http://aftertheyhatch.com/ Parenting by flock. en-us Copyright 2008, AfterTheyHatch.com Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:04:00 MST http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/rss/rss.html AfterTheyHatch.com http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/18 How do you make friends without looking desperate or stalker-ish? What's a good opening line when you want to meet another parent? I had a mom send her kid over to talk to my kid, just so she could ask about my hair. It felt weird and forced, but we did end up talking, so I guess it worked. I am usually not spontaneous enough to find an opening line that doesn't feel awkward and dorky. Do you have a standby that works? Posted by kate at 2008-04-30 13:03:50 Wed, 30 Apr 2008 13:03:50 MST 1802 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/17 Once in a while, no big deal. But be warned - it can be addictive, and the pizza is stinkola. Read on for more... http://thatsalovelybooger.blogspot.com/2008/04/welcome-to-crack-e-cheese-pusherman.html Posted by knockatize at 2008-04-18 02:54:39 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 02:54:39 MST 1701 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/16 I'm confused. Your little sister can't possibly have a kid. She's your LITTLE sister! I've met her. I guess I'm still coming to terms with the fact that I have a kid. Posted by marc at 2008-03-05 06:44:22 Wed, 05 Mar 2008 06:44:22 MST 1601 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/16 My sister got this one for her daughter: http://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Tough-Digital-Camera/dp/B000QULFQC/ref=tag_tdp_sv_edpp_i ...and she's pretty tough on her toys (my niece, not my sister...well, not anymore, that is). It's a cute, simple little device, and it seems to be tough as nails. Problem is, the in-camera images as viewed via the LCD are terrible. I haven't seen any downloaded images. The two-handed grip and the two-eye viewfinder are nice touches, IMO. Posted by joecentric at 2008-03-04 15:38:48 Tue, 04 Mar 2008 15:38:48 MST 1601 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/13 I want to say that Snowtracks' friend has got to be the most ambitiously productive person I've ever heard about. That's quite remarkable. Tooth brushing is a current battle at our house; inevitably, it resolves into us doing most of the brushing ourselves. The eager-to-please part of my little guy is constantly at odds with the toddler in him. Not to mention that we recently graduated from training toothpaste (which tastes like candy - I mean really, what' the point?) to "toddler" toothpaste, which ostensibly Should Not Be Swallowed. Yeah, that's going to happen. Oh, well. These baby teeth are basically disposable, anyway. Think of them as training teeth for parents. Posted by joecentric at 2008-03-04 14:37:55 Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:37:55 MST 1301 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/17 Great googly-moogly, man! How can you ask such a question? Talk about the root of all evil. And to put things into perspective, I'd have to imagine that the actual Chuck E. Cheese can only be worse than its portrayal in "Parenthood", because in all likelihood Steve Martin would not be there. But, you never can tell. Posted by joecentric at 2008-03-04 14:32:45 Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:32:45 MST 1701 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/17 To Chuck E. Cheese or not to Chuck E. Cheese, -- that is the question. I've never been to one and for some reason I have an aversion. I'm pretty sure it's just a faint memory of the movie "Parenthood" that makes me vow to never go. Is it founded? Posted by marc at 2008-02-29 09:26:58 Fri, 29 Feb 2008 09:26:58 MST 1702 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/16 As a potty-training prize, we promised our 3-year-old a digital camera. After much discussion and searching we could not find a definitive winner. We initially bought a Polaroid Pixie because it does 3 mega-pixel pictures. The thing rattled out of the box, burned through batteries, ruined our SD card, and took some pretty good pictures. We returned that one. Now we have the V-Tech Kidizoom. The pictures don't hold a candle to the Pixie, but the batteries have held out and the kid figured out how to switch to video mode. The in-laws think a real camera is the way to go, but after watching the new camera take a few tumbles, I'm not sure we should go that route. Anyone have any good experiences with a kid's digital camera? Posted by marc at 2008-02-11 08:02:31 Mon, 11 Feb 2008 08:02:31 MST 1602 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/15 What do you do when your child becomes a hitter or a biter? Time outs do not appear to be working. Posted by marc at 2008-01-02 09:21:03 Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:21:03 MST 1502 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/13 Snowtracks, I like that a lot! It would also be really helpful for the babysitter. Posted by marc at 2008-01-02 09:16:57 Wed, 02 Jan 2008 09:16:57 MST 1301 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/13 I have a friend who created a pictoral going-to-bed routine chart for her child. She took pictures of the child taking a bath, getting on PJs, reading, brushing her teeth, etc. The child uses the pictures to check that each step is complete. In this way the child learns and manages the routine so you don't have to (though you might need to remind for the first few nights until they get the hang of it.) Posted by Snowtracks at 2007-12-18 23:04:38 Tue, 18 Dec 2007 23:04:38 MST 1301 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/14 We have two sons (3.5 and 1.5 yrs). Christmas is coming. Whenever we think of a gift to get for the younger brother, we imagine the older brother commandeering the gift. Anyone have any ideas for a gift that won't be hijacked? Posted by marc at 2007-12-10 13:36:02 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 13:36:02 MST 1402 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/13 We usually brush teeth after baths and before bed. However, sometimes it gets forgotten. We don't worry too much about the forgotten nights. Every time I go to the dentist they tell me I should be flossing. After years of hearing this, but never actually starting to floss, I realized that it's too late for me, but it's not too late for my kids. If we get them into the habit of flossing (along with brushing) then maybe, just maybe, they'll continue with it throughout their lives. A dad can hope. Posted by marc at 2007-12-10 09:42:18 Mon, 10 Dec 2007 09:42:18 MST 1301 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/13 Do you brush your kids teeth every night? Are we the only horrible parents out there that just don't think about it? Everyday at some point I look at my children and say "We have to brush your teeth tonight." But most nights I think about it about 30 minutes after they go to bed. Then again in the morning when we get to preschool I think "Shoot! I forgot again!!!" At what point during the crazy, running around, getting into pj's, reading stories and getting into bed part do you actually stop to brush their teeth? Posted by mandi3067 at 2007-11-29 23:54:13 Thu, 29 Nov 2007 23:54:13 MST 1302 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/12 What did you have to mail back to the company? Have you received your replacements yet? Have you changed the way you shop as a result of all of the recent recalls of toys? Posted by kate at 2007-09-20 12:43:39 Thu, 20 Sep 2007 12:43:39 MST 1202 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/2 I noticed no one responded - so i'll put my two cents in....I would do it only under extreme circumstances. Because once you let them pee plein-air it's hard to rope it in again. But that is the godsend of boys right? If you are in a jam....you can let them hit the bushes. Sometimes it just has to be done. Now...poop....is another matter altogether. We purchased that potty-on-th-go that comes in it's own over the shoulder carrier. It's like a tripod potty and the gift is received in a plastic bag that you just remove and tie off....it's been a GOD send. I just pull the car over and set it up out of view and let him go. It's worked for a #1 as well. I recommend it. I have even used it in nasty public bathrooms. Posted by shanbrenek at 2007-09-09 07:05:15 Sun, 09 Sep 2007 07:05:15 MST 201 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/8 Jake (3 years) went thru a phase where he wouldn't eat. And nothing worked. I tried to give very very small portions that didn't look too overwhelming, and that kind of worked. But I have found that the surefire way to get him to eat dinner is to have NO snacks for a couple hours before dinner. And he's so starving he'll eat anything. I also keep a couple chicken nuggets or ham rollups around just in case he really won't eat. And I can usually tell which meals are going to be a no-go. Posted by shanbrenek at 2007-09-07 16:18:58 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:18:58 MST 801 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/11 Anyone with potty trained kids get from the state of always pooping in a pull up to pooping in the potty? Nothing is working. We are feeling helpless. Posted by kate at 2007-09-07 16:08:16 Fri, 07 Sep 2007 16:08:16 MST 1102 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/10 Sorry - the website is www.sharedventures.net Posted by megbergen at 2007-09-06 18:48:53 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:48:53 MST 1001 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/10 My girlfriend has been taking a class through a woman in Vermont and loves it. It is about parenting, and getting our kids to cooperate with us. Check out this website and let me know what you think. Some stuff sounds pretty cool. If there is enough of us interested we could try to get her to come down for a seminar. Any thoughts?? Posted by megbergen at 2007-09-06 18:47:35 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:47:35 MST 1002 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/9 we take the kids out for breakfast rather than dinner. We find it is easier, less melt downs. We bring markers and coloring books. But with breakfast you get served quicker and they are much more likely to eat breakfast too b/c they are hungier. we go to chicken little right near the seaport. as for dinner.....we do take them out, but I find breakfast is easier. Posted by megbergen at 2007-09-06 18:31:31 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:31:31 MST 901 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/7 opps - I have the sport double. not the e3. Love it!! Posted by megbergen at 2007-09-06 18:27:25 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:27:25 MST 701 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/7 I have had the Phil and Ted's e3 since my youngest was a month old - She is now almost 2. I love it. It's great. It's like having a single stroller but at the same time you always have a place for both kids. I highly recommend it. I also have a single Maclaren, but NEVER use it. Phil and Ted's is great, you don't have to think about what stroller to take, it's great everywhere - even at Haley Farm. Posted by megbergen at 2007-09-06 18:22:49 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 18:22:49 MST 701 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/9 I have only 2 suggestions. Senor Flacos or Pizza Place in Westerly. We only eat out wiht the kids if 1-there's no food in the house or 2-I REALLY need a break from the kitchen-that's about twice a month at most. I bring crayons or markers, small containers of cookies and favorite snacks, some cheese slices and yogurts-which I sneak to the kids if there's a food emergency for my 20 month old. My 3 year old lives on air most of the time. I also bring juice boxes (a treat in our house). Both places are family friendly early in the evening 5-7ish, both have crayons. Children run and scream on a regular basis. Flacos doesn't have juice boxes, but does have child friendly mexican offerings. We usually leave a large mess and a large tip. As for behavior tricks; we have none-we roll the dice every time. Sometimes the kids are excited about the pretty young waitresses and the change of scene, and sometimes it's a horror show and we're wolfing down food and out of there in 45 minutes and the kids ate nothing. I am hopeful that over the years they will enjoy eating out as much as we do. I'm not wild about the food at Flacos (Margaritas is sometimes better-both inconsistent in my book), but they have beer and chips and salsa and I don't have to cook or clean up. The pizza at Pizza Place is very good. Posted by AliceBran at 2007-09-06 12:37:22 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 12:37:22 MST 901 http://aftertheyhatch.com/view/question/9 Do you ever eat out with your kids? How often? Do you go to real restaurants or kid-friendly restaurants? (And how old are your kids?) Most importantly: what are your tricks for keeping your kids happily non-screaming in mixed (kid/adult) company? Posted by kate at 2007-09-06 04:21:48 Thu, 06 Sep 2007 04:21:48 MST 902