https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 18 Apr 2026 02:25:14 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/3#post-2876679 Fri, 15 Mar 2019 07:15:56 +0000 hilary 2876679@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Best thing about this thread is reading about what everyone else does. Sometimes my first reaction is what, how could they live that way/make that choice? And then I remind myself that it works for them so that's cool. I love how this normalizes/gives exposure to such different styles. :heart: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/3#post-2876676 Fri, 15 Mar 2019 07:08:33 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2876676@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: @MrsADS: my LO is turning 3 this year and is so stoked about having a birthday party. I really thought we’d just have low key celebrations with a cupcake and an outing. But, after LO’s 2nd birthday and learning the HBD song he’s all about parties and his bday. Right now he’s not pushy and opinionated about his party thank goodness because his party changed with the move, but he recently pointed out from the Berestein Bear Too Much Birthday book, what elements he wanted for his own party. :silly: I don’t feel pressure to throw a party for him for other parents though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/3#post-2876656 Fri, 15 Mar 2019 01:08:07 +0000 Kemma 2876656@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama: @bhbee: the 3’s can just go and f*ck right off, it’s my least favourite age! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/3#post-2876511 Thu, 14 Mar 2019 10:42:14 +0000 MrsADS 2876511@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene I am also team anti birthday party for little kids. LOL. We had a 1st birthday party for my first, which was basically our friends coming over to eat and even that was way too stressful. He's 3 now - no birthday party. He doesn't know or care. Will not do a 1st bday for my second child (now 9 months old). 3yo got a cupcake at home and a balloon when he turned 3. And did cupcakes at his preschool. He was thrilled. LOL. Same thing for Christmas gifts and b-day gifts - they do not care whether it costs $5 or $100, so I am going cheap for now! I will reconsider my b-day party stance once they are old enough to actually want a b-day party with friends, then I'll be glad to have one for them. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/3#post-2876506 Thu, 14 Mar 2019 10:10:55 +0000 bhbee 2876506@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pachamama: this made me laugh! We were finally on the upswing of 3 getting better and then at 3.5 had little sister and it’s like 3 started all over and is never ending!!! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/3#post-2876504 Thu, 14 Mar 2019 10:00:53 +0000 pachamama 2876504@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Iced Tea: I 100% agree with your perspective on toddlers. 18 months to age 3 was pure Bliss!! Then my son hit 3 (and got a baby brother) and turned into a total turd. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/3#post-2876498 Thu, 14 Mar 2019 09:38:14 +0000 Dynamite 2876498@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I could have understood the real implications of climate change 7 years ago, I wouldn't have had kids. I love them so much, and their lives are going to be so unimaginably hard. It gives me pretty severe depression. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/3#post-2876438 Wed, 13 Mar 2019 22:29:54 +0000 Iced Tea 2876438@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jape14: Yep, my unpopular opinion is that toddlers are the greatest people on the planet. Their potential for such unbridled joy and learning countless new things every day...I just can't get enough. I feel like my toddlers taught me about living in the moment and cultivating joy in every corner of life. </p> <p>And then there was age 3--the first age that I didn't enjoy. As if her job was to complain constantly and be unsatisfied with everything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/3#post-2875920 Mon, 11 Mar 2019 11:52:01 +0000 Tanjowen 2875920@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I posted on your wall :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/3#post-2875887 Mon, 11 Mar 2019 07:54:56 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2875887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: that would be awesome. Bedtime is supposed to be 8 pm. we can usually make it up there by then, but then it’s changing into PJs, brushing teeth, and a book or two. Lately LO has been asking for bread (Hawaiian roll) and/ or cheese stick after he’s all tucked in. I don’t think it’s a stall tactic as so much now it’s a) habit and b) the later he stays awake he will get hungry again. If he was asleep right at 8 that would be great, 7:30 would be ideal because we would have more time in the morning since. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/3#post-2875883 Mon, 11 Mar 2019 07:44:23 +0000 SweetiePie 2875883@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: what time is bedtime now and what would your ideal be? I can wall you some suggestions to avoid hijacking the thread. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/3#post-2875882 Mon, 11 Mar 2019 07:24:24 +0000 jape14 2875882@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My main one is that I’m not a fan of the baby stage but I love the toddler phase! </p> <p>Also agree with @Tanjowen: about the early bedtime. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/3#post-2875880 Mon, 11 Mar 2019 06:58:13 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2875880@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Tanjowen: id love to get to an earlier bedtime and know through routine alone it could happen. I struggle with how to start the routine earlier given that we don’t get home until 5:30-6 pm. What are your evenings like? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/3#post-2875873 Sun, 10 Mar 2019 22:04:52 +0000 crazydoglady 2875873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@wrkbrk: Hahaha. I dont even do that! Mostly just washing hands, wiping his face with baby wipes, and bath 1-2x a week. He never smells bad or looks dirty. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/3#post-2875868 Sun, 10 Mar 2019 20:57:40 +0000 DesertDreams88 2875868@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Until I had a 2nd kid, I loved our late bedtime. We could do so many more fun things and get much more time together, and he would sleep in the mornings (like 9pm-8am, sometimes 8:30) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/3#post-2875866 Sun, 10 Mar 2019 20:48:17 +0000 irene 2875866@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MrsKRB: I guess it is similar to CIO sleep training - people find it cruel to install an alarm to wake your child when he is wetting the bed. They think I should put him in diapers and wait. But they didn’t get the fact (fear) that my kid was 6+ and there was no light at the end of the tunnel. And there are in fact teenagers who routinely wet their beds. I was really on the fence when our pediatrician told us to try. It was until we saw a urology specialist and they also said the alarm is really the only thing that is proven to help. There I finally stuck with it. Not sure how but it worked. I am in fact afraid to say it out loud because of the possibility of jinxing it :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/3#post-2875861 Sun, 10 Mar 2019 19:59:43 +0000 Tanjowen 2875861@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>- The main one I feel very alone with in the region I live in is bedtime, but here on this site I feel like I'm "normal." I'm the only mom I know of in my area that enforces an early bedtime and refuses to break it. We stick to a 6:30 pm for the baby and a 7:30 pm for the 5 year old, and it rarely, if ever, varies. I get a LOT of flack for it from my family, friends and moms I meet in the community. I solo parent a good bit, and I value my alone time before bed and need that time with DH the times he is home to have our time alone to talk and reconnect.</p> <p>- I don't care for the breastfeeding v. formula debate. Just feed your kid and I don't give a damn how you go about it.</p> <p>- I disagree with not feeding a kid overnight. I have a snack of some sort before bed and only sleep 6-7 hours and then have breakfast, so why should I expect my 1 year old to sleep 11-12 hours without eating? My first kid ate once a night until almost age 2 (slept 12 hours total), and the second is doing the same. And I'm okay with it.</p> <p>- Baby sign language makes me roll my eyes. I know it works for some, but I'm not interested. </p> <p>This is a fun thread. I feel like I would get roasted for saying a lot of these things out loud! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/3#post-2875860 Sun, 10 Mar 2019 19:47:41 +0000 wrkbrk 2875860@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@crazydoglady: YES thank you for saying that about baths! We really really try for every other day (so 3x a week) and we really really fail 😂🤷🏼‍♀️ I get that it sounds gross but he gets his face/hands/feet/parts washed multiple times a day with a washcloth and he doesn’t have oily hair so who cares! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/3#post-2875854 Sun, 10 Mar 2019 16:19:15 +0000 pachamama 2875854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@crazydoglady: baths are sparse over here in the winter. Maybe once a week 😬 summer, shower most days. I also not try not to stress too much about his diet. Have you ever tried to make a toddler do something they truly don't want to do? Doesn't work. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/2#post-2875853 Sun, 10 Mar 2019 16:02:54 +0000 crazydoglady 2875853@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Its interesting because things that are unpopular/popular on here are very different than what is popular/unpopular where I live. Instead there are things that I concern myself with and things I don't.</p> <p>Dont sweat--<br /> -working outside the home. its good for everyone in my family. I do have the luxury of picking the kids up at 3 and have all breaks off (teacher here.)<br /> -screen time. some days, DS will be on his tablet for 3 hours straight and then he will go 3 days without using it. I just want him to have a balance.<br /> -diet. I worry very little about this. DS eats nuggets all the time, but he also likes cucumbers and smoked salmon. 🤷‍♀️ he can eat a whole bag of sugar snap peas in a couple days. I try to buy the healthiest variety of stuff, but dont eliminate.<br /> -potty training. I didn't potty train ds until 3.5 and it was pretty ridiculously easy. he has accidents here and there but it wasnt like a several month process.<br /> -drinking coffee while pregnant or bf.<br /> -baths. my kids get 2 baths a week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/2#post-2875850 Sun, 10 Mar 2019 15:06:26 +0000 MrsKRB 2875850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@irene: why did you get such heat on that? Doesn’t seem like a big deal to me!</p> <p>I’m glad I’m not the only one who doesn’t love playing my kid! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/2#post-2875845 Sun, 10 Mar 2019 11:51:46 +0000 cake2017 2875845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: Your post with self worth is so imperative! @LCTBQE: Your Point 4 is exactly how me and DH feel. I thank everyone on hB who helped give pointers! LO sleeps through the night (unless a milestone or sick) and we are all happy and healthy. </p> <p>- I enjoy time with LO but also enjoy my breaks!<br /> - I look forward to bedtime routine 😉 most nights<br /> - I use to stress about the sitting on the coffee table or throwing certain things now I just pick my battles.<br /> - I enjoy being a mother who works outside of the home! I am very blessed to have long weekends off and short days but getting dressed up and heading to work and making a difference are all rewarding to me.<br /> - I actually enjoy not co sleeping anymore. Before I sleep trained, LO was in the bed with us. Now I love the fact that me and DH have the bed to ourselves and can do whatever we want without worrying about a baby in the room/bed 😉.<br /> - Expecting baby #2 i’m already planning how I can keep our lives simple with sleep, etc. I know it will take time but I just don’t want to go through all the headaches I did with lO1. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/2#post-2875839 Sun, 10 Mar 2019 10:48:28 +0000 periwinklebee 2875839@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: @LCTBQE: My husband traveled for a week last month, and I have to say that the pure me alone time after LO went to bed was *glorious*, even though I had to use most of it to catch up on work :silly: I do love my husband and love reconnecting with him in the evening, but me time has been in very short supply. I've been wanting forever to drop DS at daycare and take the day off for me, but I've used too much leave for the zillion and one sick days this winter. </p> <p>Honestly I'm not sure which of my parenting decisions are popular v unpopular. And I don't really care :silly: A lot of this stuff I feel like is fairly contingent on kid and parent personalities.... I love learning from more experienced parents, but if there's one thing I work to avoid like the plague, it's unsolicited/judgmental parenting opinions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/2#post-2875837 Sun, 10 Mar 2019 09:44:43 +0000 pachamama 2875837@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@misolee: I'm very conflicted about playing with my kids. I honestly don't want to 😬 and want him to play independently, but he loves when I play with him! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/2#post-2875833 Sun, 10 Mar 2019 07:55:20 +0000 misolee 2875833@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Unpopular opinion but I don’t get on the floor to play with my kids. I want them to learn how to independent play or play with each other. I have 3 kids and solo parent most of the time with a part time job. I can’t get on the floor and play dolls or dinosaurs or whatever. </p> <p>My kids are used to it and can play well independently most of the time :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/2#post-2875829 Sun, 10 Mar 2019 06:31:33 +0000 pachamama 2875829@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: agreed, don't talk to me during those 30 minutes of peace after the kids are in bed.<br /> @irene: I also am pretty anti bday party. He didn't care at his 3rd bday so 🤷. I also say no to parties unless I really really want to go (and feel like buying a stupid present). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/2#post-2875822 Sun, 10 Mar 2019 00:41:28 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 2875822@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used to think co-sleeping was something only hippies did and that it was weird. Now, i absolutely love it. I’ve co-slept with both girls and don’t regret it for a minute. Although, the cribs have gone to waste. I tired to let DD1 CIO once for about 10 minutes. It nearly killed me. Never again. </p> <p>Screen time is ok with me. How else would I watch the Today show every morning and enjoy my coffee? Thank you, PBS kids!! </p> <p>Can’t think of anything else right now. Reading through these has been so much fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/2#post-2875821 Sun, 10 Mar 2019 00:21:14 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 2875821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Kemma: ummmm.. there all multiple mountains of both in our house right now 😬 I think I need you!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/2#post-2875820 Sun, 10 Mar 2019 00:15:51 +0000 CatchAFallingStar 2875820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SweetiePie: just want to say — this is awesome. I love your perspective on getting away. Made me look at it differently. I have a couple work trips coming up that I’ve been dreading, but now maybe I’ll shift that thinking and start to look forward to them! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/unpopular-opinion-motherhood-edition/page/2#post-2875818 Sat, 09 Mar 2019 23:29:50 +0000 LCTBQE 2875818@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bhbee: hahaha I can only imagine. also seriously hats off to you for consistently doing THREE bedtimes solo ! :heart: </p> <p>@MrsSCB: yes, it is life changing. I was literally hallucinating before we sleep trained the boy, I couldn't function at work, was in chronic pain, my husband and I were bickering all the time, and the baby was exhausted from being up half the night. All of THAT is cruel, too, and for me it was borderline dangerous. sleep training has been a miracle cure for us. </p> <p>And I'm not in any position to dispense potty training advice, but one thing that has worked for me is to just casually pick him up and put him on the potty without any prior discussion (no "we're going to go potty now" directive) and sometimes quietly musing about what color M&amp;M will come out of the box if he goes pee. asking/negotiating about whether or not we're going to go potty beforehand=certain failure over here.</p> <p>And yes the two times we tried to co-sleep the kid turned 90 degrees and I just got (not on purpose) kicked all night. </p>