Spill * to * Jill

{ Car Freshner Infant Costume at Curiobot }

This is not the popular tree-shaped and -scented car air freshener but a costume to transform your baby into one. It is quite adorable. I don't know if I will be able to look at one of those from now on and not imagine a miniature baby's head inside it. Matching adult-sized costumes are also available on merchant's site but not nearly as cute.

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Labels: Parental-Advice

{ The 20 Worst Toy Makeovers }

Yes, we tell the world we had kids "because we wanted them," but we also had an ulterior motive: to fill our house with all the toys we loved as kids. Then the toy marketing companies went and ruined it ...

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Labels: Parental-Advice

{ Parental-Advice: My son won't stop peeing in his underwear }

Hey there Jill...this is taylorblue...I need your advice on something I'm not sure you can help me. My son (age 4) won't stop peeing in his underwear. Now I'll tell you what led to this. We live in an apartment building that has quite a few false fire alarms. They go off in the hall and we have to vacate the building. The second last one was about a month ago. There was no fire but it really scared him. He started peeing his pants all the time and we had to start putting him to sleep at night again. (I had just got him to fall asleep on his own!) So he just returned back to normal except the sleeping part and the fire alarm goes off again. This was about a week ago. There was a fire in the building next to us but it wasn't a big deal and we all got to go back in the apartment. But now he pees his pants at least three times a day. He'll hide behind the couch and then look at me with this little smirk. I'm at my wit's end...Is there anything I can do??
Vickie (taylorblue)

Hi taylorblue,

I felt truly stumped on this question as I don't have kids yet - nor do I know much about parenting. But - I think I have some ideas that will help you.

The first suggestion I have is to go grab some pull-ups. At least this way it won't be as uncomfortable for your son and less laundry for you.

The next suggestion I have is to go online to a search engine (such as google, yahoo, msn, etc) and enter some keywords such as "4 years wetting pants" - you will see some results that have situations similar to the one you are in.

I also suggest to utilize free parenting blogs and forums. Some that came up as soon as I did a search was:
http://www.blogsafety.org/index.jspa
http://parenting.families.com/blog/
http://www.storknet.com/index.html
http://www.justmommies.com/
http://parentingforums.org/

When on these sites, email/comment to the other parents on the site to help you in your situation. Most likely another parent has had a similar situation.
One benefit of utilizing these sites is that they are great social network and you may find some great resources and friends.

Thanks for writing and feel free to write in anytime!

--
Jill
www.spilltojill.com (advice site)

Labels: Parental-Advice

{ Parental-Advice: Polite Parents }

Dear Jill,

I will soon be having my first child. This is of course a thrilling and exciting event for my husband and me however, it seems that everyone has an opinion about how to give birth and raise the child. While we have tried to be diplomatic, people refuse to move on from the subject unless we immediately agree with them. What is a polite way of saying "thanks but no thanks" to their input? Mind you this is not just friends and family it seems to be everyone.

Signed

the Parents

Dear Parents,

This is a very hard position you are in. I imagine there are times that you would like to lock yourselves inside the house and throw away the key! And while you are locked up, you know everyone who is giving you advice and suggestions means only to be helpful.
One way to go about this is to do the "nod and smile" approach. When others do give you suggestions, nod and smile, which will please them for that moment. When it comes down to it, only you and your husband are going to have a say in how you take care of and raise your child.
Others do not mean to overwhelm you or annoy you - I am sure they just offer suggestions because they care about you.
Good luck with the little one on the way!

Labels: Parental-Advice

Sunday, August 24, 2008

{ Car Freshner Infant Costume at Curiobot }

Saturday, August 23, 2008

{ The 20 Worst Toy Makeovers }

Thursday, May 24, 2007

{ Parental-Advice: My son won't stop peeing in his underwear }

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

{ Parental-Advice: Polite Parents }