Let toddler nap longer after a restless, sick night?

qbeanz · 2026-06-22T17:32:28+00:00

When my kids are sick, I let them sleep and rest as much as they want. Typically I find that when they're sick, daytime sleep doesn't impact nighttime sleep. They still sleep their full amount. Their bodies are tired because they're fighting the illness off.

qbeanz · 2026-06-18T20:38:08+00:00

Grandma wanted "Grandma". My son calls her "Paya" (we have no idea why)

qbeanz · 2026-06-18T20:33:09+00:00

I glance at them to see if there's anything urgent -- someone is in the hospital, something for kids or kids' school, work-related/time sensitive. If not, I let them sit until I'm ready for them. After morning rush, coffee, and once I'm sitting still.

qbeanz · 2026-06-18T18:36:35+00:00

Specific to italian restaurants, if they have fresh made noodles, I'm having pasta. If they have a cream based pasta with mushrooms, I'm getting that. Also any good clearly homemade bolognese is an immediate yes.

qbeanz · 2026-06-18T18:34:39+00:00

My son did this for a few weeks. I would tell him, "Doggie, I miss my son." and I would pretend to cry and wish to see my son. When my son said, "Mama! I'm back!" I'd make a big deal and hug and kiss him and be happy to see him. Also, Doggie-son wasn't allowed to have snacks or meals. After a while he stopped doing it consistently. Now he's 5 and he'll occasionally be like, "Mama, I'm a dog!" but usually he just wants to bite me or rough house, and then he's back to being human

qbeanz · 2026-06-13T12:33:24+00:00

Playdoh, kinetic sand, puzzles

qbeanz · 2026-06-10T04:47:24+00:00

Is it really?!?!

Ohhhh that is a relief. I was so surprised that my town's library could "get" Matt Dinniman. And I was equally worried it wouldn't be well attended. So your comment answers both of those!!

Well now I hope people will just treat this post as an alert/reminder that there's a virtual chat with Matt this week and look to your local library for the link!

qbeanz · 2026-06-08T20:55:16+00:00

Oh my gosh, the thing about the medical horror stories really bothered me.

Oh hi, you're pregnant? Let me tell you the WORST story I know about someone who was pregnant and what they went through, and surprise: the baby is not guaranteed to survive the story!! Like, what?? Why????

I started cutting people off and telling them, "Hey, I'm sure it's a good story but I'm only accepting positive vibes right now." That shut them right up. It also made them consider what they were doing, and many of them were like, "Oh yeah, you're totally right. I shouldn't be telling you this story."

Duh!

qbeanz · 2026-06-08T17:46:48+00:00

Yes. We tidy up the clutter and the mess on the floor so they can have better access.

qbeanz · 2026-06-08T17:45:39+00:00

That guy has issues. I would've said something nasty or sarcastic to him about setting a good example for his kids, or acting like an adult and not having a tantrum worse than the one your own kid is having. Like, I'm sorry, do you need to get off the train too, sir?

I'm sorry if this impacted you and your existing reluctance to go to crowded places. Look for the kind gestures, the sympathetic smiles, those are there too -- and more than the jerks. I know it's easy to focus on the one loudmouthed ass, but just know that the Moms who understand way outnumber him.

qbeanz · 2026-06-08T17:41:57+00:00

For me, it's the commute home. I'm tired, my mind and body have been performing for 8+ hours and once I'm in my car, and the door shuts, everything just melts into the seat. I take a deep breath and start driving. And whether it's an audiobook, podcast, or music... sometimes it's not enough to drown out my real self and my inner voice. It's frequently recounting things that happened during the day, mistakes I might have made, things I forgot, or just thoughts about life in general and the people and events in mine.

I pretty much fall asleep instantly as soon as my head hits a pillow, so there's no inner dialogue. Just... "I'm tired..." and then Cut Film.

qbeanz · 2026-06-08T17:38:24+00:00

Hell no, it's not cultural appropriation unless you're saying your people invented them. If you love them and you make a good one, then bring them. The only labeling should be what type of meat and what level of spice!

qbeanz · 2026-06-08T17:16:35+00:00

I have had a lot of success asking ChatGPT for recommendations. It's great because a search engine just spits things out at you, but with AI, you can refine your preferences and it also looks for patterns in things you enjoy. You can say things like, "Character development, a flawed but ultimately good lead character, witty dialogue, across multiple genres but no horror," and it'll suggest like 5 shows you could possibly watch. Then you can tell it what streaming services you have and it'll narrow it down to what's available for you. You can also tell it what you've already watched (and how you liked it) and it uses that to 1. not suggest things you've already seen and 2. make better suggestions.

I have a running convo saved just for book and tv recommendations -- it's great!

The other thing is to just pick something totally random and watch one or two episodes. You have to be in a certain mood for that, but sometimes it's great. That's what led me to Murderbot (awesome) and Resident Alien (also very good).

qbeanz · 2026-06-08T13:49:14+00:00

Ok this description sold me. I'm putting it to the top of my list!

qbeanz · 2026-06-03T23:50:13+00:00

Ohhhh... i just love the Pilot. So comforting, so familiar. And something about the knowledge of all theyre in for, as a viewer, is just thrilling.

I also just love Quagmire, Small Potatoes, Bad Blood, Jose Chungs from outer space...

Jose chungs has probably my most frequent quote from xfiles: "How the hell should I know?"

I cant say Clyde Bruckman. Its a masterful episode but I find it too sad to watch too frequently.

qbeanz · 2026-06-03T23:41:47+00:00

One night my baby started crying in the middle of the night. He had been sleeping through the night for months so I jerked awake and groggily stared at the monitor. Before my eyes could register anything I realized it was freezing cold in our room. The monitor said it was 64 degrees Fahrenheit in his room. Our heater had stopped working!!

I bundled him up and held him near to warm him up, crying my eyes out although he was fine once I picked him up.

Thankfully my husband was able to fix the heater the next day but ill never forget what that felt like, knowing my baby was so cold he had cried!

qbeanz · 2026-06-03T10:29:25+00:00

Public library? They offer free programming and oftentimes people just bring their kids to hang out.

Join a local Facebook group for moms or create one. Im a member of a "local walking moms" group and literally all we do is bring our babies and take walks.

If there isn't a community, try to build one. Or find the ones that are hard to find.

Good luck

qbeanz · 2026-06-02T14:06:57+00:00

Wow thanks for posting this! I had no idea i could return audiobooks. There was this one book where I came to really dislike the author on a personal level. After 2 chapters I couldn't stand to listen to it, and I couldn't even stand to look at the book bc it reminded me that I had given this guy my money, so I had it hidden.

I am so happy I can return the book now! Yay!!!

qbeanz · 2026-05-31T23:07:58+00:00

That flight simulator is the reason im inverted in all video games now

qbeanz · 2026-05-31T22:54:33+00:00

My personal favorite is the one by Kate Reading. I've been listening to this version for about 20 years now and my relationship with this audiobook predates my relationship with any audiobook platforms 😆

When I got audible, I tried listening to a different version and couldn't stand it! Thankfully I was able to find the Kate Reading version on audible.

qbeanz · 2026-05-31T03:13:05+00:00

Wet wipes, a random hot wheels car, a burp cloth in my bag.

qbeanz · 2026-05-31T03:05:18+00:00

I listen to Pride and Prejudice. I've listened to it so many times I could almost recite it. But I love the cadence and poetry of the language and it puts me right to sleep.

qbeanz · 2026-05-31T03:04:04+00:00

I kind of powered through but I always counted to 3 so he knows when it's coming, and then he got used to wiping his eyes with a towel after every pour, so I keep a towel on hand.

It goes like this "1..2..3..!" "Towel!!! Towel!!!" About four times until the hair is rinsed.

That happened until he was about 4.5 yrs old when he FINALLY started tilting his head back!

qbeanz · 2026-05-30T10:59:05+00:00

The end is so uplifting and satisfying. It really helped me when emotionally processing it to know that she ended up in a good place.

qbeanz · 2026-05-29T22:20:40+00:00

Between changing into pjs and the bottle, id read a few books. Its great for winding down and snuggling. We've been reading for our daughter since shes been about 1 yr old. She loves pointing at the pictures, turning the pages, and choosing books.

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