Larry Walker24 said:urbantinker8, you're talking out of your ass because your kid is still in preschool. Just wait until they actually start kindergarten—you’ll be doing a complete 180 then.
I have a feeling we might see a bit of a "180" coming soon too, 😂rather than a full circle,
Someone clearly missed a few lessons in middle school math class, didn't they? 😬
I’m reading this for the third time now, and honestly, I am completely lost. Having an after-school program is actually the most basic thing ever. In any sensible country, you’d expect schools across all grade levels to run from about 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, providing things like hot meals on campus, dedicated spaces for kids to study and tackle their homework, and even free extracurricular activities. Instead, we barely have a couple of grades that offer this kind of support, leaving an entire army of moms to wake up at 5:00 AM just to prep lunch for their kids before or after school—not to mention all the other absurdities we deal with.
And of course, they aren't just sitting there staring at a wall for four hours straight. They eat, they play, they get their homework done, and then they go back to playing. I truly don't see how anyone could possibly link that to "babysitting" or the idea of needing nannies—it makes absolutely no sense to me.
I honestly don't see the point in a first grader lugging their heavy school backpack home at 5:00 PM just to grind through homework or for a parent to play inspector. If nothing has been accomplished between noon and 5:00 PM, then either the teacher isn't effectively managing the classroom during the day, or the kid is simply struggling to adapt to the school environment. Over the weekend, I’m perfectly fine glancing at their work—primarily from a "hey, show me what you guys did today, I'm curious!" perspective rather than a "let me audit everything you finished" vibe. Of course, I'll take a quick peek to make sure they aren't heading off track, but I have zero desire to step in and act like their third substitute teacher. It's a different story if they actually ask for help, though; in those cases, I’ll certainly jump in, but my goal is always to guide them toward finding the right answer on their own.
That’s my theory, anyway. We'll see how it plays out in reality.
But yeah, I'm not interested in every single granular detail of the curriculum either. I’d much rather hear about what was interesting, what was funny, or even what surprised or moved them. If the lesson was just plain boring, there’s really no need to nag them into talking about it.😁
urbantinker8 said:Honestly, why does everyone feel the need to exaggerate things like this?🙄
No, I’m not suggesting we should all sit around for an hour a day talking about the alphabet, but then again, I also don't think having maybe an hour of conversation about school once a week—you know, during those precious weekends—is quite enough, either.
And it’s just funny to me how everyone seems to be an absolute expert on every single subject taught in elementary school. Maybe we should just hold a national referendum to abolish the whole thing, since clearly, it's just not needed at all.🙂 🙏
I was simply sharing my thoughts on how much time a parent should dedicate to discussing the curriculum with their child during first grade. Surely there is a distinction between talking about the actual academic material and discussing general school events that aren't strictly part of the lessons.
And yes, I do believe that by the time someone finishes elementary school, they should already have a grasp of the fundamentals—something they could perhaps brush up on with a quick glance at a textbook, as it's generally expected that they know it. Especially the stuff from the lower grades.
At no point did I imply that we should "abolish elementary school" just because I personally don't need to attend it anymore, right? Makes perfect sense... 🤦
I honestly believe that an hour over the weekend is more than enough time for any busy adult to glance through a child's schoolwork from the past week. You can easily spot any major mistakes in their notebook, and if you just ask a few well-placed questions to have them "explain" the lesson back to you, you'll quickly realize how much they actually grasp. I mean, what am I supposed to do with an hour every single day? Sit there and lecture them on how to write the letter A or which seasons come after winter? No way, that's just not happening. Besides, my plan is to skim through the entire year's textbook in about thirty minutes at the start of the term—and that's for five different subjects. Even then, I should be able to get a decent handle on what needs to be mastered within the curriculum. That’s pretty much my take on the whole elementary school experience and the actual "depth" of knowledge being taught there...
Honestly, I have to disagree with the idea that 14-year-olds are being "entitled" just because they want an iPhone or a laptop. To me, those are perfectly standard requests in this day and age. The real issue is that, clearly, their parents aren't willing to buy these things for them, so they try to shift that responsibility onto a godparent. Why does that happen? Either they’re being stingy—which isn't a great look—or they simply can't afford it, which isn't about being cheap, it's just sad that our standard of living is where it is. So, people have "decided" that the solution is to have someone else pick up the tab for their kids' wants. They even end up paying for the kids' meals when they're out at a restaurant with guests. In my book, looking after a child is a parental responsibility, and that includes covering their lunch during a celebration.
To put it simply, the problem lies with the parents.
swiftbear86 said:Years ago, I was actually on the shortlist to be a godmother for a coworker (and I ended up being the godmother for the exact same person later on). We had all these discussions about where the lunch would be held, what everyone should wear, and so on. In front of everyone, I spoke up and said I wasn't a fan of the whole circus—the way godmothers go overboard with their outfits, parents with their crazy expectations, or even godparents taking out loans just to afford a gift. Plus, there's that weird tradition where the godparents end up footing the bill for the whole lunch. Go ahead, take a guess.😉 I didn't get picked.😁 It stung at the time, but I ended up buying her a gold ring as a memento of the day, showed up to the church and the lunch, and felt totally fine about it. To me, the best people are the ones who don't even bother showing up to the ceremony but still give the most generous gifts.
In my case, my goddaughter received an iPhone, which the godmother basically snagged during some discount sale—you know how it goes with those big corporate types who always have the latest tech. I was against that too, though I have to admit today that the thing is a total beast of a machine.🙂
And honestly, what's so strange about that? They were invited, they gave a gift because they're decent people, but that doesn't mean they have to sit there and endure being hassled during the service (personally, I’ve successfully made my excuses to slip outside during the ceremony every single time—my brain just can't wrap itself around 😁 ).
Linda Price5 said:Looking back at this thread, I’ve come to realize that my parents' decision to skip my baptism—and my own subsequent choice to avoid communion, confirmation, and all that religious ritual—was easily one of the most foolish financial decisions I've ever made. 😢
We didn't even have a wedding! Just a small dinner with about 11 guests... if you think about the lost revenue there, it's staggering 😁 But hey, at least we saved ourselves a massive headache and kept our sanity intact. 😛
rowdypanther12 said:The pain is just unreal—it’s enough to make you feel like you might actually pass out whenever you move your wrist a certain way.😳
Since I was breastfeeding, I had to be super careful about what I put on my skin, so I stuck strictly to Arnica creams. I couldn't even commit to regular physical therapy sessions because I simply couldn't be away from my little one for that long.🎉 I ended up having to get creative and basically DIY my own splints using cotton balls and popsicle sticks. I’d sleep with them on, and during the day, I tried to keep them on as much as possible to keep my thumb in a position where the tendon wouldn't feel so strained.😁 If I remember correctly, that went on for about two months.
It started in one hand, and then, in a moment of pure brilliance, I started doing everything with the other one, which resulted in both hands becoming completely useless.😵 And lifting a crying baby? Oh man, there were times the pain shot through me so sharply I thought I was going to faint right there, but obviously, you can't exactly drop the baby! One of the main reasons I finally moved her into her own crib was so I wouldn't risk dropping her in the middle of the night.
After waiting a few months for it to subside—even though I was practically living in a baby sling at the time—I realized I really did need professional therapy. My routine became this little mission: I’d nurse her in the morning, slip out of bed around 6:30 AM, get dressed, and rush off to my appointment, making sure to be back just in time for my mom to head to work. The baby would usually sleep through it because she loved being tucked against someone warm, which was a total lifesaver. That lasted for about a month.🙂
All in all, the whole ordeal lasted over six months. By the time my next little one came along, there was absolutely no way I was pulling any stunts like trying to hold a sleeping baby with one hand (she only sleeps on me, naturally) while hanging laundry with the other.☕
I actually dealt with some pretty intense issues with my hands during my first pregnancy—constant aching, tingling, and there were times I couldn't even move my thumb. It turned out to be tendonitis, specifically what they call De Quervain's tenosynovitis, or "mother's wrist," if you want to get technical. I managed to sort it out after about a month of physical therapy and picking up a good wrist brace. After that, I stopped carrying the baby in my arms altogether and switched strictly to using a baby carrier. With my second little one, I didn't run into any of those problems at all because I was much more mindful of my posture and how I held them, plus I already had my favorite carrier ready to go before the baby even arrived.😁
In the end, it wasn't really about when the product was manufactured; it was just a matter of overworking my wrists by using the wrong technique.
Charles Ramos7 said:What are you even talking about when you mention a buyout? What kind of "black market" buyout? 🙂
Since the Operating lease VAT isn't paid upfront but spread out through monthly installments, there simply isn't a legal way for a lessee to take ownership of the vehicle once the Lease agreement ends.
I honestly have no idea where you're getting this from. About two years ago, when my operating lease ended, I received an offer for the remaining value, paid it up, got my invoice, and quite normally transferred the car into my own name...
The VAT and other applicable taxes were fully settled when the leasing company originally purchased the vehicle, just as they are factored into the rental payments. I don't see how any law could prevent a legal entity (the leasing company) from freely disposing of its own property (the car) and selling it to another legal entity for an agreed-upon amount—with the appropriate VAT added on top, naturally.
That down payment is actually part of the total purchase price you’ve already covered. So, in this case, we're looking at 40%. The remaining balance isn't what goes toward the "principal" that you're paying off over those 60 months with interest; instead, it's formally categorized as "rent." Typically, that leftover amount equals the buyout price of the vehicle once the lease ends. It isn't mandatory, though—you can choose to buy the car or just walk away, whichever suits you better. You also have the option to buy it out at any point by paying off the remaining principal plus that residual value, though you'll likely run into some penalties based on a percentage of that "residual value."
Every leasing company operates a bit differently, so you really need to check their specific terms and conditions—it should all be laid out clearly in your Lease agreement. Honestly, I'm a little surprised you went ahead with a 40% down payment and committed to a 60-month term without double-checking these basic details first. 🤷
My little one is five now, which means she’ll likely be headed to kindergarten once she hits six and a half. Honestly, unlike what most people seem to think, I feel like adding an extra year of preschool on top of that would just be a total waste of her time. Besides, elementary school these days is only a few hours long, so she’ll still have plenty of time to just go out and play.
I still remember my own first grade being incredibly tedious because I already knew everything they were teaching. Even the grades following that felt way too easy, and now I’m reading that they’ve actually reduced the curriculum even further. I suspect she’ll find it pretty boring too—just like I did—especially since I started school at six and a half myself.
So, I had a slice of cheese pie earlier today, and about four hours later, the nausea hit so hard I actually had to go grab some activated charcoal just to find some relief... My temperature is sitting at 102.7, and even with two weeks left until my due date, I still feel absolutely TERRIBLE after almost every single meal.🙂
Honestly, looking back, the heartburn, the insomnia, the 45-pound weight gain, and the back pain I’ve been dealing with? They don't even compare to this. I am counting down the minutes until I can finally give birth so I can eat a real, decent meal without feeling like death afterward.
And if I'm being totally honest, this heat over the last few months has been way too much for me. I am seriously craving some rain and a nice, cool 68°F weather!
It’s not that I’m actually annoyed, it’s more just entertaining to watch: - When I was pregnant with my first—a little girl—I didn't get a single comment about the gender. Now that I'm expecting a boy, I’ve been caught off guard a few times by people asking things like, "Is your husband happy now?" or "So, you finally figured it out, huh? Great!" It seems like a whole crowd of people thinks moms are just waiting to produce a son, and they act like I've finally achieved some sort of domestic peace now that I've "succeeded" at it. 🤷 - Then there was this one day when I was standing in line at the CVS express checkout. It was absolutely sweltering outside, just stifling, and I'm sitting there with my baby bump practically touching my knees, when this guy just rushes up and asks if he can cut ahead of me. 😕 I just calmly told him, "No, sorry," and that was that—but he actually took it personally and got offended! 🤣
🤷 To be honest, I haven't run into any issues with them so far... they really do what they can (mind you, I'm in a smaller town), and I heard back from them yesterday after we spoke, so everything seems fine... I suppose I just need to wait a little longer...
Well, mortgages always seem to take forever. In my experience, I was waiting nearly two months from the moment I handed in my paperwork until the funds actually cleared, even though everything went smoothly... Granted, that was about seven years ago, but still, 😁
urbanpilot said:Oh, I’m having such a wonderful time with them. I already posted about this last year, and apparently, the saga continues. Next month marks exactly one year since we finished paying off our car loan with them, and—thankfully—we still haven't gotten our vehicle title back. Everything is signed, everything was notarized, and now they just need to actually call us to hand over the title and the proof of payoff. Once that happens, I’m closing my account with them for good.👎
Look, I’m not trying to defend them, but have you considered that your specific case might have just gotten stuck or lost in the shuffle somewhere? That's probably why they haven't called. Personally, when I want something done—I'm the type to pick up the phone. I nag. It only takes a few minutes on the line and costs next to nothing (especially if you're calling their toll-free number), so why not just reach out and ask for the title? You really need to get that back; otherwise, you won't be able to sell the car if you ever wanted to.🤷
Honestly, I don't expect banks to run perfectly. In fact, I know they often operate much less smoothly than other companies simply because they are such massive, complex "organisms." There are so many hands that paperwork passes through, and things can easily get complicated without anyone actually intending to cause trouble. Sometimes stuff just gets messy in the system, and nobody even realizes there's a hiccup until much later...
Taylor Kelly2 said:I’ve been catching up on everything being said here—I only just stumbled upon this thread today. 😱 My credit application was submitted for approval about two weeks ago... and so far, there hasn't been a single word from them. 🤷 There seems to be such a heavy volume of negative feedback in this forum, though, truth be told, I haven't actually had any issues with them personally until now. 🤷 🤔But I'm starting to wonder if this two-week stretch is becoming an actual issue—or is waiting this long for a loan approval just standard procedure?
Are you talking about that special promotional loan? I turned my papers in on a Tuesday, and by the following Wednesday, the funds were already in my account! They were incredibly fast, though I did make sure to emphasize how urgent it was to my representative and gave him a little "nudge" every single day to check on the status. So, looking at my experience, two weeks for approval does seem like quite a stretch—you should probably give your rep a call, just in case they went on vacation or if there was some glitch in the system during the processing phase...
Peter Doyle2 said:Environment. The people around me. My inner circle. The ones you’d actually expect to offer some support or understanding.
And then they turn around and tell me I'm being an absolute idiot!!
Why?
Because—go figure—of a car seat!! Or rather, my logic that, as a conscientious future mother, I shouldn't just follow American safety laws, but do absolutely everything to ensure my child's safety—meaning from day one, I'll be using nothing but an all-stage seat.
So, I'm showing my parents the all-stage seat we picked up last night (huge thanks to kukuc 🙂 ) and they look at me all confused, asking how on earth you put a baby in there with a built-in cushion.
I didn't even get a chance to explain why the extra padding isn't bulky, let alone mention the cushion, before the screaming started.
Basically, I'm "unstable," the poor kid is going to be abused from birth, and so on, and so forth.
Now my mom is in the other room crying because apparently, I'm such a terrible mother..
🤷
I can't help but wonder—if they're already judging my mental state like this, what is it going to be like once I actually have the baby..
That sounds like an absolute nightmare. If you want to protect your peace, I’d honestly suggest implementing a zero-tolerance policy for that kind of behavior starting right now. Otherwise, life after childbirth is going to feel like a living hell. Seriously—don't waste your breath trying to explain things to emotional blackmailers; just stick to your guns. If they don't agree, well, that's their problem. Make it clear that you aren't interested in hearing critiques regarding your decisions. If this is how they reason now, just wait until you're dealing with a million unsolicited opinions on breastfeeding, bathing, dressing the baby, or whether you should be giving them juice, water, or broth. They'll tell you your milk isn't enough, or it's too thin, or whatever—basically, everything will be your fault if the baby cries. And they'll all claim it's "out of concern" for you, when really, it's just about control and manipulation...
I suppose I should "brag" about how my morning started with a round of nausea again (even though I’m already six months along!), and then just an hour ago, I was jolted awake by a lovely little cocktail of insomnia and heartburn 😠
And here I thought the second trimester was supposed to be the golden era where the nausea finally vanishes and you don't have to deal with constant heartburn 🙄