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Growing with Mike

Unfiltered Parenting. Real Chaos. Unbelievably Funny.

Growing with Mike
Unfiltered Parenting. Real Chaos. Unbelievably Funny.
  • first 3 months with mike
    Lessons & Reflections

    What Having a Premature Baby Taught Us About Fear

    ByAndy P May 13, 2026May 13, 2026

    When Mike was born, he weighed 2400 grams. A tiny human. A beautiful one.A loved one.A wanted one. But tiny enough that fear entered our lives immediately and never fully left after that. Before becoming parents, fear was abstract. Adult fear usually is. Bills. Jobs. Deadlines. Maybe health issues that feel distant until they suddenly…

    Read More What Having a Premature Baby Taught Us About FearContinue

  • mike playing in an indoor tent
    Parenting Struggles

    Toddler Pneumonia After Daycare: What We Learned From Constant Illnesses

    ByAndie P May 10, 2026May 10, 2026

    When Mike started daycare, we expected colds. Every parent warns you. “Your child will be sick constantly.” We nodded politely like people who understood what that meant. We did not understand. Not even close. Our Daycare Transition Was Slow – On Purpose Mike started daycare in September. At first, he only stayed from 8 AM…

    Read More Toddler Pneumonia After Daycare: What We Learned From Constant IllnessesContinue

  • three year old mike sitting on bed
    Lessons & Reflections

    Why Some Kids Don’t Cry at the Doctor. And Why That Can Be Emotional for Parents Too

    ByAndie P May 10, 2026May 10, 2026

    Before becoming parents, we thought the “hard moments” would mostly involve tantrums. Screaming. Refusing medicine. Meltdowns in public places. And yes, sometimes that happens. But with Mike, we discovered a completely different emotional challenge:a child who feels everything deeply… and barely shows it. The first time we truly noticed it was during one of his…

    Read More Why Some Kids Don’t Cry at the Doctor. And Why That Can Be Emotional for Parents TooContinue

  • todler mike with andy taking blood tests for pneumonia
    Parenting Struggles

    When a “Simple Cold” Turned Into Pneumonia: Our First Pediatric ER Experience

    ByAndy P May 8, 2026May 8, 2026

    When you become a parent, you quickly realize something terrifying: children can go from “a little sick” to “something feels very wrong” unbelievably fast. That’s exactly what happened with Mike. At first, it looked like a normal cold. A cough. A little fatigue. Nothing dramatic. We even took him to his pediatrician because the cough…

    Read More When a “Simple Cold” Turned Into Pneumonia: Our First Pediatric ER ExperienceContinue

  • mike with me and andie at the hospital after daycare illness
    Parenting Struggles

    Why Kids Get Sick After Starting Daycare (And What No One Really Tells You)

    ByAndy P May 8, 2026May 8, 2026

    Before daycare, Mike rarely got seriously sick. After daycare, especially after he started staying longer and sleeping there at lunchtime, everything changed. Like many parents, we quickly discovered that daycare illnesses are almost unavoidable – but nobody really prepares you for how intense that period can become. Why Children Get Sick More Often After Starting…

    Read More Why Kids Get Sick After Starting Daycare (And What No One Really Tells You)Continue

  • mike playing with andy on the carpet
    Milestones & Growing Up

    Why We Didn’t Force Our Child to Socialize. And What Happened Instead

    ByAndie P May 7, 2026May 7, 2026

    One of the first things parents hear when their child starts daycare is: “He’ll socialize eventually.” Usually followed by: “You just have to push him a little.” The problem is that not every child responds well to pressure. Some children become more open when encouraged gently. Others close themselves even more when they feel forced….

    Read More Why We Didn’t Force Our Child to Socialize. And What Happened InsteadContinue

  • mike learning english at three year old
    Milestones & Growing Up

    Starting Daycare Slowly: Why We Chose a Gentle Transition for Our Child

    ByAndy P May 7, 2026May 7, 2026

    When we first thought about daycare, we didn’t think about schedules, activities, or social skills. We thought about Mike. His personality.His pace.His need for time. Mike is not the kind of child who walks into a new room and immediately feels at home. He observes. He takes a step back. He needs to understand before…

    Read More Starting Daycare Slowly: Why We Chose a Gentle Transition for Our ChildContinue

  • andie with newborn mike on the bed
    Milestones & Growing Up

    What I Wish I Had Known in the First 6 Months of Motherhood

    ByAndie P February 19, 2026February 19, 2026

    If someone had asked me during the first six months of motherhood, “How are you really doing?” I probably would have said, “We’re fine.” But what I wish I had known is this: surviving and thriving are not the same thing. And survival is enough in the beginning. 1. The First 6 Months With a…

    Read More What I Wish I Had Known in the First 6 Months of MotherhoodContinue

  • andy and andie on vacation while andie was pregnant
    Parenting Struggles

    I Didn’t Recognize My Body After Birth. And No One Prepared Me

    ByAndie P February 19, 2026February 19, 2026

    No one truly prepares you for postpartum body changes. You read about them. You hear about them. But until you look in the mirror after birth, especially after a C-section, you don’t fully understand what that means. I remember standing in front of the mirror weeks after giving birth and thinking: Whose body is this?…

    Read More I Didn’t Recognize My Body After Birth. And No One Prepared MeContinue

  • food diversification with newborn mike
    Parenting Tips

    How Our Feeding Decisions Changed as Our Baby Grew

    ByAndy P February 13, 2026February 13, 2026

    Or, from exclusive pumping to solids and toddler preferences. When Mike was born, feeding felt like the most important decision of our lives. Over time, we learned something unexpected: feeding decisions don’t stay fixed. They evolve as your baby grows. Many parents search for answers like: What we learned is that baby feeding isn’t a…

    Read More How Our Feeding Decisions Changed as Our Baby GrewContinue

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  • Meet the Family
  • Stories
    • Family Life
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    • Lessons & Reflections
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    • Parenting Struggles
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    • Toddler Life
  • Drop a Line