Man, I was off ALL DAY Monday and Tuesday and the board blows up when I have stuff going on! Here's my $0.02 When do you want to start it? I think now is a good time to get started/organized. I'm ok with a little later, but I think it only gets harder as the LOs show up How many admins should there be? I like the idea of 5. I think it should be an odd number in case anything comes down to a vote. I think more is better than less... it gives some opportunity to be more impartial, as one or two may recognize a user name and others may not. I second/third/tenth the vote for @pshaortao since she has kept such an organized spreadsheet for us and done a lot of the work already How do we determine who should join? I'm down for the general idea of at least 2-4 months of meaningful participation. It's fine with me if someone isn't a daily poster, but I'd like to see them posting meaningful things other than HDBD pics and random "congrats!" "thinking of you" etc. posts. Do we want to set a cut off date for joining? If so, when? I would say maybe July 1st? It gives basically everyone time to have our babes, get somewhat settled in, gives some late-comers time to keep participating here so we can get to know you. What else am I missing...? I love the idea of a private poll for active members to vote on admins. However by the time we decide who gets to be in that private group... we've basically picked the recipients of the Hogwarts letters. I think we just take the risk that randoms can vote for our admins and just see how it goes.
I was just looking through the spreadsheet. Do we really have less than 100 members? Is there anyone out there that hasn't added themselves to it?
Some people opted not to be added. The spreadsheet will help but wont be the deciding factor! Its there more for keeping track of the username, due date, actual birth date, what team theyre on etc. Just information
ETA: basically anybody not on it won't be ruled out at all!
Someone hust started it on my last one and PM'd regulars and it kind of spread that way. Eventually we sort of figured out some structure as we went but it's pretty loose.
Mobile bumping -- I defer to y'all on the specifics, but I'd be down to join a FB group if I make the cut. I'm squarely in the "only regularly participates in weekly check-ins" category though.
I've been jumping between May 17 and June 17, as I'm due at the end of the month. Probably not active enough, but I do enjoy commenting/ reading up on everyone's progress when time allows!
Someone hust started it on my last one and PM'd regulars and it kind of spread that way. Eventually we sort of figured out some structure as we went but it's pretty loose.
I like the idea of starting it before babies are born and keeping it open at least a month after. (EDD 5/26, FTM so who knows when LO will show up.) I'm new to all of this, so I'll defer to those who know the game.
Question, though. Is there a kick off/ penalty for lack of FB participation? I'd like to think I'll still be active with a NB but I don't want to be expelled if I'm not.
Also, y'all have me a bit nervous about qualifying for an invite. My wand skills are for sure not up to par, I need Hogwarts!
I think now is a good time. Along with what others said, I would rather get started and settled a little before life gets crazy with littles.
Admins - I agree an odd number 3 or 5 in case of ties.
Who joins? - meaningful/length of participation. I think the worry about doing it now with so many newbs is a little irrelevant because they wouldn't meet the meaningful/length of participation time right?
Cutoff - a few months after the last baby? Let people start to adjust and realize how active they want to be
@jayandaplus funny you mentioned that. We never really tracked those who were not active but we did recently discuss as an entire group and looked at the members list. The less active ones were at the bottom and it was funny because we were like who is this? Turned out a couple of them hadnt said a peep in over a year. The first few months is totall understandable though! Adjusting to a newborn, adjusting to being a working mom for those who plan to go back to work, etc.
I love and hate that this brings out all of our teenager insecurities about being "included." I can't speak for the future admins, but anyone who feels a part of this community and has been for a while should not be worried! I don't think this is a group of "mean girls," just people who don't want to share personal photos/details with strangers! And for any newbies, I know I plan to continue to participate here, too!
I plan to participate on both as well. I really don't like how posts in FB groups are not ordered by date. I like the Bump organization better. FB will be easier while on leave, but I don't FB on my work computer, so the Bump wins that one too.
@pshaortao - That's good to hear! I was just shocked that our BMB had such a small # of people but I agree that whether people are on the spreadsheet or not should not be a determinant.
@jayandaplus - We did something similar as @pshaortao, probably around the year mark. Anyone who hadn't really been active and whose name people no longer recognized were booted out but it wasn't just occasional participation, it was practically little to none.
Me: 38 DH: 36 Married 8/27/2011 BFP #1 9/28/2011 DS born 5/22/2012 BFP #2 4/24/2013 m/c 4/25/2013 at 4w BFP #3 1/31/2014 DD born 10/14/2014 BFP #4 1/20/2016 m/c 2/12/2014 at 7w2d BFP #5 8/19/2016 DS2 born 4/29/2017 BFP #6 3/7/2018 EDD 11/18/2018
I don't think I ever joined the spreadsheet. I know I'm not super active, but I do try to participate as much as I can! I know it's tough to decide who is enough of a "regular" so I understand having some sort of process to make sure it's people who are contributing and adding value and support.
I'm pretty much in agreement with the rest of you. I'm all for starting it whenever - I feel like I'm comfortable with all of the regs at this point and don't see much reason for waiting. 5 admins is also a great number for all the reasons previously mentioned. For those that recently started participating: I'm sure you're all very nice people but we should get to know each other a little better before you see pics of my kid.
I still plan on sticking around The Bump after baby comes. I don't find the app works any less efficiently than Facebook does.
I'm in agreement with everyone else. Whenever we start to migrate to Hogwarts is fine, but I do still plan to be active on the bump (assuming I get a letter). 5 admins sounds just right to keep it from falling on too few new-mama shoulders. There should be some sort of regulation, but the spreadsheet can't/shouldn't be the primary checkbox. I like the idea of a few months of participation here before being accepted into FB.
I've never done the fb thing from TB but I think an odd number of admins and I like closing it shortly after the last baby is born. I also liked the idea I'd sooner than later for those who have already had our babies and those like me who it won't be long til delivery. Aaaand I've been booted off mobile twice this week so far so I'll stick around here, but I have less challenges w fb these days!
Anytime now! My Oct 2015 group started at the end of the 3rd trimester so around this time.
How many admins should there be?
Depends how many people are added to the group- we have 6 admins in our group of 115 people. I believe we used to be at 130+ but as time went on, the people who didn't participate on the fb group were removed (just after the 1 year mark).
How do we determine who should join?
I like the suggestion of using the spreadsheet. I haven't been much of an active member until recently since I'm on sick leave now before baby is born/mat leave. Full time night-shift nurse + chasing around a toddler and moving homes kept me busy for the first half of this pregnancy! If I'm not added, I won't take it personal but will still participate on here!
Do we want to set a cut off date for joining? If so, when?
Maybe end of June? The first month can be so busy! We currently don't have a cut off on my other BMB fb group- friends of bump members who also had oct 2015 babies could also join (not necessary this time but nice to have a large group of ladies to discuss things with!)
Since everybody seems to be in agreement on starting whenever etc, it seems like it would be safe to start throwing out names for potential admins? I feel like it would be fine to do that here then do a poll on a separate thread (after confirmation that whoever is nominated is willing)? I know we have some ladies that participate mostly over the weekend, so I'd like to have them involved too!
Sorry I've been out all day. Catching up. I'm good with whatever the majority wants to do. My last BMB (April 14) started Hogwarts after we had the babies. I think there were a decent amount of people that dropped off after the babies were born. The BMB also dropped off substantially once it was created.
As for organization at Hogwarts, we did a daily chat, and then normal threads, HDBD (baby) like @hp_momma said, UOs, FFFC, etc. Hogwarts can be very organized.
I feel like starting the fb group within a week or so would be good (to give us time to pick admins & for them to work out details). But I'm basically fine starting it now. Especially since we already have some babies born!
I think an odd number, maybe 5, is good for admins. I think it should close sometime in June. That allows for the last baby to be born but also doesn't keep it open too long. Other than that, I suppose I don't have much of an opinion on the other questions. I'm hoping I make the cut, though. :-)
When do you want to start it? In 5ish months...I'd like to see this board fully through the postpartum time before many people jump ship to fb (once people are on facebook they're less likely to be here)
How many admins should there be? No opinion.
How do we determine who should join? Reasonable activity in this group.
Do we want to set a cut off date for joining? If so, when? May 2018 or so. I might be interested in joining -- I joined the group for DS's birth month and it has been great (6 years now!!), though I didn't join DD's. However, I would not like to join yet. I wouldn't want to be cut out of it just because I didn't join the group in some narrow window that's before the time I'm ready to join. I am plenty active on this board, I'd think (even if I do avoid reading the randoms most of the time.)
I like the idea of starting it before babies are born and keeping it open at least a month after. (EDD 5/26, FTM so who knows when LO will show up.) I'm new to all of this, so I'll defer to those who know the game.
Question, though. Is there a kick off/ penalty for lack of FB participation? I'd like to think I'll still be active with a NB but I don't want to be expelled if I'm not.
Also, y'all have me a bit nervous about qualifying for an invite. My wand skills are for sure not up to par, I need Hogwarts!
I am SO not a fan of FB groups that kick people out for lack of participation. Not cool. Some people need to go on social media breaks and/or they make it so groups don't post on their feeds to get their feeds cleaner. I think that if there is an initial vetting process, there doesn't need to be an additional "participation to stay in" process.
OK I'm posting once more now that I read all of the other posts.
Sounds like people want to start the FB page now. That's ok, but I still think it's nice to use this platform fully through our most trying delivery + initial postpartum time so I'd still say start in June/July. In my previous experience, we also had a few moms join the BMB during the birth month itself and then ended up being very active. DS's birth month club remained very active on the bump for at least a year before we broke off to facebook and it worked great!
But the bigger thing I'd like to make a plug for is not having a fast cut-off date. I'm not sure I understand the reasoning behind this if there is already a vetting process in place. Some people are going to be SO SWAMPED with the newborn they won't have time to check the bump or fb or anything for updates on this process and could easily miss the cut-off. I think the cut-off should be August at the earliest, regardless of when the start date for this thing is. And maybe it should be a soft cut-off...like if someone has been quite active all pregnancy and then disappears for a little while but asks to join the FB group after the cut-off, she should be let in IMO.
Since everybody seems to be in agreement on starting whenever etc, it seems like it would be safe to start throwing out names for potential admins? I feel like it would be fine to do that here then do a poll on a separate thread (after confirmation that whoever is nominated is willing)? I know we have some ladies that participate mostly over the weekend, so I'd like to have them involved too!
I'll throw out a few names that come to mind, although this makes me feel very high school or something: @pshaortao For serious organizational skills @NotAPlaya-JustCrushAlot For always keeping the group honest and protected from lurkers @SKZW For bringing balance by presenting multiple perspectives for situations
... But the bigger thing I'd like to make a plug for is not having a fast cut-off date. I'm not sure I understand the reasoning behind this if there is already a vetting process in place. Some people are going to be SO SWAMPED with the newborn they won't have time to check the bump or fb or anything for updates on this process and could easily miss the cut-off. I think the cut-off should be August at the earliest, regardless of when the start date for this thing is. And maybe it should be a soft cut-off...like if someone has been quite active all pregnancy and then disappears for a little while but asks to join the FB group after the cut-off, she should be let in IMO.
I tend to agree with not having a cut-off to join the FB group. If someone prefers to stay active here for several months, and then decides they want to join the FB group (maybe it got too quiet here or something), I think that should be allowed on a case by case basis. If they're a "regular", I don't see the harm in them joining FB at a later time.
@starphish18: awww <blushing> thanks! But I'm so hormonal at this exact moment that this seems so Not like me... balanced, lmao... my hubbs said something hillarious after dinner and I chuckled then immediately got teary-eyed like 10 seconds later! What a wreck.
Since everybody seems to be in agreement on starting whenever etc, it seems like it would be safe to start throwing out names for potential admins? I feel like it would be fine to do that here then do a poll on a separate thread (after confirmation that whoever is nominated is willing)? I know we have some ladies that participate mostly over the weekend, so I'd like to have them involved too!
I'll throw out a few names that come to mind, although this makes me feel very high school or something: @pshaortao For serious organizational skills @NotAPlaya-JustCrushAlot For always keeping the group honest and protected from lurkers @SKZW For bringing balance by presenting multiple perspectives for situations
Actually adding another to this list. @hp_momma For being active, helpful, and present on almost all threads on this board.
Since everybody seems to be in agreement on starting whenever etc, it seems like it would be safe to start throwing out names for potential admins? I feel like it would be fine to do that here then do a poll on a separate thread (after confirmation that whoever is nominated is willing)? I know we have some ladies that participate mostly over the weekend, so I'd like to have them involved too!
I'll throw out a few names that come to mind, although this makes me feel very high school or something: @pshaortao For serious organizational skills @NotAPlaya-JustCrushAlot For always keeping the group honest and protected from lurkers @SKZW For bringing balance by presenting multiple perspectives for situations
Actually adding another to this list. @hp_momma For being active, helpful, and present on almost all threads on this board.
I agree with all! I have no other nominations to add
Re: Hogwarts- FB- Is it time?
Here's my $0.02
When do you want to start it? I think now is a good time to get started/organized. I'm ok with a little later, but I think it only gets harder as the LOs show up
How many admins should there be? I like the idea of 5. I think it should be an odd number in case anything comes down to a vote. I think more is better than less... it gives some opportunity to be more impartial, as one or two may recognize a user name and others may not. I second/third/tenth the vote for @pshaortao since she has kept such an organized spreadsheet for us and done a lot of the work already
How do we determine who should join? I'm down for the general idea of at least 2-4 months of meaningful participation. It's fine with me if someone isn't a daily poster, but I'd like to see them posting meaningful things other than HDBD pics and random "congrats!" "thinking of you" etc. posts.
Do we want to set a cut off date for joining? If so, when? I would say maybe July 1st? It gives basically everyone time to have our babes, get somewhat settled in, gives some late-comers time to keep participating here so we can get to know you.
What else am I missing...? I love the idea of a private poll for active members to vote on admins. However by the time we decide who gets to be in that private group... we've basically picked the recipients of the Hogwarts letters. I think we just take the risk that randoms can vote for our admins and just see how it goes.
ETA: basically anybody not on it won't be ruled out at all!
Married: October 2014
Began TTC: April 2015
BFP #1: 9/18/15. EDD 5/18/16. MC 10/26/15. (9w)
BFP #2: 2/27/16. EDD 11/7/16. MC/D&E 4/20/16 (11w)
BFP #3: 9/22/16. EDD 5/29/17. DS born 4/24/17
BFP #4: 5/20/18. EDD 1/23/19.
Someone hust started it on my last one and PM'd regulars and it kind of spread that way. Eventually we sort of figured out some structure as we went but it's pretty loose.
I'd advocate not overthinking it.
May '17 labor memes
1st Baby 5/12/17, Henry
Question, though. Is there a kick off/ penalty for lack of FB participation? I'd like to think I'll still be active with a NB but I don't want to be expelled if I'm not.
Also, y'all have me a bit nervous about qualifying for an invite. My wand skills are for sure not up to par, I need Hogwarts!
Admins - I agree an odd number 3 or 5 in case of ties.
Who joins? - meaningful/length of participation. I think the worry about doing it now with so many newbs is a little irrelevant because they wouldn't meet the meaningful/length of participation time right?
Cutoff - a few months after the last baby? Let people start to adjust and realize how active they want to be
1/7/2015 Twins born @ 34 weeks
May17 Siggy Challenge
Labor
@jayandaplus - We did something similar as @pshaortao, probably around the year mark. Anyone who hadn't really been active and whose name people no longer recognized were booted out but it wasn't just occasional participation, it was practically little to none.
Married 8/27/2011
BFP #1 9/28/2011 DS born 5/22/2012
BFP #2 4/24/2013 m/c 4/25/2013 at 4w
BFP #3 1/31/2014 DD born 10/14/2014
BFP #4 1/20/2016 m/c 2/12/2014 at 7w2d
BFP #5 8/19/2016 DS2 born 4/29/2017
BFP #6 3/7/2018 EDD 11/18/2018
I still plan on sticking around The Bump after baby comes. I don't find the app works any less efficiently than Facebook does.
1st Baby 5/12/17, Henry
Sweet Baby H 12.21.11
Sassy Baby P 03.26.14
Little Brother Due 05.22.17
Everything that has been said sounds good to me.
As for organization at Hogwarts, we did a daily chat, and then normal threads, HDBD (baby) like @hp_momma said, UOs, FFFC, etc. Hogwarts can be very organized.
I think an odd number, maybe 5, is good for admins. I think it should close sometime in June. That allows for the last baby to be born but also doesn't keep it open too long. Other than that, I suppose I don't have much of an opinion on the other questions. I'm hoping I make the cut, though. :-)
Sounds like people want to start the FB page now. That's ok, but I still think it's nice to use this platform fully through our most trying delivery + initial postpartum time so I'd still say start in June/July. In my previous experience, we also had a few moms join the BMB during the birth month itself and then ended up being very active. DS's birth month club remained very active on the bump for at least a year before we broke off to facebook and it worked great!
But the bigger thing I'd like to make a plug for is not having a fast cut-off date. I'm not sure I understand the reasoning behind this if there is already a vetting process in place. Some people are going to be SO SWAMPED with the newborn they won't have time to check the bump or fb or anything for updates on this process and could easily miss the cut-off. I think the cut-off should be August at the earliest, regardless of when the start date for this thing is. And maybe it should be a soft cut-off...like if someone has been quite active all pregnancy and then disappears for a little while but asks to join the FB group after the cut-off, she should be let in IMO.
@pshaortao For serious organizational skills
@NotAPlaya-JustCrushAlot For always keeping the group honest and protected from lurkers
@SKZW For bringing balance by presenting multiple perspectives for situations
Sweet Baby H 12.21.11
Sassy Baby P 03.26.14
Little Brother Due 05.22.17