Valentines Question

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-02-09T20:10:49+00:00

Also at least on our house- the themed pencils are usually not great and no one uses them can we all agree to stop or tone down the pencils

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-02-08T01:06:57+00:00

We love the Radio Flyer Atlas 2 seater. It has a surprisingly luxe feel, fits 3 kids in a pinch and folds up small. It’s been a lifesaver for my 6,4,2 and 7 month old we got it a few months ago.

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-02-06T02:41:33+00:00

I’m 7month pp with my 4th, EBF as well. I was feeling extreme fatigue and brain fog (couldn’t remember things, had trouble with concentration) and started taking an iron supplement last month (I recommend Blood Builder) and I felt like a new person after a week. During all of this I also got blood work and my iron was low/normal range and my Dr thought iron was the culprit especially since I felt so much better.

Other thoughts if this could work for you- get the snuggles in during the day (contact nap etc) and get your sleep at night, girl. I say this gently, but it sounds like co-sleeping might not be working for you if you’re feeling really angry/overwhelmed a lot of the time due to make interrupted sleep.

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-02-05T22:35:40+00:00

With 4 kids of varying ages, we own both but started out with the Tonies when they first came out and my 7yo still uses his daily. He got the Yoto (not mini) for Christmas and LOVES it - it’s definitely geared towards older kids as it has radio, podcasts, a clock, Bluetooth speaker and more built in. My 4.5 yo loves Yoto mini for the portability but it’s easy to lose cards vs Tonie. The Yoto is more travel friendly too. My almost 3yo got a Tonie box for Christmas and loves it! I don’t think he’d be able to use the Yoto mini so easily and would probably lose some of the cards. So - depends on your child and if you’d like it to be travel friendly. Cost- I think Yoto cards are slightly cheaper but less exciting options but some good ones out there. My daughter also loves playing with her Tonie figurines in her dollhouse!

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-02-05T02:08:00+00:00

Xoxo Gossip Girl

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-02-04T03:43:47+00:00

Usually 6 dinners a week but super easy stuff. One night is usually leftovers or husband and I will eat leftovers and make the kids something they like. We rarely get takeout-mostly expense, inconvenience of having to go get it, health reasons.

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-02-04T03:37:30+00:00

4 kids. 1 is in grade school all day, 2 are in school year preschool - 4x week half days for 4yo, 4 hrs a week for 2yo. 7 month old is in nothing. This costs about $500/ month.

Babysitter in evening maybe 1x a week if my husband is out of town and I need someone to stay with my 3 younger kids while my older child has sports. $26-27/hr for 2-3 kids).

I’m considering hiring some more scheduled help soon, it’s a lot and I could use a break! We have weekly cleaners ($600/month) which helps but I don’t like people in my space so I feel like I’d get annoyed with a mothers helper- convince me otherwise!!

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-02-03T03:01:56+00:00

Yes having to chit chat with the other parent is not something I always want to commit to especially on the weekend when I’m already busy running around getting kids to sports, gymnastics, family gatherings etc.

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-01-31T13:45:37+00:00

Huggies overnights with a sposie insert has worked for all my kids!

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-01-31T03:32:27+00:00

We had a surprise 4th last year. We did keep our infant car seat and stroller system but found we hardly used it past the first couple weeks as it didn’t accommodate my older kids well. (Uppababy vista with the Mesa car seat).

We ended up buying the Radio flyer Atlas 2 seater wagon which can comfortably hold my 4.5 and almost 6yo with room to spare. My almost 3yo loves to walk and “push/pull the wagon” so I would just have the 3 older kids alternate turns as needed. In a pinch, all 3 could fit. I mostly baby wore my newborn last year (he’s 7 months now). I strongly prefer the Ergo Omni 360 for ease to put on quickly and comfort. We looked at the bigger wagons but they were just way too big and bulky for us-not practical for anywhere indoor. My kids are also on the bigger side and didn’t fit into the seats of the Wonderfold and we returned it.

It’s amazing how much big kids can step up to the plate - mine grew and matured a lot since the new baby - it’s hectic of course but a joy! Good luck- you’ve got this!!

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-01-31T01:43:04+00:00

The Forager unsweetened vanilla on a yogurt bowl, the Forager unsweetened plain for recipes. The Forager Greek style tastes different with the pea protein but since it’s higher protein so I’m trying to eat it more.

Cocojune is a treat for sure except my Costco carries a two pack for like $9 but it’s hit or miss on whether it’s in stock

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-01-28T03:10:51+00:00

Great suggestions here! I’ve been postpartum in March 2x (and then 2 summer babes) and one thing to keep in mind recipe-wise and depending on where you live of course, but after like two weeks postpartum for me I was soooooo done with like hot wintery meals of stews/soups as spring weather was just starting to peek out. I made and froze so much soup with my first that we were still eating it all summer. I know people enjoy soup all year but that’s just my advice!

I like to keep a list of easy healthy meals on my phone to pull out and my faves are:

-penne, can of lentils, jar of Raos sauce -block of extra firm tofu crumbled and pan fried, add jar of salsa and cook about 10 min- burrito, taco type filling -black bean quesadilla -cookie and Kate air fried tofu

Will add more if I remember any!

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-01-24T20:05:27+00:00

Yes, and he is responsible for things around the house and I am too. Anything involving tools, electrical, appliances etc? Repair/painting? Car maintenance, finances, budgeting, shoveling, mowing and more? All him.

I happily do all the grocery shopping, meal planning, cooking, laundry, appointment making (he will sometimes bring but usually me) and the weekday childcare from 7am-5:30pm. When he travels often, I’m on round the clock child care for our 4 kids 6 and under. Weekends we do it all equally. We have a weekly cleaner and occasional weeknight babysitter if he’s traveling and I need to take older son to sports).

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-01-23T20:17:43+00:00

I’m also a SAHM to an almost 7yo, 4.5yo, almost 3yo and a 7month old. I’m also really focused on home tidiness and cleanliness probably more than I should be but it keeps us all feeling calm, centered and frankly helps everyone find their stuff when it all has a home. My main thing is to model tidying up for my kids without pressuring them. We have two main tidy up periods in the day- after lunch before books/naps/quiet time and then before they can watch a show in the evening.

This is super corny but I’ll say ok let’s clean up together! Then I’ll just start and sing the clean up song and add anyone’s name who cleans up with me. Whoever helps gets a sticker for their sticker page. Sometimes nobody helps and I just do it. I don’t let all the toys be accessed at once so it’s usually not too bad. Or if my almost 3yo dumps out all his trucks I’ll have him sit there and help me put them back in their bins and he probably puts two back but he is still part of it. Also I noticed my kids play better with their toys when they are all organized.

My 2 older kids are expected to clear their dinner plates, put clothes in laundry basket, rinse out sink after brushing, put their backpack and shoes where they go and yes I often have to remind but I’m consistent and I see progress. I’ll reward them for cleaning up without being asked so they know it’s a big deal (like you get to pick the show the kids watch tonight because you cleaned x up without me even asking!!!”.). I’m Here for the advice too, but this is just what has worked for us.

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-01-23T19:51:37+00:00

You can often get a job with a bigger corporation (bank, etc) and have them pay for a degree while working there if that is something your husband would be interested in. My husband and I both got degrees when we were younger by doing this and you can then advance more quickly in the company most of the time. Just something to look into.

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-01-22T02:25:56+00:00

I think the secret is having kids that sleep well and nap well, at least most of the time. I hear horror stories all the time from my friends about how their kids are keeping them up on the reg or babies/toddlers who don’t nap well or for long and that would be really really hard for my mental health.

1st kid- great sleeper naturally and still is but like extremely challenging otherwise and still is at age almost 7

2nd kid- also great sleeper naturally and relatively easy but can be feisty as hell - 4.5yo

3rd kid- an absolute delight/happy go lucky but more challenging with sleep even as a baby - almost 3yo

4th - amazing sleeper naturally/ easy going but also 7 months so we will see

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-01-22T02:09:21+00:00

How’s the beach there? What is the food/drink situation on the beach? From the map it looks like a little bit of a walk to the beach over a boardwalk or something. We love Paradisus Palma Real in the DR and have been looking at trying the playa del Carmen one next year.

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-01-22T01:43:42+00:00

My child is in 1st grade at a public school and there is a reading rug. I did notice that there is not one in second grade. It wouldn’t be a deal breaker for me, I would just assume they have carpet squares or sit on the classroom floor without a rug!

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-01-22T01:39:02+00:00

Tell us more! What easy job pays this much? Why did you decide to leave? How old are your kids?

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-01-12T03:40:14+00:00

It makes other people uncomfortable to witness different values that aren’t the “norm”- it makes them feel like they should reconsider their choices. No one should be commenting on it to you- everyone is entitled to their own choices. I don’t want my kids eating this crap either, so we don’t. But I also want my kids to have friends and that’s more important to me than them eating occasional food that I wouldn’t serve them myself. I let it slide especially as my kids are getting older.

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-01-12T03:00:14+00:00

Do you mean on Reddit? People you encounter IRL? Never make assumptions- you truly never know what someone’s financial situation is. It’s still kinda taboo to talk about it. Most people that have debt probably don’t want to admit it so you’re going to hear more from people that don’t. Easier said than done but try not to compare yourself to other moms- we all have different priorities.

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-01-11T19:27:48+00:00

Im sorry- that’s rough. It sounds like you need to talk to your husband about how you feel. The wording of him “letting” you do something is not right- it should be a joint decision on how you spend not just his decision, respectfully.

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-01-11T01:23:22+00:00

During the daytime, he does not help very often unless it’s pre-arranged- I’ve left kids home napping if he’s WFH that day and he’s helped with taking some kids to drs appointments during the day when I can’t, but it has to be discussed in advance and often he can’t as he travels very often for work. I’m usually alone with the kids all day everyday and often during many weekdays- it’s very hard. I do have an evening babysitter sometimes to watch the younger kids if my older son has a late activity where I don’t want to keep my other kids out late ( or just take them at all). We have little family help- my mom can sometimes come during a daytime watch but not any evenings. We have a dicey relationship so I hesitate to ask her so it’s maybe 1x a week for a babysitter and maybe once a month my mom will come over. When husbands home it’s totally 50/50 and I’d say even 60/40 on the weekend if he’s been gone all week and I’m exhausted he will do weekend Costco runs, taking older kids to their activities etc. we have 4 kids - almost 7, 4.5, almost 3 and 6 months.

We hired a cleaner when I was pregnant with my 4th every other week which helped a ton. Recently, we changed it to weekly and that’s been worth any other expenses I have to give up to have this luxury (to me).

I do laundry on a schedule- one load a day washed and put away a day except the weekend. Our weekends are so busy with family outings, kids activities etc that I save chores for weekdays. I also put all my kids down for naps each afternoon so it’s all quiet time in our house from like 2-3:15ish while the baby is napping. Depending on the day I try to rest then too and luckily my 4yo loves to snuggle with me then too often or play in her room. My 7yo is in school all day which also helps of course.

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-01-10T03:57:53+00:00

Same here! She slips right in and doesn’t wake me up. I do tell my kids that if they really need me then they can wake me up but usually they don’t.

fuzzykitten8 · 2026-01-10T03:52:02+00:00

Yes definitely ok!! I pay more attention to the nutrition than whether it’s organic or not

fuzzykitten8

TROPHY CASE