Posts by loneridge94

I mean, yeah, parents really ought to take a hard look at what kind of legacy they’re actually passing down to their kids.

Take my experience, for instance. I grew up in an environment where practicing your faith was basically a dangerous game. Looking back, I have this huge, messy tangle of memories from that time—stuff like sneaking off to church in secret, people mocking us, all that hushed whispering in the hallways, open confrontations, and some pretty heavy-duty struggles my parents dealt with because of their beliefs.

But honestly, if there's one thing that sticks out from that whole whirlwind of emotions and memories today, it's just the fact that they lived true to what they believed in, even when it made things incredibly difficult for them.

I definitely don't want my children to grow up to be people who say one thing but think something completely different, just because it’s easier or avoids making waves. It matters to me that they see how we, as parents, actually walk the walk; I guess you could say our approach to religious studies is just one small part of a much larger process of being authentic.

I have to admit, I’m actually feeling pretty optimistic about these protests for once. It feels like people have just reached a breaking point over the last few months, where this heavy sense of pessimism and total hopelessness has just been building up and up. That whole mess with the stalled education reform has basically become this massive symbol for everything that’s gone wrong lately, and I honestly think a lot of people are feeling that same frustration and just have this deep-seated need to finally push back.

I guess I’m just holding out hope that this time around, the majority of those who are fed up with this government farce and these failed reforms 🙄 will actually show up and take to the streets. Either way, we’re going to be there.

We’ve tried just about everything to make sure he isn't stuck waiting past 4:30 PM, because all the kids are out of the house by then and I honestly hate the idea of him being home alone. One girl used to pick him up, so there were times when I’d work an 8-to-4 shift just to be there, or my husband would swing by to grab him and then head right back to his own job.

Since I'm on maternity leave right now, we're managing, but eventually, we'll probably hire a nanny—someone who's been with us since he was little.

Actually, you know what? That’s actually another benefit of having the local elementary school so close, which ties back into that other thing we were discussing. He’ll be a full seven years old by the time he starts first grade, so maybe—just maybe—he’ll be able to walk home from school by himself? I know that sounds totally unrealistic to say right now, but who knows?

So, how late does the extended after-school program actually run? Is it strictly until 5 PM?
I’m also wondering about the situation for parents who work standard 9-to-5 shifts. Can the kids stay a bit longer under school supervision, or am I expected to find someone to pick them up early—especially since they're just starting out in first grade?

How are you all handling this in your daily routines?

I mean, I really think six months can make a massive difference when you look at how much kids develop. That’s why I just can’t wrap my head around these moms of five-year-olds who are absolutely convinced their kid isn't mature enough for kindergarten yet. Like, honestly, at that age, they don't even need to be fully "mature" right out of the gate, I guess.

Brian Barnes5 said:That’s all I was getting at. I haven't lived it myself, but from everything I see with people close to me, it’s pretty much always like this.
The burden falls on the parent to check the homework, but if a parent is working a standard 8-to-4 shift, that work has to be finished in the afternoon or evening for them to actually help. When a kid is stuck in school until 5:30 PM, they barely have a second to breathe or decompress before they’re expected to dive straight into writing, reading, reviewing, and drills...
urbantinker8, I wasn't suggesting that teachers are the ones setting their own schedules. I have no clue who pulls those strings, but it feels like whoever is making those calls isn't exactly putting the needs of the little ones first. But hey, let's not get sidetracked—we can circle back to that later or just leave it alone, regardless of how the shifts are set up.

Now, look, I was in first grade about 25 years ago, so it’s entirely possible my experience is completely outdated by now, but I feel like I really need to say this. Back then, elementary school was strictly in the afternoons. I’d just come home and knock out my homework right away, which left my mornings free to actually play. I honestly don't remember anyone ever having an issue with that, neither me nor my parents.

Granted, the teachers never worked directly with me, though that doesn't mean they weren't available if needed. But things like testing material or checking homework? In my experience, we never did that with a single kid. 🤷

I think maybe you're worrying a bit too much about things that might actually turn out to be pretty straightforward in practice. 🤷

And yeah, I started school at what felt like a measly 6 years and 4 months old. Throughout both elementary and high school, I was pretty convincingly the youngest person in my class. It actually made me laugh when I read arguments from abroad claiming kids like that could run into issues because of delayed physical maturity. Even though that was actually the case for me—partly because of my age and partly due to genetics—nobody ever gave me a hard time about it. Looking back all these years later, I realize just how lucky I actually was. 😁

wanderingbadger44 said:Sorry, but am I really the only one here who thinks this kid is just being thick?

What kind of "ignorance" are we even talking about? The kid wrote a sentence on the chalkboard. He messed it up. How much actual knowledge does it take to read a sentence you just wrote? Did his fifth-grade teacher forget to teach him how to read and write? It's just wild to me that she could expect that from a ten-year-old.

He was overwhelmed?
I’m asking again, and my post will probably get flagged for it anyway: did this kid suddenly develop dyslexia during that specific lesson, or has he been dealing with it all along? Has he ever run into a situation before where he misread or misspelled something? Has he? You can't just assume, based on what happened after the teacher told him to reread and fix it, that he likely made the exact same mistake again and simply couldn't see it.

If he can't see the error, then the teacher reached the right conclusion—that he's struggling—she just shouldn't have said it like that. ☕

Oh, so he was embarrassed in front of the class. 🙄
But wasn't it you who said it's a problem if someone hides something for four years and keeps it a secret from everyone else? Is dyslexia some kind of shameful thing?

If that's how he was raised to view it, then the poor kid is just stuck. 😢

edit: Not you, but Katy Perry concluded that it's a serious issue if a child hasn't learned to manage dyslexia in earlier grades and has been forced to hide it.

It’s a bit of a tangent, I know, but this really struck a chord with me: I actually know people who have been actively hiding the fact that their kid has dyslexia since they were in middle school—and I mean *hiding* it—all because some psychologist advised them that it was better to keep it under wraps. So, the rest of the class is completely in the dark, the teacher is the only one in on the secret, and the kid themselves? They haven't a clue, I suppose, probably just figuring things out on their own as they go along. It feels like such a strange way to handle things, honestly.

I mean, I guess you could argue that finding out something like that might actually be a bit much for a kid, especially one who’s already a high achiever and really stays on top of their schoolwork. It feels like it might just end up overwhelming them, maybe even weighing them down more than they can handle. 😕

I honestly can't make heads or tails of that advice, and frankly, I find the whole way those parents handled the situation completely baffling, but hey, I guess you see all kinds of examples like this once in a while.

rustybison19 said:I get it. Most of the time I just assume they're being polite old ladies who don't want to offend me by thinking, "maybe she's just gaining weight..."
But I already mentioned this—I've always had curves, and now that they've combined with the bump, I definitely look much further along than I am. Plus, yesterday I was literally wearing a maternity shirt with a baby print on it, holding medical results, and clutching my prenatal folder because I'd just come from an appointment and wanted to read the doctor's notes.
So, there was zero chance of confusion yesterday. It was just some bitter old ladies who, let's be real, have nothing better to do than wander around looking for trouble in the middle of a Tuesday afternoon.

😂
Well, then you really couldn't have gone unnoticed 🙂.
As for people getting erections on the subway, usually it's men, but lately, I've noticed some women doing it too. But the absolute worst are the teenagers—they practically race each other to grab seats next to elderly people, and they can never just sit still; they're constantly gesturing wildly and swinging their backpacks around... I always end up moving to the far end of the train just in case I get hit by something. And they never offer seats to anyone. I really need to make a mental note to teach my little one how to behave on public transit when that time comes. 🙂

rustybison19, I see you're about 12 weeks along. Honestly, it feels like you're still stuck in that awkward phase where people just stare at you, trying to figure out if it's actually a baby bump or if you just had a really heavy lunch at Cheesecake Factory. 😉I mean, it’s not like anyone would even realize you're pregnant if they weren't looking for it.
Now that I’ve been through this both with and without being pregnant, I catch myself wondering how many young women were actually expecting while standing next to me—women I probably wouldn't have even offered a seat to because, frankly, I just didn't get the hint during those early months.

In my case, nobody even thought to offer me a seat until I was about seven months along. My bump wasn't exactly obvious at first, especially since I was layering up with heavy winter coats or just wearing baggy dresses. Nowadays, people are pretty consistent about asking if I want to sit down. But the truth is, I actually needed a seat way more during the first trimester because of the constant nausea and that total lack of energy. I eventually learned to just be upfront and say, "Excuse me, I’m feeling a bit unwell, would it be alright if I sat down?" I realized I can't exactly expect every random passenger on a flight to look at me and immediately know what's going on.

Actually, these days I don't even want to sit down that much, mostly because getting back up becomes such a massive chore. 🙂

I’ve gotta report this cashier at the Walmart down on Napa Valley too, because she honestly attacks me every single time, questioning why on earth I’m just standing there waiting my turn when, since I’m pregnant, I should supposedly have priority. 👍 🙂
Am I just stupid? Or is it just that I don't feel like pushing through a crowd.

I guess maybe men just don't get it as much as we do when it comes to those vague, guessing-game methods 🙂, but honestly, I had one doctor ask me if I was five or six months along when I was already eight months in. I swear, I felt like bursting into tears right then and there.

And let me tell you, here’s just another few things people love to ask that drive me absolutely crazy:

"So, have you finally gotten rid of the cat?"
"Are you planning on getting married before or after the baby arrives?"

Honestly, my own mood swings are probably what gets under my skin the most. I feel like I’m constantly tearing up or just stuck in this depressive funk, and I know I’m being a total pain to myself. It’s like I’ve become obsessed with these random things that weren't even on my radar a few months ago. For instance, I’ll be dreaming at night that I can’t find the right stroller, or I’m wandering through Target searching for newborn onesies specifically with those snap closures... then I wake up drenched in sweat because I couldn't find anything, and in my dream, it felt absolutely vital that they had those snaps because apparently, everyone on some parenting blog says they're way easier to use. 🙂 I’m just constantly wound up in this knot of anxiety, even though I know deep down that none of this actually matters, but I just can't seem to help myself.

And then there’s my husband, who drives me crazy by constantly asking me what’s wrong. Just telling him that I’m pregnant and feeling on edge doesn't cut it; he insists on a full, detailed breakdown of exactly what the issue is. 🤷

My girlfriends are getting on my nerves too, always asking if I’m feeling all "overjoyed" and "blessed," and then they give me this look of pure confusion when I admit that I’m not.

Even the "experienced moms" in my circle are starting to grate on me—they try to convince me that they’re the only ones who know what they're doing and that I have to follow their exact playbook.

Then there are the endless comments about how my belly looks too small for being eight months along, and people questioning if everything is actually okay. A few days ago, my neighbor actually cornered me in the apartment hallway to ask if I was even seeing an OB-GYN. 😲

On the bright side, though, my skin has turned absolutely gorgeous! I catch myself constantly touching it, still kind of in disbelief at how good it looks. 🤣

So, I’m definitely going to go take a soak today since the sun is finally out. Maybe things will start looking up...

Forget all those little math equations and calendars. 🙂 My cycle usually runs about 25 to 27 days, and honestly, it’s never once gone a single day longer than that. On day 20 of my last cycle, we weren't even trying because I figured, you know, those "definitely aren't fertile days." Well, turns out my fertile window is a much more... flexible concept than I thought. Some of you girls mentioned that Clearblue can show results before you even miss a period, so maybe give that a shot. Personally, I tried using Intim plus 1, four and seven days after I was already late, and it wasn't until that third test that I finally saw a positive.