People talking about who they are comfortable to have watch their kids reminds me of something I want to share. If you haven't thought/looked into it yet, I highly urge you to check out the site below.
It's a not for profit organization that is all about preventing child sexual abuse with education and awareness. It gives a lot of realistic/easy tips and ways you can educate your kids and breaks it down by age group (infants, toddlers, etc.). And gives good to know information for adults. It's something you want to also discuss with anyone watching your children, including daycare teachers (lets them know you are vigilant about it, which wards off predators, as well as educates them so they can be a better advocate/protector for others). And it doesn't use scare tactics. With that said, if you don't already know - the statistics are 1 in 4 girls, 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused by the time they are 18 (majority of the time by someone they know, even another child). I mention the statistic not for a scare tactic, but as a reality check because that's a lot of kids.
For anyone who hasn't read this yet, I came across this the other day. I thought it was a good read. Talks about how now a days you aren't allowed to let your kid out of sight for a minute until their like 20. And how moms typically get judged more than dads.
I let them go. I decided that it would be good for me- it was until we got home at 9:45 and they weren’t here yet. They didn’t get home until 11:30. They knew i was pissed. I asked them to be home at a decent time. The latest they stay up is 10. And we have to leave by 10am tomorrow. I am glad they had fun but tomorrow could get hairy.
If you haven’t tried the organic brand sleepers and pjs from carters they are awesome. So much softer than the original ones and not much more expensive.
Sorry you were stressed @megpeg I dont really let my kids do much with other people. I should probably ease up a bit, but it’s not worth it me if something goes wrong
I was mistaken for my mom’s granddaughter this week and carded today for wine. I had all three kids with me both times and no makeup on. I am considering that a win.
Sooo I've finally got the scoop on an incident that happened across the street last summer.
Back story: I was headed to class and leaving my house early (I think it was about 645am). Across the street there is A LOT of cars when usually there is just 1 or 2 so it caught my attention. They were unmarked police cars! I'm talking plain clothes officers with vests and AR-15s. One officer comes out of the house and they all start putting weapons away and taking gear off. So I'm obviously still watching and they bring the homeowner out of the house in handcuffs and drive off. My neighbor told me later that they stayed for a few more hours after I left (she was walking the dog).
So I dont live in a bad neighborhood, houses are reasonable, mostly starter homes, but we have a good number of people who have lived here 30 years.
***The rest of this is probably a Trigger warning (sex abuse) from here.***
My neighbor (dog walker) works a city hall and gets access to records that will be public earlier than we can search for them online. The guy was charged with 4 counts of child porn with the intent to distribute. This guy has lived in the neighborhood for 30 years, helps people out with home repairs like a "handy man" and doesn't charge anything, and is married with 2 grown kids and grandkids. Apparently they found child porn of children ages 8 to 10 years old on 11 devices. The guy only got 8 years of probation and registers as a sex offender. He isnt supposed to be within 1000 feet of a school, and we live about 2 mins walk to an elementary school. That punishment is a flipping JOKE and I know its typical for "first time caught offenders."
I just found out that they are also going to move, since he cant find work and his parents need help. Which is probably the lie they tell people when in reality it's because everyone knows what he did.
I am so freaking relieved that they are moving. I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders and I can relax a tiny bit. I found out i was pregnant less than a month after this all went down.
Sorry for the novel. I'm just very glad to have a neighbor looking out for my family and others in the area.
N starts day care in just under two weeks, and the emotions are HIGH. I know so many people have to start their LOs so much earlier, and I'm very lucky we didn't have to send her until she's seven months old. But holy cow, how do you handle it?! I know she'll be fine, I know after the first few days I'll be fine, but dear goodness, the anticipation is ROUGH.
@ashtuesday we are lucky also since I'm not getting a job until I graduate in December I wont have to put LO in daycare until then. He'll be 9 months old. I'm already getting nervous about it and I doubt if I can handle him screaming for me and actually leave him (because in my head that's how I see it)
@sgrn18 SAME! N has started to say "Ma! Ma! Ma!" whenever she's whiny (since she knows I'll respond) and all I can picture is her reaching and saying when I drop her off. I KNOW that won't be the case, but I can't shake the image!
For my first LO she started daycare when she was 5 months old. I took the advice of someone by letting my husband do the drop off and me do the pick up. The teachers pointed out it was a good age to start because it'll be what she becomes used to and avoid that big tearful good bye if we were to wait for her to be older. (of course it would have been nice to wait for her to be more out of her baby months/year before starting daycare, but I'm focusing on perks for those of us who have to use daycare early)
I'm lucky enough to be able to work from home sometimes and live very close to daycare so I was able to look forward to visiting her mid-day that first day. It definitely was a different experience for her compared to home (lots of noise/activity versus her being an only child at home). And it definitely strengthened her immune system (and tested mine!) for that first year.
A couple positive sides of daycare. Hearing other people rave about your super cute LO. And seeing LO's reaction when they see you after work.
So about two weeks ago Vinny started leaking through her diaper in the night. Occasionally she would leak during the day too, but that seemed pretty random. So, I moved up a size in diapers to size 3. Now she's leaking almost every day. 3 is worse than size 2. Mostly during naps. She sleeps on her side. So if the pee flows down, there's not a lot of absorption there. Is that the issue though? Help! I can't wash sheets ever friggin day.
@fatstagnation Have you tried a different brand? I'd probably start there if it's happening during naps. Or a different "type" (ex: like with pampers going from swaddlers to baby dry.) They also make overnight diapers or inserts you can put in to add absorbancy.
Me: 30 H: 30 Dx: PCOS Married: June 2013 TTC#1: January 2015 BFP #1 8/24/15 | MC 9/3/15 at 6w2d BFP #2: 12/12/15 | DD born 8/29/16 TTC#2: June 2017 BFP #3: 7/15/17 | DS born 3/20/18
@fatstagnation Sposies. They sell them on Amazon. They're diaper inserts that look like maxi pads. Once I started using them in my son's overnight diapers we never had a leak again.
@ashtuesday congrats on your pregnancy!! So exciting to have two so close in age! I had all the same worries as you but can promise you that N wont even remember life without her sibling and watching your kids interact with each other is truly one of life's greatest joys!! I've posted in another thread that I've given up fb for right now so jumping on here again. Was reading through some of the recent threads. Hope it's ok to join in! My little guy is 6.5 months now. Cant believe how fast time is flying by!
@fatstagnation We had trouble too with leaking #2. He’s tall and skinny legs right now so we sized up to 3. Then I switched brands and it’s a bit better but not solved yet. Thinking I might need another type from snugglers to movers now.
My husband's grandma called me "You selfish thing" because I wanted to hold my baby and wouldn't give him to her. She said, "You get him all day." I said, "No, Pam (babysitter) gets him all day. I haven't seen him today" because family came to meet him this morning. Like, how dare you call me selfish for holding MY baby when you just held him 3 times. Screw you woman.
@mccurleya grandma sounds like a tough lady. I feel like she hasn’t been nice or understanding or helpful at all. I can’t imagine your frustration. I’d hold the baby even more around her. I’m frustrated for you.
@mccurleya it drives me nuts when I go somewhere or people come over and they immediately put thier hands out for LO. Like they are owed time with him. Your Hs grandma sounds like shes never been told no in her life. Thats Irritating!
I often find that people don’t take into consideration what the child might want. More than likely a baby feels most comfortable with their parent while they adjust to changing environments and people. In my experience, it never goes well if my kid is forced to go to someone versus making the decision themselves. Babies as young as our will give cues as to who and what they want and I think many adults need to do a better job of respecting that.
I think I'm the first to tell her no and she's not happy. A cousin of ours is having a little girl in February and I can't wait until we're old news and she goes and bothers them instead
...am I the only one obsessing over baby Halloween costumes already? I have so many ideas and I am so excited about all of them. N and I read all the time, and I'd love for her to be Corduroy or Stellaluna for Halloween. But she loves Abby Cadabby, and if I were really think about what she would be excited about, it'd be an Abby Cadabby costume.
Then there's the fact that we were watching Dirty Dancing soon after N was born, and I jokingly said we should all go as Dirty Dancing for Halloween (my husband would be Johnny, Nora would be Baby, I would be Penny). My husband keeps bringing that up in a way that makes me think he would actually go for it...
@ashtuesday I was just looking at sibling costumes this morning. I have no idea what we will do yet though... but if I'm making something I need to get on it soon!
Hormone-driven complaint. So, N starts day care on Tuesday. She'll only go full time for two months: my parents are in the process of buying a house near us, and my mom will watch her 3x per week. We know how lucky we are - it is above and beyond that they're willing to do this. Last night, I was talking to my MIL about this and she made a big stink about how sad and sucky it is that N has to be in day care full time that long. A) So many kids do it full time forever! Would YOU rearrange your life to take care of my kid? No! My parents are doing something crazy generous - how dare you say they should be getting here faster?! C) I cannot afford to quit my job to watch her (which my MIL has tried to casually mention multiple times), so get it through your head. I know she didn't mean any harm, but hormones - and I shouldn't have to make YOU feel good about MY kid going to day care. Gah. End rant!
You should say “great! I’ll drop her off in the morning before I go to work for the next two months!” Or, you could ask her when she’s coming in town to babysit for two months if she lives out of town.
Your parents are are so generous, by the way. I am glad you have that support.
@sgrn18 Yes! I thought was doing something wrong. @ashtuesday that’s amazing of your parents. What wonderful memories your kiddos and parents will have. Maybe your MIL is jealous?
I know I’m bringing up the rear on age of the babies since Cora came 8 days overdue, landing her April. She’s going to be 5 months on the 7th and has only rolled over twice when she was like 3 months old. She does tummy time every day and she’s just content to stay there for 20+ minutes. She’s plenty strong but just doesn’t try to roll. All her movements seem closer to trying to crawl. Anyone else experience this?
Re: August Randoms
https://www.themamabeareffect.org/index.html
It's a not for profit organization that is all about preventing child sexual abuse with education and awareness. It gives a lot of realistic/easy tips and ways you can educate your kids and breaks it down by age group (infants, toddlers, etc.). And gives good to know information for adults. It's something you want to also discuss with anyone watching your children, including daycare teachers (lets them know you are vigilant about it, which wards off predators, as well as educates them so they can be a better advocate/protector for others). And it doesn't use scare tactics. With that said, if you don't already know - the statistics are 1 in 4 girls, 1 in 6 boys will be sexually abused by the time they are 18 (majority of the time by someone they know, even another child). I mention the statistic not for a scare tactic, but as a reality check because that's a lot of kids.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/27/opinion/sunday/motherhood-in-the-age-of-fear.html
Sorry you were stressed @megpeg I dont really let my kids do much with other people. I should probably ease up a bit, but it’s not worth it me if something goes wrong
Back story: I was headed to class and leaving my house early (I think it was about 645am). Across the street there is A LOT of cars when usually there is just 1 or 2 so it caught my attention. They were unmarked police cars! I'm talking plain clothes officers with vests and AR-15s. One officer comes out of the house and they all start putting weapons away and taking gear off. So I'm obviously still watching and they bring the homeowner out of the house in handcuffs and drive off. My neighbor told me later that they stayed for a few more hours after I left (she was walking the dog).
So I dont live in a bad neighborhood, houses are reasonable, mostly starter homes, but we have a good number of people who have lived here 30 years.
***The rest of this is probably a Trigger warning (sex abuse) from here.***
I just found out that they are also going to move, since he cant find work and his parents need help. Which is probably the lie they tell people when in reality it's because everyone knows what he did.
I am so freaking relieved that they are moving. I feel like a weight has been lifted off of my shoulders and I can relax a tiny bit. I found out i was pregnant less than a month after this all went down.
Sorry for the novel. I'm just very glad to have a neighbor looking out for my family and others in the area.
Edit: words.
I'm lucky enough to be able to work from home sometimes and live very close to daycare so I was able to look forward to visiting her mid-day that first day. It definitely was a different experience for her compared to home (lots of noise/activity versus her being an only child at home). And it definitely strengthened her immune system (and tested mine!) for that first year.
A couple positive sides of daycare. Hearing other people rave about your super cute LO. And seeing LO's reaction when they see you after work.
Dx: PCOS
Married: June 2013
TTC#1: January 2015
BFP #1 8/24/15 | MC 9/3/15 at 6w2d
BFP #2: 12/12/15 | DD born 8/29/16
TTC#2: June 2017
BFP #3: 7/15/17 | DS born 3/20/18
I've posted in another thread that I've given up fb for right now so jumping on here again. Was reading through some of the recent threads. Hope it's ok to join in! My little guy is 6.5 months now. Cant believe how fast time is flying by!
Dx: PCOS
Married: June 2013
TTC#1: January 2015
BFP #1 8/24/15 | MC 9/3/15 at 6w2d
BFP #2: 12/12/15 | DD born 8/29/16
TTC#2: June 2017
BFP #3: 7/15/17 | DS born 3/20/18
Then there's the fact that we were watching Dirty Dancing soon after N was born, and I jokingly said we should all go as Dirty Dancing for Halloween (my husband would be Johnny, Nora would be Baby, I would be Penny). My husband keeps bringing that up in a way that makes me think he would actually go for it...
Your parents are are so generous, by the way. I am glad you have that support.
@ashtuesday that’s amazing of your parents. What wonderful memories your kiddos and parents will have. Maybe your MIL is jealous?