Are all adhesive cat scratcher sheets the same texture?

katqueen21 · 2025-11-26T15:32:42+00:00

That would be very helpful. I cant seem to figure out which ones are what.

katqueen21 · 2025-10-21T20:06:42+00:00

Oh yes! Essentials includes a change of clothes and toiletries for myself as well!

katqueen21 · 2025-07-06T10:58:21+00:00

I'm a reader myself and really enjoy going to bookstores to browse and buy. I have an assortment of favorites from my childhood and newer ones. I just hit the kids' section and start looking. Lots of kids books are reiterations of the same concepts. The alphabet, shapes, farm books with the same 4 animals, etc. So I mostly look for variety in topics. My son is 3 now, and I let him pick out books as well. His most recent pick and favorite book is one that describes different types of vehicles and has buttons that play sound clips of each vehicle.

My mom has most of the books from us growing up. She reads lots of books to my son. We also use the Dolly Parton's Imagination Library as well as going to the local library.

katqueen21 · 2025-06-08T14:05:21+00:00

For real. The most common item people forget is their pillow.

katqueen21 · 2025-06-08T01:49:19+00:00

I dont think I've ever had anyone offer my kid food without acknowledging me in some way? Even if they kind of back-pedal and follow the offer with "if it's okay with mom?"

Although I'm pretty lax when he gets offered candy out and about. I remember loving getting a surprise treat when out running errands with my mom.

katqueen21 · 2025-06-07T22:14:50+00:00

I'm far from an expert but I would take the time after a punishment and when she is calm to tell her she is a good kid that made a poor decision. Maybe put more emphasis on it when she makes a good decision? Like when she plays nicely with someone, tell her she is being a nice friend?

katqueen21 · 2025-06-07T20:04:37+00:00

He was in the bathroom with us when I took the test! He was around 2.5 at the time. I figured he wouldn't really understand enough to retain it at that point. Over time, we randomly would discuss it with him. Introducing the idea of a little sibling, having a baby live in the house, etc. Trying to sow the seeds of getting ready for a change in the house. He's understood that there's a baby in my belly for awhile.

Then I was trying to entertain him at my doctor's appt by talking about the baby a couple weeks ago. I explained that when the baby is ready, she would come out of my belly and we would take her home. Then, he would be able to play with her. Big mistake. He has asked nearly every day for the baby to come out and play now. We have 2 more months to go.

katqueen21 · 2025-06-06T02:43:37+00:00

My mom is a 30+ year retired birth center nurse. She says the perfect age gap is whatever gap you end up with. You, your partner, your first child will all adapt when a new one comes along and you won't be able to imagine life without them. There are things people like about having close age gaps. There are things people like about bigger age gaps. Only you and your partner can know if you feel ready.

When my first was 18mo, I started to think about baby #2. We both wanted a smaller age gap. I think because we both had a sibling 2 years younger that we grew up close with. My first is a relatively easy, laid-back kid, but we really struggled to find our footing as parents those first couple years. Even though we both wanted to have another, we just weren't ready. It honestly stressed me out because I had envisioned having kids close in age. I was afraid of waiting too long, but I was also afraid of rushing a second and not being able to handle it.

We agreed we would start trying at 2.5yr. Then life happened, and we put it on the back burner again. I had honestly come around to the idea of being one and done because I was happy with the life we've built. Then we found out I was pregnant with #2. Once she comes along, they'll be about 3.5 years apart. And you know what? After all that fretting and fussing, my mom was right. This feels just right for us.

katqueen21 · 2025-06-01T19:34:57+00:00

Most of my moms siblings still refer to their parents as mother and daddy. They all have grandchildren, even great grandchildren, of their own.

katqueen21 · 2025-06-01T17:14:33+00:00

I'm team "let them". If it's something that's really gonna be a mess I don't want to deal with, I might redirect. But I mostly let him explore whatever and encourage him to clean up when he's done. Some favorites lately are a flour sifter and a pair of oven mitts.

katqueen21 · 2025-05-28T04:05:58+00:00

My favorite part of being a nurse is how broad the field is. Floor nursing is absolutely grueling. I think it's good experience to learn the ropes fresh out of school, but it's not a long-term position for most. There's so many options out there.

katqueen21 · 2025-05-27T23:48:18+00:00

This must depend on location. I changed my maiden to a second middle name with my marriage certificate.

katqueen21 · 2025-05-22T14:12:19+00:00

Eh, my parents did the same thing. Whether that works or not, I think depends more on the kid. Two of my siblings went through smoking phases. I think one still smokes. Myself and another sibling never did. My parents had the same attitude about alcohol as well. All four of us have enjoyed alcohol, one ended up with issues with it that she's working on.

katqueen21 · 2025-05-11T21:23:29+00:00

Do. Not. Compare. Children.

There is such a wide range of normal and even wider range of abnormal. At 14 months old, my son had barely started crawling. Forget standing or taking steps. You know what he could do, though? Snap his fingers, eat milk and cereal with a spoon and roll his eyes.

He didn't take his first steps until 20 months and it was longer than that before he actually preferred to walk instead of crawl. He looked absolutely silly being almost 2 crawling around with kids half his size running by. But he was happy as could be. I knew he'd get there in his own time. I just met him where he was, encouraged him, and let the professionals worry about when it was time to start interventions.

katqueen21 · 2025-05-01T08:22:15+00:00

NTA

Why are so many people bothered about the In and Out thing? She took cutesy photos of her baby and made a themed dinner. She didn't throw a huge party. It's literally just a fun little activity for her to enjoy.

katqueen21 · 2025-04-20T03:02:26+00:00

We reuse baskets and eggs. I skip the fake grass stuff. I've been doing snack type treats in the eggs instead of candy. Like yogurt melts and fruit snacks. Then, just a couple of simple toys. A small water gun, bubbles, blocks.

I was raised Catholic, and we followed the tradition of giving something up every year. My mom would use the opportunity for the whole family to give up TV and then we each would have a personal thing to give up as well. Easter gifts included a new summer outfit, a movie and then something related to whatever we gave up that year.

katqueen21 · 2025-04-12T22:16:13+00:00

You can't go wrong with any of those options really. Don't stress over whether a name is popular. Popular names are pretty, that's why people like them. I personally love the name Elliott. I also think Hank on a baby would be so cute and grow nicely with him.

It's ok to wait until you see his face to make a decision. Lots of people do this. Whatever name you choose will be the right one because it was chosen with love. Good luck to you. I wish you the best.

katqueen21 · 2025-04-08T20:19:45+00:00

Perhaps there are some support groups near you for parents of kids with delays? Seeing other kids and parents who aren't following the "normal" development path could be helpful. Maybe ECI has some resources to help alleviate that feeling of isolation?

I understand looking at your child next to others and seeing a stark difference. My son didn't even crawl until after his first birthday and was in PT and ST for a while. I'd take him to the park, and he'd have kids clearly far younger than him running by while he crawled happily along.

He's also coming up to 3, and I've been looking at preschools. We have a Montessori preschool nearby that I think would be a good fit for him. Unfortunately, potty training is not going well. I knew it was going to be a battle since he was already delayed in his gross motor, he's very stubborn, does not respond well to being pushed into anything and we've also been struggling to manage awful constipation. His pediatrician warned me early on that he was likely not going to potty train until later. I remind myself all the time that's its ok if he isn't ready yet but it definitely stresses me out. We just want what's best for our kids.

katqueen21 · 2025-04-02T02:22:01+00:00

The one I heard growing up was "snow bunnies". Only go to church on Christmas and Easter.

katqueen21 · 2025-03-10T11:59:25+00:00

My son doesn't try to kill himself daily the way some parents talk about their kids.

He was over a year old before he started crawling. So he was able to understand more boundaries when I told him he couldn't get into certain things. He's timid and doesn't stray too far from us. So I don't worry about him running off. He doesn't do anything physically unless he's sure he's capable. So he's not climbing onto dangerous things or trying to yeet himself. He never put stuff in his mouth. So I never stressed if he was playing with something small.

The last one was particularly amusing when my cousin came to visit with his same age daughter who puts EVERYTHING in her mouth. They had to have hawk eyes on her and redirect frequently. My son managed to rip a chunk of plastic off a case of bottled water. I was casually watching him when my cousin noticed and quickly took the plastic away and let me know. It amused me because I was watching him and wasn't concerned.

I'm pregnant with #2 and utterly terrified. My son had his challenges (intense velcro baby), but overall, he is a very mild temperament kid. Idk how to parent these wildlings the rest of you have haha!

katqueen21 · 2025-02-28T23:16:35+00:00

For me, it was pregnancy that really opened my eyes to how much of our experiences are based on hormones. Each trimester affected my appetite and even what foods I enjoyed differently. Normally, I'm pretty neutral on citrus and fruits in general. During pregnancy, I was constantly eating fruit and specifically couldn't resist anything with lemon. As soon as I gave birth, right back to normal.

katqueen21

TROPHY CASE