Parenting Chat - 05/18

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My kid has a fever, he’s fine but we had plans to go see a friend and spent it home instead. That was nice too. I love being home. Haha.
He’s almost 2 and starting imaginative play. Today he pretended to feed me and also said don’t cry and patted me when I pretended to cry.

Had guests stay with us this weekend.
Our kids are 3 and 2. Our friends also have a 3-year-old. So conversations naturally revolved around comparisons between our kids. Even though we’re all great friends, our guests can be a little judgy. My partner and I don’t let it get to us too much.
I think the thing that bothered me most about their stay was meal times. At their house they eat all together at the table. Their kid cleans their plate by themself and will sit patiently when they’re done. Our kids, not so much. My partner and I joke that our kids would starve if we didn’t chase them around the house to feed them. But I wouldn’t have it any other way. I love my frenetic, feral little foragers. They eat everything we manage to shove in their faces, and they love stealing food from the fridge or the garden when they’re hungry. So what if we don’t eat at the table? It’s mainly for books and crafts anyway. We like eating on the floor, or outside, or on the couch.
That being said, our kids really did try to sit at the table with everyone to eat meals. But they really wanted to do their normal routine after a while. Our friends gave us sideways glances while their kid waited at the table. That works for them. This works for us. Each is fine!
- Yeah my 2 year old will declare dinner "all done" after he's become bored. Our 4 year old will wiggle and squirm while eating. So were somewhere between you and your friends.
  Funny they were being judgy, especially in your house.

Its spring. The bugs are out. Flies are in the house. The oldest is terrified of flies. It doesn't matter how many times I explain that flies are not dangerous... It's a struggle.
- My six-year-old is also terrified of flies because he confuses them with wasps when they fly quickly around him.

My daughter will be three in two months and still can’t count properly. She goes 'one, two, five, eight'. I know it’s normal, but it’s so different from my son at that age, and it frustrates me more than it should. On top of that, her eczema is flaring up badly with the seasonal change. I really feel for her, at least we’ve stocked up on the creams she needs.
- That was my oldest when she was three, but something clicked one day and now (4.5) she counts without issue, and can tell us how many of something there is, or keep track of many of something. It just comes naturally for her.
  Your kiddo will get there soon enough.