Adoption, Fostering & Surrogacy

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Nesting 101: How to Prep for Baby (Without Losing Your Mind)

Phoebe Corcoran

What is a Surrogate? All You Need to Know

Cassidy Parker

What is Gotcha Day in Adoption?

Team Peanut

From the community

Recent discussions

Colostrum

Anyone else found their colostrum just stopped? I used to get quite a bit but today and yesterday nothing :(

What are your thoughts on embryo adoption?

Do you think navigating life for that child who was adopted out as an embryo and for biological siblings gets confusing once they find out? I'm pregnant with our final baby, my husband and I agree this is our last. I would probably have more if he was younger and on board but feel at peace with this being our last 🙂 We have 10 remaining 5AA embryos and I feel so conflicted with what option to do but we know we want to figure it out by summer 2027 when payment for storage is due. Prices increase every year so we are ready to discontinue that financial obligation.

Is the absent father better dead or alive?

Am I wrong for making an obituary for my sperm donor. He’s dead to me and I will tell my daughter that he’s dead so she doesn’t grow up feeling abandoned like I did growing up. For context he faked a dna test and posted it saying my daughter isn’t his…

I'm not a gentle parent, I'm realistic.

I’m not a gentle parent, and I’m not sorry about it.

My kids get love, respect, and a whole lot of patience, I play with my kids every day — but they also get rules, boundaries, and consequences.

I’m not raising kids who think the world will cater to their feelings. I empathize, sympathize acknowledge their feelings with so much compassion.. while also balancing that with hard cold tones they need to understand, to survive.

I’m raising future adults who understand that life doesn’t hand out participation trophies, that “no” means no, and that actions have consequences. This is monumental to their early development. I do not barter with my kids, I do not give treats for listening to me. It helps self regulation, time & place, & helps them understand themselves.

I believe in discipline — structure, accountability, and learning right from wrong. I hold myself accountable, I am not on my phone often at all in front of my kids to set that example that life is too important.

Because one day, they’ll have a boss, not a mom. They’ll have responsibilities, not reminders. They will have their own homes, goals, aspirations... And they need to be ready for that.

So no, I don’t sit down and dissect every tantrum. I don't give them a sticker for going potty. I don't coddle them if they bit someone for the 10th time & keep smiling about it.
Sometimes the answer is: “Because I said so.” And that’s okay.

I’m not raising perfect kids. I am far from it myself. But if my parents taught me anything... I am raising respectful ones who are confident, go getting, maybe even self aware — and in this world, that matters.

I keep getting compliments from parents on vacation this week how my kids are so behaved, at home they give us a run for our money & we are constantly working on redirection, appropriate discipline, boundaries etc. My kids do chores at 2 years old & that looks like picking up after themselves. But we also do not have touch screens in our home.

Raising kids, is so unique & individual for everyone. Not one child is the same, they can be similar but not identical. However, it's our philosophy to raise our kids. Raise them. Not sit on our phones & let them wreck toys etc. Engage, as hard as it is.. daily. No matter what. Answer, respond, play, discipline.

What's your take?.

First collection of colostrum — fail 🙈

Only got a single small drop of colostrum. I know it’s only first attempt but so deflated! 🙃

Anyone got any experience?

How do you do it...

When baby just wants to be latched all the time but you have your other kids to take care? Looking for some tips that I can care for all my children

Intrigued to know people’s thoughts…

There’s no right or wrong answer here but I’m just curious what other people think..

Do you think if a friend or family member is child free, they should make the effort to go and see the friend or family member who has children?
Not every time because effort goes both ways in any relationship, but what do you think?

Pressure raising a great son

Does anyone else feel alot pf pressure from everyone to be a great boy mom?

Feeling: sad

My Husband and I have had our final baby. We were the first on both of our families to have the first baby, so we bought all the things like moses baskets, next to me’s, bouncers etc. when we had no use for them anymore, there was always a family member/friend to pass them on to, knowing they were nearby and would come back to us when not needed by others. Our next to me has held 5 babies through their first months of life. Now we’ve just had our final baby, and he’s outgrown all the newborn things, and we find ourselves with no friends/family members to pass them on to. We made the decision to donate them all, as they’d already been donated around our close circle we don’t want to charge someone for them, and I find myself so emotional. This time I know they won’t come back to us, they’ll house another baby who we’ll never know. I’m really struggling with letting them go for sentimental reasons, although I know they’re better serving someone else than gathering dust in storage. To whoever gets them, I wish you and your baby the happiest, healthiest and most loving life possible ❤️

FOODSTAMPS

anybody in ga didn’t get there stamps this month? mines suppose to came today & NOTHING! i turned in my recert on time and everything….

what do you prefer

would you rather 1) being at someone else's home, with nowhere else to go, but feeling like no one wants you or your kid(s) there or 2) having people you definitely don't like nor want around your kids, as guests in your home?

Meltdown no one loves me

Me and my husband were working from home today and my child who is 3 had a meltdown that we don’t love her and play with her. My mother was here with her from past 6 months so she never did it because she would play with her . Now I don’t understand if it’s my mother who made her dependent or kids at this age are like this.

How did you make an effort with your first born when you brought your second home?

Hi all, I’m pregnant with my second baby and I’ve been thinking about how to make sure my first born feels loved, cared for and won’t have to fight for my attention. Obviously I’ll be doing my best to make sure they feel special, but if anyone is happy to share any ideas or how/what they did during this time to help thier eldest feel super loved, reduce any competition, embrace the family of four+ and generally make their eldest still feel special, I’d love to hear, thank you 🥰

Induction date

I’m 38 + 2 and due to family matters I’m so worrying to get past my due date and being alone with no help. I have currently a 2.5 years old and my husband lost his dad a few days ago. His mom, which supposed to look after our daughter, lives 3 hours drive and now she’s going through mental health problems, my family is abroad and they can’t be here unfortunately. Anyone else in my same position? I’m not sure yet when the funeral it’s gonna be etc so I’m just stressing out a lot to be on my own when it happens, I think the best solution would be if they would give me an induction date? I’m so afraid I don’t know what to do 😞😭🥹🙏🏼

Need advice

Has anyone had their older kids given more attitude or get in trouble more with a new born?

Generational gap and issues with parents

My mother is here visiting my husband and I. She helps with a few household chores etc. I have problems with low milk supply and excessive formula supplementation. I’m trying to establish breast feeding but I don’t make enough milk. So I pump in addition to triple feed my baby.

My mother washed the pump parts and assembled them incorrectly. I wasted 45 min pumping and getting next to nothing in milk output. I told her that. She said if I don’t like her being here she will go back home. She said I should reschedule her tickets. Oh well..

The more grown I am, now with a 2 month old baby boy, I am starting to realize that my mother actually is of little help towards me. This is a sad realization but I don’t think I intend to visit or see her again once she leaves. She may not come back to visit us again also.

Has anyone else felt distanced from their mothers due to generational age gap, cultural biases, changing expectations and different standards of living? My mother lives in India.

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