Parent Thread

[babytrees]

Of course Dads too. Pretty sure they're parents too.

last time I checked we needed a mommy AND a daddy to make a kiddo...so I do believe boys are allowed to this party (I hope)

 

[Bob Slydell]

Of course Dads too. Pretty sure they're parents too.

I know -- I'm just joking. Seems like everytime a parenting-type thread gets posted, it's women asking other moms for advice on something, as if dads wouldn't have an opinion (not on this thread, mind you )

I'm a rare breed -- I'm a SAHD.

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

I know -- I'm just joking. Seems like everytime a parenting-type thread gets posted, it's women asking other moms for advice on something, as if dads wouldn't have an opinion (not on this thread, mind you )

I'm a rare breed -- I'm a SAHD.

So how do you like being a SAHD? My husband is very involved too. His schedule because he works a 12 hour shift allows him almost half the year off. He is a great dad and always keeps it in perspective for me.

 

[PlutosFriend]

I know -- I'm just joking. Seems like everytime a parenting-type thread gets posted, it's women asking other moms for advice on something, as if dads wouldn't have an opinion (not on this thread, mind you )

I'm a rare breed -- I'm a SAHD.

Hey, that is cool
You're advice may come in handy when we can't figure out men out!

 

[Bob Slydell]

So how do you like being a SAHD? My husband is very involved too. His schedule because he works a 12 hour shift allows him almost half the year off. He is a great dad and always keeps it in perspective for me.

I like it for the most part. Honestly, I was doing pretty much the same stuff before (e.g. cooking, laundry, running around to all the practices and games, etc.), but doing it while working full-time. It just got to be too much and thankfully, we're fortunate enough to be able to afford the choice we made. It makes my life that much easier to deal with -- and the kids love having me around more (especially my 2 year old, who I'm home with 2 days a week -- he goes to preschool Tues-Thurs).

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

How do you guys handle back talk? (This question is for anyone going thru it). I need some fresh ideas over here!

I wish I knew. I just usually look her straight in the eye and in the meanest, calmest voice tell her, "Don't speak to me like that." I'm not sure it works that great it works maybe 75% of the time. She knows when I am done.

What about you? maybe you are using a differnt method and we can switch.

I did watch Supernanny and she had the kids in a "reflection chair" and then they got to go to the "conversation couch" afterward. I thought that looked interesting.

 

[addicted_to_WDW]

Mom of a teenager here. I stayed home for a year and decided it wasn't for me, so for the last 13 I've been a full time mom with a full time job on the side.

DS is a great kid. What I want to know is how to deal with him having his first girlfriend. They are going to a dance next week and I hear there may be kissing involved. My baby!

 

[Momof4gr8boys]

Hi everyone! This sounds like something I'd like to be a part of!

I am a working mom of four boys - 16, 12, 9 and 2. I used to stay home but we needed two incomes.

My oldest DS is a total bully to his brothers and it drives me crazy. My DH doesn't seem to get that, probably because is is number two of four boys.

You know I have to say that my DS12 still doesn't handle change or new situations well. I homeschooled him until the 2nd grade but it didn't work out. I was terrible at it! So on his first day of school he threw up on his teacher! That was awful I can tell ya. I am glad she is a kind and understanding friend!
He had horrible stomach pains and sickness changing to middle school this year. Thank God we had undertanding teachers and counsellors. They really worked hard to get him through it.

 

[PlutosFriend]

I wish I knew. I just usually look her straight in the eye and in the meanest, calmest voice tell her, "Don't speak to me like that." I'm not sure it works that great it works maybe 75% of the time. She knows when I am done.

What about you? maybe you are using a differnt method and we can switch.

I did watch Supernanny and she had the kids in a "reflection chair" and then they got to go to the "conversation couch" afterward. I thought that looked interesting.

Hmmm, maybe I need to watch that. It has been a while. Sometimes I say "would you speak to your teacher like that?" of course their answer is "no". Then I tell them that they shouldn't be speaking to me that way either! I tell them that it is disrespectful, etc. I have gone so far as to ground my son from the computer or WII, when it gets too bad It just breaks my heart when he smarts off to me. He was always the easy one...LOL. He is changing....

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

Mom of a teenager here. I stayed home for a year and decided it wasn't for me, so for the last 13 I've been a full time mom with a full time job on the side.

DS is a great kid. What I want to know is how to deal with him having his first girlfriend. They are going to a dance next week and I hear there may be kissing involved. My baby!

Kissing

All I have for you is "Ewwwww! Boy's are gross." That is the extent of my parenting ability so far. Sorry.

 

[PlutosFriend]

Mom of a teenager here. I stayed home for a year and decided it wasn't for me, so for the last 13 I've been a full time mom with a full time job on the side.

DS is a great kid. What I want to know is how to deal with him having his first girlfriend. They are going to a dance next week and I hear there may be kissing involved. My baby!

Ack! I dread those teenage years. Makes me think I should stop complaining about the way they act right now

 

[DorkyDisneyMom]

Hmmm, maybe I need to watch that. It has been a while. Sometimes I say "would you speak to your teacher like that?" of course their answer is "no". Then I tell them that they shouldn't be speaking to me that way either! I tell them that it is disrespectful, etc. I have gone so far as to ground my son from the computer or WII, when it gets too bad It just breaks my heart when he smarts off to me. He was always the easy one...LOL. He is changing....

See, sometimes I like her and sometimes I don't. She put the kids in the "reflection chair" for the number of minutes of their age. They had to write about why they were there. Then, they got to go to the "conversation couch" and get talked to about what they had done and what was expected of them. The family had this really whiiiinnnnneeyyy 9 year old and it worked well with him.

 

[babytrees]

Kissing

All I have for you is "Ewwwww! Boy's are gross." That is the extent of my parenting ability so far. Sorry.

but boys are gross (Sorry Bob!!)

My guess is if you hear there will be kissing is that there already has been.

I love my oldest because I can ask her a ton of questions (really in depth questions...like "have you kissed a boy?" ) and she will answer me honestly...after she says "You know mom most other mom's don't want to know this stuff!"

Yes they do they just don't want to ask.

 

[Mkrop]

this sounds like my youngest we have learned to keep offering new experiences...and sometimes she surprises us and says yes, she'd like to go. Our big problem is often she says her sister has to go. Actually, they both do that.

I think this is probably a time to back off but every once in awhile mention it.

I would also probably stop with the bribes...pretty soon he'll be expecting something from you all of the time.

I dont usually do bribes. I had the glow sticks and had forgotten that I was going to add them to their costumes anyway when I saw them I reminded him that glow sticks are to go with Halloween costumes.

I remember I tried the whole bribe thing when DS10 was potty training. He was a car nut and I bought a whole bag full of matchbox cars thinking he would love it and give him incentive. He handed them back to me and matter of factly said "no thank you".

I knew from then on bribes dont work

 

[babytrees]

See, sometimes I like her and sometimes I don't. She put the kids in the "reflection chair" for the number of minutes of their age. They had to write about why they were there. Then, they got to go to the "conversation couch" and get talked to about what they had done and what was expected of them. The family had this really whiiiinnnnneeyyy 9 year old and it worked well with him.

my answer to talking back has always been "Excuse me??" with the you better think how your talking to me stare....straightens them up.

Whining gets a "I'm sorry I didn't understand you...try again without whining"

For awhile my oldest favorite word was shoot....so I got sick of it....everytime she said shoot I'd say bang...took awhile but it's not her favorite word anymore. Jeez is ...so my word back is crackers

 

[Mkrop]

I know -- I'm just joking. Seems like everytime a parenting-type thread gets posted, it's women asking other moms for advice on something, as if dads wouldn't have an opinion (not on this thread, mind you )

I'm a rare breed -- I'm a SAHD.

I would welcome the dad perspective

 

[babytrees]

I dont usually do bribes. I had the glow sticks and had forgotten that I was going to add them to their costumes anyway when I saw them I reminded him that glow sticks are to go with Halloween costumes.

I remember I tried the whole bribe thing when DS10 was potty training. He was a car nut and I bought a whole bag full of matchbox cars thinking he would love it and give him incentive. He handed them back to me and matter of factly said "no thank you".

I knew from then on bribes dont work

sorry, you had said something about a new lunchbox.

Bribes are a slippery slope. I do bribe every once in awhile for peace and quiet in the car...why oh why are kids their loudest in the car??

 

[Mkrop]

sorry, you had said something about a new lunchbox.

Bribes are a slippery slope. I do bribe every once in awhile for peace and quiet in the car...why oh why are kids their loudest in the car??

Maybe I am guilty then. He got the lunchbox from Santa. He LOVES Diego more than anything and I thought the new lunchbox would be a good motivator to get him to go. I ask him the other day and he said no he was scared and I said "dont forget you have the Diego lunchbox, dont you want to try it out" He said "Nope".

I love it when you are in the car and they ask you questions out of left field, like when DS10 asked me if he should wear Donovan McNabb's jersey when he was a black man and and DS was white. WOW, after I made sure I didnt swerve off the road. I turned it into a teachable moment on skin color doesnt matter. Whew.

 

[babytrees]

Maybe I am guilty then. He got the lunchbox from Santa. He LOVES Diego more than anything and I thought the new lunchbox would be a good motivator to get him to go. I ask him the other day and he said no he was scared and I said "dont forget you have the Diego lunchbox, dont you want to try it out" He said "Nope".

I love it when you are in the car and they ask you questions out of left field, like when DS10 asked me if he should wear Donovan McNabb's jersey when he was a black man and and DS was white. WOW, after I made sure I didnt swerve off the road. I turned it into a teachable moment on skin color doesnt matter. Whew.

you are right there are some great conversation starters in the car. What I don't love is the "nuh uh" "uh uh" and decibel 10

Abi (the 11 year old) has had a very tense year and a half or so...but in the last 2 weeks is back to the funny kid we know and love....the car has been a joy because that's where most of her funnies have been coming out.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I love the idea of a thread for ALL moms!

No one is right or wrong in deciding whether to stay home and be a full-time mother, or work outside the home. You have to decide what is right for you and your family. Some of us, however, don't get the choice of whether to work or stay home, so we need to be sensitive to everyone's situation whenever we post!

SAHM's will always feel guilty for staying at home and not contributing to the income of the family. Working mom's will always feel guilty for not being able to give quantity time to their child(ren). (We have even adopted the phrase, 'but we have "quality time" with our kids', to make us feel less guilty).

Enough already!!! Let's just embrace our motherhood and be supportive of each other, PERIOD!

Tuffcookie, getting off her soapbox!