What Made you Smile/What Ticked you off Today?

[BogusMeatFactory]

Thanks for the boost Michi! I appreciate it immensely. I'm just a bit more morose due to lack of sleep. Just put her down for, I hope that last time for the night. She will be up around 6 AM though as she tends to do. Now it is time to get some essential baby things done and go to sleep!

[samsonlonghair]

Fuck 'em, Bogus. They think they know how to raise your kid better than you? Just fuck 'em.

[Key-Glyph]

Everyone is so disapproving of everything and I can't tell you how tough that is. I am a happy, positive, intelligent person who works very hard to make sure this household runs smoothly. I pay the bills, I clean the apartment, I cook the food, clean the clothes, run all the errands, shop for groceries, and I take care of my daughter 24-7 5 days a week and no matter I do, it seems like everyone thinks I need to do more.

Aw, Bogus. This reminds me of a Looney Toon cartoon where a husband comes home to his exhausted wife and says, "I had such a hard day at work! I guess you must have had a really hard day sitting around on your butt at home, huh?" and she's like "LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT MY DAY," which of course was a non-stop frenzy-fest. At the end the husband still gives her a nasty, "Oh, is that all?" attitude. Then his wife knocks him out with a rolling pin.

Unfortunately a large portion of the world assumes being the primary caregiver is easy. I hope more people can appreciate what you're doing in a deeper way. But the one who matters most is your baby, and I can guarantee you she's feeling loved. In fact, I was just telling my husband about all you great dads swapping stories and advice on the board here, and how heartwarming it all is, while we were watching the eclipse.

Related story: One of my husband's best friends works in medical technology and was giving a product presentation to a room full of potential buyers. She'd just gotten back from maternity leave and was a full half-hour into the presentation before she realized she was talking about a completely unrelated product. When it dawned on her, she stopped, put her arms out to the audience imploringly and said, "I'm sorry, I have a three month old at home," at which point the entire room broke out into a chorus of "OH GOD I REMEMBER THAT, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU SLEPT, YOU SHOULD GO HOME AND REST!"

Some people get it.

[KalessinDB]

B(a)MF: sorry to hear that.

Giant smile: http://racketboy.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=49375 if this particular newbie delivers on what he's talking about here, hoooooooly shnikes!

[BoneSnapDeez]

As a stay-at-home father I deal with truckloads of player haters, judgmental pricks, micromanagers, and other assorted malcontents.

People tell me being a stay-at-home father is weird.
People complaining about my daughter drinking juice.
Or having too much "screen time."
Not being "green" enough (damn liberals, amirite?).
Or not being dressed warmly enough.
Or being too small (SOME PEOPLE ARE JUST LITTLE YOU FUCKS).
"She sleeps too much!"
etc.

So many self-appointed childcare experts, many of which don't have children themselves. Some folks are just so solipsistic that they can't comprehend the nuances and unique scenarios that different families and children face. It's "Well, I would do this and blahblahblah" without any frame of reference or comprehension.

I find it best to ignore such people or just give them short, straightforward, calm answers. Getting mad is never effective, as many of these putzes are in fact looking to start a fight.

Keep doing what you're doing, Bogus. And teething can sure be a pain in the ass.

[prfsnl_gmr]

So many self-appointed childcare experts, many of which don't have children themselves.

Those people are basically the worst.

What I don't think that some people realize is that, while there are certainly "wrong" ways to raise a child, there is no "right" way to do it. People who tell you otherwise are clueless, narcissistic, or (probably) both.

Also, hang in there Bogus. You are performing the world's most important job right now, and I can assure you that, five years from now, you will not regret the time you spent with your infant daughter.

[noiseredux]

I hate when people get all up in my business about my cats. It's like "y'know what? They want to wear clothes. So leave me alone."

[Ack]

Some of my friends have had kids in the last couple of years. My response was to let them take as much time as they need to get through the early, exhausting months. If they want to hang out, cool, but I don't expect they will have the time or energy for six months to a year after birth at least. I'll send them a note every now and again, but I don't want to butt into their business. When they feel ready to hang out again, they let me know.

Also, the more I know about noise, the weirder he gets.

[Luke]

Keep on keeping your chin up Bogus.

When I read "If you were a real Dad" I got upset. Those words were to intentionally hurt your feelings, and when someone you love throws those verbal daggers at you it is the worst. Not because of the words, but because someone you love has an intent on emotionally hurting you. That's the worst as it feels like the worst betrayal ever.

If the "Eh, fuck 'em" route works for you, fine. But you could always respond with an emotional and honest guilt trip.

You have options. You always have options. You even have the option of buying outfits for your cats apparently.


Frown: Fear the walking dead has turned our Sunday night "get togethers" into a snore fest. Three out of six of us fell asleep within the first half hour.

[Fragems]

Yeah Bogus you sound like your doing a great job. With babies everyone has their own opinion on how they should be raised and people seem to really get off on patronizing others about it. So just keep doing what you feel is right and if anyone hassles you about it just blow it off. As long as your baby is happy who cares what everyone else thinks.