Fifth Avenue Forum

Mine is about the same age, he will be 2 at beginning of February.

We're doing books and some craft type things. He's also big into sesame street so a lunch bag for daycare. Also the amazon little tykes basketball hoop that I think I'm more excited for. The majority is books, he loves board books and those Melissa and Doug books that have the pop buttons.

Pretty much what I thought too haha. Some crafts and books. But hell he even has a whole bookshelf of books and has like 5 favorites anyways.

Yeah, the Melissa and Doug craft stuff was always good. We also tried to get STEM stuff, even for that age.

I snagged a stamp set from M&D.

I just saw this thing called Osmo on Amazon? It's like a STEM thing that integrated with a fire tablet? Anyone have one?

I snagged a stamp set from M&D.

I just saw this thing called Osmo on Amazon? It's like a STEM thing that integrated with a fire tablet? Anyone have one?

I wanted to get my daughter an Osmo, but most of the models either require an iPad, or a new generation Kindle Fire.

Another tip: don’t start the Elf of the Shelf nonsense. It’s a pain in the ass.

My oldest was actually scared to get out of bed (when he was about 3 or 4) because of that elf. So he peed in the trash can in his room.

I need to remind him of this today, just for humbling purposes, as he’s a overconfident 14 year old now.

Another tip: don’t start the Elf of the Shelf nonsense. It’s a pain in the ass.

My oldest was actually scared to get out of bed (when he was about 3 or 4) because of that elf. So he peed in the trash can in his room.

I need to remind him of this today, just for humbling purposes, as he’s a overconfident 14 year old now.

QFT

my youngest is 13 now, think it is time to just tell her the elf’s not real.

I really like our Christmas scenario with the kids

1.) Santa brings ONE (1) gift that is the most desired item
2.) All other gifts are known to be bought by meow and mrs meow
3.) There is never any threatening to call Santa and tell him a kid is being bad
4.) Elf on the shelf is dumb as hell

Ditto to Meow. Though we have never done Santa.

I really like our Christmas scenario with the kids

1.) Santa brings ONE (1) gift that is the most desired item
2.) All other gifts are known to be bought by meow and mrs meow
3.) There is never any threatening to call Santa and tell him a kid is being bad
4.) Elf on the shelf is dumb as hell

Finally, a good idea from you. Santa brings our daughter 2 things at most, but not always her most wanted, because fat man doesn’t deserve all of that glory.

I snagged a stamp set from M&D.

I just saw this thing called Osmo on Amazon? It's like a STEM thing that integrated with a fire tablet? Anyone have one?

The Osmo is fantastic. Our daughter loves hers.

Thanks dudes. I see it says 3 years old, but any chance a pretty smart (I know I'm biased) 2 year old could handle it?

We just got him a kindle fire kids edition for his birthday in September.

Our school district has been providing free meals for all kids under the age of 18 throughout the pandemic. I haven't actually taken advantage of this because I figured it was really meant for the more needy students. I'm running out of ideas for my daughter, and am thinking about just grabbing meals half of the week. Should I not?

Our school district has been providing free meals for all kids under the age of 18 throughout the pandemic. I haven't actually taken advantage of this because I figured it was really meant for the more needy students. I'm running out of ideas for my daughter, and am thinking about just grabbing meals half of the week. Should I not?

This is just my personal opinion

I say you should not. I am also assuming that you don't NEED these meals, that its just a convenience thing (which I TOTALLY understand). My reasons are 1) these meals really are for those that need it and 2) it will reduce your chance of catching/spreading covid

My son is in PPS and last year they sent us an EBT card with his breakfast/lunch balance on it. We donated that to an organization that could use it because we certainly didn't need to extra grocery money.

Just my .02

You're paying for her meals through your tax dollars if that makes you feel better about it.

Yeah, that's where I was leaning with it all. I have no idea what they do with the leftovers, and now that I think about it, I'd bet that it gets donated. Should have thought of that, because that alone makes the decision easy for me.

You're paying for her meals through your tax dollars if that makes you feel better about it.

Was 100% expecting this comment from dodint.

dodint is paying for it if that makes you feel better about it.

Yeah, that's where I was leaning with it all. I have no idea what they do with the leftovers, and now that I think about it, I'd bet that it gets donated. Should have thought of that, because that alone makes the decision easy for me.

My ex volunteers a lot and does in fact help distribute the leftovers

We live in a school district which has a high percentage of free and reduced lunch (and breakfast), and as such, all students in the district qualify for these programs. Even the private and homeschool kids.

We picked meals up several times during the spring, because many people weren't taking advantage of it and food was getting tossed (they aren't allowed to donate it to shelters, soup kitchens, etc. Yay, gubmint!)

We also got EBT cards for each kid worth $330. You aren't allowed to donate or give the card to someone else, so we've been using the $660 for odds and ends groceries. It's been great.

In both instances, we don't need and wouldn't qualify for either program - but no need in wasting food or someone else's hard earned tax dollars.

We also got EBT cards for each kid worth $330. You aren't allowed to donate or give the card to someone else, so we've been using the $660 for odds and ends groceries. It's been great.

How's that? We were able to donate ours.

Death talks are on a major uptick with my just-turned 6 year old. This week, she told my wife she didn't want to my wife to die before her. But, she observed, we probably don't want her to die before us either. So, maybe there's a way we can all die together, she said.

She's about the age when I first had a tangle with the idea of nothingness. Not looking forward to that talk.

Death talks are on a major uptick with my just-turned 6 year old. This week, she told my wife she didn't want to my wife to die before her. But, she observed, we probably don't want her to die before us either. So, maybe there's a way we can all die together, she said.

She's about the age when I first had a tangle with the idea of nothingness. Not looking forward to that talk.

I hear ya man. My daughter turned 7 in October... If there is one thing I am grateful for during this quarantine, it's the fact that she has held on to more of her preschool innocence, with no exposure to the older sht heads in school.

She has been so damn excited about Santa and the elf being in a new spot every morning... I was laying in bed last night fretting about the day she will find out it's not real, and how heartbreaking it will be. I reeeeeeeallly struggle with her getting older.

^ Yeah, shad, that was tough. My oldest lasted until 6th grade, and we had to tell him (my wife was afraid he would get made fun of at middle school). He was devastated. We finished talking about it, and he left to get ready for bed or something, and came back about 10 minutes later and was like "So the Easter Bunny is fake too? And the tooth fairy?" It was a rough conversation.

He did keep it from his brother for a year or two though. He enjoyed keeping the secret with us, which was cool. He's actually not a bad big brother.

Ugh. I did make a push for no Santa for that very reason, but my wife loves Christmas too much. Funny, my older daughter (9) asked us last spring about the Easter Bunny being real, and we stuck to the plan of always being honest if asked about it. She then said, so Santa too? And the elf too? She was fine with it. Actually, she said "wow, that means you guys really got us a lot of presents." Fast forward 9 months, she seems to fully forget that conversation--all in on Santa again.