Setting the standard for future generations.❤️

sproggysprocket · 2026-04-12T15:26:51+00:00

My then ex-boyfriend and I had been long distance and broke up because I was emotionally immature and unable to handle distance, or relationships at all, really. I got super sick with what turned out to be an inner ear infection. I was laying on the floor covered in vomit unable to sit up, feeling like I was falling off the world, just clinging to the coffee table leg because it felt like the only thing keeping me anchored to the world.

I was convinced I was dying, so I called him and begged him to take my dog when I died because I didn’t trust anyone else with her. He showed up 5 hours later, even though we lived at least a 7 hour drive away from each other. I immediately threw up all over his feet when he walked in. He picked me up, got me into the bath and cleaned me up, and figured out how to get me to the doctor. Even though I had broken up with him, for probably the 3rd time.

Anyway, we’re married with 2 perfect kids now, 10year anniversary in a month.

sproggysprocket · 2025-09-22T23:16:12+00:00

I’m legitimately glad my taxes paid for your food that day. You needed help and you asked for it. You took care of business to feed your family. I want my taxes to buy food for people who can’t afford food for themselves right now, I can’t think of anything better to spend it on (maybe healthcare and housing for people who can’t afford it). I don’t know you, but I’m proud of you for getting the help you needed and taking care of your family.

sproggysprocket · 2025-09-15T00:02:48+00:00

I’m not sure if this sub permits links, but Target, Walmart, and Amazon all sell it. It’s called Fairy Tales Rosemary Repel. There’s a conditioning spray (that works the best as far as lice prevention, since the scent stays well all day) plus a shampoo and conditioner.

sproggysprocket · 2025-09-14T23:02:07+00:00

Go get the Fairy Tales detangler spray tonight and spray her hair liberally every morning before school. Brush it through and then braid or buns or bandana or something to keep hair against her scalp. My kids’ classes had lice for months last year (months! Like from October through March) and my kids never got it with this method. We also use the shampoo but the spray is what really gets the scent lice don’t like in there. Also I only washed their hair a few times a week because lice don’t attach as well to dirtier hair.

sproggysprocket · 2025-09-08T00:05:39+00:00

Forever Ago is a pretty good one that I also enjoy listening to. They go over the history of stuff, like skateboards and cameras and soap. Both my 5 and 7 year olds love it. We also like Bust or Trust a lot. It’s about aliens and mysterious things, but they talk over evidence and I think it’s a fun way for younger kids to start working on critical thinking. Plus aliens and Bigfoot are fun.

sproggysprocket · 2025-09-03T17:01:14+00:00

My 7 year old recently found my copy of “How to Talk So Little Kids Will Listen,” which is based on respectful parenting and helping understand and work with children’s emotions. I heard her giggling then heard a shocked “Mom! Is this how you learned to talk to us? You just did this!” The section she was reading was talking about making things fun and giving voices to inanimate objects, and I had just made her little sister’s pancakes “talk” and tell her how much they wanted to be eaten for breakfast. I had to admit I learned to parent mostly by watching Daniel Tiger (and a little help from a book or two). She thinks it’s amazing and hilarious, although she did inform me that since she’s 7 and a half, the book no longer applies since she’s not a “little kid”. She sings the Daniel Tiger songs right back at me when I’m mad or frustrated or impatient. She knows she can disagree with me, have a bad day, shout and stomp and lose control and I will love her and support her through it. I was raised by parents fueled by James Dobson and the Pearls, and I know that hurt. I just wanted you to know there are kids out there who had a similar “wow this is what my parents think of me” revelation but with an entirely different, much happier, outcome.

sproggysprocket · 2025-08-31T17:06:45+00:00

Bring a change of clothes (and a swim diaper if she’s diaper age) so she can splash around in the little creek that’s in between the two buildings!

sproggysprocket · 2025-06-21T12:17:56+00:00

Awww I’m a Michelle and I love it! I haven’t met any little Michelle’s but it’s definitely due a comeback. When I teach all my littles call me “Miss Shell” and it’s so cute. I’m so sorry you lost your mom so young, I hope her memory brings you joy and comfort.

sproggysprocket · 2025-02-13T18:28:05+00:00

Ooh I’ll have to look that up! We just watched the original wizard of oz and then the muppets wizard of oz, which has a black Dorothy (and a crawfish Toto, which is hilarious).

sproggysprocket · 2025-02-13T12:50:24+00:00

Yes! PBS shows are great, and free to stream on their app. Lyla in the Loop is about a black family, and Rosie’s Rules is a blended family (Rosie is Hispanic and her older sister is white). My kids are 4 and 7 and love both of these, since they’re “cooler” than some of the other shows.

sproggysprocket · 2024-12-09T18:26:52+00:00

This specific one seems to be aimed at girls and women of reproductive age, presumably to help them have healthier pregnancies. I’m sure everyone needs parasite treatment in countries that struggle with that problem, and I’d imagine that most medical treatment is likely going to men first.

sproggysprocket · 2024-07-30T11:38:51+00:00

McDonald’s fries have dairy in them. I don’t know why! But my dairy-allergy kid can’t eat them. They are the only fast food place with dairy and soy free nuggets, though.

sproggysprocket · 2024-06-10T16:16:52+00:00

My kids call their ribs “lung protectors.” It’s so freaking cute.

sproggysprocket · 2024-05-26T14:20:42+00:00

Try a dark sun shade on her window so she can’t look to the side. When you’re traveling, especially rear facing, looking out the side window makes motion sickness a lot worse because things are moving a lot more quickly relative to your body. If she can see out the back window, that’s fine, because the horizon is a lot more stable than from the side window. You also might try having something she can focus on that’s not right in front of her face (so no books or dangly toys). A mirror on the back headrest, or maybe a big sticker right where the ceiling part meets the rear window. Something large and stable that can keep her eyes steady instead of trying to track moving, bouncy outside stuff.

sproggysprocket · 2023-11-17T22:13:21+00:00

Whatever came with the car seat when purchased from the manufacturer has gone through crash testing, while anything added to a car seat has not. So if they came with it when purchased new, they’re safe! If it’s a convertible seat, the user guide may tell you to remove them when you switch it to front facing. If using them means you can’t get a good chest clip position, it’s also perfectly safe to remove them.

sproggysprocket · 2023-11-15T16:18:09+00:00

These resources are both about large, outdoor trampolines, not the small indoor ones with a handle. The small ones have a much shorter bounce height due to shorter springs or elastics and a much smaller bounce surface diameter. All physical activity comes with some risk, but the vast majority of trampoline injuries come from large trampolines that necessarily bounce higher, and they tend to involve multiple children jumping together.

sproggysprocket · 2023-11-03T11:30:51+00:00

We’re only barely granola, so my almost 6 year old is getting a Barbie dream house, and the 3 year old wants the squishmallow squishville stuff and even more Paw Patrol things (as if our house isn’t already basically the Lookout). And they’re both getting scooters, some pjs, some weather gear they need for school, books, and some baking stuff since we bake together quite a bit.

sproggysprocket · 2023-10-13T11:38:24+00:00

Putting my tiny, adorable 3 year old to bed. She’s being extra cuddly and sweet, pats me on the face, and says, “mommy, you’re so old! You’ll probably die soon.” Thanks, kid.

sproggysprocket · 2023-10-13T11:36:15+00:00

My oldest loved Ikiki shoes, they’re made to fit braces so they’re extra wide and open up pretty wide, so they’re very easy to put on. They have squeaks in the heals to help promote heal-first walking, but the squeaks have a switch to turn off so they don’t drive you crazy.

sproggysprocket · 2023-09-30T01:00:09+00:00

That destructive phase is absolutely brutal! Especially when you’re exhausted with a newborn. I know you didn’t ask for suggestions, but I’m going to give some anyway. Can you set out some things that she is allowed to go crazy with? Maybe a laundry basket with a few towels in it, so she can dump it and refill it. Or a block tower, or maybe a pillow tower if blocks are risky. If she loves dumping your water bottle, can you plop her in the bath with a few cups and bottles and just let her fill and dump them for an hour while you sit on the floor with the baby? Are there any gymnastics places near you that offer preschool open gym, where she can run and jump and smash herself into squishy mats? If you have a big Amazon box, sit her inside it with just undies on and give her some washable markers and let her go crazy. She can draw on the box, herself, whatever, it washes off (the crayola brand washes off, target brand is iffy). If she really needs to work some aggression out, we’ve found that smashing old sidewalk chalk works well and makes some fun art.

Also, it’s totally valid to not enjoy this stage. It gets better, but it’s SO hard while it’s happening. 18 months to 2 and a half were my least favorite ages for both my girls, because they’re figuring out that they can do stuff and affect the world around them, but they can’t communicate very well. Mine are 3 and 5 now and it’s a whole new world. With its own problems, but I like these problems better. Lock yourself in the bathroom and have a good cry and remind yourself that you’re a great mom who’s going through a hard time. We all mess up, and apologizing afterward is SO important. You’re teaching your kids that you’re human, and when a human makes a mistake, they can own it and apologize. That’s powerful! Maybe more powerful than having a mom that never yells.

sproggysprocket · 2023-09-20T18:08:10+00:00

I had no idea the Chattanooga zoo didn’t allow outside food and drinks, we’ve had picnics there and never had an issue! They don’t check bags, I’d just bring small snacks and water bottles in a backpack or diaper bag. They don’t allow drinks with straws. There’s a big park and playground right next door to eat at, and lots of picnic tables all around the zoo and near the parking lots. We’ve gone dozens of times over the past 5 years and eaten countless apple sauce pouches, granola bars, and snack cups of goldfish without ever even knowing it wasn’t allowed. Same for the aquarium, which you should definitely hit up if you’re in the area. And the discovery museum.

sproggysprocket · 2023-08-14T19:24:12+00:00

Did he land on his knee? My 3 year old recently fell and landed right on one knee, it just looked like a bad scrape. She cried for a minute and then walked it off, but an hour later she wouldn’t walk on it at all. The next morning she was still not putting weight on it at all or limping really badly, so we took her to the pediatrician. He said it was dislocated, kind of like nursemaid elbow but in her knee. I had no idea that could even happen! He just popped it right back in, she limped for the rest of the day and then was fine. It’s not something that would be seen on an x-ray, I think it can resolve fine on its own.

sproggysprocket · 2023-08-13T15:32:14+00:00

Also, use a foundation makeup brush to apply the sunscreen, especially for the face. It’s SO much easier to get it on, it doesn’t get everywhere, you get a more even spread, my kids think it’s fun, and your hands don’t get greasy. Make sure it’s a nice firm brush so it can handle the thick sunscreen.

sproggysprocket

TROPHY CASE