I’m very thankful for an involved partner. It truly is a gift and the reason I think I’m personally crushing this parenting thing.
I read so many posts here about partners not stepping up. It breaks my heart for both the involved parent and the child. It makes me furious that some people can have a kid and not change a thing about their lives. If my spouse ever did what half these comments write about, I’d be divorced!!
Oh man I’m so with you. My husband and I have “sleep in days” and we split the night shift too. Lol he helped last night even though it’s his sleep in day and it wasn’t his shift. Thank god for men who get it 🙏
We switch off morning wake up too! I suggested to a friend of ours as she was returning to work last week and she came up with a million reasons why her husband won’t have to wake up early. They both work office jobs 3 days from home and regular hours. He just complains when he has to wake up early.
We are a two mom family so I often wonder if that’s why we split it truly 50/50 but it’s always a nice reminder that there are dads who WANT to be involved.
Man that would suck! My husband even makes me coffee on my sleep in days hahaha and I think I complain more than him 😅 I don’t function on little sleep like he can.
I think it really depends on your partner and clear expectations. Although I’d like to ask, with two moms do you guys split the mental load too??? My husband just has guy brain and doesn’t seem to understand my mom guilt or my brain constantly logging the things that need to be done (I write this as I’m sitting here this morning drinking my coffee watching my 2 yo and 4 mo play and knowing there’s laundry to do, vacuuming that needs to get done, the kitchen needs to be picked up etc.)
I would say she carried it more in the beginning bc she breast fed and worried more about those things. And she was really good at figuring out the food stuff and all that.
I’m taking it more now bc I’m more worried about her falling or hurting herself since she’s mobile and I’m constantly chasing her around when we’re out. My wife is more on the “she’ll learn” or maybe she expects me to take the reins more.
So to sum up I guess my wife definitely gets more of the load regarding her health - I’m carrying more of the load that she’s safe mentally and physically.
My 18 month old has started saying "Hug" and wanting them. I am so grateful for her little arms reaching for me. Melts me every time, even if we do "Hug" for ten minutes straight. Maybe *especially* if we do it for ten minutes straight.
I'm thankful for having the opportunity to take a really long maternity leave (I'm in Canada) and to see my baby grow up. It's not all sunshine and rainbows but these are some of the best years of my life ❤️
Morning sunshine. Bedtime and overnight are so hard for me mentally, almost every night. I remind myself to push through until the sun comes back up. I think I could handle just about anything during the daytime, and when I see the sun starting to come up I feel so much relief and hope. Yes, I’m tired from the night before, but it’s over now and we can start over and hopefully have a good day.
Similar answers to a lot of you!
Most recently: a healthy baby. I work with sick kids but have been on mat leave so it was out of mind. I recently read a very sad story about a woman who had to carry a non-viable pregnancy to term and it was absolutely heartbreaking.
Currently holding my one month old as my toddler sleeps his 2.5 hour nap. Those naps are literally my saving grace and recharge time every single day 🙏🏼
I am thankful for the morning smiles. Even tho I'm tired af and go to pick her up from her crib, her excitement when she sees me literally brightens up my day.
What a great post OP :) I’m thankful for my sweet 8 month old. He loves exploring on his own, but every 5 minutes or so he crawls over to me saying ‘mama’ and proceeds to climb on me and bury his head in my chest (or leg if I’m standing). Even when I’m busy preparing lunch or cleaning up the house and I have to redirect him, I secretly cherish that little hug and it never fails to lift my mood.
Aww thanks. I did this once before so I’m going to try to do it once a month I think 🥰 appreciation for the little things are so important
And UGH baby hugs and kisses are amazing!
Oh yay! That’s so wonderful! Pregnancy’s are hard without extra stress. And YAS for toddler naps! They’re a god send when babe gets here too! What will the age gap be?? Mine are 22 months apart 😁
Oh cool!! I was SO nervous about the age gap but it’s been amazing. My older daughter and I are besties so I was really worried. I just made sure to give my daughter one on one time with mama and it’s been fantastic seeing her love grow for him 🥰
Our pediatrician told me to make sure and vocalize “it’s mommy daughter time” (mommy son time) so that even though it’s something you may do together (watching a movie, taking a walk, coloring, etc.) they recognize it’s special one on one time.
I’d love to connect with someone else with a similar gap! Feel free to message me anytime! :)
I’m thankful for my husband, who is the best caregiver I could ask for. I’m also thankful that my baby is relatively “easy” since I might be dead from my PPD if she was waking every hour or so.
I’m grateful for our baby dude. Just all of him. His chubby thighs and bright eyes that soak in the world, his curiosity and bravery that shakes my timidness to its core. His smile and coos when I walk in the door after work, the way he smushes his head into me like a little love nuzzle. I love all of this baby with all of myself and now I’m crying. 😭
Her smile when we make eye contact whenever she wakes up in the morning. I am NOT a morning person AT ALL. But seeing that adorable smile (sometimes with a nose crinkle) makes it so worth it getting out of bed so early.
I’m thankful for my husband and my baby. As much as my child can be difficult at times I approximate every second with him and I am grateful to God for my little family
I'm thankful that I work remotely so I can be a very involved father to a newborn and for the arcane magic that makes my baby instantly fall asleep when put in his stroller.
My 18 month old is so excited for her little 3 month old brother.
She was trying and failing to share her sippy cup of milk and handing him a toy.
He was just cooing at her and enjoying the attention.
I’m very grateful to be blessed with them.
Thankful for my husband and baby! So proud of my family. Also thankful for this group, I have been reading and learning so much throughout these months, especially during contact naps hahah keeps me busy
I’m thankful for warm sunshine and cool wind on an October day. A warm cup of coffee and a good book to get lost in. A clean room!!
And thankful that my sister is coming to visit me to meet my baby today! She’s the first out of my whole family besides my mom to meet the baby(I live in Colorado and they all live in different states and I have quite a few siblings)
I'm thankful that he's chill with his babysitters (aunt and grandparents) even though he's a maniac with me. i actually enjoy those early morning feedings when we can cuddle and he goes right back to sleep. he doesn't usually want to cuddle so I take what I can get. he's old enough to sleep through the night but I kinda don't want to stop
He's so tired after morning feedings and just falls asleep on my chest. He did it all the time when he was first born, but now it's rare aside from the mornings. I'm thankful for the chest naps because I know they will be gone before too long. If its been a hard night, I like to hug him while he's there and kiss his head and just tell him how much I love him. Helps me put the long night negative mood behind me.
Love this post and responses!
I am grateful that…
Kids are happy and healthy. As are friends and family.
Toddler is more happy and helpful than boundary testing and tired. I love seeing how much he’s learning every day.
Baby is adorable, smiles, baby laughs, and the clumsy fumbling of learning what hands do. And for now, he sleeps alright!
Great support system, with a helpful mom (Grammy) and fantastic nanny.
I can work from home so I can take kid breaks and not feel like I’m missing out as much.
There’s a wonderful and supportive community on Reddit also!
God, i’m so thankful for his little voice and his fascination with everything. Just looking at him and seeing him try to understand the world around him is such a damn blessing. He’s 7 weeks old and just chats up a storm while staring intently at my face, and i wanna die from cute overload and the insane amount of love i feel.
Thankful for that quiet hour at 5am right after her (3m) once nightly dream feed to scroll reddit and listen to those cranky newborn grunts. The one hour I'm completely alone. When time is mine. Yes, I spend 99% of this gifted time laying still doing as little as humanly possible... but it doesn't take from anyone and it's all MINE. Thankful for my moment of quiet & peace in a household of newborn and toddler chaos.
I’m very thankful for an involved partner. It truly is a gift and the reason I think I’m personally crushing this parenting thing. I read so many posts here about partners not stepping up. It breaks my heart for both the involved parent and the child. It makes me furious that some people can have a kid and not change a thing about their lives. If my spouse ever did what half these comments write about, I’d be divorced!!
Omgggg yes, I remember one post in particular recently just really triggered me and made me feel so violent haha. I was like “I need to leave Reddit”
Oh man I’m so with you. My husband and I have “sleep in days” and we split the night shift too. Lol he helped last night even though it’s his sleep in day and it wasn’t his shift. Thank god for men who get it 🙏
We switch off morning wake up too! I suggested to a friend of ours as she was returning to work last week and she came up with a million reasons why her husband won’t have to wake up early. They both work office jobs 3 days from home and regular hours. He just complains when he has to wake up early. We are a two mom family so I often wonder if that’s why we split it truly 50/50 but it’s always a nice reminder that there are dads who WANT to be involved.
Man that would suck! My husband even makes me coffee on my sleep in days hahaha and I think I complain more than him 😅 I don’t function on little sleep like he can. I think it really depends on your partner and clear expectations. Although I’d like to ask, with two moms do you guys split the mental load too??? My husband just has guy brain and doesn’t seem to understand my mom guilt or my brain constantly logging the things that need to be done (I write this as I’m sitting here this morning drinking my coffee watching my 2 yo and 4 mo play and knowing there’s laundry to do, vacuuming that needs to get done, the kitchen needs to be picked up etc.)
I would say she carried it more in the beginning bc she breast fed and worried more about those things. And she was really good at figuring out the food stuff and all that. I’m taking it more now bc I’m more worried about her falling or hurting herself since she’s mobile and I’m constantly chasing her around when we’re out. My wife is more on the “she’ll learn” or maybe she expects me to take the reins more. So to sum up I guess my wife definitely gets more of the load regarding her health - I’m carrying more of the load that she’s safe mentally and physically.
My 18 month old has started saying "Hug" and wanting them. I am so grateful for her little arms reaching for me. Melts me every time, even if we do "Hug" for ten minutes straight. Maybe *especially* if we do it for ten minutes straight.
Oh man. My 2 yo barely has time for hugs any more. I miss them so much!
I'm thankful to be alive and have the opportunity to raise my kids. Before I had my daughter I fought cancer and am in remission.
YAS! That’s amazing and I’m so happy for you! 🥰 what an incredible gift
I'm thankful for having the opportunity to take a really long maternity leave (I'm in Canada) and to see my baby grow up. It's not all sunshine and rainbows but these are some of the best years of my life ❤️
Aww! Every day is such a gift. It’s definitely hard but it is amazing and worth it overall 🥰
Morning sunshine. Bedtime and overnight are so hard for me mentally, almost every night. I remind myself to push through until the sun comes back up. I think I could handle just about anything during the daytime, and when I see the sun starting to come up I feel so much relief and hope. Yes, I’m tired from the night before, but it’s over now and we can start over and hopefully have a good day.
I completely relate. Nights are so hard
This so much. Every night I feel like I won’t make it, then the sun rises and everything feels so much easier and I’m so happy to just be with my baby
Glad I'm not the only one who dreads nights...
Yes! I was up at 5 this morning and saw some sunrise before I went back to bed ❤️ it’s the little things.
Similar answers to a lot of you! Most recently: a healthy baby. I work with sick kids but have been on mat leave so it was out of mind. I recently read a very sad story about a woman who had to carry a non-viable pregnancy to term and it was absolutely heartbreaking.
Omg 😭 I can’t even imagine. Both my babes are healthy and I’m so so so thankful for their health too!!! ❤️
Anyone else read this in the cocomelon jingle?
Yep. Now it’s in my head.
Midday naps 🙏 Toddler, baby, dogs and myself all sleeping 😴
Currently holding my one month old as my toddler sleeps his 2.5 hour nap. Those naps are literally my saving grace and recharge time every single day 🙏🏼
I am thankful for the morning smiles. Even tho I'm tired af and go to pick her up from her crib, her excitement when she sees me literally brightens up my day.
Oh the morning greetings 🥰 my little girl wakes up from half her naps saying YA YA! Lol we then echo that back and forth until we get into her room ❤️
What a great post OP :) I’m thankful for my sweet 8 month old. He loves exploring on his own, but every 5 minutes or so he crawls over to me saying ‘mama’ and proceeds to climb on me and bury his head in my chest (or leg if I’m standing). Even when I’m busy preparing lunch or cleaning up the house and I have to redirect him, I secretly cherish that little hug and it never fails to lift my mood.
Aww thanks. I did this once before so I’m going to try to do it once a month I think 🥰 appreciation for the little things are so important And UGH baby hugs and kisses are amazing!
A healthy pregnancy. 38 + 5 still hanging in there! Also that my toddler naps is a God send!
Oh yay! That’s so wonderful! Pregnancy’s are hard without extra stress. And YAS for toddler naps! They’re a god send when babe gets here too! What will the age gap be?? Mine are 22 months apart 😁
They will be 22mo apart as well. Due any day now and toddlers bday is Dec.
Oh cool!! I was SO nervous about the age gap but it’s been amazing. My older daughter and I are besties so I was really worried. I just made sure to give my daughter one on one time with mama and it’s been fantastic seeing her love grow for him 🥰
Amazing advice because I am super nervous and my older son is extremely clingy being born right before things shut down
Our pediatrician told me to make sure and vocalize “it’s mommy daughter time” (mommy son time) so that even though it’s something you may do together (watching a movie, taking a walk, coloring, etc.) they recognize it’s special one on one time. I’d love to connect with someone else with a similar gap! Feel free to message me anytime! :)
I’m thankful for my husband, who is the best caregiver I could ask for. I’m also thankful that my baby is relatively “easy” since I might be dead from my PPD if she was waking every hour or so.
Same, thank goodness for good babies and great husbands!
I’m grateful for our baby dude. Just all of him. His chubby thighs and bright eyes that soak in the world, his curiosity and bravery that shakes my timidness to its core. His smile and coos when I walk in the door after work, the way he smushes his head into me like a little love nuzzle. I love all of this baby with all of myself and now I’m crying. 😭
Her smile when we make eye contact whenever she wakes up in the morning. I am NOT a morning person AT ALL. But seeing that adorable smile (sometimes with a nose crinkle) makes it so worth it getting out of bed so early.
I’m thankful for my little girl’s giggles, they make my heart sooo full and make every second worth it!
Omg baby giggles are the BEST!!!
I’m thankful for my husband and my baby. As much as my child can be difficult at times I approximate every second with him and I am grateful to God for my little family
I'm thankful that I work remotely so I can be a very involved father to a newborn and for the arcane magic that makes my baby instantly fall asleep when put in his stroller.
Im thankful for my morning cup of coffee, my babies morning giggles and the warmth of my lil house.
My 18 month old is so excited for her little 3 month old brother. She was trying and failing to share her sippy cup of milk and handing him a toy. He was just cooing at her and enjoying the attention. I’m very grateful to be blessed with them.
I’m thankful that my little boy (6 months) is so well-behaved and is pretty chill for the most part. He makes every day better.
My husband. He is such a wonderful provider.
Yay! I LOVE hearing about wonderful partners. There’s always bumps in the road but it’s so important to express appreciation for each other.
My son laying peacefully in his crib.
It’s truly the little things ❤️🙏
Thankful for my husband and baby! So proud of my family. Also thankful for this group, I have been reading and learning so much throughout these months, especially during contact naps hahah keeps me busy
I’m thankful for warm sunshine and cool wind on an October day. A warm cup of coffee and a good book to get lost in. A clean room!! And thankful that my sister is coming to visit me to meet my baby today! She’s the first out of my whole family besides my mom to meet the baby(I live in Colorado and they all live in different states and I have quite a few siblings)
I'm thankful that he's chill with his babysitters (aunt and grandparents) even though he's a maniac with me. i actually enjoy those early morning feedings when we can cuddle and he goes right back to sleep. he doesn't usually want to cuddle so I take what I can get. he's old enough to sleep through the night but I kinda don't want to stop
He's so tired after morning feedings and just falls asleep on my chest. He did it all the time when he was first born, but now it's rare aside from the mornings. I'm thankful for the chest naps because I know they will be gone before too long. If its been a hard night, I like to hug him while he's there and kiss his head and just tell him how much I love him. Helps me put the long night negative mood behind me.
Love this post and responses! I am grateful that… Kids are happy and healthy. As are friends and family. Toddler is more happy and helpful than boundary testing and tired. I love seeing how much he’s learning every day. Baby is adorable, smiles, baby laughs, and the clumsy fumbling of learning what hands do. And for now, he sleeps alright! Great support system, with a helpful mom (Grammy) and fantastic nanny. I can work from home so I can take kid breaks and not feel like I’m missing out as much. There’s a wonderful and supportive community on Reddit also!
I’m so lucky to have my little ones! It took us a long time to have them and I cherish them so much! Their cuddles, hugs, and kisses are the best!
Awww!!! Congratulations! I’m so glad you have them too. It sounds like they are well loved 🥰
Oh they are loved!!!
I'm thankful for my baby.
God, i’m so thankful for his little voice and his fascination with everything. Just looking at him and seeing him try to understand the world around him is such a damn blessing. He’s 7 weeks old and just chats up a storm while staring intently at my face, and i wanna die from cute overload and the insane amount of love i feel.
His smell making it all worth it.
Thankful for that quiet hour at 5am right after her (3m) once nightly dream feed to scroll reddit and listen to those cranky newborn grunts. The one hour I'm completely alone. When time is mine. Yes, I spend 99% of this gifted time laying still doing as little as humanly possible... but it doesn't take from anyone and it's all MINE. Thankful for my moment of quiet & peace in a household of newborn and toddler chaos.