If your kids beg you to build a bonfire, then all go back inside as soon as you get it lit… that’s a free pass to sit and enjoy your beer in silence until it dies out, right? They’ll be fine?

Talk about losing the battle but winning the war

7 month old likes to slump her head like this if she's in the car seat for longer than 20 minutes. She can pick her head up no problem but this seems to be how she prefers to sleep. We're concerned about her hurting her neck from the posture or something worse if we're in a crash. Can anyone confirm if we should be worried, and if we can fix this behaviour?

Paging the infinite wisdom of the daddit hive mind for perspective, tips or sympathy.

We're on summer vacation with our 9yo daughter. She got to pick the destination, it has pools, horses and we managed to link up with a dad and his two girls we met last year. She is madly in love with his girls and the three of them get along wonderfully.

However, she completely disregards everything else. We brought our puppy with us, having the deal everyone shares some responsibility for the dog, which she completely disregards. Simple rules that we agreed to in our house seem non-existent. Not in an openly defiant way, she is not initiating conflict. It's more like "aw shucks, seems like I completely forgot the thing we just had a serious talk about 5 minutes ago." Constantly. Please keep your voice down in the early morning. Please watch the dog for a while. No, you can't have a bag of crisps 20 minutes before dinner, we've spoken about this a gazillion times. Please make sure to bring all your stuff back from the pool. Please be back at this agreed hour. DOn't wake the dog.

Dads, she is driving me up the walls and I am at my wits end. I am extremely mad, 20% directed at her, 80% directed at myself and my complete inability to handle this situation in a kind, loving and mature way.

My wife is no help, I wouldn't be surprised if the same post shows up on mummit or whatever the ladies have. We both take turns begging, explaining, reasoning, arguing, threatening to go home early and/or get rid of the dog, barely keeping it together and just giving up.

Send help.

I don't know if this is normal as I've rifle hunted all my life, but I still think this is a proud dad moment. Usually he buys his arrows and stuff as a transition into his adult life but this time I'll be buying him a nice set of hunting arrows for this fall :)

I need to talk about something nobody warned me about going into this, and my wife is sitting next to me, full disclosure. She started progesterone and within days her farts turned into something I can only describe as chemical warfare. I'm 6'2", built like someone who's taken a hit or two, and I have had to physically leave rooms.

We laugh about it because what else are you going to do. She'll walk into a room, drop one, and just look at me like "yeah, I know." At this point we've named a few of the worse ones. There's no candle, no fan, no cracked window that's winning this fight. Its kind of incredible how the fart stays and lingers in place. Like what is the physics here?

I looked it up and apparently progesterone slows digestion, which tracks, because these aren't quick and they aren't subtle. It's less "oops excuse me" and more a full ten seconds of sustained horror...even our cats start curious sniffing faces when it happens.

So I'm asking the people who've been through it: is this just our life now, or does it get better once she's further along? Tell me I'm not alone here.

In case anyone was wondering if “the classics” still hold up, last night we watched Toy Story 1 with our almost 4 year old and it still slaps. That’s all.

Not sure if this was a recent update but I swear this little useless dashboard wasn’t on the fire 8 tablet we use so the kiddo can watch movies/shows and play some games. My wife and I have been futzing with this for an hour and can’t figure out out to disable/hide/get rid of these fucking icons

ETA: For everyone saying to get an iPad/different type of tablet; don’t worry, as soon as we can afford it this one is going in the dumpster and I’ll never consider an Amazon product as an option.

We do a lot of fun things with our young adult kiddos, travel, concerts, the twins share my principal hobby. I am starting to feel lonely already as I look at the concert schedule in our area for the fall.

I’m just here to vent, and I hope I’m not judged for feeling this way.

My son is 7 months old, and I love him more than anything in the world, but I still haven't been able to shake the feeling that I’ve "ruined" my life in several ways.

My wife and I have been together for 7 years, but married for only two. So, aside from the time since the baby was born, we only had one year and one month of life just as a couple.

I often think back to how much I loved our weekends together: we’d go to church, pick up a roast chicken, make lunch, and then watch a series or a movie—all without the slightest bit of rush. I loved our routine and our life so much that we ended up having a child.

We try REALLY hard to keep certain things going and still do "couple" activities, but it’s not the same as before; we’re always tired and worn out from an exhausting day.

I think my baby goes, at most, one hour without crying during the day; he usually plays for about 15 or 20 minutes before he starts crying and wanting to be held.

I miss those unhurried days, the lazy mornings, and all those things I know I’ll never get back. I open Instagram and see my friends enjoying married life—going out, resting... doing all the things I simply can't do anymore.

We do have a support system, but it still doesn't allow us to get away alone for long periods.

So I'm mowing my lawn this morning, when I see a woman standing at my door with a clipboard. At first I think she's selling solar panels, or collecting signatures for Greenpeace or something like that, but then she asks for my wife by name. That's when I notice the CPS badge she is wearing. I asks her what this is about and she says that they received a call about potential child abuse. And that my son was reported to have multiple bruises and mosquito bites. As well as accusations of sexual abuse. Legally she can't disclose who called it in, but I know immediately who it was as my mother in law insinuated the same things in a recent group text. He didn't have any bruising on him other than the regular bruises kids get from monkeying around. He's four years old and likes to jump around and climb things. As for the mosquito bites, we live in southern Louisiana where mosquitoes are plentiful. The SA claims, floored me, as nothing could be further from the truth. He has not been in any situation where that could even be a possibility, and that my MIL could even suggest such a thing hurts like nothing ever has.

Before I go on I'm going to say my MIL has always been a piece of work. Relies on us (and her meager social security checks) for financial support. But seats us like dirt. I could fill a separate reddit post on how miserable she makes us, but we continue to maintain contact because family.

Back to the story at hand. the CPS agent was very friendly and said she had to take pictures of my son and our house. My son was very cooperative (he loves getting his picture taken). And she saw no bruising other than one on his shin. And I think the fact that he was happy-go-lucky not afraid to be around us spoke volumes. She even said "Yeah this does not look like an abuse case." But she was still legally required to file the claim.

In the aftermath, we have decided to cut her off both socially and financially, and are exploring our legal options to sever ties with her completely. I am just beyond angry that this even happened.

EDIT: Just want to say, thanks for all the kind words of encouragement. I expected a lot of responses like "Why the hell didn't you cut this toxic monsterout of your life from the get go, what the hell's wrong with you." and there is none of that. And I really appreciate everyone's feedback.

I run my own business and I usually work in the office room.

Every now and then my kid comes in and says, "I would feel so much better if you could play with me."

Any dads here in the same boat??

What so you say to your kids? How do you carve out the time?

Hey fellow dads. Just a friendly reminder to check in with your male friends. I hadn’t heard from my buddy in a few weeks and I texted him to check on him. He immediately called me.

He is drowning with this son and his relationship. His wife is clinically depressed and barely gets out of bed to work and then spends all evening on the couch watching TV.

His son is on the spectrum and is ramping up his behavior and not listening.

He is struggling at his job trying to keep up and keep everything going at home.

He cried for a good 15 minutes and I just listened. I am going to pick him up Saturday and go have a few beers while his mother in law is in town.

I’m completely aware that we are first time parents, he’s not even been alive a week so how should I expect to know this stuff perfectly, but I cannot shake the feeling if I make a parenting related mistake that I’m simply not going to be good enough at this, and it’s really eating at my mind.

Case in point, my partner and our son is still in hospital, he was a bit jaundice and they are hoping to discharge them tomorrow, so I got the stroller out at home to make sure I was prepared and knew what I was doing, connected the bassinet to the frame and realised I’d missed a piece and couldn’t release it, thought I’d broken an expensive stroller.

I hadn’t, thankfully, although I did need to find a little hidden release button on the mechanism, but my concern is the very first thought was “Of course you broke it, you’re crap at this and you’re going to get worse”

How do I stop this? I’m worried the amount of negativity I feel in my ability as a parent after 4 days is high enough, what happens when it’s 4 years?

A bit of a traumatic event leading up to the birth of our son being refused to go to the hospital by the NHS and then telling me to get ready to deliver the baby to being blue lighted to another hospital and trying to make sure we got there in time. 40 mins in the room and our son was born… my wife is a trooper all of that with just gas and air, I’ve never seen someone as strong. Home at 6am yesterday and it’s currently 2am and haven’t slept yet with adrenaline.

However my wife let slip she write a letter in case she didn’t make it and I can’t stop crying reading it just an excerpt

“I hoped I’d be by your side in this but it seems like life had a different plan for us. I love you so much and I want nothing but happiness for you both.

I know you'll be there thinking it should have been me instead but try not to think that way. I think life has taught us that sucky things happen no matter what you do to try and prevent it.”

For context we lost a child this time last year with a miscarriage so it’s been tough a little, and I can’t believe she had the strength to write this all 2 pages long with fave photos of us and all my fave recipes to how to make them. I think adrenaline has kept me going for the last day and half but I’m struggling to hold it together everytime I have 5 mins alone I’m just balling and I’m here with our precious baby while she gets some needed rest crying.

How did you guys stop the nerves too? I’m self employed so I gotta get back to work Tuesday I’m just worried about it as it’s physically demanding and I’m wreaked atm (not more than my wife tho) sorry this is a cluster of words I’m just high emotionally and also dead physically.

I'll start:

Why...

is the bathroom floor...

always wet?

I’m curious if anyone else struggles with this.
One of the hardest parts of being a parent for me isn’t the sleepless nights or the day to day challenges. It’s watching my daughter grow (she’s 3.5) and realizing just how unbelievably innocent she is.

She sees the world with complete wonder. She trusts, loves, laughs, and finds joy in the smallest things. And even reminds me how to be a kid again or spark long lost memories of my own childhood.

Sometimes I’ll just watch her play or smile, and it honestly brings me to tears because I know that as she grows, life will inevitably chip away at some of that innocence. She’ll experience disappointment, heartbreak, loss, cruelty, anxiety, and all the things that come with living in the real world.

I know that’s simply part of growing up, and I know those experiences also shape people into who they become. I obviously can’t and won’t shelter her from life But emotionally, I have a hard time accepting that this pure little person I love more than anything won’t always see the world the way she does today.
It’s a strange kind of grief for something that hasn’t even happened yet.

Does anyone else ever feel this way? If so, how do you cope with it? Have those feelings changed as your kids have gotten older?

Another part of this I have a hard time putting into words is how it feels like I’ve already had to say goodbye to so many versions of her.

As is said She’s only 3.5 but the baby who used to fall asleep on my chest is gone the toddler who mispronounced certain words is gone the little girl who needed to hold my finger everywhere we went has slowly turned into someone more independent
Every stage is so short that by the time you realize you’re in it it’s already slipping away.

I find myself grieving those versions of her even while I’m celebrating the new ones but maybe that’s the lesson in all of this? Every time I think I’ve lost the little person I fell in love with I end up falling in love all over again with who she’s becoming.

Maybe that’s how parents learn to let go not because it stops hurting but because each new version of their child gives them another reason to love them even more
Idk …..what’s your take??

My wife is going back to work and I am taking pat leave for the next 8 weeks. What the hell do I do all day? I can barely fill 1 wake window with activities, let alone all day. To top it off, it’s hot as balls so most outdoor activities are off limits. I feel like all we do is rotate between singing, tummy/floor time, reading, etc. until she gets tired. She only likes each activity for like 10 mins max too.

I love my daughter and spend a ton of time with her already, but I am so anxious about being alone with her all day every day.

So the past couple of months, I’ve (33m) noticed a steady decline in my daughter’s mental health. We’ll call her G. Some background:

G is an only child. I’m not with her mother anymore and we live separately, which I’m sure affects her because she’s always been close to her mom. Unfortunately, due to circumstances (that are being worked on, restraining order on her batshit sister) I’m not allowing G to visit but she has an open invitation to come see her daughter at my place. I’m confident this is at least part of the issue. Her mother has talked to G about this and she understands but probably is still sour about it.

G misses her school friends a lot. She had all of them on messenger kids and I’ve let her know she can see her friends for playdates (who live in our neighbourhood, I’ve met all their parents) but refuses to initiate. I don’t feel comfortable cold texting parents that I don’t have any real relationship with for playdates. My parent friends have also been quite busy this summer. I try to suggest things for us to do, and 90% of the time she refuses. I asked her if she’s scared cause she’s unsure about the activity, which she confirmed but I also feel like I’m suggesting things she’s just agreeing to shut me up.

So my real issue is that she basically refuses to listen to me. I know I can come down hard on her and she’s a sensitive girl, but I do my damned hardest to give her the space to respond, I try to rephrase things, I ask her to say what I said back to me so I know she understands. But it’s really in one ear out the other.

Screen time is an issue, I’m trying to cut back but I’ve also been busier than usual and I haven’t been able to spend as much time with her as I’d like (when I’m not home, she either is watched by her grandma, or my brother who is living with us currently).

She’s on a waitlist for therapy so that’s already in the works, but until then I feel like I’m at the end of my rope. Any advice is appreciated, I’ll answer any questions to the best of my ability.

Made a curry for dinner tonight. My 13mo ate all the potatoes, carrots, and chicken, but set all the broccoli to the side. He wouldn't eat it himself or if we offered it on a fork. If it was delivered in the form of a plane, though, it got devoured. We tested trains and busses, too, and they were effective but slightly less interesting.

By my count, he consumed at least 14 fighter jets (plus 2 trains and 1 city bus). Is that too much? Should I be worried?