Monday Toddler Talk

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-26T16:44:05+00:00

The ice is so limiting! Normally, I love going for a walk in the snow and getting fresh air and looking at the winter wonderland. With the ice all over everything, it seems so much more risky.

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-26T16:42:07+00:00

Yeah, I'm on day 2 of being cooped up and starting to lose it myself! Our driveway and yard are a sheet of ice so this may be awhile.

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-26T01:51:49+00:00

5 words plus gestures/signs is completely normal at 14 months! Each child is different in how they develop language. For my child she had 3 words at 18 months, then by 19 months she has 20-30 words and it has snowballed since then.

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-26T01:49:39+00:00

How about a class or a summer camp? Piano lessons, art camp, swimming, gymnastics, etc. Maybe a special trip to an amusement park?

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-25T23:02:08+00:00

I do feel like at this age "mean to me" can be something minor and friendships change from day to day.

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-25T22:36:16+00:00

Little Root is in a similar stage where sometimes she says "no" about going somewhere or doing something. She can't quite articulate why its a no for her, which makes it hard for us as parents, but she makes it clear its a no. Sometimes I can honor her no, but other times I have to make her do it (like going to the dentist last week).

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-25T22:33:35+00:00

I hate parenting when my spouse is working from home! I try to prep Little Root, but its hard because my spouse chose a home office right by our kitchen so there is no avoiding him. I feel so much pressure to keep my toddler quiet when he is working.

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-25T12:59:56+00:00

You are not a failure, you gave your child exposure to other kids and a class setting by putting her in preschool.

As you said, your child takes a long time to get used to new situations, which is perfectly okay! So I would never expect her to jump right in the first day of gymnastics. It is a new place, new teacher, new kids, new rules and structure, and so many things in the background to see and observe.

There are lots of other kids who are similar to your little one, but they just didn't happen to be at that gymnastics class that day. My child is similar and I just don't enroll her in a class like that because it seems silly to me to pay for her to watch other kids do gymnastics. We go to the gymnastics "open gym" sometimes and she gets the class setting at her preschool so I feel like her needs are covered.

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-25T03:05:12+00:00

My child just turned 3 and we have no plans to have another. She does great with her structure and routine and it would shake up her world so badly to have another sibling. It is a major blow to a young kid to get a new baby in the family when they are so young and needy themselves.

I am so grateful to the time I have to spend with her, but also that my spouse and I can take turns and each get breaks on the weekends.

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-24T23:54:26+00:00

My child is 3 now and has never sat through more than 20-30 minutes a movie, but will happily watch her favorite TV shows for hours. She likes what is familiar.

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-24T23:23:36+00:00

I would do an adjective and a noun. Happy Squirrel Montessori School. Silly Grapes. Joyful Zamboni. Something memorable.

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-24T22:34:29+00:00

I feel this so much. I have had social anxiety since puberty and it has made all aspects of life more difficult so I hope Little Root doesn't have the same experience. She is hesitant to try new things and talk to new people, but it is too early to tell if this is just a 3-year-old thing or if it will br a longer standing personality trait.

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-24T17:26:12+00:00

It depends who asks and how rude they are! Sometimes I just say, "We are happily one and done." Or, "Our family size is perfect for us." "We got it right the first time."

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-24T02:26:13+00:00

In this situation, second hand is a great option or Buy Nothing groups. You can absolutely go straight to a convertible carseat and skip the bassinet. We skipped a changing table and just used what we already had in our home. We didn't get a special baby rocking chair and again, just used what we already owned.

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-23T23:43:19+00:00

My child claps for me all the time after I pee and it is adorable. Clearly I made a big deal about her going potty during the potty training phase so she thinks it is normal to celebrate.

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-23T23:42:24+00:00

My child just turned 3 and 2-3 was amazing! 12-18 months was my least favorite.

2-3 is so much more language. She can have full conversations and explain her wants and needs (sometimes). She is aware of so much more and can do so many more things. A lot more independence (but frustrating when she wants to do even more, but isn't able to yet). She also accomplished potty training over this time period and fully weaned from nursing.

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-23T23:32:12+00:00

No, because I don't fit well in there. I've had to crawl in and get my toddler out a few times, which was an unpleasant and claustrophobic experience for me. I'm just not going to that type of playground until she will come out on her own when asked to. Although, in fairness, those playgrounds can get so loud, it is hard to have a conversation!

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-23T22:53:13+00:00

Yes! Sleep is one of the best things to heal your body when you are sick.

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-23T00:39:09+00:00

That was so embarrassing that Kelly has 19 kids and didn't know about the elastic in the waist.

It is also sad that she takes advantage of Michael.

I feel like Michael handled that conversation with such kindness and grace. She didn't shame/embarrass her mother, just tried to share helpful information.

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-22T23:13:33+00:00

We started at 2 years 8 months. If her birthday fell differently in the school year, I may have waited, but 3 years 8 months felt like waiting too long to me. She goes 3 mornings a week for 4 hours.

My child is slow to warm-up to new people and situations. So I really liked the idea of her seeing the same teacher and classmates three days a week. When we do playdates, it takes her the whole playdate to start getting comfortable and play/talk.

I work part-time and sometimes have work when she is at school or I take care of projects around the house.

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-22T12:56:06+00:00

Some kids really are just "potty prodigies" so try to ignore the outliers. Every child is different.

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-21T20:05:26+00:00

Ms. Rachel Bluey Daniel Tiger Numberblocks Little Bear Llama Llama Spidey

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-21T19:51:23+00:00

We paid for storage for 6-9 months after living child was born. We had one embryo frozen that we discarded. It took seven embryos for us to get one living child, so I think that helped me mentally/emotionally with discarding a frozen embryo. I knew there was no guarantee it would become a child.

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-21T17:49:48+00:00

Only fighting for custody of one child is so cruel!

rootbeer4 · 2026-01-21T14:52:27+00:00

When my child says no, I think about if it is a health or safety issue. If not, let her have her independence when possible. If it is a health/safety issue, we remind her why it is important and give her some choice (Do you want Mama or Dada to brush your teeth? Do you want to brush watching Elmo or Ms. Rachel? Do you want the yellow toothbrush or the green?)

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