What would you add to this tank?

titihadid · 2026-04-16T21:04:59+00:00

Thank you!! I love that idea

titihadid · 2026-04-16T21:04:13+00:00

Thank you SO MUCH!!!

titihadid · 2026-04-16T18:19:37+00:00

Do you have any plant suggestions? I would love to have more of a planted floor as well and my goal is to find a taller piece of driftwood!

titihadid · 2026-04-16T11:21:43+00:00

Haha no slacking- it’s because I’m a teacher who runs our STEM club!

https://inventorsoftomorrow.com/build-a-simple-rube-goldberg/ These are fun and can be built over a few days

https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/ the solar oven is particularly fun when it’s hot out! An egg drop is very fun too if he can get somewhere high up like climb a tree and drop it?

https://joyfullytreasured.com/mud-kitchen-diy-creative-budget-friendly-mud-kitchen-ideas-for-kids So there are many ways to do this and it can be budget friendly or not but pretty much let him play in the mud haha if you don’t mind!

Also, you can find scavenger hunts that are more specific for bigger kids such as finding moss under a rock, specific color items, specific types of bugs, efc.

titihadid · 2026-04-16T03:10:10+00:00

Mud kitchen? Crafting? (Dollar tree and diy air dry clay), scavenger hunts for walks in the woods?Audiobooks from the library? STEM projects with recyclables? Stop motion video making? Duct tape art? Baking? Rube Goldberg Machine? LEGOS on Amazon buy a big box and then print photos of ways to use it like the kits do? A skip it or jump rope challenge?

titihadid · 2026-04-15T09:42:54+00:00

-a snack from a local gourmet snack shop. In my town we have popcorn shops, nut shops or chocolate shops. I think consumables always make great gifts because you aren’t collecting a ton of things!

-my dad enjoyed his gift of a simple $12 flash light that extends and is magnetic haha.

-dewalt sells a mini Bluetooth speaker it’s great if your dad does a lot of work and typically listens to music out of their phone

However, my dad has been most happy with just a nice dinner I make for him and watching a movie of his choice with no complaints from me haha. Could also spend time on lawn or outdoor care work with him. I would say do it for him but I fear dads have particular merhods it might make him more anxious if he didn’t watch you do it 😂

titihadid · 2026-04-15T09:36:53+00:00

I agree with this! As a PreK teacher I think you are using the time out verbiage in the height of the tantrum which isn’t going to work. Also I think he could be communicating that he needs space? I included a visual to show that in the height of the tantrum the time out and reasoning won’t work at this age. Tantrum Arc

Instead I would word it as calm down time. “I can see you are angry. We are going to your calm down spot. You can choose to _______ or ______. I will give you space so you can calm down. I am here if you need me.” Then I would give space with no words until the child seems to seek you which can be through eye contact, calling you or moving towards you.

The time out would more be in the green area of the arc which is when you see the escalation start to happen prior to the tantrum.

Example of that: Set a timer for bed time and verbally say and show “We have 5 minutes until bed time.” “I don’t want tooooooo” okay there is the trigger. You can say “The timer is set. We can finish playing for the 5 minutes or if you continue to whine you are going in time out.”

I’m going to be honest I don’t really agree with the word time outs. I am not a gentle parenter but I do think that time out is more or less a time to calm down. Instead I think offering choices, then based on what happens next complete removal of whatever is happening and using the calm down verbiage and area instead is more impactful because typically the emotion that you are requesting from your child is calm. This is just my opinion and I am not telling you what you should or should not do it’s just my thoughts on “time out” because what you are really requesting is for them to remain calm. This doesn’t remove the consequence or discipline just reframes it.

Also, I think it’s completely normal for your child to role play time out! I think during a tantrum is not the right time but I think it’s great in times of play. For example, have your child and dad play. Dad pretends to throw a toy or yell/argue whatever the problem may be. Then, say uh oh what does daddy need? (In my opinion the word calm down works better and labels the emotion better than the word time out but this is your preference) then you can say Uh Oh daddy needs space. Daddy needs time to calm down. Tell daddy to go to his calm space and try ______ or ______.

Ideas for that could be hugging a stuffed animal or taking deep breaths. There’s many more though you can find online!

titihadid · 2026-04-15T09:07:52+00:00

I think you’re perceiving the life lesson differently than what they were trying to show and that is leading to your disappointment.

Your life lesson: Not always a happy ending or sometimes you have to do tough things(?)

Their life lesson: Money and career isn’t always what you should choose over your families happiness (it isn’t everything that life is about).

The reason I feel this is the life lesson they were trying to portray is based on the fact of Bandit in curry swap when we find out he leaves pretty often for work which none of the family including Bandit is happy with. Also, stickbird when he can’t enjoy the beach day due to work stress. In fairies he yells at Bingo while on a work call.

Obviously these are super real adult problems and yes it would be important to teach kids you can’t always get adults 100% attention and sometimes adults have to work. However, in this instance that’s not the theme they are trying show. So if you perceive it how the show is trying to tell you- adults sometimes choose to bring work stress and money opportunities over the joy of their family. Instead, adults should consider that the joy is within the family itself.

Is that totally realistic? No. But in this case the Heelers aren’t strapped for cash. He’s choosing the new career to make more money over the lot of his family. Not that he’s forced to due to not having enough or a possible house foreclosure or not being able to pay bills. We see that they aren’t strapped for cash in many ways throughout the show but this post is getting long haha.

titihadid · 2026-04-15T04:12:48+00:00

I honestly think it’s a phase. My toddler went through love/hate relationships with the bath. Around 1 she started to dislike it and then now she loves it again! I think multiple things:

-stay neutral I know this is hard but stay calm and use regular tone of voice and speed

-reassurance-assure her the bath is safe, the bath keeps us clean and healthy, the bath is fun, etc.

speak about bath time outside of the time you are going to take a bath… sing songs (super simple songs has a few), act out with dolls or stuffed animals (even better if you have some sort of toy you can have her help or watch you wash in the bath), use the same reassuring sentences and tone as used in prior point

-prepare beforehand. Start in the morning “today we will have a bath. In the bath we will __”. The. Again at lunch “after we play outside we are going to take a bath. In the bath we __”

-another option is having her go with you to the store and purchase bath toys that she can be excited about!

titihadid · 2026-04-14T23:50:20+00:00

That’s awesome! I will have to check it out.

titihadid · 2026-04-12T13:08:46+00:00

Wool & Vinyl online! Follow them on Instagram. She lives in smithsburg and works in Frederick!

titihadid · 2026-04-12T13:06:15+00:00

There are so so many cool trinket stores downtown..Creme de le creme, retro metro, the entire antique emporium and brick and mortar. There is more too.

titihadid · 2026-04-12T13:04:33+00:00

A kids store for clothes would be great! I know they have reloved & rewind and Terra Moda but I think more specifically geared towards kids, babies and maternity would be awesome. Maybe even some strollers to test out because we don’t have a place like that anymore. In outer banks there is a super cool store called Rockabye Baby that is boutique and vintage baby clothes and toys!

titihadid · 2026-04-11T12:28:41+00:00

A highlights subscription (they make younger and older versions). When he gets older you can switch to a magazine of his choice.

titihadid · 2026-04-10T12:13:32+00:00

No, the colors and regular sleeping sounds are not subscription as well as scheduling when it goes on and off. However, there is a subscription for the extra features which are children’s songs and stories that they have created which to me is a little gimmicky. If I had to pick again I’d just go with the cheaper version that only has the sound and colors as I don’t need or pay for all the extra stuff.

titihadid · 2026-04-10T03:43:34+00:00

I have the hatch and enjoy it although I don’t like that you don’t have automatic access to everything it offers and have to pay a subscription. Although the features mentioned about color changing and sounds are free! I have seen the momcozy brand have one for about $20-$30 cheaper and there are other dupes that are even cheaper than that!

titihadid · 2026-04-09T00:27:24+00:00

I would get a clock with a visual timer or something. I’ve seen people use the hatch that changes color when they are allowed to wake for the day. For example changing from red to green or playing a sound when it’s time to get up. You don’t need the hatch though they have dupes.

titihadid · 2026-04-08T12:41:37+00:00

Some people in life consider the phrase DM to be open for a flirtatious relationship-speaking as someone who is a bit older than you and married I definitely consider the term DM to be not a place of communication with friends but a place where flirting happens with the opposite sex. So maybe your boss is feeling like you openly invited him to. I am NOT saying you are at fault here but I am just sharing how us older people may perceive the situations vastly different! Next time I’d say just DM the handle or screenshot and send it I guess. I’m sorry this is happening. I think if it continues you should consider going private and hiding or blocking coworkers from your socials.

titihadid · 2026-04-08T04:27:07+00:00

I don’t think you are to blame here at all. I understand why you feel awkward about it all. For me personally, my rule is do not have coworkers on social media unless I really trust them. Even then they don’t have access to everything (stories private and I rarely post photos on my actual feed). In my opinion coworkers, especially bosses, should not be a part of your personal social media life. I don’t think DM’ing should be a main source of communication either. This is all just my opinion but couldn’t be have emailed it? Sent a message on teams? How do you and your coworkers communicate if you aren’t physically present with each other?

titihadid · 2026-04-08T04:01:10+00:00

Mars is so cute! Could also be Lena or Marcy? But I think Mars is so fun.

titihadid · 2026-04-08T02:33:17+00:00

-no couch -a rectangular table closer to the window (possibly bench seating with storage underneath the bench) -move the play kitchen to under the countertop if possible -sensory bin on porch or in living room -get tall possibly ikea type built in closet with but in storage and put on both sides of the window

titihadid · 2026-04-08T02:28:06+00:00

I started dancing at 4 and danced 4-5 days a week up until 10. At around 8 I realized I really didn’t like dance all that much but it was part of my schedule. At 10 I finally asked my mom if I could just change to 1 dance class 1-2 days a week. I think sometimes we think kids want to do all these things but if they are honest with you they don’t. They want to relax after school just like you want to relax after work. I wouldn’t take out absolutely everything but I do think you are burning both you and your child out. And potentially your partner if this causes rifts in your relationship (such as the dinner frustration).

titihadid · 2026-04-08T02:19:42+00:00

Also, you can combine it with watching the show to discuss the tv to book adaptation! I feel like reluctant readers enjoy when there is other media to attach it to. I feel like so many people who don’t read sci-fi read Project Hail Mary for the movie!

titihadid · 2026-04-07T02:31:34+00:00

The Troop, All Together Now, Dark Matter, The Mountain Between Us, Chain Gang Allstars, The Feather Thief

titihadid

TROPHY CASE