My kids are 3 and 6 and we've always done family dinners. We do it because it works for our schedule. Also, I wanted the kids to get used to eating what we eat, even if it's modified a bit for them at that age.

But if our lives / schedules had been different (1 parent working late or whatever), I would probably do what you're doing. I don't think there's any problem with it at all.

That said, I would aim to start family dinners around when the kids start preschool. Both my kids wanted to be "big" at around 3-ish and it would have been a good time to transition.

Do you have a coat closet? I just bought this this year and it has worked really well.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07CG2R9ST/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I lasted about 8 weeks into the pandemic before getting help part time with the kids. I love them, but I was turning into a monster trying to work full time with a 2 & 5 year old to look after.

Can you get some help OP, even just for a few hours a day?

Also, I am only sort of sorry to admit that I did throw in the towel with DL for my older son. I don't know what he does on the computer all day, but I am pretty sure it's not his lessons most of the time. And he has not submitted a single homework assignment.

It's just a battle I don't have it in me to fight.

It's okay to drop the rope sometimes.

Both my kids went to a Montessori preschool and we loved it. But, that was partly because the director and her staff are incredibly warm, and they focus a lot on community and taking care of each other. So, it's not all about peeling carrots and whatnot.

If you're really undecided, I would go with the school that will fit best into your life (location, start time, schedule etc)

+1 for toy taken away immediately.

Also, if he's in that mode, get out toys he *can* throw and give them to him.

After 3 long months of waiting, our new couch is about to be delivered. We never saw it in person or sat on it, and now I'm nervous I won't like it.

I've also heard a lot about how shitty the furniture is from this company (West Elm) since ordering, so I'm having some purchase regret.

If the delivery people get the couch in, and I don't like it, do I just send it back with them?

We were in a similar bind last year and we chose Option 2.

In-person interactions at that age for the 2 year old felt more important than K curriculum given everything was likely to be online. So far it's been great. The now-3-year-old loves being at school and our K child is doing great with DL.

I had my eye on this piece of antique furniture that I loved, but I'd just moved and couldn't justify the cost. I went back to the store a few weeks later because I couldn't stop thinking about it, but it had already been sold. I was so bummed.

Fast forward a couple months, my BF had bought the piece and had them hold it until Christmas. Amazing surprise and I still love the piece of furniture!

Tell them. Trust is important.

Do you have a friend with a jacuzzi? My dream right now as the weather is getting cooler is to dip into a jacuzzi after the kids go to bed.

I am wondering this too. All the kids in our neighborhood go to different schools and some of them are in person right now. So I'm not comfortable doing anything indoors.

I gave up planning for anything back in March though. Things can change at any time and we'll figure it out when it happens.

Maybe like 7 to 10 or something? And then the last decade (married, had 2 kids) has been great.

Anonymous wrote:Just look at the NYTimes graph of deaths. The death rate has plummeted. But, shhhh, this can’t be news until after the election.

Some of this is undoubtedly better care. But a lot of it is that we're actually testing a lot more people and identifying mild cases, and we simply weren't doing that in the spring.

Anonymous wrote:Getting into a really good book

Yes, good one.

When the youngest was like, 6 days old, the older one asked to bite him. So like, from the beginning basically.