ladedamom

We're having my son's party at a nearby kids science museum. Normally we do them at home but this year we don't have the space and because he's turning 5 we wanted to do something a little special. We've always taught him that you invite everyone in a group/class or else you have to let us mail the invitations or send them so that those not being invited aren't left out or feeling bad.

The place we want to have this at has a 10 child/10 parent limit and the birthday kid/parents are included in that count otherwise it is an additional $10 per person when we pay the balance due. We're on a tight budget but are using some money we've set aside for his party to do this. I know he has a few friends from larger families that seem to have to go everywhere together whether their name is on the invite or not. The party includes a make it and take it science item for each child at the party and so knowing well in advance for the headcount is essential. I don't want to be stuck with a massive bill for a kids party and need to keep the headcount under control as it were. Is it acceptable to put on the invitations "invited child and one parent only" or no? Also, I know in the past that some of his friends never RSVP and it's usually not problematic as I try to have an extra goody bag or two on hand and plenty of cake. This year it WILL be problematic because the place needs a headcount finalization BEFORE the party date. What do you do with those that are non responses on something like this- count them as a not coming because they don't respond or put them down as a "maybe" or "yes"? usually if I don't hear from someone I send a reminder a few days before the deadline and remind them we need to know if they are attending for headcount needs but even then some of them don't respond.

I have asked this TWICE and have gotten NOTHING useful. I am hoping that the third time is going to be the charm. My husband and I are planning a family vacation with our 3 year old and infant daughter (due in June) who will be around 4 months when we travel. We're looking to go in the fall when crowds will be down and when we can possibly take advantage of off season rates as much as possible along the way. Leaving the children with grandparents is NOT an option in that both live between 6-9 hours away from us and it is not feasible to do so (not to mention I don't trust either set alone with my children for various reasons). I know that our infant will never remember the trip but our 3 year old (who will be 3 1/2 at the time we go) most likely will remember parts of it and we'd like it to be a trip that he can enjoy as well.

We are not beach people at all but in the fall it's not likely us or anyone else would be at a beach anyway. We're not interested in the atmosphere of Vegas and we don't ski. Leaving them in child care somewhere with strangers is out of the question while we're travelling.

Some places that we've looked into are Williamsburg (they have programs now for preschool aged kids that visit), the Poconos (near children's museums and other similar attractions around Philly) and surrounding areas of PA, and South Carolina (which also has children's museums or aquariums in the areas we were considering). We're also considering destinations around the Ozarks, but it would be quite a hike for us and some of the things we would want to take our son to have very limited days/hours in fall so we're not certain if that would be the right choice for us right now, but it's not one we've scrapped all together either. We plan to drive rather than fly with young children due to all the hassles that brings with luggage, carry on and accomodating it all just to fly across country. We're planning to drive so we'd prefer to keep it around the areas of VA at the furthest or east of there if possible.

What family destinations worked well for those of you that actually have preschool aged children that were enjoyable for them and somewhat educational as well??

We're currently in Alabama and we'd like to keep it no further than Virginia or on the eastern side of the US for our travel plans. Rude or snotty answers need not reply.

My son is turning 3 in two weeks. He's having a Disney Cars theme for his party as well as having invited about 12 other children his age or a year older to come to the party. It's only going to be 2 hours long from 2-4 because I don't want the hassles of lunch with little ones who can be uber picky. I want to make sure that everyone has a good time and wanted to know if this sounds like a reasonable plan for a 3 year old party done at home :

The adult family and any parents of kids who are invited that wish to stay will be outside on our back patio area with cold drinks and simple finger food type snacks. It's warm where we are so the weather has always been good this time of year for doing things outside. My husband's birthday cake (his birthday is the day before my son's party) will also be outside for the adults to cut into and share when we do the cake and ice cream part of the party. Most of the adults in the past that have been at my son's parties usually just enjoy sitting and visiting anyway without any added entertainment. I will probably set up the laptop somewhere outside with a slide show of my son since family members like to see that every year and people that want to watch it can and people that don't just don't have to look and can visit instead. I was also thinking of putting a couple of cars stickers on the bottom of a few plates that the adults will be using and give out some door prizes for the adults at the party (most likely copies of the cars soundtrack on CD or some kind of auto accessory like car air fresheners or no spill mugs for the car)

The kids (ages 3-4) will be in our playroom area that will be transformed into Radiator Springs complete with desert look (brown tarp draped over the toy shelves, train table and my piano that are in there) and fake cactus (from green poster board) and the big size cars characters on the wall using a scene setter from a party store. I'm planning on doing some games for the kids that fit the theme of the party - tractor tipping with Tow Mater (bowling with 2 liters that will have labels replaced with tractor cut outs), tire toss with Luigi and Guido ( inflatible swim rings tossed at a target), pass the oil can (with Sarge and the hippie van character) which will be like hot potato but instead of someone being out they get a small treat if they have the oil can, silly string for after the cake and ice cream to go outside with in the back yard to celebrate the "piston cup". I also have a cars theme coloring mat with the crayons and things like that for the kids to do as a floor activity when they first arrive. I'm also doing Piston Cup shaped name tags for the kids that they will get as they become part of the "pit crew" as they arrive. (I'm only doing name tags because my son invited two sets of identical twins to his party and it will be easier on me to look at a name tag than to keep going "who are you" through the party or using the wrong name on the wrong twin. With everyone wearing them and being part of the "crew" it doesn't single anyone out and it makes them all part of the theme and party right away). We also have a cone shaped play tent that is orange that I will have out for kids to play in and that I'll hang a sign over that says "COZY CONE MOTEL" near a wall size picture of Sally from the cars movie. I also have a rug that has roads on it with a bucket of matchbox cars that I'll have out for the kids to play with while we wait for everyone to arrive.

Cake and icecream cups will also be part of the party day as well.

I just want my son's day to be super special and fun for him and his friends as well as fun for the adults. He has both girls and boys coming to the party and for the girls I found the girl characters from Cars to put in their party bags and to have up as well as the main boy characters from the movie so they can have fun too. All the games are no winners or losers and everyone will get a treat after each just for playing as I want this to be for fun and not about competition of winning and losing for a birthday party setting.

My question being: Should this be enough so that everyone has a good time at the party with things themed around what they like to do for the guests of all ages?? I always start worrying going into the week or so before the party that I've forgotten something or that someone is going to not have a good time (which I know I can't control) or that more should have been organized for the kids to do to fill up the time- especially since this is going to be preschoolers who need lots of different things to occupy them for a party since I don't see some of the activities lasting very long..

My son (he's turning 3) was invited to a party for his cousin (turning 4) to go to a party at a gymnastics center, but the invitations state that you have to sign a waiver of liability and allow promotional pictures for the gym to be taken to attend and participate. Is it just me or is this a bit ridiculous to have something like that for a party invitation for a birthday party? Especially considering the age group??? What in the world could they be doing that would require a waiver of liability with 3 and 4 year olds??!!

If you're not a parent or are only going to say something snotty or that isn't even an answer to the question, please don't answer. I'm almost five months along with a baby girl. My son is turning three soon. When he was born we did NOT get a baby shower AT ALL. So far no one has offered to do a baby shower for us for our coming baby either. There are things we are needing for the coming baby that we just can't reuse from our son because they are worn out or just not appropriate to reuse with a girl. It would be nice to at least have our child welcomed by friends and family in some way rather than ignored like our son was with no kind of gathering to mark his arrival. We've registered a couple places (Babies R Us and Target) but if no one offers to do a shower for us then it's going to be us buying the things from our registry that we need before this baby comes- alot like we had to do with our son. That's all fine, we can afford to do so, but honestly, with a new baby coming, it would be nice to feel our child is welcomed and accepted by friends and family in some way too. I also do not feel it's appropriate for me to throw a baby shower for myself because I don't feel it's the right thing to do and it looks greedy. I've always felt a shower should be done by close friends or family members when there is a baby coming. I guess it bothers me because it feels like people don't even care about this baby and don't care enough to want to welcome them, alot like it felt when we brought our son home, like they aren't important enough to be welcomed into the world. Has anyone else gone through this- no baby shower at all? How did it make you feel???

what kinds of things do you do on valentines day to make it special for your kids?

My son is turning three in March and we're trying to plan ahead a little for his birthday so we're not rushing the last minute with little details. He decided he wants to do Disney Cars for his party this year and I am stumped for ideas on games that three year olds can handle to keep them entertained for two hours with this particular theme. We will have cake and icecream at the party and when they arrive I'll have Cars coloring sheets for them to do. I also thought about saving empty plastic bottles from water and putting tractor cut outs on the front to let the kids toss bean bags at to do "tractor tipping" but I need some more entertainment ideas centered around the theme. Any game we play they will get a prize just for trying since they are only three year olds and most kids won't understand the idea of winning/losing when playing a game in a group just yet.. The party is going to be in the afternoon and is only going to be 2 hours long so watching the movie is not really an option. We're also not big on renting entertainment either for parties and the party will be at our home. He's inviting about eight friends from church and friends kids we know to his party.

Any simple game ideas for three year olds on the cars theme would be helpful. Thanks.

Would getting this for a sibling pair (niece and nephew) be ok for Christmas... My husband and I were thinking about getting BOTH our niece and nephew their own Crayola Glo Paint set that works with the color wonder paper. We'd get a refill set of the paper for each as well with the paint sets. Would both ages enjoy something like this?

Just found out I'm due with 2nd child. My first child was adopted as an infant so I have zero experience with child birth. I have been doing some research on pain control methods during child birth and have some questions since I am a little spooked about the whole needle in my back type of situation. If you actually used pain control could you please help me out:

1. What kind of pain relief did you use (IV, Spinal, Epidural, other)- please, no "nautral" stories because that does not involve pain relief in the form of a drug.

2. If you did an epidural do they numb you first BEFORE they give it to you?

3. How late is too late to get pain relief in the hospital? Can you change your mind about the type of pain control that you decide on?

Please, NO HORROR STORIES about "botched" situations. I have a big enough imagination and don't need any assistance in the department as it were.

I know this question has been asked before but nothing in those answers has worked for us. Please know and understand I have looked at similar questions and answers before I even posted this because I know it sounds "repeat" of things but this is one supermom that needs help from some mom's (or dads) out there that have experience dealing with a situation like this.

My son is 90% trained. If there were an award for telling someone and then going in the potty to pee he'd win hands down without problems. Pooping is another issue as he will not do it on the potty. We have literally tried EVERYTHING under the sun:

* bribes with things he likes, no success.

* keeping track of the times he has a poo and trying to get him to the potty, sometimes sitting there for 30 minutes or more at a time only to have NOTHING happen until the pants go back on.

* dumping poo accidents into the potty and telling him "this is where the poo-poo goes." and letting him flush and say "bye bye" to the poo.

He thinks that is funny but he still won't go on the potty to poo!

* took him to buy big boy underwear and let him pick it out. Even wearing that doesn't work!

Like I said, he will tell us and then pee in the potty like a champ every time. Poo is a different game all together and we're running out of ideas fast! Is there any sure fire, safe method other than these that could bring success in this area?

Please don't tell me "it's because boys are slow" because I don't believe that garbage about boys. Also, no answers about "smack him till he goes" because that is just cruel and counter productive. I also don't want to hear "give him this to take and then make him go". It teaches him nothing about potty training. I'm looking for REAL answers from REAL parents who have had same or similar situations that they remedied with success.

My son starts preschool in August and I'd like to find a plastic divided container close to those dimensions that I can put his lunch in for his lunchbox. I don't want to have to spend a fortune though to get it. I know different stores carry plastic containers but I've not seen one that isn't too tiny or too big for the lunch box. The other side of his box is for a drink cup which is why it has to be about 1/2 the size of his lunchbox.

I am reposting this because all I got the first time was a bunch of snarky comments that had nothing to do with the question and that decided to criticize my child or self- which they know NOTHING about. I hope that by reposting this I will actually get someone who can answer a question and stick to the question. Here goes:

I thought about buying one of these to help with potty training my child. He has been potty training with some success for about 3 weeks. The only reason I am considering one of these is for when we are out away from home because it is then he has the accidents and won't stop the fun to go like he will at home.

IF you have never used this product, please don't answer.

IF you are only going to make snotty comments to me about potty training, don't answer.

I need someone who can answer the actual question- IF YOU HAVE USED THE POTTY WATCH HOW EFFECTIVE WAS IT FOR YOUR CHILD AND CAN THE BATTERY BE CHANGED?

First person to give a polite answer that sticks to the question gets the 10 points. THANK YOU.

My son was formula fed as an infant and never had constipation, allergy problems or anything else because of formula. Do people just say this out of ignorance or is it because they are formula feeding haters that just like to run down us moms who either are or did formula feed our kids? It's not like breastfed children don't ever develop these things or have allergies or problems. My friend's little girl has severe allergies and asthma and she was breastfed. It's not like anyone is pointing at her and saying "oh, you breastfed so she has problems now" (and no, I don't think that is why she has those issues, I think it's just hereditary in her case). Why do people do it to formula feeding mom's? To me it is the stupidest thing I've ever heard- blaming formula feeding for things that happen to nearly EVERY baby on occassion.

My son is 1 1/2. I bought a flip top type cup that has the straw attached. He was so excited about it when I bought it and I put some juice in it to get him to try the straw. He got frustrated trying so I switched the lids out with a regular sip cup lid from his other cups so he could drink.

I guess I'm wondering how old your little one's were when they started using straws and if you had to teach them. If you did have to teach them how, then how did you go about it. I've tried the "fish face" and trying to show him how to suck on the straw but it isn't clicking. I put the cup up for awhile (it's been a month since we've tried again) because he got so upset and I didn't want it to be frustrating for him,but something fun he gets to use in becoming a big kid.

Ok, so, I had my son in a playgroup that had other toddlers and preschool age children. I was excited as a SAHM to be out and meet other mom's and to allow my son to make some pals his own age. It was a disaster. The mom's were so cliquish and the kids were always pushing my son and taking toys away telling him "you can't play with us". The first time it happened I chalked it up to childhood age, but after several other attempts with this group over the last month and a half nothing has improved. It ended with my son finally crying and pointing at our car telling me "i go home" because of the other kids. I contacted the director (who's child was one of the worst bullies in the group) and told her I wouldn't be returning and neither would my son. We're starting a new playgroup soon that looks promising but I would like to know from other moms what you did to avoid play group drama and how you handle all the play group politics that seem to come up with this sort of thing. It's new territory for me.

Please, if you are not a parent don't answer. I'm not interested in the opinon of non-parents or those who currently have no children.