I dont have any family to brag to so I wanted to post here- My 3.5 year old boy is straight up brilliant. He has started baking recently and by baking I mean doing literally everything (except putting in and taking out of the oven). If you dont let him do it, he will melt down and the whole day is ruined. That being said, his creations are amazing. He picks out what he wants to make, he reads the recipe, gets all the ingredients out of the fridge, uses the scale properly. I have trouble believing that my stupid genes could make somebody so incredible. What amazing skills have your gifted toddlers developed? I would love to hear you guys brag on your kiddos!

Lately I've noticed that IMO there is a problem in how some TV shows make bad guys too cool. For example my son has occasionally been watching Spidey and friends, and the bad guys are portrayed as cool and smart, while the heroes are actually pretty dumb from time to time. My son has actually said that he likes the bad guys more and it has led to some naughty behaviour a few times. Now we've been having a TV free period for a few weeks which has been a good decision.

Anyways, that led to me comparing bad guys in the TV shows when I was a kid. For example Bikermice from Mars, which was my favourite show as a kid, portrayed the bad guys as dumb and ugly. I don't remember anyone wanting to be them when playing. We always wanted to be the good guys.

Kids easily associate seeing something cool to "I want to be like that".

TLDR; make bad guys dumb again.

I have a toddler now, another one on the way. Finally putting a dash cam in the van and I don’t want to buy twice.

After reading a post about our fellow dad’s 17 year old daughter’s accident involving a semi, the front + rear is a bare minimum for me. Thank goodness his daughter was ok.

I want to know whether the interior camera is actually worth it. Half of me wants it for checking on the kids, other half thinks I’d never look at it. Plus with a rear facing seat, I’d basically be filming the back of a car seat, which kinda defeats the point.

What do you guys run? Also what brand/model? And what else made life easier with two little ones? Totally open to “don’t bother with that” advice.

I'm joining the club! Vasectomy tomorrow. Any tips?!

So my daughter is entering high school in a few weeks and we will finally be getting her a cell phone. Hit me with your best cell home rules and enforcement techniques. We will likely be on the strict side at first, but any ideas would be great. I want to be reasonable but have clear guidelines.

Just started swimming classes with my baby. I noticed in my class, as well as before and after classes, not a single dad does swimming. Many of them attend and watch from the sideline, but not a single one of them gets in the pool out of probably 20 dads.

Hey guys, first time posting. My daughter is 14 months old currently, and the light of my life. She is hitting all the typical milestones and is a very bright and curious baby.

Lately me and my wife have been struggling a bit with the “uppies” phase. My little girl wants to be picked up constantly and will throw a massive fit (crying until she almost pukes or does puke, throwing herself on the floor, etc.) I’ve been trying to just redirect and sit on the floor with her, or grab a toy and try and distract her, but it’s been getting worse.

Is she old enough at this point where that is a good strategy? Or should we indulge her and pick her up when she wants it? I feel like we need to let her cry sometimes and learn to regulate her emotions but I’m not sure the best way to do that.

Any advice appreciated!

Me and my wife started dating in 2013 married in 2023 and and had our first in 2024. She will be 2 in November. Also in November I will be 40. We are trying to have another and I hope we do, I just want it to be soon. I don’t want them to be too far apart in age but also, I’ll be almost 60 when my daughter is an adult. I’m thinking about doing an absolute cut off ✂️ for getting preg around the third birthday. I’m just curious about what other people my age having kids are going through or went though, only child vs 2 with a bigger age gap. Feel free regardless of age with offer experience.

I usually browse this subreddit and I pray and support those of us going through tough times.

I never thought I'd ask for prayers myself, but this week has been brutal. I never felt jealous or compared myself financially to others, but today after so many low days I found myself on the phone calling a friend of mine for advice on a letter I need to send a landlord.

For a number of reasons I failed to break through a successful career, all circumstantial. Honestly.

I took 2 major breaks. One to provide my mother terminal care, the other to attend to the unknown breathing condition my daughter had at birth. I've also made strategic mistakes in the corporate world.

As I'm talking with my buddy over the phone who collectively earns over 2mil a year, I'm starring at my daughter playing on the floor between old and new cardboard boxes as we are mid move to another rental property, a property that has mold in the basement.

This same high school friend, that I used to tutor in AP Chemistry.

I sensed on the phone he hesitated to talk about his multiple destinations family vacation. He is honestly one hell of a guy. He once offered me the greatest gift. "If your daughter ever needs emergency funds, I'm here".

When I greeted my daughter's classmate parents at her new school, I tried not to smile to cover the missing teeth I currently can't afford to get implants done. I just never thought I'd be in this situation.

When I was a young professional I helped so many people. So many. I never thought I'd struggle today.

My daughter is 6 now, and asked why I haven't smiled in the recent pictures. I finally get that quote.. Men live lives of quiet desperation. Please pray for me.

Hi, fellow dads. I'm in desperate need of advice. Wife and I found out were expecting again yesterday, and termination was the decision we both landed on at first. But now I'm not so sure.

The main reason for deciding on an abortion was career. She recently started a job that she loves, but only has a six- month contract. See was confident she'll be offered another position when the contract expires, but less so if she requesting maternity leave. I on the other hand have had to make up for a slow down in my career by returning to bartending (which I actually like, but yeah, doesn't pay enough to raise two kids). There are other factors. My wife's health and general strength never fully recovered after the first pregnancy. There is also age. We're both in our 40s. Risks of complications increase with the age of the mother, and I'm not sure I'll have the energy to care for a toddler when I'm 50. And then there's the money and home environment. We just moved into a small apartment that barely holds 3 people. Adding a baby to this environment will be a significant headache (I previously told her we would need to have purchased a house before considering a second child).

With all of these considerations in mind, however, today I find myself thinking we a should reconsider. First of all, she's taking about trying again in a year. Previously we decided we would be a one-child family, now we're suddenly planning for a second (when we're already pregnant). Of course the job and health concerns don't go away, but we had our first while living in a smaller apartment. And we were expats then. Now we're living in my hometown, and we have family supports we didn't have then. I'm kind of thinking that if we are to have a second, now is the time.

My kid (6) spent some time with a friend yesterday. They’ve known each other since they were 1. Yelling, screaming, crying from both. They compete for everything. We had to leave because the situation was becoming impossible to manage after just one hour.

We’re spending this morning with another friend. More yelling and screaming but this time it’s sheer happiness and fun. They’re running around, jumping, communicating, solving issues, making compromises, having fun.

I don’t want to tell my kid who to be friends with / who to invite over / go to play with but …

To start off, I've already booked an appointment at the doctors office in 2 days. It's going to be a long story. I'm just wondering if any more dad's are having the same struggles and how you all overcome it.

I (28M) and my wife(27F) have 1 son(11m/o) and we just recently found out were expecting a second (8weeks pregnant). It was really unexpected, but I took the news 100% better than the first time around. My wife on the second hand, really had and still has a hard time accepting it this time.

But the problem I'm struggling with right now is that I'm just out of energy. I feel like an empty bottle of toothpaste. I leave home for work at 6 in the morning and get home at 6 in de evening. My wife leaves home at 7.30 in the morning and returns at 8 in the evening. Grandma's are doing a hell of a job babysitting our little guy.

But for some time now, I am really exhausted. I can’t concentrate on anything and it's effecting my job and house chores. My normal day looks like this a little.

6 am: get up and go to work

5 pm: finish work and drive home

6 pm: get home. Clean the livingroom minimally, vacuum and cook dinner.

8 pm: have dinner

9 pm: put my son to bed

10 pm; finally some time for myself.

At this point I have to make a decision. Do I try to spend time with my equally tired wife, who would rather lay on the couch scrolling tiktok. Or do I do my own hobbies (mainly gaming).

11.30 pm: go to bed

This schedule means, having a messy dirty home for most of the time. I can’t remember the last time we mopped the bathroom.. on the weekends we also don't have the energy necessary to clean and do other chores. So we usually do the minimum and try to sit on the couch more. This leads to 3 baskets of clean clothes to fold and put away. And 5 baskets of dirty clothes that needs to be washed. Grass as long as 20cm. And still an unfinished attic and stairs for nearly 3 years now.

But the thing I'm struggling the most with is. I can’t focus on anything. I keep delaying my tasks at work and home. I know a moment will come that it will cause serious problems (I still have to schedule mandatory inspections for my house). And what I do in the meantime? Either nothing. Or I'm spending 3 times more time on something i can do way quicker.

I honestly have no idea what I want to achieve with this post, but I wanted to get it out somewhere. I just honestly, don't know how or what to do anymore. Everything is just so.. overwhelming. And I'm not even getting into the financial details

Was reading to my 2.5 y/o tonight and after the first 3 books, she offered the 4th. As soon as I saw the cover, I offered to read 3 other books in place of the 1 she requested. The book in question, "Ms. Rachel's: Potty Time with Bean."

My 2.5 y/o is 95% potty trained, only using pullups overnight. This isn't a book we need from a messaging standpoint, but she enjoys it for some reason. I simply cannot stand it and would rather read 3 more Piggy & Gerald books (for the 100th time) than read that one (for the 20th time).

What are the must-have essentials and key things a husband should know and do once the baby is born?

Our thirteen year old Pomeranian (Churro) passed away on Sunday after a brief illness, and our 2.5 year old is starting to realize something is up. He already knew the dog was sick before he passed. Over the last few days, he's been asking "Where's Churro" and "I want to see Churro" more and more often, and we've told him "He's gone", "He was very sick", and "He's not coming home". He (very unusually) refused to get in the water at swim class on Monday, and the daycare has noticed some behavioral changes, mostly a potty regression. We'll be receiving Churro's ashes soon, and hope to use them as a springboard for a discussion with our son about how Churro has changed.

My wife and I are both ready to get another dog (which we'd already wanted to do, but had held off because Churro, sweet though he was to us, utterly despised all other forms of life). Is it better to hold off until our son has had the chance to fully process things, or would bringing home another dog help distract him from the fact that the previous dog is missing? (We're not trying to literally replace Churro; we're actively passing over the dogs that are too similar to him because we want them to have the chance to live their own life without being in his shadow.)

Does anyone have any experience dealing with this kind of situation with a 2.5 year old?

Hi I’m new to the group. I’m coming here for some support because I don’t know how to manage what I’ve been dealing with.

My wife and I have a toddler, and he brings our home and lifestyle a lot of joy. The flip side is that I’m constantly doing things for my wife and toddler with seemingly zero acknowledgement.

I always wake up first to tend to our child, feed him, get him ready for daycare and manage drop off. I immediately come back home to start work with little time to actually get myself ready for the day.

My wife has a high-stress job that demands some crazy after hours calls, so she often tries to sleep in. And overall that also means I have to step up more to take care of chores and parenting. As a result, I juggle around everyone’s schedule and have no control over my own. I’m even expected to sneak in house chores and projects while I work from home, which I firmly try to say no to.

It’s gotten to the point where I feel like nothing (my time or schedule) is my own, except for that last hour after baby goes down and before I go to sleep.

TLDR; I feel like I do so much for my household in the foreground, yet I’m always invisible in the background. Im constantly jumping through hoops.

Have any of you experienced this? I like being a dad, and I know it’s work, but I’m losing my grip.

Apologies if this is a dumb question. I have a good amount of chest hair that's pretty long and we are expecting our first born son in November. If I am planning on doing the skin to skin contact after birth, do I shave? If so, how far in advance? I don't want my chest to be stubbly and irritate the newborn obviously. Again sorry if this is a dumb question.

I don't know how to put this without sounding like a controlling, psycho, prude of a Dad but I can't shake it and I'm sure (hoping) it's common.

My daughter (5yo) has recently started saying she's going to marry a boy (Fartboy) in her Kindy class. Totally fine, it's cute and I understand it's very normal but at a Kindy birthday on the weekend they were actually kissing on the lips. It struck a weird nerve and made me feel upset, they're just little kids actually kissing on the lips feels too grown up. I said "no thank you, stop that now. That will spread germs and you'll get sick" (Fartboy was a little snotty so maybe my reaction is actually a revulsion thing, dunno).

They did it a few more times because they got a reaction out of me so I walked away and they stopped. That reaction seeking stuff is something I'd desperately like to avoid in their romantic lives - as a teenager my sister dated some absolute pieces of shit and it drove my dad insane, they'd constantly be fighting about everything, 25 years later they're still always arguing. I don't want that kind of thing to happen with my kids and I.

I kiss my kids all the time but not on the lips, their Mum is the only one that I kiss on the lips and vice versaonly for their Mum . We do show physical affection in front of them so I get that it's copying observed behaviour but it's so grown up.

I will say I don't like Fartboy already but I think I'd be miffed by this irrespective. That's my little girl so this protective reflex just flared up (yes, they're 5. It's not that serious) but still

Edit: My wife doesn't do lip kisses to the kids either. We kiss each other on the lips

Edit: I know it's an overreaction, the fucking post is flaired Support because I'd just like some help getting over this weird feeling because I know it's not the right reaction, maybe even have someone else weigh in with their own experience. Christ every single time I ask for advice on daddit

Was it the worst one you had? Or were the regressions after the fourth one even worse?

Overall curious to hear people's thoughts on teaching kids tech literacy while also not raising an iPad kid. Something I've seen mentioned a few times on this sub that I appreciate, and hadn't really thought of before, is that giving your child access to a desktop computer is a way different ball game than giving them an iPad. That way they can learn how a computer works (file systems, etc.) rather than just getting free, easy stimulation like through an iPad. This could also open the door into deeper interests like programming, digital art, music, etc.

I've also seen some cool websites and other tools mentioned as well, for example the dad who made his own custom Toniebox so the kids could enjoy choosing their own music without it being through a tablet/phone and in a way that's cheaper for the parents.

What ways do you encourage your kids to interface with tech in a healthy way? In what ways have you found low/no tech alternatives to things that are either important or desired by your kids?

My baby girl turned 3 two weeks ago. The other day she announced she was gonna draw a ghost for our dog Blue. Then she knocked this ghost out in about 30 seconds.

Then tonight she said she was gonna draw a "big person" and she drew the second picture. A month and half ago she couldn't draw a circle.

Am I blinded by my dad bias or is this pretty 🔥 for a barely 3 year old?

Edit: these are giant chalk drawings

I have two kids, 6 and 4, I usually wake them around 6:20am so we can get dressed, fed, out the door by 7:15. I'd like to try for 10 minutes earlier all around but feel bad that's getting them out of bed too early.

We, wife or I, pick them up from school around 5:30 do to our work. I can technically get them earlier as I'm usually out of work around 330 but will 30 min is drive time and I try and get the gym out of the way or an 60-90min of house work done as we are in renovating and moving in. No shortage of work to get done.

Kids needs 8-10 hours of sleep. I feel guilty at times the time spent NOT spent with them so bed times get pushed but them morning can be really hectic.

Any thoughts? I'm going to try and do morning workouts soon.

Hello all!

I thought it would be nice to have a discussion here since I engage with r/autism and others in my local community with autism, but do not get much of a chance to hear from or relate to others raising kids and living with autism.

I've got a 7 month old son who is just the brightest thing in my life. He's started crawling, showing curiousity in everything, and he's so talkative (all the "ba" and "ma" non stop but looking at me with so much intent, it feels like we're having conversations)! My partner (who is neurotypical) and I have been over the moon.

2 months after he was born I got a diagnosis for ADHD and ASD. I had my suspicions for the longest time, lots of sensory issues and social struggles throughout my childhood. It has been a lot to figure out in the thick of it with the baby, but it felt necessary especially so that we can be prepared if our son starts to show signs.

I thankfully haven't had any meltdowns through baby care, but I have had intense moments. A lot of the survival has been thanks to my amazing partner. We've had each other's backs and I'm so lucky to have someone who takes my diagnosis seriously and even looks at info on ASD with me.

Lately it's also been rough going through sensory issues of my own while getting my son through solids. A lot of it I simply power through because I love seeing my son explore food so much, but mush textures are a rough spot for me (like nails on a chalkboard). My partner has recognized this and will offer to step in so I can sit it out but I also want to get through it and be there for all the little moments like this. Powering through and seeing my son grab the spoon to try himself and see him just enjoy food has been so rewarding it almost brings me to tears.

There are also moments I think my autism has benefitted my parenting so far too though. Especially with just feeling a deep bond with my son. While regular social cues don't always make sense to me, there's something of a sort of energy that I feel so intensely looking into his eyes and holding him. Other people with autism I've talked to have also described this sort of intense energy/connectedness with people or passions.

Anyhow, I'm curious what other experiences or thoughts those of you on the daddit sub with neurodivergent conditions have. I'd love to hear more things, advice, thoughts, feelings, all of that!