This Week's Parenting Wins: Celebrating the Small (But Actually Huge) Moments

 "Some weeks feel like survival mode. But this week? 

This week had some wins worth celebrating... and I'm taking a moment to soak them in before the next diaper blowout or meltdown over the 'wrong' cup."

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The Milestones That Make Your Heart Melt

My win: My daughter waved for the first time this week. Not just a random hand flail, an actual, intentional wave goodbye to her dad. And then she did it again. And again. I may have teared up.

She's also decided that "uh-oh" is her new favorite phrase. Everything is "uh-oh." Dropped her toy? Uh-oh. Knocked over her sippy cup? Uh-oh. Had the dogs eat from her hands... "uh-oh"(I love this stage).

The best part? She's not just babbling, she's talking to me. Making eye contact, waiting for my reaction, trying to tell me things in her own little language. We're having conversations, and even though I understand maybe 10% of what she's saying, it feels awesome.

And physically? This girl is on the move. Crawling at lightning speed, pulling herself up on everything (yes grabbing the dogs' tails), and standing with this look of pure pride on her face like, "Mom, are you SEEING this?"

Every milestone feels like watching a tiny miracle unfold in real-time.

The Reading Breakthrough (When Did He Learn THAT?)

Another win that caught me completely off guard: My son is reading. Like, actually reading.

We were picking up books the other day, our usual bedtime routine, and as I started reading to him, something different happened. I'd pause at certain words to cue him, and he'd fill them in. Not just memorized from repetition, but actually reading the words.

"The cat sat on the..." I'd pause.

"MAT!" he'd shout, pointing at the word.

Then another page. "The dog ran to the..."

"PARK!"

When did this happen? When did my little person who used to just point at pictures suddenly become a kid who can decode words? I know it's been building, with the phonics at school, endless repetitions of his favorite books... It's all coming together now.

That's the stuff that makes you realize they're not babies anymore. They're becoming actual readers. Future book lovers. People who can unlock entire worlds through words.

Building Together (And Understanding Boundaries)

We've been tackling some complicated Lego sets lately. Not the big-piece toddler stuff, I'm talking actual instruction manuals with 1000+ pieces, multiple steps, and legitimate building techniques.

At first, I thought he'd lose interest after 10 minutes. But this kid? He's focused. We'll sit together on the floor, spread out all the pieces, and work through the instructions step by step. He's learning to sort pieces, follow sequential directions, and problem-solve when something doesn't fit right.

"Dad, I think this one goes here... wait, no, that's backwards!"

But here's the even bigger win: He's starting to understand the difference between what's okay for him to play with and what's not safe for his baby sister.

Without me having to remind him constantly, he'll now say things like:

• "These Legos are too small for the baby, right Dad?"
• "I'm putting this up high so she can't reach it."
• "Can she play with THIS toy? Or is it just for big kids?"

He's thinking about her safety. Not because I'm standing over him enforcing rules, but because he's genuinely understanding cause and effect. He's learning to be a protective big brother, not just a kid who has to share space with a baby.

Last week, his baby sister crawled over to where we were building and reached for a tiny Lego piece. Before I could even react, my son gently moved it away and handed her one of her soft blocks instead.

"Here you go, baby. This one's for you."

I may have gotten a little emotional watching that. This is what sibling relationships are supposed to look like, not perfect, but caring. Not always patient, but protective when it matters.

The Tennis Journey (Or: How a Racket AND Dad Changed Everything)

My win: We're four weeks into tennis now, and my son is finally getting into it.

Week one? Rough. He was clinging to mom, crying, not wanting to be on the court. I'm talking full meltdown mode. I wasn't sure we'd make it to week two, honestly.

Week two was better. He went on the court with less resistance. Still hesitant, still looking back at mom constantly, but gaining a little more confidence. Baby steps.

Then we made a switch: Dad started taking him instead of mom.

Look, we have different relationships with him, and that's okay. Sometimes kids need a different energy, a different approach. With mom, he felt safe to show all his emotions, including the overwhelm. With dad? Different dynamic. A little more "let's do this" energy. Not better or worse, just different.

Week three with dad: Progress. More participation. Less looking back. Still not quite there yet, but building.

Then this week, week four, something shifted.

I think what sealed the deal? We got him his own racket.

Not the shared ones from the program. Not borrowing ours. His own. His size. His grip. His responsibility.

Suddenly, he wasn't just "trying tennis." He had equipment. He was a tennis player. And you could see it in the way he carried himself. The way he adjusted his grip. The focus on his face when he hit the ball.

He's starting to understand what a solo sport means. That it's him, the ball, and the racket. That he's not waiting for teammates or depending on anyone else, it's all on him. And you know what? He's rising to that challenge.

And here's the thing I keep reminding myself: If he wasn't getting into it, that would be okay too. We could move on to a different sport or activity. There's no pressure here, just exploration. The win isn't that he loves tennis (though I'm thrilled he's finding his groove). The win is that he stuck with something uncomfortable long enough to see if it was for him, and that we were flexible enough to adjust our approach when needed.

That's a life skill that matters way more than a backhand.

Boys' Weekend and the Formal Event Surprise

Another win: This weekend was just us. Me and my son. Boys' weekend.

We had a formal family event to attend, and honestly, he was apprehensive at first. The getting dressed up. The unfamiliar venue. Being around extended family he doesn't see often. I could see the hesitation in his eyes.

But here's the thing... I got to dress my mini-me. Coordinating our outfits (not matching, but close enough). Adjusting his pocket square. Making sure his shoes were "cool enough" (his words, not mine). There's something about those prep moments that I'll always treasure.

Then we got there.

At first, he stuck close to me. A little shy. A little unsure. But after a few compliments from family, some photos together, and watching his cousins run around? He was off. Just like that. Running around with his cousins like he'd been there a hundred times before.

That moment when he didn't need me anymore?

That bittersweet pang of "wait, come back, you're my buddy for the weekend." But mostly? I was so proud watching him navigate that space on his own. Finding his confidence. Building those cousin connections. Being independent in a room full of people.

That's growth I didn't even know I was watching for.

And then there was the growth spurt reality check: We marked his height on the doorframe this week (our little ritual every few months), and he's grown a full inch since summer. He stood there, stretching as tall as he could, grinning at that new pencil mark like he'd just won an Olympic medal.

Of course, this also means none of his pants fit anymore. And that formal outfit we just wore? Yeah, we're going to need the next size up sooner than I thought.

The Fall/Winter Gear Scramble (And Why NOW Is the Time)

Here's the thing about parenting wins, they often come with a side of "...and now I need to buy ALL THE THINGS."

• Baby standing = time for those sturdy walking shoes (before she face-plants one too many times)
• Baby waving = officially ready for more interactive toys
• Reading breakthrough = time to stock up on early reader books and age-appropriate chapter books
• Lego obsession = more complex sets, storage solutions for all those tiny pieces
• Growth spurt = emergency pants shopping (seriously, why do I have 47 pairs of size 3T and zero size 4T?)
• Tennis breakthrough = his own racket (game changer), proper footwear, maybe a bag to carry his gear
• Formal events = dress clothes that actually fit (because apparently growth spurts don't wait for convenient timing)

And with fall turning into winter? The list keeps growing:

• Winter coats that actually fit
• Snow boots for those tiny (or not-so-tiny) feet
• Holiday outfits for family photos
• Cold-weather sports gear
• Indoor toys for when it's too cold to play outside

🍂 IMPORTANT BUBS ANNOUNCEMENT: Get Your Items Listed NOW! 🍂

Here's the deal: As we gear up for our biggest fall/winter season yet, BUBS will be temporarily pausing purchasing on the platform for a couple of weeks so we can focus on helping our seller community get their items listed and ready.

Why are we doing this?

We know parenting is BUSY. Between milestone moments, growth spurts, tennis practices, formal family events, and everything in between, finding time to photograph, describe, and list items can feel like another item on an already overwhelming to-do list.

We want to make sure every parent has the chance to:

• ✅ List those outgrown fall/winter clothes
• ✅ Get seasonal gear up before the cold weather hits
• ✅ Make space in closets and playrooms for the next stage
• ✅ Connect with families who need exactly what you're selling

Need help getting your items listed?

We're here for you!

• Overwhelmed by the listing process? Reach out, we can walk you through it step-by-step
• Don't have time to photograph everything? Let us know how we can help
• Located in the NJ/NY area? We're offering in-home listing assistance! We'll come to you, help photograph your items, and get them listed on BUBS. Think of us as your personal BUBS concierge, just parents helping parents get through the chaos of sizing up and seasonal transitions.

📧 Contact us: BUBS Concierge

📱 Or message us directly through the BUBS app

Timeline:

• Now through November 30th, list! Get your fall/winter items ready
• Now until 11.30.2025: Purchasing temporarily paused (browsing still available!)
• December 1st: Marketplace reopens for our biggest fall/winter season yet! 🎉

Why This Matters (Beyond Just Stuff)

Last month I scored an amazing haul of 4T clothes from a local mom whose son just sized up. That tennis racket that made all the difference this week? Found it on BUBS from a family whose daughter moved up to a bigger size. And those early reader books we're burning through? Got a whole box from another parent whose kid had outgrown them.

This week, I'm getting ready to list all the baby gear my daughter has outgrown, that formal outfit my son wore exactly twice before outgrowing it, and probably some of those simpler Lego sets he's moved past now that he's ready for the complex builds.

That's what BUBS is really about: A community of parents helping each other navigate these stages. The crawling to walking transition. The growth spurts. The reading readiness phase where suddenly you need a whole new library. The Lego obsession that requires more storage and more complex sets. The trying new activities phase where the right equipment makes all the difference. The formal events where you realize nothing fits quite right anymore. The seasonal gear changes.

Someone else's family has a formal event coming up and needs exactly that size. Another parent's kid is ready for their first tennis racket (and trust me, having their own makes ALL the difference). A family with a baby about to stand needs those walking shoes gathering dust in my closet. Someone's child is ready to move from Duplo to real Lego and needs those intermediate sets we've outgrown. Another parent is searching for early reader books for their emerging reader.

It's like a parenting hand-me-down chain, and we're all in this together.

By taking these couple of weeks to make sure everyone's items are listed and ready, we're setting up our whole community for success this season. When the marketplace reopens, families will have an incredible selection of fall/winter gear, clothes, toys, and equipment... all from trusted parents in our network.

The Reminder We All Need

It's easy to get caught up in the hard stuff, the tantrums, the sleepless nights, the picky eating, the laundry mountain that never ends.

But weeks like this remind me to pause and actually see the wins:

• The first wave
• The "uh-oh" on repeat
• The crawling speed demon
• The proud standing moment
• Reading together and watching words click into place
• Building complicated Lego sets side by side
• Watching him protect his baby sister without being asked
• Understanding boundaries between "big kid toys" and "baby-safe toys"
• Four weeks of tennis: from clinging and crying to confidence and focus
• Finding out that the right equipment can be the game-changer
• Learning it's okay to try things and move on if they don't fit
• Dressing up my mini-me for a formal event
• Watching him go from apprehensive to confident, running off with his cousins
• The pencil mark on the doorframe that's a tiny bit higher than last time

These are the moments that make it all worth it.

And honestly? Sharing them with other parents who get it—whether that's through trading toddler clothes, passing along that starter tennis racket to the next kid who needs it, sharing books your child has outgrown with an emerging reader, finding that perfect formal outfit for the next event, or just celebrating each other's wins—makes the journey so much better.

Now it's your turn!

💬 What were YOUR parenting wins this week?

Big or small, we want to hear them:

• Did your toddler finally try a new food?
• Did your kid sleep through the night for the first time in months?
• Did they master the potty, tie their shoes, read their first word?
• Did you witness that magical reading breakthrough moment?
• Did your older child show unexpected kindness to a younger sibling?
• Did something finally "click" with a new activity or sport?
• Did they stick with something uncomfortable long enough to see if it was for them?
• Did they surprise you by being braver or more independent than you expected?
• Did you get to witness them building connections with family or friends?
• Did they surprise you with an unexpected hug or "I love you"?

Drop your wins in the comments below—let's celebrate together! 🎉

🎯 Action Items for BUBS Families

📦 For Sellers:

• Start listing your fall/winter items NOW
• Take advantage of our listing support if you need it
• NJ/NY families: Book your in-home listing assistance
• Get your closets cleared before the holiday chaos hits

🛍️ For Buyers:

• Browse available items during the listing period
• Save your favorites and wishlist items
• Get ready for marketplace reopening with amazing inventory
• Mark your calendar for [REOPENING DATE]!

👉 Join the BUBS Community | List Your Items | Contact Us for Help

🎯 BUBS Fall/Winter Prep: What You Need to Know

Dates to Remember:

• NOW - 11.30.2025: Listing period (get your items up!)
• Until 11.30: Purchasing paused (browsing open)
• 12.01.2025: Marketplace reopens for fall/winter shopping!

Need Listing Help?

• Step-by-step guides in the app
• Email support: BUBS Concierge 
• NJ/NY in-home assistance available

Most Wanted Items This Season:

• Winter coats (sizes 2T-10)
• Snow boots & gear
• Indoor activity toys
• Holiday & formal wear
• Cold-weather sports equipment
• Kids' tennis rackets & sports gear

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Building a community where parents support parents is what BUBS is all about. When we trade items our kids have outgrown, we're not just saving money—we're reducing waste, connecting with our neighbors, and creating a calmer, more intentional way to raise our families. We all love our kids. And that's more important than anything dividing us.