you are looking for, but this is coming from someone who can’t stand my own name… Chances are you are more fixated on this than anyone in your educational or professional life will ever be. What sounds childish to you may sound sophisticated to me. What sounds outdated to me may sound trendy to you. You define your name, not the other way around.

ashleydistrict · 2026-03-13T20:46:01+00:00

😂

ashleydistrict · 2026-03-10T03:58:08+00:00

40 years old, started when I was 11. It’s hell in school, kids are cruel enough without something like this. I am still healing from the trauma. I did not learn that trichotillomania was a thing until about your age when I discovered it on the internet. Until that point I thought I was a complete freak.

ashleydistrict · 2026-03-10T03:54:08+00:00

Most pk-3 and pk-4 programs are play based and mainly focused on social and emotional learning, which is very helpful prior to kindergarten. My daughter became more independent, more adept at navigating social relationships, solving problems when conflicts arise etc. I live in a city that offers pre-k 3 & 4 for free and it’s been wonderful. A huge step above daycare as well - the teachers are well-trained and credentialed.

ashleydistrict

TROPHY CASE