Posts by Kimberly Robinson2

Kenneth Brown5 said:We can go back and forth about field trips all day, but honestly, I think the real issue is that Mom knew they were hitting up McDonald's the night before and should’ve seen this coming.
Either he stays home or she hands over the cash—there really isn't a middle ground there if you want to look out for him.

It feels like Mom is feeling pretty guilty right now, so she's trying to pin the blame on the teacher, even though she could have planned ahead the night before.

From where I'm standing, the teacher handled a messy situation as best as anyone could, and it's just not fair to let the little guy carry all this stress; everything landed on his shoulders, so Mom and the teacher should probably just settle it between themselves.

Like I already said, she found out while she was actually buying his lunch. And she was pissed because they didn't even ask for parental permission—they just did it on the sly, tucked away under a desk or something. It’s just not right.

And again, I’ve made my point: my kid is officially off the hook for kitchen duty now. I figure if I hand over the cash, the teacher can just check with the school office to see how I can afford McDonald's but apparently don't have enough for the kitchen fees!

The kitchen fee is probably $80 or $30, I can't remember the exact amount, but this whole trip is only about $60 total. That's practically the same price as the kitchen fee, and honestly, he'll end up eating most of it anyway. Even if he's a tiny thing—what, under 65 pounds?—it still adds up. 😢

It's a double-edged Mac.

velvettrucker52 said:No, let’s get one thing straight: this thread isn’t going to devolve into a repetitive "How can you afford high-speed internet but not an Apple?" debate. I’m asking you all nicely to please refrain from those kinds of comments.

Thanks.
Just to be crystal clear regarding the Mac situation, I’ve already laid out all the details. If you actually read what I wrote, you won't need to ask.

As for the internet, we don't have a landline, DSL, or any cable package—we just rely on a USB dongle. It's a 5GB plan from Verizon $33 per month, $37 and honestly, I don't even pay for it; my boyfriend covers it. But living without internet these days is nearly impossible—there are always school assignments to download, digital books to grab ( 😁), plus I run a little side business selling things online—which brings in enough cash here and there to cover the monthly data bill. I also use it for music promotion. On top of that, I’m job hunting through email and sending out applications online (I save money by skipping the physical newspapers and classified ads), and I read all my news digitally since we don't bother buying print anything anymore.

Hopefully, that shuts down any more "But why?" or "How come?" questions.😉😉

One more thing... most of us here are parents, right? Which means we’ve all lived through our 20s—some of us did that ages ago, some in their 30s... some even in their 40s... 😲🤣...and honestly, no matter how hard I try to recall all the field trips we took back in grade school, it’s all just a blur. Most of those trips don't even register. What actually sticks? A few gifts, some surprises, and getting a bad grade on a test! 😍

Look, I get it—it’s nice for kids to experience different things, but taking them to a museum? For most people, that information is going to evaporate from their brains almost immediately. Ask them in 10, 15, or 20 years what they saw at the museum on December 7th, 2011, and I bet you anything they’ll first argue about whether that was even the right year, let alone remember the museum itself. But damn, they'll definitely remember McDonald's. 🙂😁

Because that's the stuff that actually pulls them in!

Even looking back at my own last three and a half years of schooling, I can barely remember where we went. I know we went to a Small town in New England for a festival, but beyond that, someone kill me, because I have no clue where else we traveled.

So if I can't remember, how on earth are these kids supposed to? And we're paying for all of this.

And now, in May, they’re heading to the beach. For what? Sure, there are kids who have never seen the ocean, but there are plenty of adults out there who grew up without seeing it either, and did they die? No. There are also people who finally saw the coast once they were independent and paying their own way.

So why are we coddling the youth now, acting like they have to see and experience absolutely everything? I just don't get it.

I see so many parents actually taking out loans just to fund these school trips! It's pathetic. All so their kid won't feel left out or get mocked by the rest of the class. And really, the fault lies with an education system that allows that kind of social pressure to exist in the first place!

Oh, and something else just popped into my head—back in 6th grade, we had a visit from Krampus and Nicholas. Fine, I don't have a problem with it; we didn't go anywhere, we just got some candy. But I nearly lost my mind at home when he told me Krampus had scattered everyone's erasers all over the floor to show how "naughty" they were. I swear, I wanted to hunt him down! 🙂 I bought colored pencils, art supplies, highlighters, and rulers for the kid. So far, I haven't seen much damage, but for a lot of other kids, their supplies ended up scattered across the entire classroom. Seriously, where is the school system even headed?? 🙂

We'll see how things shake out tomorrow—they’re heading to the movie theater, and there’s a chance they might actually honor that $1.75 discount on the tickets after all. 🤷

Kevin Bailey2 said:I'm asking you again. What other choice did the teacher actually have?

What choice? Should I have just handed it over and then told him his mom would be coming in for a parent-teacher conference—so we could settle this one-on-one behind closed doors—and maybe suggest that if he accepted the gift, I'd tell him I returned it, while making sure he understood nothing is free and next time things will go differently? Or should I just return it to her if she even asks, and then point out that they really ought to have included a section on the school survey where we, as parents, officially agree that our kid is allowed to eat there?

Kevin Bailey2 said:Laura... look, you have to realize that teacher did the best she could with what she had.

Just think about it—what else was she supposed to do?

Leave a kid sitting there watching everyone else eat?

Seriously, imagine how twisted someone would have to be to just sit back and watch every single child eat while one kid sits there with nothing.

Doa, I get it, really. I’d probably hand it over too! I mean, just two weeks ago, some random kid in New York City was begging me for $1.75 right outside a restaurant where my band was playing. He was a sweet kid, pretty chatty, basically my age—not quite five or six yet—just asking if I had anything small to spare. 😲
I asked him what he needed it for, and he said sweets... so yeah, I gave him $1.75.
I swear to God, he actually came back begging again last Wednesday, but I told him I didn't have anything left.

But hey, that was then, and things are different now... who knows what's going to pop up tomorrow... maybe a gig will fly our way and we'll be flush again, but right now? Not so much.😢

Kevin Bailey2 said:That's $7.00.

And yeah. That’s a huge factor in this whole thing.

$7.00.

It isn't $67.

She handed him 30 bucks, and he gave her 9 back in change.

But let's not forget—they really should have included that specific detail when they were asking for approval for the field trip in the first place. If I had actually signed off on that, I would've just handed over the cash myself, even if it was just a loan!

Look, I get it—the kid is basically a victim of a broken system here—but you still have to let them know that this behavior isn't okay. You can't just stay silent about it.

I’ve read through everything.
Look, the teacher is actually really great—super kind and easygoing—so I honestly have zero complaints about her personally. She gave us such a warm welcome when we moved into the district.

Regarding the Happy Meal thing, my kid loves them. There isn't a single one nearby, so if we're passing by, I just grab one. I get the whole "healthy eating" lecture, believe me, but even I have a soft spot for that greasy fast food. 😁

The thing is, it never even crossed my mind that *everyone* would be eating there. Sure, everyone wants to go, but there's always a handful of kids who just won't touch certain things.

And it's not like we're living in poverty or anything—it's not like I don't have a few bucks—but I just didn't have any cash on me, and I hadn't realized this morning that he'd need it since they were just talking about it.

It also didn't occur to me that she might actually LEND him the money.

Maybe it’s being dramatic, but as a parent, I can't help but wonder if we shouldn't be asking these kinds of questions ourselves. Okay, fine, she probably doesn't even have my number saved, but... I’m just genuinely shocked. Now I feel awkward even going up to her. It feels weird to explain the situation—that my husband is working overtime right now and we've lost about $500 this month alone. (He's pulling extra shifts just to keep us afloat).

Adam Evans62 said:I’m a teacher and I take my students on trips like this all the time... I honestly don't get why your kid isn't just going for free due to financial hardship (you're always entitled to one free spot per class under these programs)—if there are multiple kids in that situation, the cost gets split among everyone so the price drops for everybody.

And look, I've had plenty of times where a kid couldn't afford an ice cream or a McDonald's meal... I'll always lend them the cash, or a friend will. If the other kids notice or if the kid mentions I gave them money, I make it loud and clear to the whole group that their parents just forgot their lunch money and I'm just lending it to them to be paid back later. It's the only way to stop the bullying and the jealousy from the other kids.
Obviously, I never ask for money, but the kids usually end up bringing it in after a few days... and honestly, the ones who actually need it are the ones most likely to pay it back, more so than the kids who have money but their parents just didn't send any pocket change for the trip.🙄

I know all about that. I already brought it up with the teacher, but she mentioned there are about five other families in the class in similar spots, so she just rotates it—someone gets a free trip each time. Interestingly enough, I was the only one who checked "no" on the survey regarding the school camping trip.
I actually wrote down that finances were the issue. I was wondering how those five families facing hardship were supposed to afford such an expensive trip.
But once I saw that everyone else was going, I went ahead and signed the waiver anyway, mostly because I didn't want my kid to be the odd one out. As for where we're going to scrape together the extra $383, that's another story. $65 I paid it. (We got a seven-month payment plan).

Anyway, I just heard from a neighbor that the bus ride is supposedly FREE this month...😲

Does anyone know anything about this?

I'm trying to figure out if everyone else actually paid $1.75 (everyone) because my boy tells me his uncle said the ride is free. (I told him his uncle was joking, that we paid, and that the teachers would cover it for the others)....😕

I’m going to show up. I told my kid to let her know that I'll be there one of these days.

Look, I get it—she’s got three kids in elementary school to worry about, but so do I. And honestly? If I were in her shoes and someone actually had the decency to show some compassion and give me a hand, I wouldn't dream of telling my mom to pay them back. 😢

Thanks to everyone for the advice and all the support!

The permission slip came home on Friday. It basically said we need to sign off if we’re okay with the kid going on this field trip to NYC—they’re hitting up the museum= $5.00, taking the bus= $8.25, and riding the cable car=$1.75.
As for MC, there wasn't a single word about it.
Then, just yesterday, he finally drags out this tiny little sticker—actually, it was a sticker with "McD's" scribbled on it. He didn't even show me until late last night when she got back from the grocery store. She bought him three rolls and packed them for him (he brought two back), plus a bag of pretzels (which he returned unopened) and a bottle of water. Since they left at 9 and weren't back until after 3, it should have been plenty, especially since I know how much he eats—like a little mouse—and they even got a clip on the bus when they left.

Lawrence Hughes66 said:I work in the school system...
A McDonald's order like that should have been cleared with the parents first...
There’s a chance the kid just cornered the teacher to ask for a favor...
She could've just talked to the restaurant directly; they're usually pretty cool about working out a free meal deal if you ask right...
You should definitely sit down and have a real talk with the teacher...
Look, we're all human and we all mess up sometimes...
I'm sure she wasn't trying to do anything shady...

He didn't ask anyone for money. I just asked him about it. When she asked him why he hadn't ordered anything, he told her he didn't have any cash, so she took him aside and gave him some money. She even told him right then to let me know how she can pay me back. And she knew perfectly well he had food.

I honestly don't even know where to start. It’s a long story, and I won't get into everything, but if I'm going to explain this, I have to give some context. I'm a single mom, currently renting, and out of work at the moment while I hunt for something new. I'm living with my boyfriend, but it feels pretty temporary—we're in a total financial coma right now. My kid is technically off the hook for kitchen expenses, but things are tight. We just moved to a new place in a different city, which was a whirlwind. My kid had to switch schools, too.

Here's the second part: the class is constantly going on field trips. The teacher knows my situation. I reached out to social services, but nothing has come through yet. Making the call on the outdoor school trip was brutal—they're heading to the coast in May. It costs over $433 and lasts five days. Since the whole class is going, I figured, fine, I'll sign her up, and maybe I can scrape together those extra $67 somehow to cover the installment.

Then today, they went to a museum in Chicago (we aren't locals here). Total cost was $15. I had to sign waivers for the trip, the museum visit, and the zoo. So, I signed them and paid.
Then I find out yesterday that they're planning to hit McDonald's, too. 🙂
And she actually went ahead and ate there.

What really gets me is how they didn't even ask for parental permission for that! I mean, shouldn't they be asking parents before feeding ten-year-olds?

So I told my kid, "Look, I made you some sandwiches, but I don't have any money for McDonald's. We're in a bit of a crisis right now." Between the utilities and the rent coming due... it's just what it is. I told her, "Maybe next time."

Then the kid walks in the door and says, "I already ate!" 😲
The teacher gave her $10!
And then she tells her to pay her back tomorrow! 😲

I am absolutely floored.
And apparently, they're going to the movies tomorrow, so now I need cash for that, too...😢
Though, as I realized, the teacher gave her change back, so she's actually down $7.00 for the Happy Meal.

I realize it isn't a massive amount of $7.00, but it's the principle—it shocked me that she's essentially asking me for money now. (When I actually had funds, I was always buying gifts and never asked for a dime back). I know that doesn't change the current reality, but what am I supposed to do? I can't keep begging my boyfriend for money for my child, especially since he's tapped out too. He's barely making it until payday.

Is this okay?

Has anyone else dealt with something like this?

Olivia Hayes89 said:So why shouldn't I have a kid with my boyfriend? 🤷

I honestly can't tell if that question deserves a laugh or a cry.

I don't see much point in opening up a massive debate here—we’d just end up spiraling into a million different tangents and getting completely sidetracked.

I've already laid out my perspective. I've lived enough life to know what I'm talking about—for instance, I actually started on birth control just two months ago (and yeah, I live with my boyfriend).

At the end of the day, if she... if anyone... decides they want to have a baby while unmarried, that’s their call to make. Neither I nor anyone else has the right to step in and stop them.

😉

Gerald Patel67 said:Hey ladies, I need some advice—I’m feeling a little lost here...
.............

😕🤷

So, what’s the actual question?

Are you asking about getting your period back, or are you bummed because you didn't get pregnant immediately?

🤷

Regarding the first part—your period comes when it wants to. Since you stopped taking the pill, you really ought to take a few months off just to let your system flush out all those chemicals. Honestly, you got your period, and that's actually a good thing.

As for getting pregnant? The easiest way to make it happen is to decide you definitely don't want to be pregnant, and then watch what happens...🤣
Just kidding, mostly. But it usually works.

There are women who struggle to conceive for years, so don't go complaining about not being pregnant right away—like she said, it's better this way so your body can reset. And from what I gather, you aren't married.

Get married first; don't go having kids with your boyfriend! ☕

Post above the last one:

No, we still don't have a definitive answer.

Microbiological testing (throat swabs, stool samples), dental and OBGYN exams if necessary, and an H. pylori test.

I’ve done the swabs—throat and nose both show normal flora, which is fine. Candida in the stool came back negative. Blood work looks okay, though there's a bit of anemia. H. pylori came back positive. I took a handful of those nasty pills for about ten days. As for the OBGYN, I had swabs done previously—twice—where the first one was positive for something, I went through treatment, and everything's been fine since then. Pap smear was normal too. I’ve been on birth control for the last two months—tried two different brands. The only thing I haven't checked is my thyroid hormones because my doctor is a total mess. She gave me a referral but then claimed all my paperwork was already sitting in the lab computer and told me to just hand over the black copay slip. Apparently, that hormone test isn't covered by insurance either, though I'm not sure how much it costs. So, I didn't bother doing it yet since I have a follow-up this Tuesday. I also haven't made the trip into downtown Chicago to get the ASTO and Asta tests done at the infectious disease clinic.
I'll see what happens during Tuesday's appointment and if they decide I need more testing.

The dermatologist recommended some specific oil, but it won't arrive until $33, and honestly, I'm broke right now. Plus, I’d have to pay extra for the cream itself. I’m constantly applying stuff, but it feels useless... I'm absorbing it like a sponge.

I try to keep the humidity up in the apartment by drying clothes indoors so the air doesn't get too dry. I'm drinking plenty of water.
But the itching... God, it just itches and itches. To give you an idea of what that feels like... imagine being bitten by a hundred mosquitoes all at once on a tiny 5x5 patch of skin. It makes you want to tear yourself apart. I end up scratching until I'm bleeding, and then it just itches even more. It's miserable.

I suspect that while there might be a psychological component—I deal with frequent bouts of depression, crying spells, and total lethargy (even though I’m naturally a cheerful, outgoing, optimistic person)—all triggered by this whole mess with love, a divorce, being cheated on, miscarriages, money troubles, and dealing with certain people... there has to be something physically wrong inside my body, too.

I couldn't find a thread quite like this on Google, so I’m starting one since I’ve just been hit with this diagnosis—plus incipient atopic dermatitis.

It all kicked off around August when I felt this sharp sting in my right leg, way down low. It started with this tiny spot that itched like absolute hell. Then, out of nowhere, these little blisters started spreading out in a circle. I’ve never had allergies for anything in my life.
I hit up a local drugstore and they handed me some Synopsys ointment. Didn't do a damn thing; it just kept spreading and itching. So, I went to my GP. They gave me some Belogent cream and Rinolan tablets. Still nothing. It spread like crazy—my entire right leg from the knee down to the ankle was covered in blisters and constant itching. Eventually, it moved to my elbows, hips, and even my left leg. The elbows have calmed down a bit, though.

I went back to the doctor, and only then did she actually refer me to a dermatologist, who finally gave me these diagnoses and a bunch of tests to run. I did some testing, or whatever—it’s a long story.

He prescribed me Control once a day and a 40% Elocom/Belobaza cream.
The cream only works for a split second—just until it absorbs and my skin dries out, then the itching starts right back up. I’ve realized the itch really hits hardest once the skin is dry.

Nights are the worst part. I haven't slept properly in two months because of this.🙂🙂
Now, I keep some kind of cream by my bed at night—honestly, I've realized it doesn't even matter what kind it is, as long as it's a cream, whether it's for hands or body—and I slather it on my legs, and then the itching settles down for a bit.

I don't have any photos and I’m certainly not posting them... they’re hideous. I can't even shave myself.🙄 But these weren't watery blisters; they were just blister after blister.

Anyway, the question is, is there anyone else here dealing with the same diagnosis?

How are you guys treating it? Does it actually go away? Does the itching stop?

Has anyone actually cured themselves? How? Seriously, how?

One more detail I noticed while digging around online—it says this stuff can be triggered by your mental state, which is pretty much spot on. I went through a massive shock this summer and I still haven't mentally recovered, which I guess makes healing harder, but I just don't have the energy left to deal with an extra layer of stress.

Any advice is welcome, obviously, provided it isn't inappropriate or just plain stupid.

I’m leaning toward this one: SkyscraperCity It’s actually a pretty interesting forum. You get a massive variety of stuff—lots of great photography from all over the globe—but you also find plenty of content centered right here in the States with our own local contributors.

**
Hopefully, I'm not breaking any rules by posting this...😕 since it's technically an international forum...

swiftcobra16 said:So, here’s the situation... I took a pregnancy test, and one line was a strikingly deep, solid blue, while the second line was incredibly faint—almost like someone had barely grazed the paper with a light pencil, just a ghostly bluish smudge. I couldn't wrap my head around it, so I ran another one first thing the next morning, and the result was identical. I honestly don't know what to make of this. Regardless, I decided to stop playing guessing games; I booked an appointment with a private specialist, and I should finally have some clarity tomorrow at 2:30 PM. In the meantime, I’m feeling absolutely miserable. I’ve been dealing with constant nausea, and every trip to the bathroom is an ordeal—not to mention the fact that I feel the urge to go every five minutes. On top of that, there's this nagging ache in my left ovary that really flares up in the late afternoon. I haven't even had any significant changes in my appetite; I could honestly survive the entire day on nothing but a single banana. Has anyone else ever dealt with something similar?

And honestly, you didn't even mention how late you actually are...🙄

If you took the test right on the day you expected your period or just a day after—look, your doctor isn't going to see anything significant yet anyway. It’s kind of pointless to rush in there immediately. Unless, of course, you're heading in specifically to get bloodwork done to check beta levels.

Just a bit of advice on the tests themselves: if you're going to stock up, don't just buy the same brand over and over. Grab a few different kinds. And don't sleep on those cheap $15 ones you find at CVS or Walgreens—they work just fine! 😉

Raymond Miller6 said:Hey there...
Here’s the short version...
I had a D&C back on May 31st, and I still haven't seen my period return...
For the last two weeks, my breasts have been aching so badly that I'm constantly thinking about booking a doctor's appointment...
I took a test today, and it came back positive...
Keep in mind, just two weeks after the procedure, my husband and I were having regular intercourse----
What are your thoughts on this...
Honestly, I'm terrified to go see the OBGYN because I can't handle another disappointment...

Look, let me try to offer a little bit of comfort here—I know someone who went through a tubal ligation and ended up pregnant just a month later. I’m not sure if she actually managed to conceive naturally or if there was some other factor at play, but she ended up having a perfectly healthy baby boy. 😉

There’s still hope, really... but you should probably head over to your doctor to get some bloodwork done and schedule an ultrasound once you hit that five or six-week mark. By then, you'll actually be able to see what's going on in there—assuming it's even a pregnancy to begin with. Just try not to panic. 👍

wanderinggardener62 said:Well, it turns out it wasn't a false negative after all, because my period finally showed up today... and it was late, like, the latest it has ever been for me. Last month it arrived on the 4th, and then today, so, I guess I wonder if that's normal since my cycle is usually a bit irregular anyway. I've just been such a nervous wreck through all of this, and I haven't even seen my gynecologist in quite a while because I moved to a new city and it's just such a trek now, so I really need to find a new doctor, but everywhere seems to have such massive waiting lists lately. It's funny, isn't it? How it happens when you aren't planning for it, yet when you actually want it, it just doesn't seem to happen so easily...

Anything is possible, really...

It could be cysts—ovarian cysts can cause a total mess with your cycle, sometimes pushing things back by three weeks or more...

The thing is, a doctor might feel something during an exam, but they're rarely 100% sure what they're feeling through a manual check. You really need an ultrasound to know for certain. So, if I were you, I'd just go ahead and ask for a referral for an ultrasound.😉

Found it!! 🙏🙏

Seriously, thank you so much!!!!!!!!!!!

Just checked—the lines are finally gone...🙏🙏🙏

👍👍