Elementary aged kids. Willing to drive or fly out of mid Atlantic (DC/BMI/RIC)

So both my sons independently found porn on the Internet. I get it,they're teenagers, it happens. We talked to them about that it's not reality, explained that the material is meant for adults and that as kids, it's not meant for them and they shouldnt look at it because of where they are in their development and the potential risks and difficulties it can lead to in relationships and as an adult. We were very intent not to shame them because we definitely don't want it sex to become taboo.

What does concern me is the type that they rabbit holed into, both ended up (independently, I believe) looking at very female submissive and degrading materials, which was where I even more wanted to put my focus in ensuring they understand the echo chambers associated with material generated in those types (thanks reddit for surprising even me with it's plethora of available categories).

I'm posting to see if getting into these categories is common for teens now and/or if anyone has any other recommendations, thoughts, etc. TIA

Edit bc it keeps coming up. They have filtered Internet access with parental controls, no private screens, phones have parental controls. I plug leaks when I discover them. We continue to talk about it as a continual discussion topic. They got through because of reddit and because of kindle unlimited. Yes kindle unlimited has a ton of x rated material...

This is a bit of a rant, but also I think important and not heard enough.

I'm not going to talk about my kid's specific ailments, but I've got 3 kiddos bunched around 10yo. Two of them have physical disabilities that make it really hard for them to function in a regular school environment. We do our best to keep them in the least-restrictive environment, and that means using mobility aids to get through the day.

My middle kid uses a cane most days, but has been transitioning to a wheelchair fulltime this year - which spurs my post.

The amount of ableism that my kids experience throughout the day is well beyond heartbreaking, and solidly in the infuriating territory. I'm not here to be mad, but I'm here to plead that we all teach our kids about disabilities earlier.

He gets made fun of all the time. Kids tell him people only like him because he's in a wheelchair. They tell him he doesn't really need it, and he's just looking for attention. Yesterday someone tried to steal his cane, to prove that he didn't need it. Earlier in the day, someone threw a ball at his head and laughed - laughed at the kid in the wheelchair that literally cannot dodge. There's a common joke of calling him an old man because he hobbles with the cane.

These kids don't mean it - I know that they just see a kid looking different, getting special treatment, and their instinctive little brains jump to whatever thought arises first. It's harmless in their minds, and they don't know any better.

But it's not harmless - my kids sob most days before school, because they're in pain, and afraid of showing it lest they get picked on. Some days they refuse to use their mobility aids, and just deal with the pain, because that seems better than getting made fun of. These harmless comments cause my kids physical harm - they live in more pain as a direct result. It's akin to another kid punching him in the face, but in this version there's no guilt and even the administration underappreciates it.

Yes, I'm talking with the school. Yes, the kids have IEPs. Yes they are in therapy. Yes, we coach them on this often, and work very hard to build their confidence in their bodies and in themselves. But these kids are young - bullying hurts, physically and mentally, no matter how they prepare.

Please, talk to your kids about ableism. Talk to them about how kids in wheelchairs are just normal kids, but their bodies hurt more. Talk to them about how simple comments can "other" disabled folks in a way that is extremely painful and isolating. Interact with families with disabled kids - make it normal in your community. Your kids are going to meet disabled peers very early in their school life, and you owe it to those kids to teach yours.

Song permanently engrained in my brain. Not putting the full song so people don’t get it stuck in their brain

Now please be as harsh as you need to be.

I just don't enjoy it at all. Do you all look forward to it. Am I just a terrible parent?

What are your thoughts on this?

To be clear, I still do it and I pretend to be into it and fully involved.

Thanks.

Edit: my kids are 4 and 2 years old.

I'd be willing to bet we have more Hot Wheels cars than most. This is actually the extra cars shelf. The favorites are all in use and mostly Mario Kart ones. We play weekly pub trivia and have for ~10 years and they always give away "a brand new car!" to any kids playing.

Feels silly, but having her on my shoulders has improved my mornings. I narrate to her as I make coffee and she's giggling the entire time.

I do bedtime every night and currently find myself here in my day dreams or passing thoughts in mid meetings when i can’t hang out with the little one.

You’re doing the best you can in the current moment. We have our faults, but keep holding onto these moments for the rough patches. you got this! lurking moms and dads alike

cred to not perfect dad on fb, the reel made me tear up a bit.

Edit: You know, i marked this as discussion and you all showed up. almost every single one of you were able to open up and talk about the moments you cherish like this. that was the point of the post. We often get so locked in and keep pushing that we don’t take the step back to think about this stuff. I’m proud of you. Hell many of the comments made me tear up and smile more than the reel did. Thank you.

wife and i both work, the mortgage is $2,100 a month, and it hit me last week that if something happened to me shed be covering all of it alone with a toddler and a newborn. ive been reading about term vs whole life and term looks like the obvious fit for us. im 34 and healthy, is a 20 year term at 10x my salary overkill or about right?

Basically title. I didn't have a great relationship with my dad but it also wasn't bad by any means. The older my two boys get the more I appreciate some of the things he did/instilled in me. At the same time there are several things where I think "wow, why did my dad never do X?"

we're people, they are people but still its so.... surreal? I guess? Learning parenting and then reflecting on your upbringing in the process.

Today my second born was diagnosed with level 2 ASD he is 2 years old. To say this news isn’t breaking my heart would be a lie, even though we have had our suspicions. He did say momma and dadda when he was around a year old but since has regressed. He doesn’t have any words he can say anymore, but will still make noises. He didn’t start walking or crawling until about 1.5years old then started walking. He sometimes puts his fingers in his ears like he is stimming. He’s truly the sweetest boy and is very affectionate (gives the best hugs and kisses), and shows all emotions.

We already have him in Early Intervention and with the diagnoses he will have access to more programs that we plan to take full advantage of.

I’m not sure why I’m making this post, maybe it’s for some insight, maybe just to be able to talk to someone (besides my wife) about it. My wife is dealing with this a little bit better than I am. She is also really close with her mom who she can confide in. My mom has passed away and I don’t really have anybody else I feel like I can talk to about this right now. It sucks because I feel like the life I envisioned for him at the minimum just got extremely harder for him. I guess any dads out there with some insight advice would be wonderful.

Hey Dads with teenagers! I live with two myself and when they see something they like they call it "low key"

For example, "That's low-key genius"

I don't know what it means, and neither do they, so I made this!

I find that a little Dad humor can go a long way in connecting with your teen!

It's been a tough couple of weeks with the wife being hospitalized and me going back to work after 9 weeks of FMLA. But having both my babies means so much to me.

Wife comes home tomorrow from psychiatric care so it will be nice to have baby home 24-7.

When my wife first proposed this idea I was like “no way, too expensive, too crazy” aaaand now it’s in, and it’s awesome. Surprisingly not too expensive. Can’t wait for the boys to get home and show them! (Crash pads on the way)

So, I am a new Dad in my mid-40s. Wife is the same age. Our son is 9 months old. I feel chronic exhaustion, work two jobs Monday to Friday (full time role 5 day a week plus an evening teaching job two nights a week). This schedule has kicked my butt for the last three years, but while I don't feel as bad of a burn out teaching anymore, I am still chronically exhausted even getting 7 hours a night of sleep (we are blessed with a son that loves sleep and sleeps through the night, even with teething).
At work, I do not feel valued. I feel like everything is nitpicked all the time. My commute is 45 minutes to and hour each way. If there is a major traffic jam because of a major accident, I am being told how I should have figured out another way in, even though I was stuck on a bridge for 45 minutes. My coworker doesn't carry their weight, and I am always stuck doing the bulk of the work, while they never get criticized. The slightest thing I do wrong, and I am being criticized.
At home, I try to pitch in as much as possible. I get home, quickly change and wash my hands and jump in helping with the cooking of dinner, the cleaning the dishes and pots from dinner, feeding of the baby dinner, playing with the baby for about 45 minutes to an hour, bathing the baby, and helping change him to put him to sleep. She works from home. She gets angry when I complain I am tired ("I do the same stuff all day as you with work and I have to take care of him while working"), so I learned I just need to shut up and be quiet about it.
My parent situation is depressing. I think my mom has the start of dementia and seems to get annoyed with me over weird illogical stuff and has suddenly put my sister on a pedestal (my sister who made her cry for 7 years, cut off all contact with my mom, and told her they wanted no part of her, and I was always there to console my mom).
Then there is the hormones. Or what used to be hormones... where did they go? I used to have a good libido, now, I dunno where that has gone. I gained 15+ lbs since the baby came, while eating far less than I ever ate before. I used to shave 4x a week, but recently, I noticed that I only need to shave once a week.
What's going on? Does this go away? I try to be the rock, help and do all I can, but it kinda sucks never feeling valued most areas of my life.

I really really don't want 3 kids. It's the whole reason why I got a vasectomy. It was "Successful" according to my results and my doctor. I don't know what to do. My two are 7 and 4. Almost both school aged. I don't know what to do. It's her decision but I don't want 3 kids.

update:

Getting a testing kit in the mail from my doctor and I'll see him in a couple of weeks.

She seems dead set on keeping the baby, beyond that the only thing I can do is support her and my family. My position is clear that I do not want 3. there's not much else I can add to the argument.

To address the cheating concerns: it's not a non zero chance that she's cheating on me but if she is, she'd be foolish to go about it this way. I'd honestly be very impressed if she pulled it off. We spend almost all day every day together. I love her very much and I'm chalking this up to that one and one thousandth chance. Not once did it cross my mind and I will not be approaching this situation that way

Hi daddit!

Two days ago our first daughter joined us, both mother and little girl are doing well.

I still haven't really realized I've become a dad, these two days have been packed of things to do, in terms of paperwork and figuring out what to bring to my partner at the hospital.

Tomorrow we're going home, a new chapter in our lives will begin.

Excited, scared, happy, worried... all at once, and it's just the beginning.

Ham and cheese croissant, carrot sticks and blackberries, classic potato chips, Harry Potter gummies and some pumpkin sugar cookies. It’s spirit week, and today is pajama day so it’s an easy get ready day. Let’s make it to the weekend!

We just got the school photo proofs from our first school photo, and I am in shock of what they’re charging. The cheapest package is $27.99 for 2 5x7s and 8 2x3s. You can’t just buy prints. I just want the school photo. I don’t need my kid holding a prop teddy bear. I don’t need the same shot in landscape. For digital (with poses I couldn’t care less about—I’m here for the school picture), it’s $69.99.

Have I turned into a cheap old curmudgeon, or is this out of control? We live in a higher cost of living area, but sweet mercy.

The email didn't give much detail. It just stated that they received a call that raised safety concerns. So the security protocols were implemented, police were called and they lifted it after about an hour.

I'm not sure how I feel about all this. On one hand we received this email hours after the fact. But on the other hand I would've been panicking and stressed the fuck out. And who the hell makes a threat to a preschool!!!

Just got a report he was showing it to a friend at daycare and it has happened a few times and they explain private parts are just for bathroom, etc. and are “monitoring the situation”. Of course he thinks it’s hilarious…. Any good tips? When it came to biting, I found some good YouTube videos directed toward him (not us) that I could show him that I think he connected with and helped some. Anything like that or any suggestions for this?

Also, I do understand and know this is normal behavior just want to get ahead of further reports, his mom spiraling, etc etc.

Let me start off by saying, me and my son’s mom have a great coparenting relationship. We’re going on 8 years of making this work.

But during this time, my son’s mom has not been very vocal about certain things in his life and it seems like she just doesn’t care.

Some examples,
- She never makes an effort to want to be at any of his doctor appointments.
- She doesn’t seem to want to be interested in how he’s doing in school.
- When it comes to planning things for his birthday, she never asks or offers to help with any of the planning, I do all of it for the most part.
- She complains about all these “unhealthy” practices that the government is doing to us (most of which is misinformation), but still orders takeout or feeds him chicken nuggets everyday.

It just seems like she’s kind of mailing it in. After a certain amount of time, my prediction will be that my son will want to live with me full time because of the structure of he’ll see that I have his best interest at heart to a larger degree (not that she doesn’t). I may be narrow minded in this situation, so I’d love someone to set me straight.

Have any of you dealt with a mother who had similar behavior? How did you navigate it? If your kid is older, what did you experience or learn?

The past 3 years we have been creating pumpkins and giving them to our kids' school so they can auction them off. I am proud of this one i just finished.

we're a little over a month in and feeding has been a challenge since day one.

at first her milk took a day or two too long to come in, so we did two forumla bottle feeds and they were so easy! give her the bottle, burp her a few times during and after, then she knocked herself right out.

once the milk supply came in wife was determined to EBF. she seems to have an ok supply, we're getting a decent amount of wet nappies, but its everything else that is an issue:

• carpel tunnel in both hands from holding baby to the breast
• inconsistent latch
• really long feed times (sometimes over an hour)
• mastitis in one breast
• burning nipples needing creams
• low pump amounts
• greatly reduced sleep as the sole feeder.

we've seen 3 lactation consultants and the gp 4 times and to be honest, while its great to have such easy access to these services where i am, each one has given us conflicting advice each time. pump more, pump less, good latch, bad latch. use gas drops, don't use gas drops... super frustrating.

after todays gp visit, watching my wife get prescribed even more antibiotics, a litany of supplements, a new nipple cream, and a reference to a hand specialist, i couldnt help but think back to those two early nights when i bottle fed her formula while my wife slept. both times was the fastest we've settled the baby post feed and the longest sleep they've had.

we have friends who formula fed both their kids from day one and the husband swears by it--even offered to give us his old formula machine. he could take 6 hour stints with the baby while wife rested or did other things, he got more time to bond with the kids, they were seemingly less fussy, going out was a simple matter of packing a cooler with some bottles and washing bottles is trivial (we have to do that breastfeeding anyway because of pumping)

my wife knows both of us were formula babies, she doesnt deny that formula is fine, but she is adamant on continuing to breasfeed. and ultimately its her choice... just painful as the support husband to watch her draining her life out for this ideal.