School me on being a Dad

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Originally Posted by Darell_n

For sure, and depending on their age, making art projects at school listing the things they love about you. It’s amazing the small events and activities you can take for granted as a parent that become life long favourite memories for your little ones. Try to remember, they hear, see and remember everything you do.

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No doubt. He also brought home his school project, which was a "Report Card for Dad". It was all light-hearted things like driving, cooking, and jokes. I got an A or A+ on almost everything, except for cooking - where I received an F. Not really comfortable with that rating, to be honest. I've been marked on the curve, whereas my wife's meals were always much better than most. Yet, I give myself a C or C- when I consider what other households cook or what I grew up with. He's not particularly artistic, but he also took the time to draw pictures on the envelope the "report card" was in, so it was nice that he actually took some time away from Fortnite for his ol' pops.

Our almost 2 year old loves "hug!" and then runs over for a hug. Also needs a group "hug!" at bedtime. Other new favourite is "i love you" even while having a total meltdown in tears haha.

All of it is pretty awesome.

Also started saying 'thank you' when you give her anything... if only she knew that "i love you" and "thank you" in that tone would get her literally anything she wants.

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Originally Posted by 88CRX

if only she knew that "i love you" and "thank you" in that tone would get her literally anything she wants.

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Doesn't take long just wait lol

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Originally Posted by JfuckinC

lol my kid just said "i love my dad becasue: he's tall" on her one craft :rofl:

Only reason her mom loves me too i think

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Lol my son years ago loves me because I have black hair....I do not have black hair.

My 16 year old daughter sat next to me on the couch.

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Originally Posted by JfuckinC

lol my kid just said "i love my dad becasue: he's tall" on her one craft :rofl:

Only reason her mom loves me too i think

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At least it's consistent

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Originally Posted by 03ozwhip

Lol my son years ago loves me because I have black hair....I do not have black hair.

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Ahh... I'm not going to make the joke but it writes itself :rofl:

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Originally Posted by 03ozwhip

Lol my son years ago loves me because I have black hair....I do not have black hair.

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My daughters was ~50% fabricated. She just turned 5, and she's already trolling me. e.g., she said her favorite thing to do with me is go to Wal Mart (something we've never done). When we were reading it, I asked her what that was about and she laughed in my face.

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Originally Posted by 88CRX

Also started saying 'thank you' when you give her anything... if only she knew that "i love you" and "thank you" in that tone would get her literally anything she wants.

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Trust me - they learn quickly. I consider my son to be a kind and moral soul - but kids learn manipulation quickly.

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Originally Posted by suntan

My 16 year old daughter sat next to me on the couch.

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By her own free will? That's unnatural.

Need advice re: life jackets/floatation device.
We are going to Whistler next weekend for a stay-cation. Hotel has a nice pool. My kid is 3. What kind of life jacket/floatation device would be recommended? Suggestions appreciated. Thanks!

3? With minimal experience in pool?

My bias is to say none and parents on them like a hawk.

Kids hate life jackets. I wouldn’t put one on them unless it’s required for another reason (boating etc.).

If you insist on it, then full on PFD that automatically floats them head up is the only choice. Available cheap at Walmart or Canadian tire. But again PFD’s aren’t fun to wear and they will hate it, imo better way to form a healthy relationship with the water is without.

My $0.02, my 2 and a half year old is near autonomous in water. Doesn’t even want our hands on her anymore in the water.

Ocean is a different kettle of fish though with waves and tide.

Yes, 3 with minimal experience in pool, we missed out on pool during COVID due to all the closures etc. Just getting into it now.
We've done ocean and lake only in the past (Hawaii, locally @ White Rock/Crescent Beach etc, Okanagan). He has enjoyed all of those experiences in water, especially in Hawaii, floating was magical for him. Very fun to see his reaction.

I will be with the kid providing direct 1-1 supervision at all times.

Thanks for the advice. I will grab one as a back up to just have on hand and see how he does.

Once your kid is comfortable in the water pools are magical parenting tools.

I’m sure they will love it.

Just keep in mind that drowning doesn't look like the old Bugs Bunny cartoons. They just slip silently under the water.
It can be very very hard and require a very concerted effort to watch them like a hawk or even pay constant attention while they are within arm's reach. (If there are others around talking to you etc etc).

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Originally Posted by nismodrifter

Need advice re: life jackets/floatation device.
We are going to Whistler next weekend for a stay-cation. Hotel has a nice pool. My kid is 3. What kind of life jacket/floatation device would be recommended? Suggestions appreciated. Thanks!

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The right answer is to get them the one that straps at the back with the floatation part on the front and the arm bands. Total game changer because the kids don't actually mind it as it keeps them in an upright / front crawl position, where as a more traditional life vest puts them more on their back.

Edit - like this.

Source: have pool, have kids, have guests with kids, have spares and not one person hasn't bought their own after using ours.

^thats what I was going to suggest as well

My kid hasn’t tolerated any form of floating device willingly :dunno:

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Originally Posted by you&me

The right answer is to get them the one that straps at the back with the floatation part on the front and the arm bands. Total game changer because the kids don't actually mind it as it keeps them in an upright / front crawl position, where as a more traditional life vest puts them more on their back.

Edit - like this.

Source: have pool, have kids, have guests with kids, have spares and not one person hasn't bought their own after using ours.

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Thanks. This is the exact type of device my wife was talking about but I had no idea wtf it was.

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Originally Posted by killramos

My kid hasn’t tolerated any form of floating device willingly :dunno:

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Have you tried the swim jacket style? (seems novel to lots of people, so that's why I ask)

I don't know... if I couldn't get my kid to wear a swim jacket and the only other choice was to be in the pool with them to watch them like a hawk - which as TPiM said, is very hard to actually do properly - then I think we'd spend a whole lot less time swimming.

Regardless of how well a 2/3 year old swims and how much independence you want to teach them, the other issue is them physically being able to pull themselves out of the water... Kids are balls of infinite energy until they're not and I'd be worried about that if a parent is distracted while letting the kid be "independent".

Plus, frankly, I'd just rather not... Like, if we're doing a staycation in Banff, it's so much better to have the kids bobbing around in the pool while we can have a little cocktail in a lounger :rofl:

If you are willing to be a legit parent and responsible for thier safety, fuck like jackets at all ages.

Life jackets are false security for shitty parents

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Originally Posted by you&me

Have you tried the swim jacket style? (seems novel to lots of people, so that's why I ask)

I don't know... if I couldn't get my kid to wear a swim jacket and the only other choice was to be in the pool with them to watch them like a hawk - which as TPiM said, is very hard to actually do properly - then I think we'd spend a whole lot less time swimming.

Regardless of how well a 2/3 year old swims and how much independence you want to teach them, the other issue is them physically being able to pull themselves out of the water... Kids are balls of infinite energy until they're not and I'd be worried about that if a parent is distracted while letting the kid be "independent".

Plus, frankly, I'd just rather not... Like, if we're doing a staycation in Banff, it's so much better to have the kids bobbing around in the pool while we can have a little cocktail in a lounger :rofl:

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Yea we have tried all the things.

I am not advocating in any way for not watching a toddler in a pool fwiw. Just that them actually learning how to swim should be the goal. When my kid is in the pool I’m right there with her 100% in arms reach. If I can’t be 100% we aren’t in the pool.

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Originally Posted by ExtraSlow

If you are willing to be a legit parent and responsible for thier safety, fuck like jackets at all ages.

Life jackets are false security for shitty parents

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Basically this