My preschooler is getting just old enough to have a proper social life (playdates, birthday parties, etc.). I've got some specific questions about the parental etiquette expectations surrounding these kiddie get-togethers.
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posted by Bardolph
on Apr 5, 2013 -
24 answers
Tell me about your daily schedules, parenting logistics, etc., with a newborn
plus a toddler or older child.
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posted by Bardolph
on Mar 7, 2013 -
15 answers
A little more than a month ago, I started a full-time telecommuting job that I thought was my dream job. When I took it, I was working part-time (and had been since my son was born two years ago). This is my first full-time job since becoming a mom. I now think I made a big mistake.
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posted by trillian
on Aug 14, 2012 -
21 answers
I have two kids. My wife wants another. I don't. How do we decide?
I have two boys. Ages 6 and 2 1/2. My wife is saying we should have another child because she wants a girl.
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posted by alshain
on Aug 13, 2012 -
34 answers
My father and stepmother have rejected my son, after I placed him in an Open Adoption following his birth earlier this year. How do I deal with important family events where both parties would be welcome and invited? Snowflake details within.
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posted by erasorhed
on Aug 6, 2012 -
21 answers
She's not into what she thinks girls her age are "supposed" to be into. How do we show her that what
she likes is what's normal, and maybe encourage her to reach out to find the other kids that like that stuff too? Is that what we
should be doing?
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posted by kostia
on Jun 11, 2012 -
97 answers
Need suggestions on how my kids should address me, their transgender father. "Dad" now seems kind of weird at times.
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posted by TranSubstantial
on Jan 17, 2012 -
53 answers
This is not going to be pretty. I need to know if there is any way for me to maintain a life with my children if I cannot maintain one with my wife.
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 26, 2011 -
91 answers
I'm reading (and really enjoying)
The Glass Castle, and my wife and are about to have our first kid. What other memoirs or non-fiction books should I read that focus on parenting, raising kids in unorthodox ways, or just plain unique families?
posted by nitsuj
on Jul 14, 2011 -
20 answers
How do I deal with multiple large family Christmas gatherings as an extreme introvert with some sensory
thing about large groups of people, loud noises and too much happening? Complicating factors are as follows.
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posted by geek anachronism
on Dec 28, 2010 -
34 answers
How can we develop the kind of family where things like race and sexuality and other big topics are discussed in an open, healthy, relaxed way?
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posted by flail
on Nov 29, 2010 -
17 answers
You grew up in a loving, healthy home. Your parents were normal, in that they were imperfect and made mistakes, but did a pretty damn good job raising their children. What was the nature of their mistakes? How did they affect you? What does a good, real family look like?
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posted by moira
on Oct 5, 2010 -
69 answers
When I was childless, my parents' right-wing politics were pretty easy to ignore. Whatever, we're different, they are entitled to their opinions. But now that I have a small child, and we are about to adopt transracially, things are beginning to get tense for me.
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posted by jeanmari
on Aug 31, 2010 -
41 answers
I am really lucky. I have a beautiful house, a good job, a smart, talented kid, a devoted, responsible husband. My life, by all objective measures, does not suck. Except it kind of does. Marital woes question: Should I stay?
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posted by anonymous
on May 25, 2010 -
97 answers
I need to find this. Very important to me.
Is there empirical evidence relating to this question:
Are there advantages for the children of divorced families being able to interact with both parents every day?
If so, what are those benefits?--Again, in terms of citable evidence.
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posted by justrobin
on Mar 5, 2010 -
3 answers
My baby is terrified of her grandfather. What can we do to get her to like him a bit better?
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posted by Bardolph
on Mar 2, 2010 -
19 answers
I need help sorting out if my son is behaving like a typical pre-teen or if he completely flipped the hell out. My oldest son turned 12 a couple months ago and now I have no idea who this child is. I'm at a loss to know what's normal for this age and what I should be concerned about. Books and the Internet are all over the map, so maybe the hive mind can help.
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 18, 2010 -
67 answers
I am a paralegal. No matter what I say, my father continually reminds me that if I went to law school I would have a better job, make more money, etc. If I say anything remotely intelligent, he automatically responds, "See, you should go to law school." Please help me make him understand that I don't want to go back to school, and his nonstop pestering only makes me feel stupid and inadequate.
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 6, 2010 -
54 answers
Trying to decide just how close to move to our kid's (very enthusiastic) grandparents. If you've experienced the childrearing-with-nearby-grands situation (as kid, grand OR parent), how did it work out? Any advice on encouraging involvement while still maintaining boundaries?
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posted by Bardolph
on Jun 4, 2009 -
21 answers
Apologies, I know there is a lot on this topic, but I have a specific question that doesn't seem to be answered.
We are thinking of having kids. We both want them.
What should we discuss before we jump in with both feet?
Who will stay home, and for how long?
What kinds of names are you considering?
What forms of punishment / praise will be used?
When can she get her ears pierced?
etc.
There seems to be so much to discuss... and I want to start having the conversation before I get hormonal. This will be our first.
What conversations did you have before yours were born?
posted by saragoodman3
on Mar 26, 2009 -
22 answers
I'm having a baby girl any week now, and I couldn't be more excited, but it's left me thinking a lot about whether or not I want my parents involved in my daughter's life.
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 9, 2009 -
19 answers
What do you do once you have a kid and family problem stakes seem higher, i.e. you're concerned about exposing your child things that go against what you believe?
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posted by anonymous
on May 6, 2008 -
27 answers
When my lease expires at the end of May, my boyfriend and I will be moving together. This is all very exciting, but I'm going to go from living alone to being a (basically) stepmom to a 10 year old boy. How can we make this easier on everyone? Are there any books that will be helpful?
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posted by kerfuffled
on Feb 28, 2008 -
16 answers
Looking for positive experiences where single parent and young child(en) were separated by great distances. Specifically, I am curious to know how it was made to work.
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posted by panoptican
on Jan 3, 2008 -
9 answers
I think my son's about to tell me he's gay. I want to say the best thing possible. What is that?
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posted by anonymous
on Jul 11, 2007 -
53 answers
Those with two or more kids: if you had to do it all over again, would you do so, or not? Not counting outside factors like the state of the world and so forth.
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posted by zek
on Jan 17, 2007 -
46 answers
Was your father 45+ when you were born? Were your own children born later in your life?
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 27, 2006 -
34 answers
I'm a new dad and I want to create some cool, happy family traditions. What traditions do you most remember and treasure?
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posted by AgentRocket
on Mar 8, 2005 -
49 answers
If you have siblings, do you think there's anything your parents did or didn't do that had a big effect on how you relate to your sib(s) today? My kids' futures hinge on your answer.
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posted by stupidsexyFlanders
on Feb 17, 2005 -
34 answers
I was raised by an abusive father. Now in my early 30's I am looking ahead to the future when I may become a father. I am determined not to recreate the family environment I grew up in but know how these things sometimes turn out -- that people determined not to recreate something sometimes wind up doing so in an unforseen manner. I was in therapy for 2 years in my 20's to work on the issues but therapy is not an option now because of money. I have worked hard not to be my father, but part of me is afraid that I will wind up being like him as a parent. (In particular, I worry about being a father to a son because of my history). I am looking for information about the father-son relationship as well as information about how to be a good parent when you have a background like mine. Please offer advice, books, suggestions - anything that can help.
posted by anonymous
on Feb 13, 2005 -
16 answers
Mysonhatesmefilter: Very often, My 2.5 year old son wants nothing to do with me. [more inside, if you please, Matt]
posted by anonymous
on Nov 18, 2004 -
39 answers
When I was little, my parents used to tell me that "in the olden days," many parents would spank their kids once a week, even though their kids hadn't been naughty. The spanking was supposedly preventative ("you'll get worse than THIS if you misbehave") or predictive ("I don't know WHAT you've done, but I'm sure you've done SOMETHING -- or you WILL do something...")
My question is: is this true? I mean, I know there are (and have been) all sorts of whack-o parents, but was there ever a general philosophy of parenting that advocated weekly spankings? My parents usually brought this up in the context of "you think YOU have it bad, well..." Were they yanking my chain? Is this an urban legend?
posted by grumblebee
on Aug 23, 2004 -
18 answers
