Unpopular Opinion (UO) Thursday - 8/26

virginiaunicorn11

what opinions do you have that may be UNPOPULAR? something maybe a little controversial, something that makes you usually bite your tongue - or gets others riled up?

Here's the space for that, and hopefully some healthy discussion and maybe debate!

virginiaunicorn11

Ok, here's mine: the vast majority of things on threads like "things people say when you have a baby" seem harmless to me. (This was also true for the pregnancy ones.) I think new moms are too sensitive. I like when strangers engage us and LO.

Sammy K

Ha! I could write a novel. Probably the biggest one is that I am looking forward to going back to work, especially now that LO is sleeping better. I could never be a SAHM. I just do not have the patience. And I miss having adult interactions and challenging my brain more than trying to figure out why baby is crying. I was sad to miss the firsts with DS until I realized most of the firsts, like walking and talking, happen gradually so you don't miss anything. I feel like the advantages to being around a room full of kids and having structured time outweighs the disadvantages. In a perfect world, I'd stay home 6 months and then go back full time but that isn't financially possible right now.

mommydlc

Take the recent shooting of the news reporter and cameraman, if it were a white "Disgruntled employee" shooting at 3 black people there would be race wars. It would be the most racist thing ever and Al Sharpton and his goonies would be all over it. God forbid a white person call it racist, even though in his manifesto/sucide note he basically said it straight out right.

lindsladle15

I agree @virginiaunicorn11. It gives me a sense of pride, but also reassures me that most people aren't just big grumps; they love babies and are not just annoyed when they scream or act out. Also, it's refreshing that people will take the time to interact instead of trying to get their shopping/whatever they're doing done in record time. It's the little things. :x

aresee

I agree with @Sammy K I'm really looking forward to going back to work. I love my job and miss the interest and challenge of it. I am getting nervous about sending LO to daycare starting just after he turns 3 months, but he'll only be going two days a week to start and my husband and I will be splitting the other days.

lindsladle15

I enjoy watching Fox News every day to see what the latest on Donald Trump is! Not sure he's the best GOP candidate, but he sure gets everyone riled up! I think the country needs to get riled up about something other than "black lives matter." Sheesh.

karaelaine1991

virginiaunicorn11 said:

Ok, here's mine: the vast majority of things on threads like "things people say when you have a baby" seem harmless to me. (This was also true for the pregnancy ones.) I think new moms are too sensitive. I like when strangers engage us and LO.

I will be the first to admit that I'm definitely overly sensitive to interactions with strangers. The rational part of me recognizes that these people are just being nice, but tbh, I feel like I now have a small idea of what it might be like to be a celebrity who has paparazzi following them around. I would really love to be able to go out to eat with DH and LO and not have our dinner be interrupted by well-meaning strangers. I met up with DH for lunch at Panera last week and the women at the table next to us were actually trying to participate in our conversation because we were discussing LO. It was super annoying.

dancegurl1118

I'm sick of people going into treatment for their marital transgressions/sex "addictions" (IE josh duggar). You fucked up because you're scummy. You don't go into treatment. You're just a shitty person.

mommydlc

lindsladle15 said:

I enjoy watching Fox News every day to see what the latest on Donald Trump is! Not sure he's the best GOP candidate, but he sure gets everyone riled up! I think the country needs to get riled up about something other than "black lives matter." Sheesh.

Yes!!!! The sad truth is the Don is saying what people are thinking, and he's not afraid to say it.

virginiaunicorn11

I don't like to get in political debates on the Internet, but since this is public, I want to add +1 for someone who thinks A) Black Lives Matter is an important movement to combat rampant institutionalized racism. And that I can't think of a better symbol for every. single. thing. that is wrong about our country than Donald F'ing Trump.

I agree with PP that the killing of the journalists in Virginia was a racist incident, as the shooter openly said so.

karaelaine1991

@virginiaunicorn11 I agree with you about Donald Trump. He's an absolute embarrassment to the nation and I shudder to think of what we'd be in for if he were to be elected president.

As for the Black Lives Matter movement, I applaud their mission of stopping institutionalized racism. That certainly needs to end. What bothers me about the movement is that I've seen some of the more radical activists in the movement make pretty broad, and frankly, racist, statements against whites. I understand where those feelings come from, but some of the more belligerent sentiments scare me.

KonaCoffeeBean

I have major anxiety about over-population. Like the way that anti-immigration nut jobs feel about the US, I feel that way about our entire planet. I'm a judgmental bitch about large families. 

MaliKaela

virginiaunicorn11 said:

I don't like to get in political debates on the Internet, but since this is public, I want to add +1 for someone who thinks A) Black Lives Matter is an important movement to combat rampant institutionalized racism. And that I can't think of a better symbol for every. single. thing. that is wrong about our country than Donald F'ing Trump.

I agree with PP that the killing of the journalists in Virginia was a racist incident, as the shooter openly said so.

I'm glad you said it so I don't have to...

ChardeeMacDennis

No, no politics, no religion! Some things you just don't want to know about people.

Here, let me distract everyone- I think Amber teething necklaces are a total scam.

KarasTwin

ChardeeMacDennis said:

No, no politics, no religion! Some things you just don't want to know about people.

Here, let me distract everyone- I think Amber teething necklaces are a total scam.

Agreed. .....I don't want to know. ....

Also, think that the teething necklaces are sketchy, what if someone is wearing jewelry that is not for teething and LO bites down on it and gets hurt?

My UO is that I don't like The Walking Dead.

karaelaine1991

KonaCoffeeBean said:

I have major anxiety about over-population. Like the way that anti-immigration nut jobs feel about the US, I feel that way about our entire planet. I'm a judgmental bitch about large families. 

Guess you wouldn't like mine then... proud member of a family of 6 kids right here. It was the best way to grow up, and I fully intend to follow in my parents' footsteps.

lindsladle15

@ChardeeMacDennis haha!! I didn't mean to start a war. I knew it'd be unpopular, though.
On the teething necklace thing....agreed. What the heck?! For the longest time I didn't know what they even were and couldn't figure out why people were adorning their babies with ugly necklaces.

AlwaysSunny1012

We are sleep training the second it is okay (I believe 4 months). Literally the day he turns 4 months. It literally makes me excited.

Sammy K

AlwaysSunny1012 said:

We are sleep training the second it is okay (I believe 4 months). Literally the day he turns 4 months. It literally makes me excited.

I'm starting a count down. I know some people think it's terrible, but it works. DS consistently slept through the night for 12 hours starting about 4.5 months. And it only took 3 days and the last day he cried for 3 min (I timed it). Lack of sleep makes me angry and an angry mama doesn't do anyone any good.

karaelaine1991

Sammy K said:

AlwaysSunny1012 said:

We are sleep training the second it is okay (I believe 4 months). Literally the day he turns 4 months. It literally makes me excited.

I'm starting a count down. I know some people think it's terrible, but it works. DS consistently slept through the night for 12 hours starting about 4.5 months. And it only took 3 days and the last day he cried for 3 min (I timed it). Lack of sleep makes me angry and an angry mama doesn't do anyone any good.

I'm glad it works for some people! I'm afraid to do it - my mom tried it with one of my brothers and it caused severe separation anxiety, to the point where he used to have to call her from the office when he got to school because he was so afraid something had happened to her. Thankfully, my LO sleeps well so I don't have to think about trying it. I'm sure that if I were constantly trying to function on no sleep, I'd be willing to try just about anything!

virginiaunicorn11

I had so many UOs through the week, waited til today... And now they're forgotten. Womp womp.

katyertl

Here I go:

I think it's nuts when people do want to give their babies a nuk. Yes I understand it might be hard to break the habit later on but babies have natural suck instinct and it helps soothe them. They know where they can get milk so they won't get confused. Heck we were bottle feeding, BF, and giving LO a nuk and she was fine. Give your baby a nuk and give your boobs a break

virginiaunicorn11

^^my baby's UO is he doesn't like pacifiers. Hands are just fine, thankyouverymuch!

7425cait

I think it's tacky when people pierce their baby's ears.

Edited for grammar/punctuation.

virginiaunicorn11

Oh, here's one... I'm not a celebrater of birthdays. The bigger a deal you have to make of it, the more kind of needy and odd I find you. Anyone older than 21, I find it weird when you make a big deal of a birthday not ending in -0.

Similarly, I don't do monthly photos with special stickers for LO. I don't judge them (usually - and never anyone on here, seriously). I just personally see no need for them.

KaLikeAWind

^^ I keep thinking I 'should' be doing the monthly photos, and each time the month rolls around I'm like 'meh'.

47923ang

I actually like pumping.

aj1327

@virginiaunicorn11 and @mellymar I put so much pressure on myself to do the monthly photos. I did it super late last time and only put something together because DH wanted to.

HayesRN13

virginiaunicorn11 said:

^^my baby's UO is he doesn't like pacifiers. Hands are just fine, thankyouverymuch!

This! I wish mine would take a paci.. Heck I would be happy with a thumb.. But nope he is determined to get both fists all the way in.. He practices all day long .. Bugs me I have to fight his hands just to feed him

HayesRN13

I just realized I can sometimes just post my UO all over everything and now there is a thread for it.. And pretty much anything left I haven't said is getting covered

MaliKaela

@KarasTwin Gasp... You don't like the walking dead? That is unpopular! Although, funny story, it actually made me throw up during my first trimester. I guess I couldn't stomach it.

@423ang I'm sorry, but how can you like pumping? No judgement, just honestly, what about it do you like? : )

janat1717

@423ang I think if I didn't have a baby that it was impacting and was taking up time, I'd totally be into pumping for a little, trying to see how much milk I could get with different strategies. I wish you could start while pregnant. It'd be nice to have a stash before they get here!!

Oh and I hate that people give their 1 year old cake on their birthday. I think it starts bad habits with sugar. A one year old doesn't care at that point. You aren't depriving him by doing something else. I'm not doing processed sugar until he can rationally choose to want it.

Sammy K

@janit368 At 1 year, they will choose cake! It is very important to establish good eating habits but babies are hardwired to like sugar. I get where you're coming from.

On a feeding related topic, I think baby food is a complete waste. Store bought especially, but even homemade. DS never ate baby food once, he ate real food. We started with soft veggies and fruits, then added meats and grains. He's a great eater with a wide palate. One time we were late at dinner and tried to give him mac and cheese and he refused. But he ate half a serving of pecan-crusted Mahi Mahi and pesto pasta. He was 9 mo old. LO will be the same.

mishmardhiono

I'm sick of people making a big deal out of LO's brace and then when I reassure them I really don't feel badly about it they continually try to correct me into feeling miserable about it. It's temporary, go to the children's hospital see all those sick kids that may take years of being in the hospital, some may never get better or some will die and tell there parents there kid has to wear a brace for 3 months. I garuntee you they would cry with joy. Think of the bigger picture not just the fact she can't wear "all those cute clothes"

HoosOnFirst

HayesRN13 said:

virginiaunicorn11 said:

^^my baby's UO is he doesn't like pacifiers. Hands are just fine, thankyouverymuch!

This! I wish mine would take a paci.. Heck I would be happy with a thumb.. But nope he is determined to get both fists all the way in.. He practices all day long .. Bugs me I have to fight his hands just to feed him

THIS. My kid thinks her name is "Get Your Damn Hands Out Of Your Mouth" as I tug on them to sneak the bottle in there...

My UO is that I think it's ok to judge YooNique and trendy baby names. This article, and its comments of moms seeking approval for their Azzalynnnz and Presleys and whatnot made me stabby: https://www.scarymommy.com/the-wrong-name/?section=the-name-game

The only legit reason for non-traditional names, in my opinion, is for cultural, racial or ethnic reasons.

virginiaunicorn11

hoodoll82 said:

HayesRN13 said:

virginiaunicorn11 said:

^^my baby's UO is he doesn't like pacifiers. Hands are just fine, thankyouverymuch!

This! I wish mine would take a paci.. Heck I would be happy with a thumb.. But nope he is determined to get both fists all the way in.. He practices all day long .. Bugs me I have to fight his hands just to feed him

THIS. My kid thinks her name is "Get Your Damn Hands Out Of Your Mouth" as I tug on them to sneak the bottle in there...

My UO is that I think it's ok to judge YooNique and trendy baby names. This article, and its comments of moms seeking approval for their Azzalynnnz and Presleys and whatnot made me stabby: https://www.scarymommy.com/the-wrong-name/?section=the-name-game

The only legit reason for non-traditional names, in my opinion, is for cultural, racial or ethnic reasons.

Ditto! But then... Our LO's name is my grandfather's and his middle name is German/Dutch. And though it is traditional, it turns out to have zero Google hits. So while it's definitely not made up by any means, suddenly I probably have to shut my mouth about Yoonik names. (We just liked the names, we weren't trying to be speshul.)

@HayesRN13 - that's why I like you. But probably because I usually agree with you!

HoosOnFirst

virginiaunicorn11 said:

^^my baby's UO is he doesn't like pacifiers. Hands are just fine, thankyouverymuch!

This! I wish mine would take a paci.. Heck I would be happy with a thumb.. But nope he is determined to get both fists all the way in.. He practices all day long .. Bugs me I have to fight his hands just to feed him

THIS. My kid thinks her name is "Get Your Damn Hands Out Of Your Mouth" as I tug on them to sneak the bottle in there... My UO is that I think it's ok to judge YooNique and trendy baby names. This article, and its comments of moms seeking approval for their Azzalynnnz and Presleys and whatnot made me stabby: https://www.scarymommy.com/the-wrong-name/?section=the-name-game The only legit reason for non-traditional names, in my opinion, is for cultural, racial or ethnic reasons.

Ditto! But then... Our LO's name is my grandfather's and his middle name is German/Dutch. And though it is traditional, it turns out to have zero Google hits. So while it's definitely not made up by any means, suddenly I probably have to shut my mouth about Yoonik names. (We just liked the names, we weren't trying to be speshul.) @HayesRN13 - that's why I like you. But probably because I usually agree with you!

I'll definitely accept "familial reasons" to my list of reasonable unique names

47923ang

Re: pumping

I find it satisfying to keep track of the ounces I pump, and I kind of make it a game to compare from day to day.

I find it to be so much quicker for me than BF. BF took 45 min each session, at least, and pumping takes 20 min.

I like not being chained to my babies. I've got milk in the fridge, so if I'm not home during feeding time, DH just grabs the bottle.

I like that my babies were already used to bottles, so transitioning to eating at daycare was no big deal.

I like figuring out ways to make pumping fit into my schedule now that I'm back to work. I find it to an exercise in creative thinking (and multitasking). It's satisfying to realize I can pump while getting ready for work, or driving in the car.

ETA: When I'm pumping with my babies nearby (e.g., they need tending to), I lay them on the couch right next to me. I can feed them, play with them, hand them their pacis, pick one up and rock him or her.

LaurenAnn0405

Ok I'm sure this is really going to be an unpopular opinion but-I love being pregnant. I was blessed with 2 very easy pregnancies and didn't have any complications with either one. i know a lot of you ladies had difficult pregnancies and I applaud you all because the worst I had to deal with was swollen feet around 8-9 months and having to take iron for low iron count that was causing chest pain. I also got my pre-preg body and weight back within the first month both times, even though I'm lazy as hell and didn't work out (sorry humble brag) The thought of having another baby and being pregnant again is really exciting, even though it won't happen for a while!

HayesRN13

423ang said:

I actually like pumping.

This makes me jealous.. I HATE IT. I hate the feeling, the cleaning and parts everywhere, the sound...everything... Plus pumping just doesn't work well for me,LO is much better at emptying my boobs. But I have to pump especially going back to work in October I better suck it up.