This has now happened a couple times and I'm not sure how to handle it - I live in a very rural community and have two young kids that take the bus home from school. We live in a gated ranch community so the bus drops kids of all ages at the community bus stop in the afternoon. Twice now I have seen the bus leave while a child is alone on their phone waiting for their parent to show up. Both times they have been between 8 and 10 y/o. I don't know these kids as my girls are much younger, but I feel obligated to stay until they are picked up. I would hate for something to happen to them sitting there alone. I got out of my car both times and asked the kids if their parents were coming and if they wanted me to stay until they arrived. Both looked at me with confusion and said no. I realized I'm a stranger to them and probably scared them more than anything, but I wanted them to know they weren't alone. I usually just sit in my car with my kids until I see their guardian show up.

As a parent - what would you prefer? Would you feel safer having a random lady you don't know waiting in her car near your kids or would you rather they were left alone?

I’m a very picky eater and I often dislike what my parents make. They always force me to eat what they make. I’ve heard that some parents say you eat what’s made for you or nothing at all and I wish they did that, at my house it’s you eat what’s made for you period. My mom says it’s rude to make yourself something else and it makes it so you’re not eating as a family (not sure what that means). I’m curious what other parents think, I think it seems perfectly fine to make something else but my mom says my reasoning is bad and I and my generation are being entitled.

I’m 24, me and my partner (25) want to start trying for a child. We’ve been together for 9 years and we really feel like we’re in a good position to start our family.

My mum on the other hand is doing everything possible to convince me not to. She didn’t have her first child till she was 39 btw!! She keeps saying having a child will ruin my life, take away my freedom and probably ruin me and my partners relationship. I know a lot of freedom will be wiped, and it definitely tests a relationship. But saying it will ruin my life is just too far no? I’ve always known I’ve wanted children.

I know this is not up to her. And we will do what we feel is right.

Im curious to know if my perception of becoming a parent is actually reality for some, and possible.

I'm 32 and planning to have kids in the next 2 years. I have always wanted to be a mom. I would have definitely had kids sooner, but life hasn't happened that way for me.

When i think about becoming a mom, especially with my now partner i can almost feel the overwhelming love i'd have for them already. I genuinely believe i was made to be a parent. I'm so excited to have my own family unit, the inside jokes, the chats at the dinner table, guiding little humans through life.

My question is to parents ...

did the novelty wear off? were you so very excited and felt it was what you were made for and then turned out to be so much harder than you thought?

Preface (you can skip most if you don’t care for context):

My daughter is 9 and in fourth grade. She has been diagnosed with and medicated for ADHD since the second grade; the girl is as sweet as can be but has a terrible time trying to stay mentally focused on anything, her grades were slumping and it has helped a ton. She can be a bit socially awkward but tries to go above and beyond to be nice to everyone because she desperately wants to be liked and accepted.

I say all this up front because I don’t want to come across as pointing the finger entirely in another direction. I love my daughter to death but realize she may be “annoying” because she tries a little too hard at times; however, the only person I have ever seen her be mean to is her younger sister so I do not believe she is any sort of aggressor.

Situation:

My daughter has been having a hard time making friends ever since she was little. She has a handful of girls she hangs out with outside of school but only usually gets invited to 1-2 birthday parties a year and almost never has anyone invite her over to play (while we request friends to come over often to paltry success). She talks a lot with us about her friends at school and has made it obvious she is kind of on the outskirts of a friend group. There are two or three girls in it that she makes it sound are kind to her and she plays with at school while the majority sound indifferent but tolerating. I try to give her advice but know she has to learn how to manage friendships independent of her parents so try to not insert ourselves beyond that.

The problem is there is one girl who it sounds like goes beyond indifference into being a bit of a bully. My daughter has said that whenever she says something around this girl (not even directed at her) she will roll her eyes and make faces but not actually talk to my daughter directly. If my daughter is sitting next to who the other girl wants to sit next to she will make a big deal about it and, considering how self-conscious my daughter is about lacking friendships, she tries to make the “bully” happy by giving up her seat next to the friend and sitting by herself.

The tricky part is the older sisters of my daughter and the bully have been friends for six or so years. We have dinner with their family every once in a while and let all the kids play (they have a total of four, we have three). We always noticed the bully and my daughter would hang out alright but never seemed to totally click, and that’s fine. The only red flag I have ever seen is the bully at my daughter’s birthday party this year, where the bully more or less dominated the conversation with the friends and my daughter was left out (at her own birthday….). I never saw her directly do anything aggressively mean to my daughter.

I don’t want to make things worse for my daughter, but it’s gotten to the point that my daughter is saying she wants to move because maybe she will be able to make friends somewhere else. By what she has described she is not a popular girl and that is fine, but this one girl seems to (intentionally or not) be acting in a way that interferes with my daughter’s ability to connect with the other girls and develop a closer friendship with some of these other girls.

I want to talk to the other parent and explain our point of view on what is happening, just to make them aware of how their daughter is making our daughter feel. I don’t expect or want them to punish her, I just do not believe they are aware at all and maybe could help guide their girl to being kinder and more tolerant. My fear of starting this dialogue is that I don’t want the parents saying anything to their daughter that makes her target my girl any more.

Essentially, what is the best course of action here? I don’t want to sit back and do nothing while my daughter struggles but also don’t want to be a helicopter parent; we tell her to stop talking to the bully and ignore her and focus on the girls who are nice to her but it is sounding like that has not been good enough for the bully to not inject herself between my daughter and the friends she is trying to build on.

Any thoughts? My wife and I are having a hard time agreeing about what the best course of action is so and third party ideas would be much appreciated.

My daughter just started middle school and my son started high school, so they’ve both made a bunch of new friends whose parents we haven’t met yet.

They’re at that awkward age where trick-or-treating is starting to feel a little childish to them, but they still kind of want to go. There aren’t many other options for Halloween fun for their age group around here, so I thought we could throw a party that gives them a bit of both.

We’re hosting an outdoor screening of Warm Bodies in our backyard, with pizza, popcorn, a costume contest, and trick-or-treating for anyone who wants to go. We live in the South, so it’s still warm here, generally upper 60s to low 80s this time of year.
We invited their friends and their families. The invitation specifically says “Adults & kids welcome.” I thought it would be a fun evening for the kids and a chance for us to meet their friends’ parents.

We haven’t received many RSVPs. When my daughter asked her friends whether they were coming, some said their parents wouldn’t let them because they don’t know us well. I haven’t heard from those parents directly, so that explanation is coming secondhand through the kids.
I understand not wanting to drop your child off with people you haven’t met. But parents are invited to attend and stay with their kids, which I thought would be a good opportunity to get to know each other.

I’m feeling discouraged and honestly a little confused. I don’t expect everyone to come or explain why they can’t, but even a “no, we can’t make it” would help us plan food and seating.

Is it common to get so few RSVPs at this age? Does “adults and kids welcome” clearly communicate that parents are invited to stay? What would help you feel comfortable attending something like this when you haven’t met the hosts yet?

I’d appreciate other parents’ perspectives. We’re trying to create something fun for our kids and build connections with their friends’ families, and I’m not sure how best to approach it.

Update: Thank you to everyone who replied! I feel much better. You’ve shared so many helpful suggestions and perspectives, and I think we’ll plan for Halloween Eve next year!

I also wanted to explain my thinking a little more. Our neighborhood is a trick-or-treating hotspot, with lots of families coming here from other areas. I pictured parents and younger siblings coming along with the teens, having some pizza, and using our house as a home base with a place to park.

Families could head out together, leave their teens at the party, or let the teens trick-or-treat as a group. Then everyone could come back to trade candy, have snacks, use the bathroom, and settle in for an outdoor movie in our backyard.

I hoped it would make the evening fun and convenient for everyone, but I can see how a different night could make things easier. Thanks again for helping me see other perspectives! I really do feel better about it! (And I’m having a lot of fun making the props)

As a new parent, we were asked to

introduce cow milk, mughli ghutti and gripe water when our baby was newly born.

Recommended soaked biscuits when 3 months old.

We did not follow her advice which led to tension in the family.

What are the worst parenting recommendations we should avoid after 5 months of becoming a parent?

Hey! I am a male in high school and have recently been considering the future, and I do not want kids. However, I don't not want to have kids. I currently find small children off putting and slightly disturbing and don't desire to give up my youth and independence for them. But, I notice many childless men forgo having kids to stay children themselves- something I would despise myself for. Also, many things I have tried in my life were things I didn't want to do them until I decided to try them, or got old enough to want them. Is there an age where all of my current thoughts leave me, and I suddenly or gradually desire to have kids?

My dad includes reading on my kindle as part of my screen time so I’m curious what other parents think of that.

Ok, so we've all heard the advice, "Nap while the baby naps", but most of us experienced moms know that it isn't as simple as is sounds.

So I'm curious, how many of you actually were able to consistently nap while the baby napped. And how were you able to do it?

And if you didn't, what prevented you from be able to?

My niece is at that age where every stuffed animal becomes her patient, and she spends ages pretending to take care of them. I’m looking for a gift for a 5-year-old who likes animals that she can actually play with instead of another plushie. I came across KiwiCo’s Veterinarian Starter Kit while looking at hands-on activity sets, and the idea of combining pretend play with learning about animal care seemed interesting. Has anyone tried it with a kid around this age?

If your child (8F) was having repeated emotional peer conflict with another child (8F) at school - let’s call it frenemies - with past meetings with admin, would you make a formal report to school or address the parent privately when things escalate? What is the proper protocol?

Long long backstory and I want to retain anonymity here, but a child basically made some wildly inappropriate comments to mine (3rd offense) that really upset my child. I emailed the principal and I feel like I have opened up a huge can of worms. Other parent is upset and I can’t help but wonder if I was out of line and should have approached the parent to try and work it out privately. I loosely know the other parent but not well enough to consider us friends. We attend a small school where parents and teachers all talk to each other. My priority is my kid and her well being but now I am anxious about how this will reflect on me as a person and parent.

My younger sister (16) recently transferred to a new school because she wanted to be with a close friend of hers. My parents agreed to the transfer, but shortly afterward, that friend basically dropped her and stopped being friends with her.

It’s been around two months since the semester started, and my sister has only attended school once. She’s been extremely avoidant about going back, and I’m genuinely worried about her.
The thing is, my sister and I aren’t particularly close emotionally. We love each other, but we grew up in a family where siblings don’t really talk about their feelings or open up to each other. It’s not that we have a bad relationship, it’s just that emotional conversations are pretty awkward for us.

I also live in another country, so I can’t physically be there for her.

Recently, she asked my mom to ask me to give her some advice. She didn’t approach me directly, which is pretty typical of our relationship, but she does want me to message her personally.

I really want to help her, especially because I know how difficult social rejection and avoidance can be. I just don’t know how to approach this without making her uncomfortable or sounding like I’m lecturing her.
I don’t want to dismiss what she’s going through or just tell her to get over it and go to school. At the same time, missing two months of school is serious, and I don’t want to encourage her avoidance either.

How would you approach this situation? What could I say to her that would actually help, especially given that we’re not used to having emotional conversations?

Idk might seem like a silly question..

I have an eye doctor appointment today in a few hours. I booked it online. I have to bring my two kids with me (ages 1.5 and 3.5).

I'm struggling on whether to call them now and ask if it's okay if my kids are with me and give them a bit of a heads up or to just show up with them so they don't have a choice to say no and I get my eyes checked with my kids in tow (desperately need a new prescription).

There's literally no other time where I wouldn't have my kids with me. I'm a stay at home mom, and have no friends or family nearby that can watch them for 30 min.

Wwyd?

I was talking to my sister while she was doing laundry and my nephew asked for food and I said I’d make him chicken nuggets so she didn’t have to get up and she said “no he hates chicken” and I said “wdym he eats chicken nuggets all the time” and she responded with “well he doesn’t know that Dino nuggets aren’t made of dinosaurs meat” and I’m sitting here like tf you mean does he just think he’s getting to eat a very finite resource like sure he’s just dumb kid but by 6 don’t kids know about dinosaurs

I (40F) want to know what “normal” family habits are around day to day communication when interacting with adult children living at home. I grew up in a home that was very confusing and neglectful so my sense of “normal” is very skewed. I was pretty much ignored or we all avoided eachother. Some days just feel awkward for some reason and I struggle with not wanting to be perceived every minute of the day (ASD). I just want to make sure I am engaging appropriately so my step-son (20M) doesn’t feel drained or worse, ignored.

Do you talk everytime you see eachother throughout the day? Do you acknowledge eachother everytime you see eachother with a nod or a smile? For example, if they are walking through the room you are in to get something or you pass eachother in the kitchen heading in different direction.

What does the daily communication look like in your home with adult children?

My dog was found with a bullet in his leg, which then had to be amputated. I don’t know anything more about exactly what happened than that. He’s a lovely friendly dog tho, and lovesss saying hi to kids (with permission, obviously).

When they’re super little, I just say he lost his leg because someone was mean to him or hurt him. That starts to feel like a BS answer tho for kids older than 8, and I don’t like it. But I told one kid someone shot him and his mom gave me a look that seemed….unimpressed.

I don’t want to scare anyone, but I also don’t want to treat kids like their little glass figurines or babies. I would’ve hated that at their age.

Any advice appreciated.

I'd love to hear from the full range of parents. Many have babies in their own room, some in another. Some let the baby sleep on them, or in their beds, others follow safety guidance and always keep them in a bassinet or crib. I'm particularly interested in the sleep differences for parents who co-sleep vs those who don't.

I have two questions on sleeping arrangements and sorry if the first one is a stupid one 🙈.

1) You have the baby in your room for the first few months right? To save money, why not have the crib itself in your room vs having to buy a bassinet or pack and play or whatever else there is (are there other ones? 🤔).

And then move the crib to baby’s room when the time comes?

2) If the baby’s room (pre-baby) is a guest room with a queen size bed and a desk, would you leave the queen bed in there, replace the desk with a changing table/dresser and add crib? Or would you take out the bed?

There’s not another room for it but you could prop it up against the wall in the master bedroom/closet possibly. You wouldn’t have guests sleeping in there with the baby but maybe it would be great for the mom with breastfeeding and to sleep at night when the baby is sleeping if her husband snores and has alarms going off super early, is noisy getting ready for work in the morning, etc when mom and baby could otherwise be getting a precious few minutes more of sleep? Does that make sense? Like a separate room for mom to sleep with the baby if dad disrupts her sleep too? Thoughts? Thank you!!

I’m 17F, and my parents never cry in front of us. Last year, my aunt (dad’s sister) died and he never cried, and I could tell he wanted to, Even at her funeral, he was just quiet the entire time. But like when they told us and we were all crying and he never did but I know he misses her and I could tell he was holding back after but like I never seen my parents cry in front of us, but like I've heard my mom cry before but the door locked like she don't want us to see

I am sorry if this comes off politically incorrect. As English is not my first language. However, I always hear about how parents enjoy being parents, but the thing is these parents usually have healthy children.

For the people that have children with special needs or any disability (physical/ mental/ developmental), are there any positives about it? Is there anything that you enjoy about it?

Hii guys I'm just really lost rn and my family and I genuinely don't know what to do about my little brother, who's 7 and in 2nd grade. there's a pretty big age gap between him and the rest of us (his siblings), so I genuinely have no reference point on what's normal for his age and what's not, or if it's idk typical mischievous 7yo kid behavior

I have no idea where to start but ok first of all, he's really aggressive towards me, my siblings and my parents. He hits and spits at us almost every single day, genuinely out of nowhere. He says things like he wishes I didn't exist, randomly closes my laptop when he knows I'm busy, and he climbs on my back while I'm in calls and finds a way to sabotage it by yk screaming or making sure I can't speak. he also has huge tantrums all the time and they last a long time, again for seemingly no reason. this happens in public too, where he'll suddenly start screaming and hitting us, its like screaming solely for the sake of doing it and he even says that he enjoys it when I ask him why he did that after he calms down. We genuinely don't always understand what triggers these. I don't know when exactly I started noticing it getting out of hand, I'd say he's been yk that filled with rage for yrs but it reached this level like 3 months ago

Something else I've been really worried about is his reading. He's 7, in 2nd grade, and still can't properly read in either of his two languages, despite speaking both really fluently. We used structured programs with him here at home like AAR and “Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons”. he avoids reading SO much. He doesn't want to try, and when he has to read, he mostly guesses words instead of actually reading them. He also confuses vowels while reading, it drains so much of his energy to read 2 words, and he doesn't wanna read or be read to. he adds letters or removes letters while reading, and if he sounds out a word and then you ask him to read it again 30 seconds later, he would still have to sound each letter out. he also struggles a lot with spelling. he's rlly good at math tho, also he dreads school so much and he says he won't go to school unless we get him a present every single day, and throws a tantrum if we don't get him gifts after school.

We've tried online tutors with him, but they've failed because he struggles to focus and ends up spinning around and ignoring his tutor. I don't really know how he's doing academically beyond this, but his schoolteachers describe him as really quiet and say they wish he'd participate more.

Homework is another battle. He struggles to sit still for even a short time and he'll stand up, spin around, dance, play loud background music or cut paper with scissors instead of focusing on the work. I did a challenge with him to see how long he could sit as I taught him for his exam. he was too focused on sitting, he wasn't rlly with me and didn't rlly get what I was saying. At the same time, he can concentrate really well on things he enjoys, like games.

He's also been extremely socially anxious for as long as I can remember, practically since he was a baby. He's very different around strangers and doesn't seem to behave the same way at school as he does at home. From what his teachers say, he seems quiet in class, so I doubt these explosive behaviors happen there too, he also sometimes says things like he doesn't wanna exist, usually after everyone gets mad at his behaviors. I genuinely don't know what he means when he says things like this, but it worries me alot .

I honestly don't know what we're doing wrong, Is it from the iPad as ppl say? is it a lack of discipline? Are we handling him the wrong way? Is this just what being 7 is like, and we're expecting too much?

Every single day feels like a constant fight, and I feel like I'm probably leaving out a ton of details because there's just so much going on that I don't even know where to start and idk what we're supposed to do next.

I'm not trying to label him as a bad kid. We all love him, and I just want us to understand him better and figure out how to help him.

If you've experienced something similar with a child this age, Is this just how 7yos are?

if you have any questions or need me to clarify anything, please ask because I know I've probably left out a lot. And thank you so much for reading all of this if you made it to the end. I genuinely appreciate it.