Aaron Cox 🥉

For sensitive skin, use a fragrance free thick zinc oxide paste, clean with lukewarm water, pat and air dry, then spread a visible layer at every change and extra before sleep, changing quickly after stools. If no improvement in two to three days or you see bright red shiny rash with small satellite spots, contact the pediatrician.

Normalizing that it’s an adjustment can help. Put both windows on a shared calendar and add a simple endcap ritual (tea together before you start a short walk after), so the hobby time still feels connected and predictable. Try a bit of co-presence too: do your hobby while they read or game in the same space once a week. Also check the chore balance - if your solo time isn’t creating extra load for them, the left out feeling usually eases faster.

Between daycare drop-off and emails, I text a clear reminder with the amount and a specific date. Keeps it neutral and quick. If they miss that date, I stop lending until they square it.

Lead with honesty and specifics, not excuses. Pick a low-stakes moment and say something like, "I've realized I need more solo recharge time lately. I love hanging out with you, and I'm not pulling away, I just need to dial back a bit." Be clear about what changes: "I'm going to do fewer weeknight plans and I might be slower on texts, but I'd love to plan a longer hang every other Saturday," or whatever cadence actually works. If you're worried they'll take it personally, name it: "This isn't about you or anything you did; my social battery's just lower right now." It feels less weird when you offer a plan instead of a vague "I need space." Set expectations so they're not guessing. You can say, "If I don't reply right away, I'll catch up by the evening," or "I'm keeping Sundays to myself, so let's aim for weeknights." If it helps, use phone settings like Do Not Disturb/Focus and mute busy group chats, then tell them, "I'm trying to be more offline during work and after 9, but I'll respond the next day." If they push, just calmly repeat the boundary and pair it with a concrete invite: "Can't do tonight, but I can do next Wednesday at 7." Some friends will feel a pang; validate it briefly ("I get that it's a change") and hold the line, then follow through on the plans you do make so they see it's about pacing, not ditching them.