Have other people had their auto insurance increase due to “inflation”? Just got off the phone with mine and that’s what they claim as the reason for the increase.
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I have. The last time I called their explanation was a combination of inflation and more overall uninsured drivers and accidents in the area where I live. So even though I hadn’t had any claims, other people in the area had claims so it raised everyone’s rates.
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Thanks, good to know! Haha, I like that we both took the time to call and find out why. I bet a lot of people just pay the increased rate without knowing it.
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Yeah. This was a few years ago. The last time I had to renew it went up a lot and I didn’t call because I knew the answer - I had an accident 
Thankfully the insurance agent saw how much it increased and actually found a few more discounts for me to help bring it down a bit.
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I need to buy a children’s book for my yet-to-be-born niece/nephew/nibling. Any good recommendations or favorites of your kids? I am as far removed from the world of children as folks come. I trust you all will have good ideas for books that aren’t grossly gendered. 
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Hello I have made a wishlist of books for my baby, due in October. I don’t have a regular registry yet, lol, just this. Maybe one on there will strike your fancy!
https://bookshop.org/wishlists/48570b08323044066caf994757be69aea153aef3
ETA: themes are board books for lil ones, cats, multigenerational families, multicultural characters, Jewish stuff, and my personal childhood favorites for nostalgia reasons
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I love a lot of the books on Noodle’s list.
I do not like the pigeon books though. They are super popular right now, but they seem to introduce a lot of things that I don’t want my toddler repeating (whining, excuses to stay up, specific reasons that they do not want to do a thing). The first time I read it to her she parroted one of the lines back to me later that day and whoops…right into the trash it went. 
One of our favorites is the Goodnight Train. They have a few additional in the series now too, and I think they’re all cute.
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I was in a smoothie shop that had the TV on and it was playing a segment saying traffic accidents are up 18% over 2019 numbers, and parts are back ordered and new and rental cars are $$$ so rates are up
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Haha, I learned of the pigeon books when I was a camp counselor back in 2010. I loved to read them to the older girls (think 10-13–when they think they’re too cool to have story time, but definitely still love it secretly) on overnights. Probably best for ages when they already understand the books are meant to be silly, not emulated!
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Thanks for the info! Makes sense.
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This is super helpful - thank you!! I had to google what a board book is. 
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Once you know, it makes sense they’re called something different!
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Yeah I’m always shocked at the number of little kids books that seed fear and misbehavior. Because kids don’t see it as one giant lesson where they connect to the takeaway. They see the individual pieces and they emulate those behaviors.
Looking at you llama llama 
Literally next time it rained, Latte said “it scary!” She’s never been afraid of rain in her life. Books and shows are sooooo bad about this with bugs and foods, too. Ughhhhh massive pet peeve.
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As an aunt I’ve gotten good feedback on
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So interesting. I wonder if the authors think it helps kids who are naturally afraid? I don’t see how it could from an actual psychological perspective, tho. When I was a kid I had a weird fear of getting in elevators, I grew out of it when I realized how odd and ridiculous it was. No other significant number of kids or adults are massively afraid of elevators as far as I knew.
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Ooh, our kids love The Book with No Pictures!
I also enjoy this one - “Do not lick this book…it’s full of germs” Those are both definitely not for babies, though. I’d say 3 or 4 at a minimum.
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Yes, my BIL said that it is my niece’s favourite book now, but it wasn’t really a hit until she was over 2.5 years and understood why it was silly. It probably really helps to have a person reading who gets into the spirit of things. Similarly for Press Here, it requires a bit of knowledge and understanding of what is going on since the child is asked to engage directly with the physical book.
But as an aunt and getting stuff for babies before they come, I think it is ok to buy for a tad older, just like the parents will need more than just newborn clothing. Other people will get the immediate needs.
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Do you have a source for this? I was kind of confused when you said it about Daniel tiger, but definitely with tv kids can watch unsupervised from birth.
But what’s the most precocious a kid can read at? 3? I feel like from 1-3 parents and kids are reading together? And then by 3-4 as they read, they’ve learned how stories work and can understand? I always thought we are a narrative based species and stories and tales help us with our inside and outside world?
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