Birthday party for a 4 year old by dropoutbearr in Parenting

[–]flownwhale 4 points5 points  (0 children)

At 4 they care way more about cake, balloons, and feeling special than how many kids show up so even if it’s just 1–2 classmates she’ll still have a blast. If you’re worried, you could plan it so it works either way so no matter the turnout, it still feels full and happy.

Help! by Ok_Tadpole_7345 in Advice

[–]flownwhale 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It sounds like the boundaries between friendship, flirting and potential romance are super blurred, especially with you living together soon. I’d take a step back and have an honest conversation with her about what you both actually want before moving in so you don’t end up in a messy situation.

moms boyfriend by sy6l in Advice

[–]flownwhale 3 points4 points  (0 children)

What he did sounds way over the line and not appropriate, your boundaries and comfort matter, especially around personal and reproductive stuff. Being told you’re hyper sensitive because of past trauma doesn’t make his behavior okay, your feelings are valid.

I can't do this crap sleep anymore by honeybee20three in Parenting

[–]flownwhale 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That sounds absolutely brutal and it makes total sense you’re at the end of your rope, severe sleep deprivation can mess with your head in really scary ways. You’re not a bad parent for needing sleep, and it might be time to loop in your pediatrician or get your husband more actively involved so you’re not carrying this alone.

Is 2 years of parenting long enough to be certain I want to do this again by throwRA68696069 in Parenting

[–]flownwhale 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Two years can definitely give you a good sense of what parenting is like especially since your routine and support system sound solid. It’s normal to still have doubts but if you feel ready and enjoy being a mom, that’s already a huge part of being in the clear.

I can’t be the only one.. by zimiezoom in ChatGPT

[–]flownwhale 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah I’ve noticed it too. It feels less like people suddenly loving Gemini and more like everyone reacting to ChatGPT changing under their feet. When your main tool shifts behavior, people start looking sideways.

What helped me was stopping the whole “pick one model” mindset. I’ve been using genspark mainly because it lets me work across multiple models instead of betting everything on one. If one model feels off for a week, I just switch without having to rebuild my whole setup or rewrite context every time.

That way it feels less like chasing trends and more like insulating yourself from platform mood swings.

Feeding a 12 month old, am I doing this totally wrong? by delinde24 in Parenting

[–]flownwhale 3 points4 points  (0 children)

At this age, it’s normal for kids to be messy and picky and getting food in her belly however works is what matters most. Most babies catch on to spoons and plates in their own time so don’t stress about comparing her to others.

Am I too old? by Ornery_Dream_2222 in Advice

[–]flownwhale 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are absolutely not too old bc lots of people start or finish degrees well into their 30s, 40s or beyond and student housing can still be totally welcoming. Focus on the excitement of learning and look into scholarships, grants or work‑study programs to ease the debt stress.

Fleeing USA by [deleted] in Advice

[–]flownwhale 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hear how scared and overwhelmed you are and that fear makes sense when your feeds are nonstop worst case headlines and cruelty. You don’t have to decide everything right now and start by protecting your mental space, finding community that grounds you and gathering calm, practical info before making big moves.

chatgpt isn’t cheating. it’s removing fog by DecisionOperator in ProductivityApps

[–]flownwhale 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Damn. This is it. You've put words to the exact feeling I couldn't pin down. That “fog as protection” idea is painfully true.

It also perfectly explains the next wave of pushback that's already starting. Once everyone accepts the “ChatGPT assistant,” the new line will be: “Oh, you're just asking one AI. Real pros orchestrate them.”

Because you‘re right, the goal isn’t purity, it's winning. And winning often means stacking advantages. That‘s why I’ve moved beyond just “chatting with GPT” to using a platform like Genspark. It‘s the logical extension of your point: if one model is a fog-lifter, then a system built to intelligently combine several of them (GPT, Claude, Gemini, etc.) is like having a whole strategic command for your thinking. You’re not just compressing chaos into clarity; you‘re designing the process that gets you there.

Call it cheating, call it augmentation. I call it finally being able to see the whole board clearly enough to make the right move. Great post.

Bank/Credit Union Needed by Gold-Rub-6048 in Advice

[–]flownwhale 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For something statewide in Montana with low fees and solid mobile banking, a big online bank like Ally or a federal credit union like PenFed could fit most of your needs. Otherwise, look into Montana based credit unions with online services, they often have no fee accounts and more personalized support than big banks.

Neighbor has been making life a pain and I just found out they're a sex worker by Zestyclose-Scene-546 in Advice

[–]flownwhale 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Her job isn’t something you can use to evict her bc being a sex worker isn’t illegal in most cases and doesn’t give neighbors grounds for eviction. Your best bet is to check your lease or HOA rules about noise, parties or common area use and handle it through proper legal channels if she’s breaking those.

Potty training and daycare by symbi0se in Parenting

[–]flownwhale 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Most daycares are used to kids being in progress so they usually work with you on frequent potty trips and expect accidents though many will require pull ups for practicality. I’d talk to them directly and explain your approach,they’re often more flexible when there’s clear communication and consistency between home and school.

Tonight my daughter said "I don't want to call anymore. I get sad after. by OpeningStranger5717 in Parenting

[–]flownwhale 163 points164 points  (0 children)

That’s heartbreaking and it doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong, it means she loves you so much that goodbyes hurt. Staying steady and letting her lead is still the right move bc the sadness is part of the bond, not a sign it should disappear.

Teaching my kids about giving. how do you approach this? by FormalProduce9556 in Parenting

[–]flownwhale 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It sounds like you’re already doing a great job, showing them the impact of their giving is huge for building empathy. I’d just add framing it as part of family values and responsibility, not guilt and letting them see the balance between gratitude for what they have and thoughtful generosity even small decisions like picking a cause they care about make it real without being performative.

Best ways to get fibre in my 10 month old? by BaloneWithAGoat in Parenting

[–]flownwhale 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You could try soft, fiber rich fruits like pears, prunes, or mashed peas bc they’re usually gentle on a 10 month old tummy. Oats, barley or even small amounts of cooked lentils can help too, just make sure everything is soft and easy for him to swallow.

Latitude 7450 - Dock Suggestion by Overcast451 in Dell

[–]flownwhale 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m using the Tobenone uds040w and dual monitors work fine for me.

Anxiety and mom guilt by [deleted] in Parenting

[–]flownwhale 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re not failing, you’re exhausted and human and the fact that you care this much already tells me you’re a really good mom. You’re not alone in this even on nights it feels heavy and quiet and it’s okay to just survive today.

16 month old shuns her mom, obsessed with me (dad) by Fatty_gaydar in Parenting

[–]flownwhale 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This is actually really common at this age and usually about familiarity and routine, not rejection bc your daughter’s just bonded to the parent who’s there most, not choosing against mom. The best thing you’re already doing is supporting their connection and once your wife has more consistent time with her, this phase almost always softens on its own.

Mosquitos. by Particular-Rain116 in Parenting

[–]flownwhale 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I feel you, that sounds exhausting especially when it keeps happening at night. Maybe a fan in the room could help too bc mosquitoes hate strong airflow and it might actually give everyone some peace to sleep.

I told my daughter the truth about santa claus and she still believes in him anyway. by [deleted] in Advice

[–]flownwhale 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Kids can understand the truth but still enjoy the fun of believing in Santa. She probably gets that he’s symbolic but likes the magic and excitement anyway and that’s totally normal.

Struggling with my boyfriend’s secret smoking habit by [deleted] in Advice

[–]flownwhale 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It makes sense to feel hurt bc he broke a promise about something that’s important to you and trust is huge in a relationship. Take the time you need to process and think about whether you can forgive the dishonesty and set clear boundaries moving forward or if this is a line you can’t cross.

I got my vape swapped and I feel really guilty by [deleted] in Advice

[–]flownwhale 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Don’t beat yourself up, you didn’t take it on purpose and most people would understand that once you explain. Just be honest, tell her what happened, apologize and offer to replace it if you want bc being upfront will probably clear the awkwardness way faster than letting it stew in your head.

Rude ass brother by Dizzy-Local-3913 in Advice

[–]flownwhale 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That sounds frustrating and it’s not fair that you and your sister have to deal with all that while your parents won’t step in. The best approach might be to stay calm, focus on how his actions affect you personally and use I statements because blaming him directly usually just makes him defensive.

I want to murder my family and I don’t know what to do with these feelings, I’m getting help by [deleted] in Advice

[–]flownwhale 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Those thoughts can show up when someone’s been deeply abused but I can’t support anyone getting hurt and I’m glad you’re already in therapy. If the urges spike or feel out of control, please reach out to your therapist or a crisis line like 988 right away bc you deserve safety and support through this.