/r/blackparents

Photograph via snooOG

A place for parents of all shades who are parenting black children.

/r/blackparents

2,215 Subscribers

3

Supa Team 4 merchandise/costumes

Hey yall. My youngest is into the new Zambian Netflix cartoon “Mama K’s Supa Team 4.” I want to encourage this as her other obsession is Bluey. And I don’t want to purchase anymore Bluey merch.

However I can’t find any costumes for Halloween or merchandise in general. Anyone know of Supa Team 4 has official merch? If not, can yall recommend any good bootleg gear?

1 Comment
2024/10/09
00:59 UTC

1

Dry skin on baby

Lil man’s cradle cap is spreading all over his body(with a diaper rash type situation in his neck folds).

His skin gets super dry and flaky. I’ve been told to use unscented moisturizer and/or Aquaphor for this but the Aquaphor isn’t keeping his skin moisturized and I have to apply it multiple times a day.

What do you guys use for baby’s dry skin? How long did it keep their skin moisturized before having to reapply.

9 Comments
2024/10/07
06:36 UTC

7

Cradle cap and baby acne

My son just hit six weeks. I’ve been told about cradle cap and baby acne while I was in the hospital after birth. It’s frustrating me that his appointment is so far away because his “acne” is getting worse. They say it’s not supposed to itch but my son is constantly trying to scratch his ear area(that’s where it’s the most dry) and the dry patches on his cheeks. His pediatrician has done a few telehealth visits with me and has taken every photo I’ve sent her on his condition. She says no lotions or ointments and to wash his face with mild soap. I know these things are inevitable but he’s clearly irritated and I don’t know how to help him feel better

7 Comments
2024/09/24
08:46 UTC

17

Toddler saying "lie" and "liar"

Growing up my parents did not allow us to say "lie" or "liar." We always had to say "telling a tale." I heard that this is a carryover from Jim Crow, but I've never fact-checked that myself. I always thought this rule was stupid, so I decided that I would allow my children to say lie/liar.

Well my 3 year old started lying (totally normal), so we had a talk about telling the truth. And now she's walking around calling everything and everyone a lie/liar. She called her dad a liar yesterday over a miscommunication, and honestly, I hate it. Something about that little voice saying lie and liar is just not sitting well with me.

I'm pretty sure I'm being ridiculous, but I am curious - do y'all let your kids say lie/liar? Is a teacher going to be taken aback by a kid saying these words? Is this a parenting fail on my part?

19 Comments
2024/09/23
14:21 UTC

9

Daycare drop off

My toddler is 2 and we started him in daycare last week for 2 days a week. Until know he has been exclusively watched by my mom outside of me and his dad. We decided to start him in daycare after noticing his social skills needing improvement (I’m all for a little stranger danger, but he still refuses to interact with family members that he sees on a regular basis).

Drop offs are HARD! I haven’t cried yet, but today was the closest I’ve come. I hate leaving him upset and when they send me updates throughout the day, he still looks so unhappy. I don’t have any concerns about staff, so I’m not thinking about unenrolling him.

My question is- has anyone dealt with this? I know all kids are different, but if so, how long did it take for your child to adjust? I’m at work in my feelings this morning and just want my baby to know it’s gonna be alright 😢

3 Comments
2024/09/17
12:53 UTC

6

Am I doing the right thing for myself (LAST UPDATE)

So it’s been a while since I posted my last post and not much has happened but I felt it would be good to update. My mom let me eat the food again like 1 or 2 weeks before I moved.

Yes, I moved back to my hometown. But she basically said that’s how it feels to be an adult and she was basically helping to push me into the world.

When I got here I immediately started looking for a job. Mostly because I want to be out of my dad’s hair by the time I’m 20. Also because my dad lives wwaaayyyyyy different from my mom and it kinda throws off my routine.

I got the house key so i can leave when I want as long as he knows where. I’m still learning to drive. I now work at the zoo. It is my first day and I am excited. I work the Food Services.

I went to sleep at 12am too nervous and also because my sleep schedule is messed up. I woke up at 5:30. I don’t think I’ll be sleeping for a while, i feel to excited. But I start work at 10 so I’ll be fine hopefully.

1 Comment
2024/09/17
10:09 UTC

31

Black parents are hilarious

I hate when my parents ask “why we don’t talk” I tell them they sound bothered or disinterested every time I open my mouth so I just leave them alone and then these mofos go on a rant about how they don’t care if we talk and don’t wanna talk to me anyway. NIGGA YOU BROUGHT IT UP!😭

5 Comments
2024/08/13
16:32 UTC

36

The Black Ms. Rachel

Reaching out to all the parents with younger children. My daughters are 4 and 1 years old and they’ve been on this Ms. Rachel and Danny Go kick for a while now. It’s one of the few things that keeps their attention so I can get stuff done.

We used to do Ms. Monica but unfortunately she stopped making her videos. So does anyone happen to know any black YouTube Influencers? Any recommendations are welcome. Thanks!

11 Comments
2024/08/07
22:45 UTC

10

The Black Ms. Rachel

Reaching out to all the parents with younger children. My daughters are 4 and 1 years old and they’ve been on this Ms. Rachel and Danny Go kick for a while now. It’s one of the few things that keeps their attention so I can get stuff done.

We used to do Ms. Monica but unfortunately she stopped making her videos. So does anyone happen to know any black YouTube Influencers? Any recommendations are welcome. Thanks!

3 Comments
2024/08/07
22:44 UTC

15

Dealing with others unwanted/unsolicited comments in regards to my child. (Advice Needed)

Good Day! Has anyone else dealt with this? What did you do? Did you manage to stop it? Did you speak with your child about it?

I need advice.

I’m damn tired of people telling my now 2 year old daughter, serious or stern.

It is the furthest thing from the truth. She’s a funny, sassy, confident mess of a toddler- and a straight wonder to be around 80% of the time. The other 20% we work on big emotions.

But I don’t want her to listen to these randos and think anything is wrong with her.

It’s a perception issue, and I’m almost 100% sure this is skin tone based because 1) lots of little kids don’t smile, or become shy with strangers. 2) she shares almost all of my features except my skin tone, toes and feet. Yet I who am stoic on the regular, don’t get the comment. And 3) other kids who have affect don’t get random comments while enjoying activities.

The worse is when it’s other pocs saying the shit. Ive just really tried to just ignore it.

It all pisses me off- and my first instinct is to tell them off, politely or not.. but alas, my little is a sponge.

So I’m here to figure out how to combat this mess, without asking anyone to take a long walk off a short pier.

Because my little has tried to repeat that one before.. and her father understood her 😂

3 Comments
2024/08/02
02:10 UTC

11

Why do black people say go sit down?

Okay so I am black myself btw and my family and other black people always say go sit down whenever you do something bad or wrong idk why we do it but yeah….. 😂

3 Comments
2024/07/24
01:06 UTC

24

What are we telling our kids about this presidential election?

Full disclosure, I’m one of the Mods but will do my best to keep this discussion on track and allow all views as long as people are being respectful.

I cannot express the sense of relief I felt on Sunday when Biden announced he was dropping out. I tried to explain the situation to my 6yo, but also with my POV - that Black women have done a lot of work to elect and support Democratic candidates. Our family will support Harris to the fullest. Sorry baby, you aren’t going to be our first female president, Harris beat you to the punch.

11 Comments
2024/07/24
00:48 UTC

7

Any black genderqueer parents?

I saw another person post, promoting their soloblackmoms subreddit so I thought I'd promote my subreddit focusing on genderqueer black parents! This includes anyone who is transgender/gender non confirming but people who are cis but queer are welcome too!

for example; I'm a nonbinary person with a trans male partner and we're planning on using a sperm donor

Posts there would basically be like, advice, questions, relatable stories, etc. Join if you'd like!!

r/blackqueerparenting

0 Comments
2024/07/20
18:29 UTC

9

Diaper rash and other skin conditions on black babies?

I just gave birth to my cute lip chocolate drop 6 weeks ago and was wondering if there's a database somewhere that can let me know what diaper rash and other issues may look like on her darker skin? She no longer has a red undertone as her skin is more like my husband's who is darker than me She's healthy now but I'd like to be prepared before anything happens

14 Comments
2024/07/10
13:10 UTC

54

Regrets Raising My Black Child in a "Better School District"

I've been thinking about something I read a while ago. Nikole Hannah-Jones (1619 Project) chose to send her daughter to an all-black Title 1 school rather than a private school with better academics, though she had the means to.

And I think she is right. I wish I had done the same for my daughter.

I went to an all-black Title 1 school district growing up. My daughter goes to a predominantly white school in a conservative area. She deals with more racism today than I did at her age 30 years ago. I spend a lot of my time navigating play dates where I hope the parents and I share enough of the same values and worldview. I spend time teaching her how to navigate friendships that can turn sour in an instant because of a covertly racist comment.

And there are MANY more examples. I know that my child will encounter racism in her lifetime, and I cannot control it; I can only do my best to prepare her for it. But, sometimes, I wonder if I am doing the right thing staying here.

21 Comments
2024/07/09
19:08 UTC

5

Child ID kits from the Black and Missing Foundation

At a 4th of July parade a booth I was given a link to get free ID kits for kids in case they go missing.

From the website: The Who-I-Am Complete Child ID Kit is designed to be a simple tool for teaching children about safety while helping parents and caregivers be prepared should an emergency happen.

https://www.kidstarsafety.com/products/bamfi-child-id-kits

Edit: spelling

2 Comments
2024/07/07
14:25 UTC

7

Do you have a child who is 16 years of age or younger?

https://preview.redd.it/2x5q0p6uerad1.png?width=1069&format=png&auto=webp&s=52cb3fb638588585754e5ce6eb7e807dbfe04566

Survey: https://york.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0puQuVsSlD5WEsu

The University of York is running a study to understand how to offer the most appropriate forms of information to caregivers regarding their children's sleep. Therefore, this research aims to examine what caregivers of children who are 16 years or under deem to be important information that all caregivers should know about children’s sleep, as well as gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed.

The voices of black parents are underrepresented in research, so it would be great to hear from you!

You must:

  • Be a UK resident;
  • Have a child aged 16 years or younger;

For more information, feel free to contact me at cmfo500@york.ac.uk

0 Comments
2024/07/05
20:25 UTC

5

Am I doing the right thing for myself (UPDATE 2)

This will probably be the last update because I lost faith in that woman.

You know how I said she isn’t heartless? Turns out she is.

I woke up pretty late around early 4 late 3pm. I smell pizza and I go into the kitchen. I fix my plate and add 2 cheese sticks. I then add it to the microwave and turn it on.

Tell me why half way through she asks me what I’m doing. Then she tells me I’m not eating that food unless I pay her because she doesn’t want to contradict herself by treating me like a child.

Mind you I only had $4 to my name. I have no job because for whatever reason no one is willing to hire me and I already have been leaving the house due to her saying she “didn’t want a grown person in her house all day everyday.”

So how is helping me eat since I can’t afford to treating me like a child?

Anyway I call my dad and since his cash app got hacked my granny sent me $20. My dad is gonna send me some Tuesday since that’s when he gets paid and I’ll get more. (He sends through my granny) My 16 year old brother sent me $5 knowing it wasn’t enough but still offering anyway.

In that moment I felt embarrassed because I don’t like people seeing me helpless. And my LITTLE brother helped me. He even said when he gets his next pay check he is gonna send more.

I ended up walking to Walmart to get me as much as I can for a few days.

I didn’t talk to my mom the day I said I was because it seemed like she was ignoring me. I was gonna do it today but she did this.

I have no more respect for her as my mother. At this point she is just my sibling’s mother that I happen live with. So with that being said I’ll respect her household. I’ll even say hello if I see her in a room so she doesn’t say anything to me about my attitude. I will speak when spoken to. That’s it.

The crazy thing is my granny loves my mom like she is her own daughter. But since my dad told her what happened from the beginning up til now, she doesn’t like her.

When I get more money I’m gonna do great. I’m gonna get something I can eat for that whole week so I don’t waste anything and I don’t have to spend more than I have to. Then incorporate the leftover garnish or condiments into the next week.

2 Comments
2024/07/05
12:19 UTC

3

Am I doing the right thing for myself (UPDATE)

Thanks to everyone who responded. It made me realize people have went through similar if not worse in my situation.

I was woken up by banging on my door. She yelled at me to open the door. When I opened it she asked me to tell her why I took my stuff while taking the stuff back. I was still a bit confused and dizzy since I was just knocked out of my sleep.

I tried to tell her but she immediately cut me off then started walking down the hallway before I told her how I felt. She was talking over me and yelling. I felt I would cry in that moment but surprisingly I didn’t. I kept myself as calm as I could while speaking to her with a leveled tone of speaking. I didn’t yell even a little.

Her trying to argue with me when I was being calm made me angry and I knew I was gonna do something to make her even more mad. So I slammed my door. I didn’t mean to but the power behind the push means I did. So I take full accountability for being wrong in that moment.

I got dressed and went into my bathroom. When I got in there I started crying. I started doing some of my hygiene when she told me to open the door. I cracked the door open and she basically said I was on my own. She wouldn’t help me. She said an adult isn’t gonna be in her house all day so I have to find something to do. She left my phone, iPad, birth certificate, social security card and 2 pieces of mail with my name on it.

I grabbed my wallet and left out the house since she didn’t want me there. I was gonna walk to Walmart to 1 stop myself from crying, and 2 talk to my dad to get him to understand what is going on. He told me to go back home and go to the dmv with the money he gave me specifically for that occasion.

I walked back home and got an Uber to the dmv. I should be getting my ID in 2-4 weeks. After leaving the dmv I went to Walmart with the rest of the money I had to get some stuff I needed which wasn’t much since I only had $30. I ended up walking back home. The walk was an hour and I needed it if I was to see my mom.

She was home when I got back but she was in her room. I haven’t seen her since this morning. I plan on talking to her tomorrow if she will hear me out. I also have to find something to do for the next few days. I only have $7 to my name.

My dad plans to send money to me soon just in case she says something about food. I don’t think she’s heartless but I guess it will be a backup factor.

I’ll update again for the conversation if it happens.

Update 2

1 Comment
2024/07/03
05:39 UTC

7

Am I doing the right thing for myself?

Sorry if this is all over the place. It’s 5am and I needed to get this off my chest since not knowing how to deal with my frustration and not being emotional with myself and others is kinda killing me right now.

For context my mom had me at a young age. I pretty much grew up with her so she tried to be the best with what she could. She had a bad background and broke only a few chains her family were bound to. She is a great mom all around and I love her dearly but she is just so hard headed.

(Just a heads up I’m not one for conflict. I really hate it. It gives me a really tight feeling in my chest. Tighter than when I have to speak in front of a lot of people. It makes me want to cry. I hate crying. It makes me feel weak and I don’t like that.) Recently I turned 18. Since that happened she would always say “she’s grown she has to earn her stay,” “she’s grown she has to buy her own stuff,” “she’s grown she can do it herself” and stuff like that.

I plan on moving back with other family in my home state. So that means leaving her and 3 of my siblings behind. Me and my mom have gotten into arguments before (resulting in me crying then crying angrily for not stopping myself from crying. She calls me a crybaby when I do. I barely cry) resulting in me not talking to her for days. But yesterday she was kinda in a mood where I knew not to bother her.

The reason I knew was she made dinner but didn’t eat with us. She said she would eat later. But anyway, after dinner I head up to her room to see if she had any dishes I can take down. She said no and some other stuff pretty low so I couldn’t hear her. I walked forward towards her not knowing I was doing it until after she told me to stop where I was. She asked me why I walked towards her and I told her the truth. I didn’t know. I have a past of lying so of course she wouldn’t believe me. She told me I was lying and to tell her the truth. I kept giving her the same response.

She then told me to put my electronics in this box (we used to put our stuff in the night before school) and go to bed. I decided to finish up my chores then I would put my stuff away. A few minutes later I hear her putting stuff away in the box. I knew it was my stuff.

She can do to the kitchen making herself a snack. The chores list was messed up so she had everyone in the kitchen fixing it. I wasn’t in there because I knew she would start yelling. She did of course. I don’t remember about what exactly because I was in my own head at the time.

In that moment something clicked in my head and I told myself I’m taking back my items. She was contradicting herself by treating me like a child when she said I was “grown” multiple times. I do understand I’m still under her roof so I left the laptop that she bought and took my iPad and phone. She didn’t buy either of those. Not even the case or screen protector.

My dad bought my ipad, phone, and switch. He told me since I am 18 those things are legally mine now. He said when I move back to my hometown I just have to pay my phone bill by myself. It is still on his plan but it’s mine.

I’m freaking out a bit inside because if she looks into the box and sees that some stuff is missing I’m gonna have to argue. I already know talking to her won’t be an option if she still is upset from whatever last night. I locked myself in my room in case she came in and tries to take my stuff again. I indeed did go to bed early though. Woke up 5 hours later at 1. I’m nervous for what is going to happen.

I’ll keep yall updated if needed.

Update 1

9 Comments
2024/07/02
12:08 UTC

7

How do I respond to this?

I'm 18 with a taper fade and a goatee My mom recently sat me down and says because I'm an adult now, I should cut my hair, change how I dress, change how I talk. She says I won't get a job if I look the way I am now

I don't really agree with this. I have plenty of friends who have their hair braided, plenty of facial hair etc and they have stable summer jobs.

I'm not really sure how I can respond to her The example she provided was her partner (who is a white man so take that as you will) who struggled to get a job offer with a long chinstrap but got one after he shaved it off.

Frankly I'm not really willing to go skinhead just for a summer job. Secondly I think she has some texturism following the idea that long black hair = unprofessional

I think what bothers me the most is judgements from others. She implied that you should dress formally wherever you go which just isn't my cup of tea, what bothered me more is how she emphasized what other people would think of you. I.e ghetto street boy Personally, I couldn't care less what people think of me if I have nothing to benefit from those people

Anyway, how should I address this? Ignoring her requests could easily be misinterpreted as me disrespecting her which is a whole can of worms in of

18 Comments
2024/07/01
12:12 UTC

8

Taking my daughter to her first concert!

Hey there! I’m trying to get some thoughts on this as I’m not 100% sure if I should yet… My daughter is turning 9 this year. She loves music, and I hate, HATE traditional gifting like toys and stuff. I took her on a trip last year and threw a party the year before, so this year I’m exploring the idea of taking her to something new. She has never been to a concert before, and I planned to take her to a show (think Kidz Bop) but it was canceled. She loves artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, etc., but I don’t know if that would be a good crowd for her to be in for her first concert. Feel free to share your thoughts on this- I’m not set on anything at this point.

18 Comments
2024/06/30
16:05 UTC

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