Austin Central Library downtown. They have full time staff that does only passports and some toys for kids to play while you do the paperwork. Make an appointment, fill out the paperwork ahead of time and go there with your checkbook and your child’s birth certificate and Social Security card. Both parents need to be present. They take photos there. We just did this a month ago and it was seamless. My boys went to the kids area afterwards to read some books so win/win!

My 4-year old is obsessed with the Elephant & Piggie books so I bought him the whole set. He loves “reading” the books - basically memorizing from the pictures and big bubble text but it definitely is a great entry point to learning how to read.

I drink “Calm” magnesium every night before bed with warm water and 1 cup coffee in the morning that helps me go. I used to have problems, only went 3x/week but now I’m once/day. Squatty potty is a game changer for me too!

I would agree that communication is key. Maybe when the time is right, have some drinks (or whatever makes you feel good and confident) then you approach him with what you’re asking of him (flirting, engaging conversation, a fun game etc) then there’s your opening to tell him. Show him that’s what you want.

Outsource help. Hire a house manager to do laundry, cooking, meal prep, dishes, run errands etc. the duties that take up your time but that someone can do for you- a game changer!

Hi, my friend just had a baby 2 days ago. Her oldest (21 mos) has been hysterically crying since being introduced to baby brother. Any tips/tricks to help her through the transition? I told her to put more emphasis on her being a 'big sister' and less about the baby.

My son turns 4 in March, looking for new ideas for his bday party in Austin. We did MyGym for age 2 and Play Street Museum for his 3rd. Considering Pikopye's but it's so similar to Play Street. Weather can be so hit or miss in March, I prefer indoors to play it safe. Any suggestions? Thanks!

The working mom life is harder than ever in our current world. It’s nonstop! I too work for a tech startup and about to hire a House Manager to help me with the household - laundry, groceries, meal prep, etc. the things that take up my time but that someone else can do for me. I’m personally not fit to be a SAHM (my kids are 1 & 3 and I can’t wait for daycare to reopen after 2 weeks of Christmas break! ‍) and I personally love bringing home the bacon and being able to provide. If you don’t to sacrifice the financial hit, can you outsource help so you have more quality time w your kiddos?

Is it normal that the first kid influences, shape and maybe even overshadows your second kids? Am I in my head that my oldest has robbed my second of his own baby years and own individuality because he entered a world of chaos with such a dominating brother? Does separating them help to give them their own space to grow and develop?

The Doona is really awesome, very functional, especially for travel and when your baby is so little, sleeps all the time, it makes it easy to just pop out of your car, pop the wheels down and go, vs having to connect a car seat into a stroller (if you’re at Target, the grocery store, etc) but if you’re just looking for a good stroller then the Uppa is great! No storage with the Doona. Kind of apples n oranges since the Doona is a car seat and stroller in one.

I recently bought Hiya night time vitamins with magnesium but it’s hard to say how much it works. It might help a little. My 3-year old son still has the zoomies and wants to party at bedtime every night.

We do the taco skillet from Defined Dish cookbook often or for easy kids meal I’ll usually mix ground beef with a box of Goodles plant-based “Mac n cheese”. It’s become so challenging to feed my 3-year old these days since he’s so picky so this thread is giving me good ideas!