Parents Calm the F*ck Down!

New book by daddy blogger, David Vienna, called "Calm the F*ck Down" is coming out in 2015: The Daddy Complex.

Such a good idea!!!

It's time parents become unapologetic about their parenting styles and just go with it.

I've Been Sleep Trained

I thought I was sleep training J, but as it turns out, J has been sleep training me.

I've learned to function on interrupted sleep. I don't need as many hours as I used to. And I have more energy than ever.

Interesting...

In Defense of Dad

I feel like dads get the short end of the stick. 

Moms get dubbed with a "maternal instinct" and "mother knows best." But what does dad get?

Dads get a Daddy Boot Camp run by moms.

Could there be a "paternal instinct"? Dads are more commonly than not the bread winners of the family (despite all of Sheryl Sandberg's Lean In efforts), so they are usually forced to focus more on work than family.

While I'm all about gender equality in the workforce, I do understand the need for having a dedicated parent focused on the child... as opposed to focused on work. And someone needs to be focused on work to financially support the family. 

Due to traditional family roles, the responsibly of focusing on baby is more likely to fall on the mother. But in today's society, dads are increasingly taking on the role of full-time parent.

So how come they're not getting the same praise and respect as stay-at-home moms in general consciousness?

DH has changed just as many diapers, been peed on and thrown up on just as many times, and worried just as much as I have. I saw his paternal instinct shine when I was stuck in the hospital bed after my c-section and the responsibility of caring for J was in his hands. When we switched to bottle feeding, DH jumped to the chance to finally get to feed J.

Sometimes "dad" really does know best. I guess it'll take just as much time for dad to get the same respect as moms in the household as it takes for women to get the same respect as men in the workforce, but it's nice to see the evolution of gender roles, even if it is baby steps.

Go Dad!

Grandma Got Dipped

I just heard the perfect story that truly represents ancient advice that no longer holds water.

My friend's grandma once told her that in Siberia, people used to cut a hole in an ice pond and dip in newborns to test their endurance for health. 

If the newborn survived, then they will be healthy for the next 5 years. 

If the newborn died, then they were weak anyway.

Of course, grandma got dipped and has survived over 80 years so clearly the test works.

Let's dip our newborns in ice water to test their endurance! Surely it's the only way to survive this crazy crazy world.

Drama, drama, drama... But it's all worth it

I started off my blog dramatizing the angst of early parenthood. Picking on unwanted advice, disapproving commentary, and well-meaning yet frustrating gestures. But it's important to note that parenthood isn't all about drama and sleepless nights.

You find yourself surrounded by loving, thoughtful, and generous friends and family supporting you through what seems like an endless day (while time still flies). You find yourself deeply overjoyed by your growing family and, despite the frustration, you're the happiest you've ever been. 

You need your circle of loved ones more than anything at this point.

You find yourself appreciating everyone in your life and being more grateful than you thought you could ever be.

And if you're lucky to be blessed with amazing parents like us, you realize you'd be stuck in baby-blues hell without them.

So while I'm digging into a certain mindset here, it's important to look back at the advice, support, and endless, unsolicited LOVE that pores out to you. Be grateful. Be happy.

And try not to offend anyone. Just nod and smile...

Gaming the Pacifier

Some product manufacturing just doesn't make sense.

Our favorite pacifier is the Avent Soothie. J refused taking pacifiers until he was 3 months and now he has a particular preference.

This is an Amazon Screenshot

The Soothie is purchased based on baby's age: 0-3 months, 3-6 months, etc.

For some reason, you always find yourself low on pacifiers. So I decided to purchase some on Amazon. Since J was going on 4 months, I purchased the 3-6 months pacifier. At the time, I didn't know what the difference would be. Since it's an online purchase, I couldn't really see it so I figured it's somehow ergonomically different for slightly older infants. Maybe it's bigger, I thought.

It turned out, the 3-6 month old pacifier is hard as a rock. J didn't have the strength or patience to even attempt to keep this one in his mouth. I had to go to CVS and buy the softer, 0-3 month, Soothie for twice the price.

They really should make the difference between the pacifiers more clear on the packaging.

Eh, you live, you learn. 

This guy is costing us a fortune. Baby product companies sure do make a killing on emergency purchases. How many parents panic on a daily basis that they urgently need to buy something for baby and disregard the price? For baby, we will do anything. Rain, snowstorm, sick, hurt, ain't nothing gonna stop us.

Makes you want to be a baby again. J is the king of the house and he knows it. 

Parents Are So Judgy!

A woman put up a video of her daughter throwing a tantrum because she wanted her iPad. It went viral. Now the girl's parents are being called bad parents. The father says the video is a small clip of a short moment and defends his parenting ability: "'iPad Tantrum' Dad Speaks on Viral Video.

Why is everyone so judgy? Outsiders are so quick to judge your parenting abilities. It's rude!

Parenting is a tough job. You are responsible for another life. Everything you do could affect this child's future. And it's seemingly irreversible... It's so much power. It's so much pressure. 

I say, stop judging!!! When you're a parent, sometimes you just have to go with it. Outsiders shouldn't be telling you how to raise your child. You need to make your own decisions. You need to make your own mistakes. And who is to say that you're even making mistakes? If you think you're doing it right, it's your kid...

Haters gonna hate.