The Oasis - A spot for FORT parents

[Stargazer]

No rock throwing from me, spegs. I have to admit that I used to be nervous when I left my daughter alone with her Daddy. He just did everything so *differently* from how I did it. Then I realized that she was always in one piece when I got back, so I should just let him do his thing.

[Google]

 

[AJane]

to spegs and SG.

My husband is from a rural area and I'm constantly horrified at how his family all let their kids run wild (IMO). I was at a bridal shower in his home town and a family member was supposed to be watching my oldest (at the time she was 18 months) while I was loading some gifts in a van. To make a long story short, she wandered away from her "babysitter" and was heading out to the road (I was the one who caught her).

My husband also lost her in a hardware store once. Man, did I make him sorry he told me about it...however, that really scared him, so he's better now.

[realitycrazmom]

My husband took the kidlets out boating with his brother and kids for a whole weekend. He let them pee in the river and I guess baby-girl had either a twinkie or licroice in her hand the entire time. That was a HUGE :rolleyes moment for me, but they still talk about how much fun they had on the SeaDoos and waterskiing!

(Yes, I freaked when I heard that! )

[spegs]

Originally Posted by averagejane

to spegs and SG.

My husband is from a rural area and I'm constantly horrified at how his family all let their kids run wild (IMO). I was at a bridal shower in his home town and a family member was supposed to be watching my oldest (at the time she was 18 months) while I was loading some gifts in a van. To make a long story short, she wandered away from her "babysitter" and was heading out to the road (I was the one who caught her).

My husband also lost her in a hardware store once. Man, did I make him sorry he told me about it...however, that really scared him, so he's better now.

My in-laws are the same--though not rural. They think because they live on a cul-de-sac there's no harm in letting the toddlers run around in the road *shudder*.

My husband doesn't tell me about those things . I found out a lot of things he never would have 'fessed up about when some friends of ours moved in for a little bit while their house had some things done. It was a horrifying experience. Everytime I was out I'd come back to some new tale of terror. Example: He went out to get something out of his truck, and the baby crawled out after him, and he didn't notice. So he went back inside and left the baby out there, at night. Luckily Ang was at the grocery store, so when she got back (and he hadn't made it to the road yet, so she didn't run him over *cringe*) she found him sitting on the sidewalk happily eating gravel. No wonder I have gray hairs.

[AJane]

I can't resist...here's mine last Halloween (hopefully this file attachment thingie works for me):

[EvaLaruefan]

Everyone, your kids are so cute! I'll see if someone will post mine for me cuz I'm not good with this stuff~lol

[Duxxy]

Originally Posted by Paulie

Others call their husbands repeatedly to make sure things are going all right. They sometimes raise an eyebrow at my wife because she doesn't call home, but she knows I'll be fine.

Every year I have a 4 day conference in a different city in Ontario (with the Home Child Care Association of Ontario) last year was Ottawa, this year it will be Toronto. The first year I went (2002) it was in Niagara Falls. I swear to god I just about didn't get into the van to go with my coworkers. It's not that I didn't trust my husband, our baby was 2 and I had such overwhelming guilt about leaving her for 4 days! I cried every time I called home
I feel like such a dolt typing this out
I missed my daughter and husband terribly and I couldn't wait to get home. We broke every posted speed sign on the highway home. (it should have taken us 5.5 hrs to get home.. it took us only 4 )
This past year we were in Ottawa and I was with a lame group of women - we were all FREE, no diapers, no runny noses, no 'I'd better get to bed because kiddo might wake up'
These women went to bed at 9pm. No kidding!! I was so much more relaxed this year after I got home last year and the house was still standing, the kiddo was in one piece (with a big gash on her head but that's what happens when you run in the house) she had a bath every night - but wouldn't let daddy wash her hair All in all.. no big deal and they were both very happy. I got a full report of all of their adventures (to the mall - ice cream and rides)
So these chicks are in bed by 9 - I sat around twiddling my thumbs- everyone else had already gone out for the evening. I almost forgot to call home.
I returned home relaxed and refreshed and armed with 9 new workshops and 6 keynote addresses :rolleyes and 2 offers of relocation LOL

Bottom line - I'd leave my husband to his parenting duties anytime, he can do it just as well as I can.... actually sometimes his way is better

[veejer]

I've been lurking on this thread for awhile, but haven't felt compelled to post until now.

I wanted to add my 2 cents to yesterday's sleeping problem topic. My kids only ended up in our bed after an early morning (6ish) feeding, but I've known people who've slept with their kids that it worked out fine for.

My warning is to make sure that they get used to being put to bed SOMEWHERE.

My SIL let child #2 fall asleep whenever and wherever she was. Then they would carry her to bed. Inevitably, she would wake up in the night and cry until they took her into bed with them. She is a freshman in high school and is okay at home as long as the door is open and she has a night light. Slumber parties are fine because there are a lot of girls around and who sleeps anyway?!? But don't put her in a guest room by herself anywhere. At her grandparents she ends up in bed with Grandma, and poor Grandpa get kicked out to the guest room.

For the older toddlers/preschool age that are having trouble sleeping, are they still taking naps? They may have outgrown them.

My oldest took naps until she was almost 5, then started up again for a couple of months when she started kindergarten. When my next one was around 2.5-3.5 (he's 11 now and trust me it blurs together after a while ), he started giving me fits at nap time. Finally he'd fall asleep and I'd have to wake him up so he didn't sleep too long. Then he'd give me fits at bedtime. Finally it dawned on me that he'd outgrown his nap. (My mother said it was payback as I'd given them up at 18 months.) He started having a "quiet time so Mommy can rest time" and bedtime became a breeze. He became my 12-hour sleeper, 8pm-8am.

[Igotalife]

What a nice thread this has become. Everyone who has posted pics of their children-what cuties and I'm so glad to see two great Dads in the mix!

Just my footnote to add to other daddy care sentiments-my husband is wonderful with our daughter and I have no qualms about his abilities whatsoever (in fact, I think it's rather sweet to see how they relate on a different level with both of us), but the only thing that makes me laugh is that the house looks as if they've had a lot of fun when I return . Is it because she plays him like a fiddle? Daddy's girl-but I'd take a messy house and a great dad any day over a non-involved one. Kuddo's to you Dad's!

[Duxxy]

Originally Posted by veejer

He became my 12-hour sleeper, 8pm-8am.

That must have been great for you veejer! My daughter will be 4 in a couple of weeks but she still needs her nap. She sleeps from 9pm-7am with a 1 1/2hr nap at 12:30. Let me tell you I cherish that time!! That's the only time I can post at the FORT (and after she goes to bed.. but thats when all the good tv is on and the computer and tv are not in the same room)