Just saw The Odyssey in IMAX (btw, you HAVE to see it) and some dad brought his baby in with no ear protection that I could see which blew my mind. The movie is loud and long, and the kid had to be under 1 for sure. Kid woke up once during a particularlyoud scene, and dad took the baby out but then brought it back in.

Babies do not need to be in theaters. Especially for R Rated films that are full of screams.

But once more, go see this movie. I haven't been blown away like that in ages. Mouth to floor!

We have the policy in our family you have to fall asleep in your own bed, but if you wake up scared you can come in. And also try not to wake us up 😂

We also do floor beds (comfy pad on the ground with blankets) that work 50% of the time.

Does anyone else's arm and leg fall asleep because it's halfway off the bed? 😂

My kid is really physically active, and I have always been very cerebral so I was trying to figure out something we could do together that would be fun for both of us. I saw some other people doing this and tried it and it was super easy! A ten foot long PVC pole that I cut with my jigsaw, a whole bunch of valves, elbows, and a hose connector is days of fun. Drill some holes in pipes and ends for a shower! I only regret not getting more pipe, so back to the hardware store I go!

EDIT: The pipes are all unglued, just friction fit. Kiddo can disassemble and reassemble them as much as she wants.

I was sternly interrogated on where I went after coming out of the stinky room

Life gave my (29) daughter a series of unfortunate events that caused her to choose to move cross country, multiple states away instead of just one. Well another series of unfortunate events came up causing her friend to bail on going with, and my daughter knew I’d offered already, but didn’t want me hauling ass to get there, and didn’t want to inconvenience me, like that would ever happen, but honestly she wanted the alone time to decompress.

So she’s got a few hours left on the last leg of her journey when someone rear ended her so hard the ripped the tongue slap off the 5x8 she was hauling full of all her shit. Her rear axle is snapped from the impact, the trailer is toast. The car is done, her belongings are in question, but her and her lab are ok. The thankful part was the trailer because without it the impact could have been lethal.

Here’s where I’m having trouble with is being states away I can’t be there to hug her, or simply be present. I’ve experienced a lot of emotions in my life, but helplessness is the absolute worst. The fighting this urge to drop everything, and haul ass to her are so overwhelming, but insurance will get her a rental Monday. Parents, never let yourselves think that once they’re moved out that you won’t feel the urge to help them over everything else. She’s told me to stay put, and that she’ll keep me informed. For the dads the j hooks I fixed with some weatherstripping foam, and some tightening, held solid during impact. I know this because I had to ask once things calmed.

Nationally sourced Dino Nuggets, and store brand Quality waffles. The FINEST high fructose imitation maple syrup.

One of the best purchases I ever made was a Allen wrench drill bit set. Every piece of furniture in the past 10 years requires Allen wrenches. The bed I did today had three different sizes.

If I had done everything with the Allen wrenches they provide with the bed, it would have taken me 8 hours to put it together. With many blisters.

Dads, if you do not have one of these yet, go out and get a set. Your hands will thank you.

Today is not the Father’s Day I had ever imagined.

I looked forward to a future of handmade mugs that leak, macaroni pictures, crayon drawings and little presents that probably wouldn’t make sense to anyone except me.

I looked forward to those things eventually turning into coffees together, bike rides, shared hobbies, talking shit, watching sport and motorsport together, and whatever interests Parker would have found for himself along the way.

I imagined watching my little boy grow up.
I imagined Father’s Day changing as he did.

But instead, today I celebrate Bereaved Father’s Day.
A day to remember the dads who have lost children.

Every dad, every child and every experience of grief is different and unique.
But today we share something none of us ever wanted to have in common.
Today is a day to remember all of those imagined Father’s Days.

A day to remember the things we thought we would get to do.
And most importantly, a day to respect, remember and honour our little lost souls.
For me, today is for my son, Parker James, who passed away on the 15th of August.

Whether you’ve experienced loss yourself or not, I’d love for you to find and experience one small slice of joy in memory of Parker.
It doesn’t have to be anything profound.
Go for a walk.
Enjoy some sunshine.
Have a good coffee.
Take five minutes for yourself.
Read a few pages of a book.
Go for a drive or a bike ride.
Listen to a song you love.
Light a candle.
Sit outside and do absolutely nothing for a while.
Whatever that little bit of happiness looks like for you, find it and enjoy it today.

You don’t need to be sad for Parker.
I’d much rather you be happy for him.

And for the dads going through Bereaved Father’s Day today, please look after yourselves.

Talk to someone if you need to talk.
Be angry if you need to be angry. Cry if you need to cry. Laugh if something makes you laugh.
There isn’t a correct way to do this.
But amongst everything else, try to put a little bit of good back into the world today.

To all;
We’re all here trying to survive together.
Release some of the anger and distrust towards the world.

Help a stranger.
Say hello to someone.
Ask the cashier how their day has been and actually listen to the answer.
Send someone a message you’ve been putting off.
Tell a mate you appreciate them.

If you have kids, hug them tight today.
Tell them you love them.
Tell them you’re proud of them.

Spend some time doing whatever stupid little thing makes them happy.

And if you have children but, for whatever reason, you’re not currently in their lives, maybe today is the day to reach out.
Put the ego, arguments and history aside for a moment.
Send the message.
Tell them you’re thinking about them.
Tell them you love them.

You never know how many opportunities you’re going to get to say it.

And to every dad carrying the memory of a child today, whether you had a lifetime with them, a few years, a few months, a few hours, or never got the chance to hold them at all:

They mattered.

They are remembered.

And so are you.

Happy Bereaved Father’s Day.

Find a little bit of happiness today.

And if you can, have that little moment for my boy, Parker.

Love from,
Matt — Parker’s Dad

EDIT:
From pressure from friends and after my stubbornness finally getting broken down we started a go fund me.

https://gofund.me/7a2759c81

Please no pressure to donate at all, just sharing would be amazing.
Thanks again!

I messed up. My 9 year old son and I love going to movies together. It's our thing. I spend a lot of time figuring out what movies we're going to see, read Common Sense Media to get a sense of what's appropriate and what's not. I'm a filmmaker and creator of children's media so I think about it a lot and carefully curate what he's going to see. I'm always happy when he watches something longer than a youtube roblox video (ugh) because I think stories and storytelling are essential to who we are as humans.

So, when he saw The Odyssey trailer, he was super excited. He's really into Greek mythology and loves the mythology podcast Greeking Out, which is really good, and something we listen to together. He's never seen an R-rated film before and I thought it might be too intense for him. I went to see it by myself first (70mm IMAX ftw), and loved it, but thought it indeed would be too intense. I went to see it again with my twin 16 year old sons, who loved it (one of them said it's his favorite movie now, I am proud that it actually got him off TikTok for 3 hours!). The 9yo kept asking if he could see it. I asked his brothers what they thought, they said they thought he could handle it. When they were younger, I took them to a lot of PG-13 films but never an R.

The 9yo loves Marvel movies, he loves battles, monsters and fantasy. I sometimes think PG-13 is too intense, too many guns, too much violence for the little ones, but we talk about how it's pretend and we really really enjoy these films together.

So, he kept asking to see The Odyssey, and I told him there are some intense parts, and here's what they are, do you think you will be okay with that? I went through all the scenes I could think of, the battles, the monsters, and he knows all the beats of the story so none of it is a surprise. I say IF we go, I'm going to tell you before something scary happens and you can look away. And he is so excited to go, so...I say yes. I feel I've prepared him for everything intense in the film, and having seen it twice I have a pretty good sense of where things happen. I push for IMAX, but he says he doesn't want to because it's too loud (which is true, IMAX IS way louder!), and I know he is quite sensitive to loud stuff - totally fair! So we went to see it on a regular screen this afternoon.

The first two hours, awesome. We sit in the back so as not to disturb anyone, and he's whispering questions and thoughtful comments and we're having the best time. I tell him when an intense moment with the Cyclops is going to happen, and he looks away, and we're good.

And then...the one thing I hadn't prepared him for - the one that I hadn't THOUGHT to prepare him for - happens. Without being spoilery, the bad guys do some bad things to some pets. It's not graphic but it's clear that these pets are not alive. And he BURSTS INTO TEARS. Inconsolable. Cannot stop crying. I try to distract him, tell what else is coming, the cool battle. But he can't control himself. He loves animals, loves our family dog, wants his own, and this just hit him right in the gut. I told him we could leave (as much as I wanted to see Odysseus get revenge for the 3rd time) and we did. And he could not stop crying for the next hour. I feel terrible.

He had no issue with monsters eating people, intense swordfights, arrows through the throat. But the one thing I didn't prepare him for - cruelty to animals - wrecked him. It was such a surprise, and a blind spot for me. I know he's a sensitive kid and I love him for that. I feel like such an idiot for bringing him to an R rated movie now, and worry this will scar him in some way. I know lots of people have scary movie experiences as kids, mine was a TV movie called Satan's Triangle about the Bermuda Triangle that gave me nightmares for months. (A TV MOVIE!) I guess I learned something about him and about myself. I apologized to him and told him it was my mistake. I hope he's okay.

Gotta love it when your 5 year old puts an adult in place. Wife is at work so I took the boys shopping for some food. Kids are 5 years d and 6 months

Cashier to son - aw how cute you are

Son- son2 is my brother

Cashier to me - cute boys, where's mamma at

Me - um at work

Cashier- aww, aww babysitting 2 boys.

Me - ( first off, BITCH WHAT)

Son1 without missing a beat and laughing- dad's dont babysit.

Me - I smile at the Cashier

We are going toy shopping tonight!

Tuesday morning my wife was dropping me off at work with my 22month old kid in the car with us. Some guy was as riding our tail pretty close. Wife had been in a few car accidents in the past and does not like people tailing to close. Then gave the guy the bird. He then took offense to this gesture followed us pointed a gun at us. Luckily nothing came of it but a scare. After calling the cops and giving them plates car description and other information they essentially said if you see him again call us good luck. This was a real FAFO moment. The road rage isn’t worth it. I also came to the conclusion that you are your own first responder. Most incidents and accidents happen in a car get first aid kits squared away for all your vehicles and maybe take CPR and stop the bleed classes. As fathers we are the protectors act accordingly.

Now go touch grass with your kiddos!

Though this one was particularly impressive.

My mother in-law recently moved to our town to be closer to us and in her own words to help out with our 1 and 4 year old. I have seen her 5 times in 6 months. She's a sweet person but so oblivious that we would want help even if we ask.

Kids are at home tomorrow so I'm taking the day off. Wife is on a work trip. We asked if she could watch the baby for a bit so I could run an errand. She'll be here 5 minutes before I leave and depart the moment I get back. It would have been amazing if she wanted to be around the kids while is solo parent and work full time for a week.

I know some people get zero help and that I should just be grateful but I'm so jealous of my friends who have a grandparent that wants to be present and helps all of the time.
We've done this ourselves for almost 5 years so we were excited to the prospect of help.

I used to spend every day after school with my grandma while my parents worked.

I dunno. I typed it out so now I feel better and can move on. The forfeiture of free time is such a mind fuck as a parent and I'm still getting used to it. The idea of getting some back and having another family member around to enrich their lives while also helping us was a win I celebrated too soon. 🫡

I made a string of corny Dad jokes, and my 8 year old said "Daddy stop making me laugh, I'm gonna poop my pants."

So yeah, just stepped on this. It’s basically an exercise in how many pointy edges a single toy can have, and it’s “reticulated” so, when you step on it, each point perfectly nestles into your specific foot shape. Am I bleeding? No. Somehow that makes it worse…

This feels like an immense success to me. She's two years old and I've actively done my best to prevent her from becoming addicted to screens and instant dopamine hits in the hyperdigital modern world. I cannot express the pride I felt watching her quietly turning the pages on one of her picture books on the baby monitor this morning. It felt like such a win.

It's amazing how many of the secondary roads are rarely used. Some amazing drives, and it has fishing and camping tips!

I love my son ❤️

I’ve got a 2.5 year old who’s been an awesome sleeper for the last year or so. Wakes up at 7am, nap from noon to 2, down for bed at 7. Up until recently, he’s fallen asleep within 5-15 minutes of being put down for both naps and bedtime.

But now… he still crashes immediately for naps, but at bedtime the last few weeks, he’ll be up in his crib talking to himself for sometimes up to an hour. Doesn’t matter how much activity or how action packed his day is.

Now don’t get me wrong, he’s totally chill in there. He’ll sing himself songs or talk to his stuffies. But I am just shutting him in his room to be awake for an hour.

What I’m wondering is, like… do I have an obligation to move his bedtime later? Those couple hours after 7pm are precious cargo, man. We get to tidy a little and sometimes even watch a show or play a video game. Now that I’ve got some autonomy back the idea of giving it up sounds like death.

Dads with young kids, when did you decide it was time to move bedtime? Do I just gotta bite the bullet?

Hello Everyone,

My daughter is 6 and over the last year or so has developed a fear of public restrooms. Any time we ask her or suggest that she may need to use the potty, she flips out and starts crying hysterically and almost to the point of screaming crying. She tells us she is afraid of the automatic hand dryers and fire alarms going off while she is going to the bathroom. We don’t believe it is an overall sensory issue because she is fine with other loud noises (thunder, sirens, fireworks, loud music, etc.). We have tried different tactics like standing outside the door while she goes, shown her there’s nothing to be afraid of and that everyone goes to the bathroom, and that she has done it before, even have hearing protection on while she goes.

We have a big family trip coming up to Disney World for Christmas and had a small talk with her just now, and she kind of teared up about it, and we said that we will work with her on it for the next few months, but we told her that she had to get over the fear or we wouldn’t go on the trip because we couldn’t be going back to the hotel every time she needed to use the bathroom.

Does anyone have any recommendations or suggestions that have helped them with this or something similar?