Can someone please tell me I’m not a bad mum? 🥺

Does anyone else let their children cry sometimes? 💔

I’m feeling really guilty tonight and I think I just need to get it out somewhere where people might understand.

I’m absolutely exhausted after a really long day. I sat with my 2.5-year-old at bedtime for about 40 minutes. I sang nursery rhymes, patted him, stayed quiet and tried everything I could think of, but he was so excited that I was in the room and was just really hyper.

Eventually I walked out because I know he will usually settle when I’m not there. He cried quite a lot on and off for the first 10 minutes, then went quiet, played for a little while and eventually fell asleep.

Does anyone else ever let their children cry like this when they know they’re safe and you’ve tried everything? I feel so guilty about it, even though I know he was okay and eventually settled himself.

I was also absolutely starving, so I ate my dinner and somehow I feel guilty about that too. 😭

I think I’m just completely exhausted and struggling with the guilt tonight. I know I can’t pour from an empty cup, but sometimes actually looking after myself feels like I’m doing something wrong. 💔

in our community

Disciplining your child

So there’s been a few posts about spanking recently. I DO NOT want this to become a discussion on the merits of spanking nor vilifying people who do spank.

For the record I am against spanking. But then other people are saying that time outs and removal of toys etc are bad too.

How do you discipline your child to encourage a secure attachment, good emotional regulation, and robust nervous system development in your child?

Can my 6 month old baby have these Quaker Oats sachets with milk?

My baby turned 6 month old today but can’t sit up independently yet only with support. The health visitor said he can start purées such as porridge oats. Are these Quaker Oats ok?

Right to be angry?

I done a KIT day at work yesterday. My step mum had the baby in the morning and my partner in the afternoon. I prepped baby’s bag so that only my step mum needed it and everything at home for my partner. I left two bottles worth of formula powder prepared (in the tommee tippee formula pots) we use this method daily. When I arrived home during conversation and me organising baby’s things it transpires my partner has put both lots of formula into one bottle. I phoned 111 who were happy with baby’s presentation and so far he is fine. I am still angry as it could have been a different situation altogether

Feeling fragile - NEED TO VENT.

I've just been visiting my Nan at her care home with my 7 month old. Whenever we go my daughter always gets loads of attention and the residents love her.
Today the visiting daughter of one of the residents made a remark which has upset me and this has surprised me.
My daughter rocks back and forth if you're holding her or she's sitting. This lady goes "oh she's strong, she's crawling too?" and I told her that she isn't crawling yet. Her immediate reply is one of disappointment/concern. She goes on to say "well dont let her skip to walking! My adult daughter skipped crawling and is riddled with anxiety, it's all connected".

I was like what the actual F***.

Firstly please may I see your diploma, lady I've only just met.
Secondly my son didn't crawl, has she now created something new for me to worry about????
Thirdly, I AM CRIPPLED WITH ANXIETY which you'd think she'd be a bit more thoughtful about having a daughter herself who suffers. She didn't think twice about passing down this "helpful" advice.

I have never been knocked by people's comments before but today I am feeling rough. It took all my energy not to cry. Of course I am blaming myself. We don't use containers like bouncers etc but I spent a lot of time walking with her in the pram or she is on my knee but whilst my son does football and swimming so of course naturally I feel like I've f*kd up already 😀 next time I see her I am going to say "think before you comment please".

I know this is a bit dramatic but like I said, I am fragile today. My daughter is currently playing on her tummy and I don't know what else I can do tbh. I thought we were doing the right things 🤷🏻‍♂️

neighbours having their garden done (rant)

I KNOW ITS THEIR RIGHT TO GET THEIR GARDEN DONE OR WHATEVER BUT ITS ALSO MY RIGHT TO BE SEETHING WITH ANGER 😭😭

baby is teething and going through huge developmental leaps which means sleep and nap times are officially world war 3, hes sleeping so extremely lightly or just refusing sleep as a whole 😭 im a single mum with very minimal childcare support so i'm dealing with everything myself and have literally been at wits end going insane because i need a break and the only time i get a break is when he naps WHICH HE ISNT DOING 😭
he also will not settle with anyone so if i accept childcare (which i do appreciate, this isnt their fault!) then when i get him he is just inconsolable and screaming because hes even more overtired than before and in turn even harder to settle🫠🫠

anyway he was extremely overtired and screaming and I finally managed to get him to sleep after hours of it... then I had 10 whole minutes before they started drilling in the garden next door 🤩 I have my windows and curtains shut in anticipation but it's just so fucking loud it doesn't matter!! its a miracle getting him to sleep as it is and he will not nap in any other room!!

they've been drilling all day every day for the last week now and its driving me INSANE!
theres nothing i can say or do about it either as they're just doing their job. i did ask them how many days left of the job and they said they didnt know.
its not like they're drilling at unsociable hours or doing anything wrong but its just the BANE OF MY EXISTENCE right now 😭😭 i am SO STUPIDLY ANGRY

How do YOU maintain stress-free school day mornings?

With school starting back up next week it got me thinking into ways I could make mornings easier. I already went ahead and implemented the daily “outfit/uniform” organization to make life easier for my kids to dress themselves each morning and we have a designated shoe rack near the door. Interested to hear from other moms what they do to make their mornings stress-free without having to repeat themselves, nag, beg, bargain, negotiate, etc.

What tips would you share to help other moms out? Let’s share the knowledge instead of having to pay money towards some “Master Class” lol