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? [more inside]
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

Please help me decide if I want to be a parent or not? [more inside]
posted by katala on Mar 13, 2009 - 52 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. [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Feb 9, 2009 - 19 answers

What are your favorite family games? [more inside]
posted by keith0718 on Aug 30, 2008 - 24 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? [more inside]
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? [more inside]
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. [more inside]
posted by panoptican on Jan 3, 2008 - 9 answers

How do I make sure I'm the absolute best son I can be? [more inside]
posted by TheManChild2000 on Nov 9, 2007 - 19 answers

Help me be an awesome mom! [more inside]
posted by nax on Oct 19, 2007 - 36 answers

I think my son's about to tell me he's gay. I want to say the best thing possible. What is that? [more inside]
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. [more inside]
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? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 27, 2006 - 34 answers

What can you tell me about your experiences giving/raising/being an adopted child? [more inside]
posted by nelleish on Mar 16, 2005 - 13 answers

I'm a new dad and I want to create some cool, happy family traditions. What traditions do you most remember and treasure? [more inside]
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. [more inside]
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 - 40 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