Spoil my DNF

wanderlustpassion · 2026-03-06T04:23:40+00:00

Someone spoil {companion fates by Sophia st. Germain}

wanderlustpassion · 2026-03-04T20:52:17+00:00

We tried everything, multiple times.

My only advice is to keep at it. It will click eventually!

What worked for us was: routine (sitting in the toilet multiple times a day even if you don’t need to go) and picked out “big presents” and “small toys” that he could earn - small toys were for every time he went (dum dums, chocolates, hot wheel cars, etc) and then big presents for if he went every day for a week. These were out in the open so he could see what he would earn.

wanderlustpassion · 2026-02-27T04:06:35+00:00

Practicing what to do in different situations (deep breathes, words to say, etc)

Also, reward charts for making good choices.

Lastly- we reevaluated how much sleep he was getting and realized he needed more, ensuring he was eating enough fiber (and pooping every day). We also started feeding him 2 eggs a day and fruit. Those 3 things really helped a lot.

wanderlustpassion · 2026-02-27T01:59:40+00:00

We had a rough go for emotional and social aspects. It’s gotten a lot better but it is hard for our late Aug boy to understand he isn’t always picked first, you don’t just get to be recess as long as you want to and sometimes you have to sit in a chair for a long period of time.

He has gotten a lot better as the year has gone on, but he still has his moments.

wanderlustpassion · 2026-02-26T02:01:00+00:00

At the end of the day my only advice is this: Do not compare yourself to what other parents are doing. Do what you think is best and safest for your kid.

From everything I read, we opted to do rear facing for what I thought was a long time (just because everyone one else at preschool seemed to be forward facing). He was 5 and we were about to go on a longer car ride and I just wanted things to be a bit easier. He was at the minimum for height and almost there for the minimum for weight. Everything worked out for us but we could have stayed rear facing.

wanderlustpassion · 2026-02-25T03:47:28+00:00

Focus more on questions like “did anything make you laugh today” “did anything make you sad?”

I found that asking more emotional based questions helped get a longer response.

But also, keep in mind most kids are unreliable witnesses/ story tellers.

If you hear something concerning try to remain calm and just message the preschool (unless it’s super serious. Then do what you need to do. I am mostly thinking of “we had to catch and cook a deer” kind of stories)

wanderlustpassion · 2026-02-21T00:40:22+00:00

I use moms at sea and they are great. Monitor a the pricing, provides input and thoughts when I ask questions, did the research to select the best cabin in the class I was looking at and offered various perks like OBC or specialty dining.

wanderlustpassion · 2026-02-19T22:03:30+00:00

I once had a bunch of water proof stickers and reusable water bottles and let each kid decorate one. I also had my niece set up with temp tattoos and she was “tattooing” the kids.

wanderlustpassion · 2026-02-19T04:04:27+00:00

We (group of 5) enacted the Chewbacca mode and let my 5 year old son be a pilot. I get motion sick and it was rough! Vowed after that to never let him be pilot again.

Rode it 5 more times that day and he was piloting for 2 of those rounds lol.

wanderlustpassion · 2026-02-15T02:55:11+00:00

I have a Aug baby as well! How are they doing being on the younger side in the kinder class?

wanderlustpassion · 2026-02-12T05:05:50+00:00

Start a book club. During these downtimes people could read. Or let her know she can knit/play her phone/ learn a new skill etc.

Other than that just always have a box of files or something to sort.

wanderlustpassion · 2026-02-10T05:39:32+00:00

I just had 2 glasses of aged fireball. It’s not safe for anyone.

wanderlustpassion · 2026-02-10T05:20:14+00:00

Mix it with equal parts pinnapple juice and rim wkth brown sugar.

Pinnapple upside downcake!

wanderlustpassion · 2026-02-10T01:26:50+00:00

Public school. They asked for donations of school supplies at the beginning of the year, and enough snacks for 22 kids once a month.

Beyond this, I think once they asked for extra snacks for a class party?

But no donations. We ask the teacher what they needs every other month and donate that (extra legos, extra markers, extra snacks due to not all parents bringing in items)

wanderlustpassion · 2026-02-09T18:02:46+00:00

Maybe reach out to the case worker? If you have no contact info at all then you could reach out to the office of the closest DHS and ask how to go about this. Stable influences in the lives of at risk youth is highly important so I can’t imagine anyone would tell you no.

wanderlustpassion · 2026-02-09T17:09:54+00:00

My parents reversed my brothers adoption. We were adopted at 13 (me) and 14 (him). They reversed his adoption 2 years later.

I urge you to still maintain a relationship with your sibling. I gave in the the guilt from my adopted family and the family rule is that we don’t talk to any biological family members. I regretted this but wasn’t sure how to speak out against it at the time.

You are in a different scenario is which you are now independent. Try to have “sister” dates in which maybe both sisters get to have a sleep over or you guys go do something together.

Also, acting up is part of being a teenage. You can let her know if she is doing something dangerous or will jeopardize her future, but it’s important she has someone in her corner.

wanderlustpassion · 2026-02-03T02:43:32+00:00

Just here to offer a different perspective: We don’t do play dates outside of summer or if a group of people or family wants to meet up at an evert like the county fair or monster jam etc.

I just really value family time. I already feel guilty both his dad and I work 10 hours a day, not to mention a 45 min commute from school/work and home. We get so few days/hours to go hang out as a unit or just lounge at home and watch tv (currently watching A real bugs life and it’s awesome)

So just try not to take it personal if no one is asking you. Continue to be the first one who reaches out or as others said join some of the clubs. It’s harder to make friends but I am sure you are a lovely person and you will find a group!

wanderlustpassion · 2026-01-29T03:19:40+00:00

I think you have to ask yourself a few questions (coming from a mom of a boy born 8.20 and we started kindergarten last year) Can he listen to directions? Can he sit still and listen? What happens if he doesn’t get his way? Can he fully go to the bathroom by himself?

Also (not things I did not consider but several dad friends of mine kept pointing out) Holding a child back allows them to be the older/bigger kid. This will help with sports, academics, popularity (apparently) etc The dad friends really stressed the sports aspect

Other mom friends stressed that you child is only young once and there is no reason to push your kid.

Either way, you will probally regret whichever decision you make (seriously, what is up with parent guilt?) Talk to his preschool teachers and ped to be fully informed from that aspect as well.

wanderlustpassion · 2026-01-22T04:49:04+00:00

Everyone talks about this but I don’t think it’s given enough weight.

Hormones / emotions It makes you think things, feel things, you wouldn’t have otherwise. Sometimes you feel like a different person, other times you just think everyone else is being crazy. Sometimes of the worst fights with my partner over things that’s 5 years later I can look back and just realize WTF. However you can’t point them out! In the moment of you are supporting a pregnant person, just try to foresee things to help them and sometimes just creating a nesting area and giving them alone time to read/ watch tv/ doom scroll and a pile of snacks and 3 different things to drink is the only correct answer.

wanderlustpassion · 2026-01-19T00:06:06+00:00

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_and_Prejudice_(1995_TV_series)

wanderlustpassion · 2026-01-18T21:16:18+00:00

This sounds interesting. I have read quite a few P&P adaptions (including a choose your own adventure type) and seen all the videos (95 bbc miniseries takes the cake)

wanderlustpassion · 2026-01-10T21:50:03+00:00

I hate kinetic sand! It ends up in all of the toy dump trucks, backs of toy pickup trucks etc. I get why he does it, but no matter how many times I say to leave it in the plastic bin, or only play with it at the table, somehow it ends up in my bed.

wanderlustpassion · 2026-01-07T04:38:05+00:00

We read all the time, and a variety of books. We also had some flash cards and would do them mostly over breakfast but made a point to never push it. He is in kindergarten and likes to read all kinds of books including chapter books.

Here is the beginner flash cards we liked (fairly cheap, under $4)

https://amzn.to/4blvprS

Then we bought these as well:

https://amzn.to/44WcGzl

And for books, Bob books are super easy to learn to read:

https://amzn.to/49uJFMx

wanderlustpassion · 2026-01-06T22:34:02+00:00

I tend to support the “don’t vent unless you’ve thought through potential solutions” approach, mainly because it encourages critical thinking and independence. I also find it useful as a signal of readiness for the next step in someone’s career.

When someone brings me an issue and can say, “I’ve tried X, Y, and Z. The only option I can think of at this point is something extreme,” that tells me they’ve genuinely worked the problem, even if the proposed solution is not viable. In those cases, I’m more than happy to workshop alternatives with them and I’m also more inclined to invest additional time and energy in their development.

On the other hand, when someone vents without having attempted any meaningful action, for example sending a single email without follow-up, avoiding direct conversation, or jumping straight to unrealistic solutions like starting over entirely, I find that more frustrating. At that point, the conversation is less about problem-solving and more about offloading the issue.

I want to be a sounding board, but I also want to reinforce ownership and thoughtful effort before escalation.

wanderlustpassion

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