The No. 1 Parenting Mistake (according to teachers)

TOP OF MIND

Appreciate the kid you have
Kids challenge us every single day, and on the worst days, you might wish parenthood came with a 5-year warranty.

But at least one retired elementary school teacher says you need to learn to love and appreciate the kid you have.

Throughout her long teaching career, she says the biggest thing she saw parents doing wrong was simply not enjoying their children enough.

The important bits
She shared this bit of advice on her daughter's TikTok account.

What's interesting is that in the comments, a lot of people who work in childcare settings agreed with her assessment. One user wrote, "I work in childcare and lots of parents literally can’t stand their kids."

Some moms chimed in to give a little insight, explaining their long faces are simply because they're overwhelmed. One mom wrote, "The reality is that parents are so busy working and doing responsibilities that we are so tired."

What's it all mean?
Well, most importantly, if you haven't told your kid that you appreciate them in a while, maybe you should do that today.

But also, life is hard and we can't be expected to be "on" at all times. Here's a complete guide on how to better manage parenting stress. Read it! Live it!

DID YOU HEAR

😲 I spent how much on you? 
According to Northwestern Mutual, the average cost to raise a child until age 18 is around $300,000. This backs up an older study from 2022, which found the number to be $310,000. In 2017, the average was at $230,000. Let's just link to that great guide on how to handle stress again. Here you go.

🛸 One more word, and I'll turn this spaceship around!
It's 2025, so it's time to welcome Gen Beta. The new generation goes from 2025 to 2039, and some people believe life is going to look much different for this new generation. There was a national survey of over 2,000 parents, and nearly half of them believe when Gen Beta starts having kids, the most popular vacation spot will be space! Additionally, more than half believe there will be a cure for cancer and 86% believe they'll hold jobs that haven't even been invented yet. Read all the crazy predictions here.

🙃 How to discipline a 2-year-old
A team of parenting experts were nice enough to give a bunch of tips on how to discipline those unruly 2-year-olds. But honestly, the advice can apply to all ages, so we recommend everyone read it! One of our favorites from the list? Don't get emotional.

🙄 16 eye-rolling parenting tips from non-parents
Be prepared to feel enraged.

DOSE OF GOOD

@theycallmeliner

Grandpa is so funny. #Christmas #ChristmasEve #Funny #FunnyTok #FYP #ForYouPage

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HERE’S A QUESTION

Last week, we asked you when you had your first taste of alcohol, and 36% of you admitted to breaking the law by having your first taste at 16.  Tsk tsk! Another 35% said 18+ while around 20% said 14 or younger!