My four-year-old son’s birthday is in late November. In our state, that means we can choose whether he starts (all-day) kindergarten this coming fall, when he’s 4-going-on-5, or next year, when he’ll be 5-going-on-6. I’m pretty paralyzed over this decision. I’m looking for insights, especially those with some sort of data behind them, to help.
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posted by anonymous
on Apr 18, 2013 -
43 answers
You're considering a move to Los Angeles for a job in Irvine. You and your (stay-at-home) wife are both in your early 30s, and have two young (under two years old) children. You were raised in the midwest, and prefer the suburbs. You want to live in an area that has lots of other young families and easy access to eating and shopping and preschools and other things like that. You don't want to spend more than 30 minutes or so commuting. You want to spend about $3,000 per month on rent for a 3+ bedroom single-family-home (or condo, you suppose). What areas of Los Angeles do you focus on?
posted by anonymous
on Apr 15, 2013 -
25 answers
About three years ago, my wife was visiting her mother when they discovered a cute puppy running around on the property. The mother took the puppy home and there was great rejoicing. Flash forward one year.
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 7, 2013 -
45 answers
Moving to a better school zone. Should I do it? Tough decisions concerning moving, staying put, and financial future.
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 25, 2012 -
19 answers
How can I best support my wife, a stay-at-home-mom, during the summer when she's home alone with a sometimes difficult ten year old boy?
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posted by anonymous
on Jun 14, 2012 -
27 answers
Should we break up? The middle aged version...
I see these sorts of questions all the time from people in their 20s, but I'm a little older...
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posted by anonymous
on Jun 12, 2012 -
57 answers
Happy DINK having doubts: How do you discern between real change in baby-making opinion and just temporary hormonal brooding?
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 19, 2012 -
53 answers
Is pregnancy a pre-existing condition if you're moving from a country with national health insurance?
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 2, 2011 -
10 answers
A friend is getting divorced. He has been married about 8 years and has 3 kids under 6, one who is just months old. He and his wife are amicably dealing with this so far, though this was just determined yesterday. What advice do you have for him?
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posted by anonymous
on Oct 26, 2011 -
21 answers
I am a 25 year-old gay(-ish?) male living in New York City. Perhaps uncharacteristically, I have a really strong drive to have kids (of my own) and really want to do so in the next five or ten years. I'm torn about how to get there though, given relationship difficulties that hinge largely on unresolved issues relating to my sexuality. Warning: TL;DR potential, but significant context is necessary.
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posted by anonymous
on Sep 25, 2011 -
21 answers
Dating filter: The women I tend to feel most connected to pretty much all want to have children. But I don't. Or at least, I mostly don't. How do I deal?
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 23, 2011 -
48 answers
How do I go about deciding whether I want kids or not? I'm 38 going on 39. I'm female and I'm single. I live in NYC. And I have no idea if I want to have children. How do I go about truly understanding what I want?
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posted by anonymous
on Jul 25, 2011 -
46 answers
A kid at the day camp I'm helping out at is constantly lifting camp property and pocketing things when he thinks we're not looking. What can I do?
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posted by anonymous
on Jul 11, 2011 -
18 answers
Sometimes my 3 year-old daughter strikes me as "not all there." I've been so careful to not be a paranoid helicopter mom that I now wonder if I've missed something. What signs should I look out for when considering ADHD and/or learning disabilities and delays?
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posted by anonymous
on Jul 7, 2011 -
34 answers
Could my son’s bladder and bowel control problems be a manifestation of emotional distress? Or could there be something physical going on that we’re missing? We’re going to the doctor soon, but I’d like to hear some ideas from others who might have dealt with something similar.
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posted by anonymous
on Jun 18, 2011 -
14 answers
Seven-year-old boy incredibly defensive, takes everything too seriously and overreacts to criticism. Have you been one or had a child like this and can offer advice?
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posted by anonymous
on May 11, 2011 -
23 answers
Is it acceptable to try to have a second child if our housing restraints mean one child would be sleeping in the (very nice and finished) basement?
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 16, 2011 -
48 answers
A week ago, my sister and her husband (they have a four year old) have decided to undergo a trial separation. Please help me figure out how best to support her, and whether or not I should keep my mouth shut.
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posted by anonymous
on Nov 9, 2010 -
17 answers
I feel really guilty, because of social and family pressure, for not wanting kids. I am sure my guilt over feeling like I want kids is less painful than having a kid I don't really want. Will this feeling of "I'm not an upright citizen because I don't want babies" go away? How can I make it better? How do MeFites without kids (by choice, or not) cope with being asked about it?
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posted by anonymous
on Oct 10, 2010 -
51 answers
My partner and I are ontemplating separation and I am thinking of moving several towns over. I have read stories of parents separating and the benefits of the two homes being close as in a few blocks. But what should I know about making it work for myself and my kid when the homes are further apart?
I would like to hear positive advice from parents and kids who have negotiated two homes with a little distance between them . Were their plusses to this distance to balance out the minuses? How did you make it work?
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 7, 2010 -
14 answers
How can I help my three kids adjust to my plans to move in with my girlfriend? Specifically, how important is alone time with dad?
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posted by anonymous
on Jul 9, 2010 -
14 answers
Thought I found the perfect preschool for my son. Then I learned the preschool has accepted a couple of not-fully-vaccinated kids. We will have a newborn in the house this fall. Is that a dealbreaker?
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posted by anonymous
on May 17, 2010 -
42 answers
Is it a good idea for two divorced women and our (total of three) little kids to move in together for safety, companionship and financial savings?
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posted by anonymous
on May 16, 2010 -
22 answers
How to work with a divorced parents dating situation where you love the guy one-on-one, but his relationship with his daughter is another, entirely more problematic issue?
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 21, 2010 -
37 answers
Our kids are 2 and 5. Their mom and I have a marriage that is clearly only lasting because we both love our kids so much and they need us. That said, we do NOT fight, either in front of the kids or alone. We just have a big ol' blank where the love used to be. On a daily basis we just basically ignore each other as much as possible and focus our energies on the kids. I do not foresee this lasting forever. However: When to break up?
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posted by anonymous
on Feb 21, 2010 -
40 answers
I'm on ChexSystems, and I can't get another bank account for a long time. My kid wants to start a savings account to start saving for college. I want to help her open one in her name. Can we do this?
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 18, 2010 -
5 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
Have you successfully stopped yelling at your children?
I hate myself for yelling. I am in therapy, and I'm a self-reflective person. I'm also very stressed at work, a single parent, and often overwhelmed, without a real support system. My ex-husband went back to his native Iran, re-married a local woman and does not contribute financially any more. That's another story, but the point is I don't have a lot of help. I am in therapy and work on my parenting and my deeper reasons for being frustrated, all the time. I vow to stop yelling. And then I yell again.
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 6, 2010 -
39 answers
Early stages of long-distance relationship filter: I've reconnected with an old potential dating interest from over 20 years ago in the past, and since August, there have been daily texts, emails, phone calls. We live about a 3 hour drive away from each other.
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 5, 2010 -
10 answers
I just met someone I am really interested in dating, but who has kids. In general, I am OK with the idea, but I want to know the sorts of issues and questions I should bring up with this person to talk about it and understand the situation.
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posted by anonymous
on Jan 2, 2010 -
14 answers
Military Brat Filter: Explain a military brat childhood to someone who grew up in a touchy-feely liberal household that never moved once. I’m looking for either long-form articles or personal stories. How often did you move? What were the things you learned? Did you have coping mechanisms? What were the bases like? How has it affected you as an adult?
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posted by anonymous
on Dec 30, 2009 -
20 answers
Should I go for the in-plan, cheap co-pay therapist or pony up more cash for the therapist who seems a better fit for my family? Would it be bad to switch therapists shortly into the process?
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posted by anonymous
on Nov 17, 2009 -
11 answers
Should I try to breed out the parts of me I don't like? Or is it ok to make super neurotic kids?
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 17, 2009 -
19 answers
Late 20's life planning, do I plan for the family I may never have or do I live my life as if I'll be single forever, unless I just happen to meet someone at which point i reevaluate?
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posted by anonymous
on Aug 13, 2009 -
25 answers
Snip, shot, or something else? We need the sex but we don't need the baby. What's the most reliable - and permanent - form of birth control that's available with minimal pain / problems?
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posted by anonymous
on May 22, 2009 -
35 answers
I work in a library. We have storytime and baby's rhymes for toddlers and infants. Unfortunately I hate singing. But I have a good attitude and I'm willing to get in there. Please, librarians and parents everywhere - what are your best rhymes/songs that require a minimum of singing!? Other ideas for interactive things to add to my storytimes would be good too!
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posted by anonymous
on Mar 31, 2009 -
12 answers
