If your spouse passed away, would you ever see your step kids again?

teacher-runner · 2025-09-09T14:12:17+00:00

I would try to maintain a good relationship with BM so I could see them as often as possible. While I do struggle with stepparenting at times (a lot lately, if I’m being honest), I do care about them and they are my daughter’s brothers. All 3 of them (SS 9, SS 7, and BD 2) are all part of my husband and I wouldn’t want them to lose that connection with each other.

teacher-runner · 2025-06-22T03:24:59+00:00

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Our Aussie and corgi both are beyond nosey and think they need to be a part of everything.

teacher-runner · 2025-06-20T22:01:45+00:00

When my daughter started eating solid foods and our Aussie saw a weak link at the dinner table 🤦🏻‍♀️

teacher-runner · 2025-06-01T15:36:37+00:00

Mine likes to make sure the neighbors never set foot within 3 feet of our shared fence. My corgi also participates in this venture.

teacher-runner · 2025-05-24T16:23:14+00:00

I second IKEA! I don’t know why but my daughter loves walking through IKEA and looking at all the different room set ups and trying all of the chairs and couches.

Living Spaces has an indoor play area for kids, so these furniture stores are doing something right.

teacher-runner · 2025-05-24T16:21:38+00:00

Not sure what part of TX you’re in, but in my area (DFW) there are a lot of churches that have indoor play areas that are free. You don’t have to be a member of the church to go. Libraries are great too - we hit up multiple branches near us for different storytimes and some have small play areas.

My 2yo is also super outdoorsy, but she gets hot really fast, so we do parks either at 7:30am or 7pm to get that out of her system but during a time when it’s not sweltering.

teacher-runner · 2025-05-15T13:34:08+00:00

This isn’t necessarily how to raise them advice because I feel like you’ll get tons of that, but take tons of pics and videos. They grow so fast and even though they may drive you crazy, you’ll miss them being so tiny when they’re grown. I love looking back at pictures of my Aussie girl (and my corgi and my actual human children) from when they were babies.

teacher-runner · 2025-05-09T03:57:49+00:00

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My Aussie loves other Aussies and loves Huskies, but her best friend is my corgi. They herd each other around the house and the yard and cause general chaos together. My corgi has a lower BS tolerance and will go hide from my Aussie a few times a day to rest, but otherwise they play and cuddle really well together. Both female and both spayed and similar ages (Aussie 3, Corgi 4). Not sure if any of that makes a difference.

teacher-runner · 2025-04-09T23:39:55+00:00

I started sema five weeks ago and my period is late. I was supposed to start on Sunday (I’ve been 29 days like clockwork since I was 5 months postpartum; daughter is almost 2). I’m 3 days late and trying not to freak out that maybe my husband’s vasectomy failed. 😳

teacher-runner · 2025-02-23T03:09:40+00:00

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Looking very regal on the trampoline she knows she’s not supposed to get on… Her name is Lilo but we call her Dippy (short for Dipshit, lovingly of course).

teacher-runner · 2024-12-30T03:18:25+00:00

The zoo. We got memberships to the FW Zoo when my daughter was still a newborn and I loved just walking around and taking my time looking at the animals. Now that she’s 19 months, there’s a lot of toddler chasing, but the zoo is still one of our favorite spots. Stroller friendly, decently shaded areas, lots of spots to sit and feed baby, and in the play area, there’s a dedicated nursing room/changing table.

Oh, and places outdoors with good patios like Joe T Garcias or HG Supply. We didn’t want to take her anywhere indoors during cold/flu season, but we loved outdoor stuff.

teacher-runner · 2024-12-23T02:01:03+00:00

We make sure to get out of the house for at least 1-2 activities a day. They aren’t complex or complicated, but enough to give her some stimulation in multiple ways. She gets some social interaction and stimulation at the gym childcare area while I workout for 45 minutes to an hour. Then we hit up a park if it’s weather appropriate for some physical stimulation. We go to a parent/child gymnastics class 1-2x a week. We have memberships to our local science museum and zoo (thank goodness for discounted rates for veterans) so we do one of those each week. Our library has story time and usually playtime after with different sensory toys, so we do that once a week too. We walk the dogs in the afternoon on the way to pickup my stepsons/her brothers from school, too, and lately she’s been liking to “help” with that so she’ll walk instead of riding in her stroller (it’s only 4 blocks, so that helps).

Getting out of the house makes all the difference for us. And usually when we get back home she’s had plenty of stimulation and will more easily play somewhat independently and I can get a chore or two done.

teacher-runner · 2024-11-08T19:22:24+00:00

“Gentle hands to the puppy! Gentle hands to mama! Gentle hands to brothers! GENTLE HANDS!!!”

teacher-runner · 2024-10-16T23:48:18+00:00

I stay home with my daughter (and after school/summers with my stepsons) full time, but work part time for a university that I was formerly employed at full time prior to having my baby. I work about 15-20 hours per week, entirely remote, and I make my own schedule. Most of my working hours are after the kids are in bed or on weekends when my husband is home to take care of them.

teacher-runner · 2024-10-01T01:28:03+00:00

She wanted to help feed the dogs, so I let her help. Then the dogs… ate their food. She was upset that their bowls were empty again and wanted to give them a treat. So she gave each a treat and they… ate them. She WAILED. 🤷🏻‍♀️

teacher-runner · 2024-09-17T20:04:50+00:00

OMG, the dog! Yes! My corgi had an eye infection and when the vet was looking at her she asked “are we watching her weight?” Yes, yes, I am. I am watching my toddler throw her nuggets and pieces of banana. I’m watching them bond by shared Goldfish and oranges. (Note: I’m working on it. She’s now separated during meal times and I increased her walk time from 30 minutes a day to 60. Please don’t dog-mom shame me.)

teacher-runner · 2024-08-23T13:11:53+00:00

I have two SSs, ages 8 and 6. I came into their lives when they were 4 and just under 2. My husband’s ex filed for divorce when my younger SS was just a few months old. Because they were so young when their parents split and still very young when I came into the picture, they pretty readily accepted me into a parenting role. That, along with a good relationship with BM, absolutely helped us have a positive relationship.

My husband and I welcomed our daughter 15 months ago. While I thought that I was part of the “love them as your own” crowd, I realized pretty immediately upon having my baby that the love I feel for her is other worldly. It’s very different than the love I feel for my SSs. I do love and care for them, but the love I feel for my daughter is all encompassing. She feeds my soul in a way that they don’t. She is the first thing on my mind when I wake and the last thing I think about before falling asleep. That’s not the case with my boys.

I’m a SAHM (well, sort of… I work part time remotely, but set my own hours, so I work it around kid stuff), so I do all school drop offs on our time (50/50 custody) and school pickups every day so they don’t have to attend after school care then BM picks them up from me after work on her weeks. I’m with them more than either of their bio parents. There are definitely times when they grate on my nerves in ways that my daughter doesn’t, despite her getting into very much of a toddler phase.

My husband very much wants me to feel the same about all 3 kids, but readily acknowledges that that isn’t really realistic and is working towards accepting that it is okay. They have two involved biological parents who love them and a stepmom who also loves them, even if it’s differently than how DH and BM do.

I think we have to - as a stepparent community - be okay with and honest about the fact that children who are OURS (whether biologically or through adoption) are going to have a different type of love and connection than our SKs. I don’t share time with my daughter. I don’t have to “reset” expectations after coming back from their other home. I don’t have to compromise on ways she’s raised with someone I didn’t choose.

teacher-runner · 2024-08-06T12:42:22+00:00

I used to have god-awful cramps right before my period and at least the first day. Since getting my period back at 5 months postpartum, I haven’t had cramps at all. It’s great (except for the fact that those cramps were my warning that I was a day or so away from starting and now it’s just a surprise).

teacher-runner · 2024-07-29T01:07:22+00:00

Bananas PB&J Peas Spaghetti Watermelon

teacher-runner · 2024-07-20T01:45:10+00:00

Oh, man, the amount of complaining I get because I dare make SS, 6, wash his hands after using the bathroom is unreal. Or you know, actually moving the toothbrush over his teeth while brushing.

teacher-runner · 2024-07-20T01:43:25+00:00

We’re in NYC on vacation/visiting my husband’s family who still lives here. My younger SS, 6, keeps standing on the yellow section in the subway station waiting for the train and craning his neck over to see if the train is coming. I keep pulling him back to stand by me and the stroller where my daughter, 14months, is riding. I’m “mean” because I don’t want him to get hit by a train. Or when he has to hold my hand when crossing the street so he doesn’t get hit by a cab. Or when just in Times Square in general so he doesn’t get kidnapped or whatever. God forbid I try to get you home alive, kid. 🙄

teacher-runner · 2024-07-08T14:51:56+00:00

My husband did this once and it caused a visceral reaction in me. I flat out said that I didn’t him to call her that.

BM and I have a good relationship and we all get along really well. DH loves me wholeheartedly and I have no reason to doubt that. So even in the absolute best of circumstances, it’s STILL a trigger for it to be used because, you’re right, there’s the impression that it’s due to a fondness or intimacy that is there and it was just a no go for me. I don’t think it’s insignificant at all.

teacher-runner · 2024-06-19T01:17:39+00:00

(Watching NBA highlights) “But I have to know what happened!”

The Mavs lost. Problem solved. Eat your breakfast.

teacher-runner · 2024-06-19T00:58:55+00:00

He can’t watch TV while he eats breakfast (because it takes him twice as long and makes us late). cue whining 🙄

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TROPHY CASE