Family Friday: Steep & Serve Wooden Tea Set

I’ve been using an OG bag as a diaper bag, but it’s not cutting it for two babies and a toddler. I’m considering getting a tote bag and repurposing it as a diaper bag for the next few years — will that work? The Cuyana zippered tote or the Madewell transport tote are what I’ve looked at so far. Obvious drawbacks? My first was born during the height of the pandemic, so we didn’t really go anywhere, so I’m still not sure about diaper bag strategy. TIA!

Have any of you considered doing unschooling or hybrid homeschooling your kids? I was homeschooled until 7th grade, so I have a bit of experience with that…though I’m sure it’s changed a lot in the last 30 years. Tbh we’re considering moving to the country with our three young boys and the schools are terrible so I’d need an alternative. I’m not interested in private schools for religious reasons.

My son’s 11th birthday was earlier this week. My mom and his dad both showed up to his family party, thankfully. However, after not speaking to me for the prior 10 days (because I don’t want to make my grandmother’s funeral into a prolonged family vacation), my mom walked into my house and handed me a paper bag. She said, “it’s your childhood Easter decorations, and I don’t want them anymore. Keep them or get rid of them. I don’t care.” I said thank you and put them to the side. The only other comment to me was to ask why I wasn’t having any of my son’s cake, and I said that it had yogurt, eggs and milk and I am vegan. She expressed confusion. I have been vegan for 18 months. (I can make an amazing gluten free cake. I cannot yet make an amazing gluten free, vegan cake.) She left after 35 minutes. I said thank you for coming and love you, and she said good-bye to everyone, except me.

She texted last night asking whether my kids wanted to come over to her house for a sleepover this weekend. I said that the kids have had an intense few weeks, and I am looking forward to this weekend with them. I also said that a sleepover the week of Feb break would be great. She responded with “I hope everyone is ok.” She also generally picks up my kids on Fridays from school, but hasn’t the last few weeks. My kids are now asking why their grandmother isn’t picking them up, and I’m not sure how to respond.

I am struggling so much with the realization that this is who my mother is (self-centered, lacking self-insight, entitled, lacking empathy). She remains very close with my ex, and does not see his past behavior as problematic. For the last 10 years, I was so focused on my now ex that my mom’s behavior didn’t really hit my radar. Now, after having space from my ex and so much therapy, I feel like I can see her behavior for what it is. I do not want to remove her from our lives entirely but I can see the need for very strong boundaries with her. I’m not sure how/what to say to my kids in an age appropriate way. They are 8 and 11. Any ideas?

When do kids start eating a wider variety of foods? My toddler is super picky and we cook a nice homemade dinner every night that contains a variety of healthy and tasty options, plus things that should appeal to a kid, but rarely are we eating much. I realize I’m in it for the long haul but surely they must start eating a wider variety of food at some point, right? Are we going to throw away dinner every night until the kid is like 8?

Pfizer pulled their FDA authorization request for kids under 5. They’re going to wait to submit until they have data on the third dose, supposed to be coming in April. I understand the reasoning for the 2-4 age group, but feel so bad for parents of kids under 2.