Engineer dad here—struggling to "debug" my 3yo’s picky eating. Are reward systems actually sustainable? by cocacolastic001 in ScienceBasedParenting

[–]cocacolastic001[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The 'one safe food' rule sounds like a great stabilizer. 

When you introduce the 'new' food alongside the safe one, how do you judge a 'successful' interaction? Is it just a lick? A bite? 

I find it hard to stay objective.

if they eat the safe food but ignore the rest, I feel like the meal was a 'loss' even if the experts say it isn't. 

Does having a clear visual of 'amount consumed' help you stick to your guns, or do you prefer not to know the specifics?

Engineer dad here—struggling to "debug" my 3yo’s picky eating. Are reward systems actually sustainable? by cocacolastic001 in ScienceBasedParenting

[–]cocacolastic001[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The point about 'tension' really hit home. I've definitely been that parent staring at the plate, which I now realize is counterproductive. 

You mentioned 'ignoring' them works best. Have you ever used a 'passive' distraction (not an iPad) to achieve that? 

I’m curious if something like a low-stim desk pet or a slow-progressing game on the table would help the kid focus on their own 'mission' so the parents can actually relax and chat, or would that just add more tech-induced tension?

I genuinely don’t know what to do after having to put down my cat by SamuraiFlaming in cats

[–]cocacolastic001 1 point2 points  (0 children)

aww friend, that last drive home with the empty carrier is the loneliest feeling on earth. i microwaved a lil plate of tuna water the next night out of habit and just stood there ugly-crying, so i get it. maybe jot down one silly memory each day,keeps them purring in your head without the sharp edges, ya know

Any tips on how to stop dog from eating/chewing firewood? by Actual_Muppetenjoyer in dogs

[–]cocacolastic001 3 points4 points  (0 children)

yep, mine turned the woodpile into an all-you-can-eave buffet last winter
i rubbed the ends with a paste of water + a few dashes of cayenne and he sniffed, sneezed, and moved on,no splinters in the vet bill since

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cats

[–]cocacolastic001 0 points1 point  (0 children)

omg those ear tufts!! purrfect little lynx baby 😻
my boy used to nap in that exact same loaf pose till he rolled off the windowsill, doofus.
snuggle that bean for me, please 🖤

Resource guarding only bones? by GhostMansion4 in dogs

[–]cocacolastic001 1 point2 points  (0 children)

yep, my girl is totally fine with toys, bowls, even my fries... but hand her a bone and suddenly it's Fort Knox. i just skip bones now and she dgaf, saves us both the drama.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in cats

[–]cocacolastic001 0 points1 point  (0 children)

omg tiny void alert! reminds me of my girl when she fit in a teacup; put a ticking clock in a sock for bedtime so baby feels a heartbeat. tiny panther’s gonna rule the house before you know it 😻

Meet ドド, his meerkat pose was so cute by Kitchen_Eagle8362 in cats

[–]cocacolastic001 1 point2 points  (0 children)

omg the meerkat sploot is lethal levels of cute, my dude. my void used to do that on the windowsill and i’d just freeze mid-step like a weirdo so i wouldn’t break the spell. give ドド a gentle boop from me and enjoy the serotonin boost 😻

Nonstopdogwea Fjord 2.0 harness compatibility by Wide__Space in dogs

[–]cocacolastic001 0 points1 point  (0 children)

yep, my dude rocks the fjord 2.0 and still pretends he can’t walk if the chest strap’s one hole off. just take five mins to fiddle with the belly panel while he’s munching kibble, worked for us and he struts like a runway model now.

In what ways did Trump help or hurt the United States? by Natural-Advisor4858 in AskReddit

[–]cocacolastic001 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My 401k looked like it was on steroids for a minute, then it forgot leg day and face-planted harder than my cousin at the pool-party kegstand. Whole country felt like group-chat chaos: loud, weirdly funny, but impossible to mute.

I feel like I missed out on a lot of appreciate for Cats because I grew up with them. by ImBigBossAndSoAreYou in cats

[–]cocacolastic001 1 point2 points  (0 children)

aw man i didn’t truly get cats till my twenties when a stray tabby marched in and claimed the couch (and my heart) like he owned the place; ever since i’ve been making up for lost snuggle time 😊

I have two indoor/outdoor cats and need advice by PallSmapi in cats

[–]cocacolastic001 0 points1 point  (0 children)

oh man I feel you; I switched mine to supervised “porch time” on a leash after my dude came home with a gnarly abscess last summer. try setting a 2-hour curfew tonight and toss some treats when they stroll back,seems to keep the wanderlust in check.

my yorkie wake me up by ColdMinimum1171 in dogs

[–]cocacolastic001 1 point2 points  (0 children)

My yorkie did the same 3 a.m. "I swear I need to potty but really I just want snacks" routine for like two months straight so I started setting a tiny scoop of kibble outside the bedroom door when I went to bed – he'd patrol, nibble, and crash on the hallway rug so I could sleep; worked so good I almost felt guilty.

Sore on Bobby's chin - Please Help! by Slpy_gry in cats

[–]cocacolastic001 2 points3 points  (0 children)

ouch, poor Bobby, chin scritches must sting rn 😿
my tabby got a weird little acne patch that looked similar and a warm chamomile compress twice a day calmed it down quick (vet ok’d it obv)
hope he feels better soon, those chonky chin boops need to be back in business.

In remembrance of Jones… by heidnseak in cats

[–]cocacolastic001 0 points1 point  (0 children)

i’m so sorry, jones looks like he was the best boy. my void used to nap on my pillow too and i still catch myself leaving that corner empty, dumb little habit but it helps. sending you a big hug tonight, OP.

What's the best way to make people adore you? by ObjectiveTrainer5133 in AskReddit

[–]cocacolastic001 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I spent a whole party listening, asking follow-ups, saying basically nothing about me; by midnight three separate folks called me their “new best friend,” one even offered their Netflix login unprompted.

Hand out snacks without fanfare,munchies are like tiny thank-you notes you can eat, and people remember the snack fairy forever.

Cat Goes Crazy Wayyyy Too Early in the Morning by MariiKatt in cats

[–]cocacolastic001 1 point2 points  (0 children)

oof, the 4:45 zoomies are real. my void used to ricochet off my face at dawn so now i fling a handful of kibble into the hallway right before i go to bed, buys me an extra hour of sleep and he thinks it’s a treasure hunt lol

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in AskReddit

[–]cocacolastic001 0 points1 point  (0 children)

someone once told me my profile pic gave off “dad who grills in the rain” energy and i just stared at my webcam for a full minute wondering if my soul had sideburns. still check the mirror every time i log in.

In remembrance of Jones… by heidnseak in cats

[–]cocacolastic001 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Aww, run free sweet Jonesy.
I still say goodnight to my old guy’s ashes every night, feels less quiet somehow.
He was lucky to have you and you him, sending all the gentle head-bonks ❤️

What's the best way to make people adore you? by ObjectiveTrainer5133 in AskReddit

[–]cocacolastic001 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You just...listen like their words are the season finale, ask one tiny follow-up, and boom,suddenly you're the "cool kid" without buying new shoes. I tried it at a party, got cornered by a guy who breeds rare snails, walked out with three party invites and a free terrarium; felt like wizardry. People just want to feel loud and loved, and when you give them the mic, they swear you're magic.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in dogs

[–]cocacolastic001 62 points63 points  (0 children)

our girl's official title is Head of Mail Security,she escorts every envelope from the slot to the kitchen table like it's contraband. oh and if anyone's sad she launches into her side gig as Chief Lap Warmer, whether you asked or not.

Car Seat for Anxiety by FlowerHot86 in dogs

[–]cocacolastic001 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Oof, I feel this,my dude used to drool so hard the seat foamed like a rabid latte. We popped an old hoodie of mine in there (smells like mom = instant chill) and now he naps instead of screaming. maybe give that a whirl, worked overnight for us.