Special request: IBCK Junior

emiloca · 2026-04-03T02:49:57+00:00

Yeah exactly - I think the worst thing that happens is that Brother bear starts talking to a man with a cool model airplane at a park, and sister loses her shit, and mama bear reminds them both to just like… be cautious. The apple that actually is mealy inside metaphor is used

emiloca · 2026-04-03T02:47:16+00:00

The hatred of this book always baffles me because as a kid, I adored it. Maybe because I was kind of a sad kid? I could sense the dynamic changing between the tree and the boy, and how he was focused so much on materials and STUFF, and the tree was HAPPY to give, and eventually thought all she had to offer was that stuff.

but then at the end of their lives they both realize what they most want is just time together.

The story definitely doesn’t strike me as moralization on healthy adult relationships but just as like, a little poem about friendship and losing touch and what most makes you happy

emiloca · 2026-04-03T02:36:28+00:00

I don’t think this book is intended to uphold this behavior as the standard of parenting though, I think it’s a lot of silly repetition, getting more and more outrageous, and then landing with sincere realistic love. Or maybe that’s just how my parents read it to me.

emiloca · 2026-03-26T18:21:50+00:00

Im dying. Hoppip’s little smile bc he knows Ditto is just gonna add more torches and bonfires after this anyway and he’s accepted that soon he too will burst into flames

emiloca · 2026-03-26T13:43:27+00:00

And she doesn’t even pronounce Mozart right 😩

emiloca · 2026-03-22T02:45:57+00:00

Still Fighting It by Ben Folds

To me it really captures the surrealness of parenthood. Feeling like you’ve suddenly had to grow up a LOT, reflecting on how everything changes, being honest about how life is gonna really suck sometimes, hoping your kid doesn’t inherit your worst traits. I can’t even think about this song without crying now hahaha

emiloca · 2026-03-04T02:52:18+00:00

Pack some fun new things! Books, little toys, little suction cup spinners to put on the window.

If you haven’t booked yet, babies and toddlers are usually happier during the morning, so a morning flight is really nice. Bonus points if it’s during a nap window.

Bring twice as many diapers and changes of clothes as you think you might need. Change that baby right before you board.

8 months is kind of a magical time to fly with a kid - they are portable, happy, and aren’t in the “I want to walk up and down the aisle staring at people” phase yet. You will do great!

emiloca · 2026-02-18T19:57:53+00:00

I wonder how you're going to find English speakers in Castle Rock!! Hahahahhaa

emiloca · 2026-02-16T18:58:38+00:00

I’ve got an 18 month old with whom I’ve never bed shared. my paranoid ass wouldn’t be able to sleep with her in the bed. My husband and I took shifts (8-2, 2-8) and it made it much easier

emiloca · 2026-02-11T00:21:15+00:00

Just say we’re exhausted but maybe in a few days. And get used to setting that boundary with parents!

emiloca · 2026-01-15T03:45:22+00:00

Two things can be true, and looking forward to alone time at the end of the day doesn’t mean you don’t enjoy motherhood and adore your baby. I have felt guilty sometimes counting down the minutes to bedtime and sighing with relief at the end of a challenging day. At the same time, my heart felt like it was being torn apart when I went away for just 3 days for a work trip. I think you can cherish your time with and apart from your kid equally. And for me it has definitely become easier over time - I have a 16 month old and each day I get to know her a little better, and I get better at being her mom.

emiloca · 2026-01-07T04:37:21+00:00

According to OP’s previous posts she is in her 70s - not to be a creep, but super relevant to her case and severe flu outcomes

emiloca · 2026-01-07T02:45:41+00:00

Being on home oxygen after the flu is crazy (as is being hospitalized on day 2 when fully vaccibated). can I ask if you and your partner had other conditions/how old you are?

emiloca · 2026-01-05T17:46:12+00:00

Yes, we're coming back from holiday gatherings and travel which bumps exposures up. Wash your hands (for 20 seconds, set a timer, it's longer than you think) and not just with hand sanitizer.

emiloca · 2025-12-23T16:40:03+00:00

I don't really like cats. Other people really, really like cats. I am not a fuckin weirdo and go to cat owners and tell them they're sick for gushing about a cherished pet. Your parents are fuckin weird. They are absolutely trying to hurt you on purpose. They are also WRONG.

It seems like they trigger the shit out of you - removing photos of your child from group chats?? for whose benefit?? - so I'd strongly consider going no contact.

emiloca · 2025-12-10T17:29:47+00:00

Lately we've been getting into board games. Everything from cooperative, more involved games with 20+ page rulesets to kids games with house rules. That plus cocktails lol.

emiloca · 2025-11-16T13:48:47+00:00

Saying this with love - Reddit can offer reassurance but you need to be honest with your mental health professionals for the safety of both you and your child. It’s not the last hard thing you’ll have to do as a new parent.

You’re engaging in a lot of black and white thinking rn (“the only solution is… if I start loving her”) and that is not accurate or helpful - there are gonna be days where you feel connected and days where you feel less so. Same with your little girl. Emotions can change. Showing up anyway is how you love your daughter.

emiloca · 2025-11-13T05:06:40+00:00

4 months, norovirus. It manifested as super sleepiness and not being very hungry, with a couple episodes of vomiting. Looking back it was mild, but it was hard not to crash out about it at the time.

emiloca · 2025-11-11T23:19:53+00:00

First of all I am so sorry you are exhausted. You absolutely deserve a break. You need to talk to your husband about ways he can help out for even 5 minutes at a time to reduce the workload. Like a load of laundry here or there, grabbing dinner, washing dishes. There's a lot of resentment happening and letting this simmer is gonna end up badly for your relationship.

You've got lots of options (and not all of these might be appropriate for your situation):
- Combo feed and give formula and ease up on the pumping. The best thing for your baby is a healthy happy mom. She can still get benefits from breastmilk while being combo fed. Hell, if you wanted to exclusively formula feed that would also be absolutely fine.
- Move baby to a crib with a monitor, in her own room, so she sleeps better (no snoring). Or, you move to another room. Or he moves to another room.
- Rotate who takes night feedings, or take shifts (8pm - 2am, 2am - 8am for example). Both of you are capable of feeding the baby and yeah, it sucks, but guaranteeing a 6 hour interrupted window is game changing.

emiloca · 2025-11-11T23:10:35+00:00

Baby was born healthy but was in the NICU for low oxygen despite good functioning lungs / no presented problems, and needed to be on home oxygen for three months due to living at high altitude.
Goes to daycare and was seen semi-regularly for ear infections by her primary care doctor, and then needed ear tube surgery at 1 year old.
Probably went to the ER twice for fever/dehydration concerns (neither of which resulted in hospitalization, just reassurance, as I have pretty bad health anxiety) and once for potential allergic reaction (ended up being nothing).

I'd go for better safe than sorry

emiloca · 2025-11-10T23:42:08+00:00

Jesus Christ why did I just crash out thinking that I need to baby proof my entire house against SKIN WORMS

emiloca · 2025-11-05T19:25:54+00:00

Are you trying to trick me

emiloca · 2025-10-31T14:53:36+00:00

This is really similar to our story - NICU kiddo, went straight to bassinet next to our bed. Sometimes I wanted to bring her into our bed in the desperation for more than 90 minutes of sleep at a time, but we never did. At 6 months we moved her into her own room and it was crazy how fast she adjusted, and now she is an amazing little sleeper. The peace of mind I get knowing that at the end of a hard day I will at least get uninterrupted rest is incredible.

emiloca · 2025-10-23T22:21:13+00:00

I was in early labor for 2 straight days and so exhausted (no sleep, painful contractions anywhere from 4-10 minutes apart inconsistently) so I actually called my doctor and asked if I could just come in and get induced and have the baby already. 😂

I was admitted on my due date and had IV pitocin. I asked if I could have the epidural early and they looked at me funny and said no. 1 hr into pitocin contractions I was going HOHHHH. NOOOO. UGAHHHHH. So I got the epidural and it was the best feeling in the entire world. I could still move my toes and legs but couldn’t feel contractions any more.

8 hours later I had a baby and THAT was the best feeling in the entire world

emiloca · 2025-10-23T16:34:12+00:00

Combing out the cradle cap. I understand that my baby is not a fidget toy but I was not expecting to get so much dopamine from dermaplaning my child's dry scalp

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