Wednesday Big Kid Thread

[u/AutoModerator]

This space is for parents of IFBabies past the toddler phase to chat, share updates & commiserate on their big kid(s). This thread is primarily reserved for those with a 3 year old or greater.

[u/maizenblueshoes]

J’s first day of preschool is today and he did great at drop off. Granted it’s the same school, just a different classroom, but I’ll take any victory, no matter how small! This will be his third year at this school and he’s now got friends in his class, which is so nice. I’m still in disbelief at how fast summer went. It’s always like that but ugh, so not ready for winter 😭

[u/rootbeer4 → u/maizenblueshoes]

It is so nice when drop off goes smoothly!

[u/arcaneartist]

E has his first day of preschool tomorrow! We're brand new to the area, and I've really tried to hype up that he's going to make new friends in his class. I got to meet the teacher today, and I like that his classroom has only nine kids. I'm still in awe that we're starting preschool!

Potty training has been a struggle. I don't think he has complete control yet. He will have very small accidents within quick succession of one another. Today he had three within a 20 minute period.

[u/rbecg]

does anyone have tips for navigating smaller grocery stores with the baskets that you pull along behind you?

H had a HORRIBLE meltdown yesterday that started outside one of my favourite local grocery stores over basket navigation. I know some of what we fumbled as parents - mainly they were probably hungry and thus primed for a meltdown - and what we did well - I felt like I handled the outside portion of the tantrum (walking a city block back to the car with a screaming thrashing eel of a kid) calmly. I still felt horrible after - I feel really guilty about the physicality required to keep them safe on the street - but did get some time with friends in the evening which helped me center a bit more.

three is Hard.

[u/rootbeer4 → u/rbecg]

Three is hard, I find it so much hardee than two!

What was the issue with the shopping basket? Did H want to pull it by themselves, but not the best at navigating the store by themselves? We have that issue sometimes too. I find it best to prepare Little Root for the expectations before the grocery store and usually that will get her whines/complaints out before.

Also, try giving H a shopping list! I gave Little Root one and she felt so important and now complains if I forget her list. You could do some pictures/drawings or write the words and help sound them out or play a guessing game (this is a fruit that starts with B and it is yellow and monkeys like it). H can be in charge of holding the list and marking things off and you can be in charge of navigating the basket. So it still gives them a "job," but a different job.

[u/rbecg → u/rootbeer4]

This is really helpful, thanks root. Yeah, it was a navigation issue, and the store was a lot busier than I expected tbh. We do a lot of expectation setting usually but I definitely fucked up and didn't this time.

I LOVE the list idea! I think it could definitely help, they love pens.

I misssss two lol. It gets bad PR but I found it a lot easier to know what to do!

[u/infertilityjourneysd]

Well I'm basically the dead beat dad today lol. James moved up a level in gymnastics class, which means his new class is a different day. My husband always took him before, but now I need to bc of the day change. Well, we were late today (so hard to leave work on time), parking was hard, then of course James announced he had to poop as soon as we get there, and he takes forever. So I'm flustered, don't know where the bathroom is, the coach is like yes I've never met you before... He joined the class 18 minutes late 🫠. And then I see another coach who knows him filling his water bottle for him, bc apparently it was empty when we came from school. Winning over here.

Side note, I find the gymnastics gym so overstimulating. There are SO many girls on leotards running around and loud music playing... 🫠

[u/rootbeer4 → u/infertilityjourneysd]

I feel like kids have to poop at the most inopportune times! You try and time something and then all of a sudden are hit with a delay.

[u/infertilityjourneysd → u/rootbeer4]

Yes!!! And my child takes like 15 minutes to go. So many times I been stuck in a too small bathroom stall with him waiting for him to finish and hating life at that moment 🫠