What do you do whilst getting ready?

This may sound like a selfish question but my little one has just started crawling, sitting herself up and pulling to stand all in 24hrs, she’d previously play in her next2me while I got myself ready and packed her bag ready for the day but that’s not safe anymore - I’m now at a loss of where she will be safe while I get stuff ready to go out!

in our community

What would your spouse do when...

You're going out to the playground for an hour and they've been asked to take their washing out once the machine is finished.

But... The child lock is on and it doesn't open. They've never used this fairly new WM before.

Toddler not wanting to come back from grandparents

Hi,

I’m writing this with full acceptance that I may come off as a little childish to be so upset about this situation as I understand toddlers and children in general like to stay with their grandparents (who are fun) often.

A little bit of background on the situation, my parents have been a huge part of my village and are the only reliable village I have, I am extremely lucky to have them as usually always if I ask for childcare they say yes… I love how close my toddler (age 2.5) is to them, from the get go they have always been very active and involved grandparents, my toddler actually stays at their house overnight 2-3x a week due to my night shifts and I understand he loves being there.

What’s upsetting me however is my toddler is always very excited to go there, which is great, but when he comes home (sometimes it can be 3 days later if I’ve done 2 night shifts) he will be really upset and doesn’t want to come home, he doesn’t actually ask about me when he’s there… he never asks to come home. it’s like he hasn’t missed me either and genuinely just prefers being there. My Mum told me when she was bringing him home today he said he didn’t want to come home. After she left, he immediately asked to go back. It feels like he’s closer to them than me.

Any advice on this is welcome or even if anyone has gone through similar. As I say I know I may sound a little childish.

Thoughts please?

So my boyfriend has told me today that his dad said he wants a "boys day out" meaning him, baby dad, and our 6 month old.
Now I wouldn't have a problem with it if he'd made more of an effort to see him, but he doesn't bother. He lives 10 minutes away and has seen his grandson 5 times since he's been born. 3 of those times we went to him. We keep inviting him round but he's always too busy. Most of the time when he tries to hold baby he cries so after trying to help soothe him from the sidelines for a couple of minutes I take him back.
I have only been away from my baby twice and he's been with his dad. Once was for a haircut and I was gone 2 hours and another for a few hours out with a girlfriend. Both times I was less than 15 minutes from home. Being away from him gives me anxiety, and FIL wants to take him to a zoo over an hour away. Should I suck it up and allow it?

Need advice stay at home moms

I have 2 toddlers, and sometimes I wonder if I’m wrong for wanting to move closer to a bigger community.

We currently live about 30 minutes from pretty much everything. We have 2 acres, a beautiful home, and my husband absolutely loves it here. This is his dream home and his dream town. He works from home, so I understand why he loves the privacy and peacefulness.

But my experience is different. I’m the one home with the kids and the one driving them to appointments, swim lessons, activities, parks, groceries, errands, etc. Their swim class is 30 minutes away, and there’s only one doctor nearby that takes our insurance, and that’s about 30 minutes away too. Even going to a decent playground means loading up two toddlers and driving 30 minutes.

There are some things nearby, but the choices are limited. The groceries are more expensive, there aren’t many restaurants besides fast food, and the local playground isn’t in great shape. We also have mostly retired people around us, so there really aren’t many kids in the neighborhood for our children to grow up and play with.

I know some people would look at our house and think I’m crazy for wanting to leave. We have 2 acres and a beautiful home. But I’m starting to realize that having a beautiful house isn’t the only thing that makes a home work for your family.

I want my kids to have a community. I want to be closer to parks, activities, restaurants, doctors, groceries, other families, and eventually their friends and schools. I want to be able to say, “Let’s go to the park,” without it becoming a 1-hour round trip with two toddlers.

Am I wrong for wanting to move somewhere closer to everything and in a bigger community?

I don’t hate our home. I just don’t know if this lifestyle is right for me and the kids anymore. ❤️

Going out is draining!!

I have an almost 3 year old who is very energetic and a nightmare when he doesn’t have his naps or eat properly and I have an almost 9 month old and breastfeeding. Some days I really can not be bothered to go outside because it’s draining so sometimes I’m at home for 4 days straight until my son goes to my mums for the day and me and my daughter go for a stroll is this bad? I just don’t enjoy going outside with two kids feels like torture anyone in the same boat?
We don’t have a garden so I sometimes feel guilty!

Help settle a debate

So my daughter turns 3 next Saturday and yesterday we went to pick her scooter with her for her birthday. I said to my partner that she shouldn’t have to wait until next week and there is no harm in her having it now, he on the other hand said that he never got any of his presents early so she has to wait until next week to get it. I then tried to reason with him that she wants to go to the zoo for her birthday which we obviously won’t take the scooter to so she’s not even going to get to ride it on that day. He still said she has to wait. Who would you side with?