How can we make sure my step-daughter feels comfortable with our future children?
I have a step-daughter and am worried she may feel jealousy or negativity toward any children her dad and I have in the future. I also don’t want our children to resent her. I’ve searched all over parenting and family forums and I’m not getting a lot — I’ve found plenty of typical sibling rivalry stories and advice, or stories from adopted/foster children who resented their parents’ birth children. Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find anything about step/half sibling issues.
I’m looking for winter pregnancy shoes that are comfy AND warm
My question for current and future mamas out there: what are the best possible shoes I can buy for safe, comfortable winter wear during and after my pregnancy? I’d love to find something that can be worn all day, and even better, something that I can wear in front of co-workers without getting the “oh, you adorable pregnant creature, you” face. I’m not necessarily looking for specific shoes or boots, just styles and shapes that mamas before me have found to be friendly for potentially size-shifting feet in less-than-perfect weather.
How can I support my pregnant housemate despite my own fertility challenges?
Our housemates moved in in January of this year for “three weeks”… and they’re still here. This was fine with me until last week when she announced her surprise pregnancy. We’ve been struggling with our own infertility issues, and now I find myself insanely jealous of her and her pregnancy.
What are your favorite non-cheesy Halloween costume ideas for pregnant folks?
This year on Halloween I will be 34 weeks pregnant. Any ideas for a fun or scary halloween costume other than the typical shot-gun bride or pregnant nun?
Are you a “hard” or “soft” parent?
Ariel’s post on Offbeat Empire about being a hard boss got me thinking: could the same principles be applied to parenting? I’ve always hoped I’d be the kind of parent who is strict in certain ways about manners and trying your best at school and in your hobbies, but I know I’ll be very permissive in other areas, encouraging creativity and freedom in certain ways that mainstream society might look down on.
How do you tell your kid you’re an atheist?
How do you have the atheist talk? We don’t believe in any religion, therefore we don’t have any literature, examples, or classes to give him. We tried to explain what other people think “god” is, but just couldn’t find the words to describe it. He ended up thinking that there is a god who is a magician who lies to people, which is not what we want him to think.
How can we establish good baby-sitter etiquette with our neighbors?
We live in a townhouse and my significant other’s friends live next door. They have a four-year-old son who occasionally needs babysitting. I don’t have a problem babysitting him, but they’ll send us a text only a few hours before or the night that they need us. How can I initiate a (polite) conversation about being respectful of us?
How can I find a pediatrician I’m comfortable with?
I’m wondering how members of the community came to find an offbeat/accepting/respectful pediatrician within the confines of area and insurance. I’m having a hard time finding someone that will be respectful of my decisions as a parent.