Posts by Carol Palmer90

Anthony Garcia19 said:I'm reposting my previous message since nobody answered, and this might help someone else out there.

I sent an official inquiry to the Epidemiology Division of the CDC and just got their response today: if a person tests negative on a rapid antigen test performed at an authorized medical facility on the fifth day of isolation, they may end their isolation regardless of prior infections or vaccination status.

I honestly don't know why some people—or even certain departments within the healthcare system—decide to interpret the rules however they want.

EDIT: @ nimbleranger17, I see your latest post now. You were answering someone else, but you're pointing to the same conclusion.

In our group, one mother mentioned her pediatrician told her that her little one could return to daycare following nothing more than a NEGATIVE home test...🙄

driftingranger2 said:From what I can tell, those new guidelines haven't actually dropped yet...
They'll probably roll out in a few days.

That’s likely, probably by Monday or something along those lines. For us, the deadline isn't until February 5th, so I'm really hoping we get back to some semblance of normalcy at least two days ahead of schedule.😵

Does the recent update regarding the reduction of isolation periods from 10 days down to 7 days apply to those who have already started their quarantine?

I’ll admit, I was being a bit pushy. As soon as my pregnancy started showing, I would make sure to emphasize it by standing out even more, making sure I grabbed a seat on the subway or cut ahead in lines for just about anything. It wasn't out of spite; it was simply because nobody ever stepped up to offer me a spot... so I just took it myself 🙂

I can't find a polite way to put this, but people have become absolute cold-blooded assholes

Nicole Williams5 said:It honestly drives me crazy when people assume our baby was some sort of accident just because we conceived before the wedding, even though everything about our marriage had been planned down to the smallest detail and we both felt completely ready for parenthood after having several deep conversations where we decided we simply didn't want to wait any longer—so this child was entirely intentional. I am constantly met with these ridiculous comments along the lines of "well, I guess things just happened ahead of schedule," and all that nonsense.
I really don't get why people feel such a desperate need to point out if a baby wasn't planned, even if that were actually the case!

In my case, it was the exact opposite since we waited quite a while to start trying. Wow, having your first child at 31! Every time I announced the pregnancy, my mother would say, "Gosh, I actually thought you guys were struggling and I’d never get to be a grandmother..." It was completely intentional, though; we just wanted to travel and have some fun before settling down... I almost lost it right then and there.

As for what happened with Nifty... what I'm about to say is terrible because it's so recent. A very close friend took a test and everything seemed perfect... until two weeks ago when, during her 18th week, her water broke prematurely and the baby's kidneys hadn't developed properly... I won't go into the details of what followed... It's a great test, but some things simply cannot be predicted...

So, as Goethe says, Live and let live...

cosmiccyclist172 said:You can't just say things like that!
Don't even go there.
I never did any of that.
My OB-GYN told me I wasn't allowed to swim while pregnant, and they wouldn't let me touch certain foods either. Don't even think about drinking lemonade; stuff like Kraft Foods isn't good for you when you're expecting.

We were over at my aunt's place, and her daughter is pregnant right now, pretty much where I am.
Both our pregnancies have been totally smooth.

"You know, my T. isn't even cooking lately because of this heat; she's being so careful," they said.
"You know, don't pick up the kids, you shouldn't be lifting anything heavy" (Seriously?! My toddler isn't even walking yet—what am I supposed to do, let her faceplant every time she climbs out of bed, or wait for her to crawl all the way to the dresser just so I can change her?!)
"You know, you shouldn't go to the beach, that's what the doctor told my T."
And the absolute winner of this nonsense award goes to...
"My T. is going to use her own stroller" (She's 28!). They're still in great shape, and honestly, they won't even go anywhere once the baby arrives anyway.
"What do you mean they won't go anywhere?"
"Well, the baby is due in the middle of winter, so by the time the christening is over and summer hits, they won't be taking him out for walks before then."
"Well, they'll go to the doctor, and take short walks."
"I mean, you can carry them to the doctor, but no walks until after the christening, which won't be for another six months."
All I did was nod along; I was honestly too terrified to even bring up the topic of car seats.

John Doe. This is right up there with an Alexander Hamilton column,
“You mustn't give a child a hard-boiled egg until they can say 'rock' so that the soft spot on their head heals through the hole children breathe from—and apparently, it heals slower in girls.” 🤣🤣 🤣

Sean Ward22 said:"I can tell by the way you're wearing your lipstick that you've got a girlfriend."
"...or maybe it's just the bloating..."
"....given how much cinnamon you've been eating lately..."

Fuck Off.

Everyone kept telling me the same things—it’ll be a boy based on my skin, no morning sickness, a boy based on my bump... I even had some old lady just shout at me out of nowhere that it was going to be a boy. I almost lost it on her.
We're actually having a little girl 😵

casualowl33 said:And honestly, it goes both ways, because moms with more demanding little ones sometimes miss the perspective on the other side too, though it’s certainly not because they're making things up.
The only reason I even jumped into this thread was because someone attacked Charmed, claiming she was just spinning yarns and talking nonsense whenever the mood struck her...

I second that. The point of this discussion wasn't about whether you can get everything done. The point was how you don't want to lose yourself or reach a breaking point just to keep up. We were simply sharing our own experiences.

blueraven4 said:Looks like she’ll be living with her mom, grandma, and auntie 😬

Thankfully, I don't. 👍
And we are talking about a newborn here, not a toddler learning how to walk.😉

God, people. We are all different, just like our babies are. Mine isn't demanding. Neither am I. And nothing is too much trouble for me. My baby goes everywhere I go, too.😍

And wouldn't you know it, I even have a pet. And I'm the one taking care of it.☕

Melissa Sanchez8 said:People aren't talking nonsense; they're sharing their own experiences.

I used to be one of those people who wondered why some moms couldn't seem to detach from their babies. Then I had my own child, who can't nap during the day without an exhausting wind-down routine, and whose sleep is so light that even a tiny clicking sound wakes them up. They don't settle easily at night either. It never crosses my mind to vacuum or clean while they're sleeping because I'm just happy they're finally down. Plus, they barely last an hour in the crib unless they're in a baby carrier; if it wasn't for the carrier, I wouldn't survive. And don't even get me started on breastfeeding—it takes forever, especially when they want to linger at the breast longer than they actually eat. For the first month, sleep didn't exist for me. Let alone doing major housework. If someone tried to tell me today that my struggles were just due to "bad organization," I'd probably lose it...

And no, I'm not one of those moms who lets a baby cry just to get stuff done. At least, not while I can help. All those moms claiming they get everything done in those first two months, or letting their kids cry, or having perfectly calm babies... I find it suspicious. Either nothing bothers them, or they have massive help on the side.

If your kid is so incredibly chill that they only need feeding and diaper changes, and they basically put themselves to sleep, then hey, good for you. I find that hard to believe, though. But it doesn't mean mothers with different realities are lying. If anything, they sound way more realistic to me. Your story sounds like something straight out of a fairy tale.

Honestly, I just feel for anyone whose baby is more demanding than mine. I never claimed I was running around the apartment with a vacuum during that first month, especially not after a C-section. Between the feeding every two hours, including through the night, it was intense. But saying I didn't even have time to shower is total BS. I managed to shower and cook after a few weeks. I even managed to tidy up the place (okay, it's not huge, maybe 500 square feet, but still).

Through all of that, I was still able to focus on my baby, who during those first two months mostly just needed changing and nursing (to exaggerate slightly), which they made very clear through crying. They also love stroller rides, which we started using for walks once we hit the three-week mark.

We even went to the coast for two weeks when she was two and a half months old. We were packed for the beach, but I didn't refuse the trip just because it wasn't perfectly comfortable. I could have stayed home, but I didn't.

For instance, I'm typing this from the back seat of a van with my little one nursing on a road trip near New York City. We pulled into a Walmart parking lot because she needed to eat and get changed. We just adapted.

She was babbling away happily because she is so fascinated by everything we see while walking through nature.

I agree that not all babies are the same. But when someone tells me it's impossible to even take a quick crap—my response is: NO SH*T...👍

I honestly cannot wrap my head around the sheer nonsense some people spout. What hurts the most is that I actually had to listen to this kind of garbage while I was pregnant from people who already have toddlers themselves.🙄

And you know what? It is absolute stupidity.

The truth is, it all comes down to your own mindset. If your life feels chaotic before pregnancy, things might feel even more complicated afterward—but that's just how life works.

Sure, the beginning can be a struggle because of breastfeeding or sleep deprivation. But even those babies eventually sleep through the night. And look, you can still take a full bath instead of just a quick shower. Even with my little one, from day one up until now three months later, I manage to tidy the house every single day (I have a long-haired cat, so the shedding means I have to clean more often), cook lunch, do laundry every third day, and iron every fourth day. Not to mention I’m constantly out and about running errands with the baby. Somehow, I still find time to shower! xD

So, ladies, just tune out that negativity and don't let them get to you. Everything is going to be just fine.👍

It’s quite clear that we were raised with much better manners. Looking at kids these days, they don't have even a shred of etiquette, let alone anything else. On top of that, they’ve become incredibly arrogant and disrespectful.

I recently witnessed two young girls on a subway in New York City; they were both squeezed onto a single seat—on that hard plastic part—and seemingly felt that because there were two of them, they weren't obligated to stand up for anyone.

My own experience was actually more difficult. When I was about three or four months along, the weather wasn't exactly warm, so I wore a jacket to camouflage my pregnancy. I didn't even bother asking anyone to give up their seat, because I feared people would judge me and think, "Why on earth should she get to sit?" I did mention to one lady that I would have appreciated a seat if I weren't pregnant and having such a rough day—she hadn't asked, of course, but I just felt awkward since she didn't seem to notice...

I also hold a grievance against JPMorgan Chase, as they offer no priority seating or special accommodations for pregnant women or mothers with small children...

I certainly have. I’ve stood up to give my seats to pregnant women several times. On one occasion, I intentionally stood right next to a young woman, but she didn't even acknowledge me—not even a little bit. Then, an older gentleman in the front row started to rise, but I spoke up firmly, noting that there were plenty of younger people available to take the seat instead. So, he did... and that was while I was pregnant myself. Don't feel hesitant about it. Give those seats to expectant mothers. You never know when a bus might slam on its brakes unexpectedly.

Then there was the day I simply lost my patience. I walked into the local Post Office carrying my little one in a baby carrier, and a girl in line immediately told me to go ahead of her. As for everyone else? They didn't even flinch...

Casey Miller5 As I have noted previously, the situation remains unchanged.
Insomnia. Yeah, it’s absolutely brutal. There is nothing quite like that 3:00 AM wake-up call where your brain just decides to switch on and refuses to shut back down. Once you're up at that hour, sleep is officially off the table. 😵
One thing that really gets under my skin is how people behave on the subway or when waiting in line. There’s just no sense of etiquette—nobody bothers to stand up to give up their seat, and nobody offers to let someone cut ahead if they're clearly in a rush. It honestly infuriates me sometimes.

It’s honestly depressing. Even now that I’m using a stroller, nobody at the bank, the post office, or even down at the police station seems to care. It’s the exact same lack of empathy I dealt with back when I was heavily pregnant and walking around with a massive bump. Not a single person stepped up then, and clearly, they aren't going to step up now.😠

I honestly think you’re just a deeply unhappy individual. You seem to have a very sad life, and frankly, a child deserves much better than anything you could ever hope to provide. If that's the case, do the decent thing and let someone else raise them instead of you. Also, please stop trolling; nobody is actually interested in what you have to say anymore...

Charles Morris7 said:What really gets under my skin is how much of this year I've wasted. I feel completely stuck—just sitting at home, pregnant and incredibly frustrated, while everyone else is actually out there living their lives. It feels like I'm serving a sentence.
And let’s be honest, once the baby arrives, things are only going to get tougher. You can't exactly take a newborn anywhere.

On top of that, I keep getting people lecturing me, saying things like, "Oh, you shouldn't take the baby out in public until they're at least three years old, it's just not decent." Well, great. So I'm basically under house arrest? Total lockdown.🙄

Unless you were forced to stay home due to medical complications, there is absolutely no reason to panic. I traveled throughout my entire pregnancy. For instance, I took a road trip to Greece during my seventh month.😁

Now, I have a three-month-old, and we are already enjoying trips to the beach and various outings. We started traveling when she was only four weeks old (we waited a bit longer before that because the heatwaves were brutal). Ultimately, it all comes down to your own mindset and choosing not to listen to the nonsense other people spout.👍

Yeah, that point about the remote work thing is such a solid argument. Honestly, it’s a total win 🤦

It’s just fantastic because I’m actually at home, I'm not stressed out, I have plenty of time to catch up on sleep, and I'm definitely staying much better hydrated than I would be if I were still stuck at the office...🙂

What really gets under my skin is how a handful of people constantly spout those old wives' tales, insisting, "Oh, you're carrying a boy, they just misled you about your bump shape" or "The way you're feeling means it's definitely a boy..."

My wife keeps saying it’s a girl every single time we talk. Look, I realize there can be surprises, but she's been showing from the very start and nothing suggests otherwise. My only wish is for a healthy baby, but I've had a gut feeling it was a girl since day one. Now that I'm nearly 35, I'm really hoping that intuition holds true, especially since we've all been addressing her as "she" for so long, and her mom is particularly excited... I am eagerly anticipating tomorrow's ultrasound just so they can confirm once again that it's a little girl. 🙄

Has anyone here ever taken out an auto loan in Germany?

Eric Morgan54 said:Huge shoutout to bakery mus (Asheville/Riverton) and Ms. Sonja mus—hands down the best cakes and pastries I’ve ever had in my life.

Seriously, everyone at the wedding—from our parents' coworkers to our own colleagues, plus the neighbors—was begging for their contact info. They taste legit, homemade, and the slices are perfectly sized and neat. Major props. We're definitely becoming regulars, even if we have to drive a bit (they do delivery, too, obviously).

We grabbed 10 different kinds of pastries, where a kilo is $22, and a slice of cake is $3.25—specifically the chocolate parfait and the iced wind.
When the cake finally arrived, I was floored. The decoration was stunning, exactly what I asked for and then some... honestly...
It's worth checking them out!
Personally, dessert is a huge deal for me. I'm super picky and constantly testing different spots, and most bakeries don't cut it, but mus is absolutely top-tier. 👍

Just a quick question: how many people was the cake intended for, and roughly what was the total cost?
Feel free to send me a private message if you'd rather not post those details here.🙂