I’ve just welcomed my third little one into the world, born this past July 20th. Every single time you go through this, you end up hearing the same endless cycle of nonsense from people—constant questions about whether you're "all in one piece" or if you're planning on having more. It feels like human stupidity truly knows no bounds. When you consider everything a pregnant woman goes through—and we all know the drill with the back pain, bladder issues, and those constant bouts of nausea—it’s exhausting enough. On top of all that, I was also looking after my family during this time, yet I didn't complain to anyone because, honestly, I felt fine right up until the very end. A few weeks ago, a neighbor of mine really got under my skin. She’s a younger woman, a mother of two, and a teacher by profession, and she had the audacity to comment that she hadn't even realized I was pregnant again. Like, how is that even possible?! Seriously, give me a break. My bump was impossible to miss, yet she claims she saw nothing... Honestly, it's just ridiculous.
My husband left me at the maternity ward over at Mount Sinai today for a checkup, thinking I’d just grab an Uber on my way out. Honestly, I wasn't really in the mood to drop $20 on a ride, and since it wasn't exactly scorching outside, I decided to just hop on the light rail and a bus instead. I have to say, it was actually quite a rare thing for someone to actually stand up for me on both the train and the bus 🙏, which is saying something considering I'm already in my third trimester... I think that speaks for itself. And let's be real, those fifty-something-year-old ladies can be pretty ruthless toward pregnant women; honestly, men would probably offer their seats before they do.
I would love to hear about your experiences and get your take on this:
I have a 15-year-old son, and over the last nine months, he has fainted about five times. Each incident seems to be linked to the environment—specifically high room temperatures, poor ventilation, or crowded spaces. This morning, he lost consciousness again while riding the FedEx 😢. He had eaten at home beforehand, so it wasn't an issue of him being on an empty stomach. We actually had him undergo a brain scan and see a neurologist back this past summer, and the takeaway was that these episodes are likely just due to his rapid growth spurts.
Does anyone have advice on how I can best support him through this?
I couldn't agree more with what was said above. Giving in to them isn't actually doing them any favors; if you start bending the rules now, when exactly are they going to learn how to compromise later in life? They really need to develop a sense of personal responsibility. I also have some serious grievances regarding the manners of today's youth—specifically those around my son's age and slightly older. It all stems from that outdated "spare the rod, spoil the child" mentality being replaced by a different kind of leniency. Nowadays, people argue that physical discipline is unnecessary because there are much more effective ways to impose consequences that don't leave a mark—things like cutting off TV time, taking away the computer, the PlayStation, or grounding them from seeing friends. The idea is that you aren't being abusive, yet the loss of privileges actually hits them harder than a spanking ever would. On the flip side, we are constantly bombarded by the media with these extreme cautionary tales where an entire family basically has to be institutionalized to fix the situation. Just the other day, I saw a story on the back page of the Wall Street Journal about a mother and her 13-year-old daughter. The girl is already smoking, drinking, and running wild, and the mother—who apparently knows everything that's happening 😲—actually took her to pick up birth control, and then rewards her with cigarettes when she’s behaving well 😢!!! The grandmother in the story claimed she does everything she can to coax the girl into being good, essentially saying that if the kid is in a bad mood, it becomes impossible for her to even stay in the same house. I mean, hello? Who is actually acting as the parent in this scenario??!? 🙂🙂🙂
I honestly don't think there’s any need for anyone to lecture others on how to raise their kids. Everyone is navigating their own unique life, and at the end of the day, you know your own child better than anyone else. You understand your household dynamics and what's realistic for your situation. The issue is that some parents just refuse to face the reality of who their children actually are—they'd rather look the other way, but the truth always comes out eventually, sooner or later... 👍For instance, my kid might be a bit lazy when it comes to studying, but he’s incredibly helpful around the house. He handles the grocery shopping, hits up the Post Office, keeps the apartment tidy, and even tackles the windows. I know he's capable because he proves it daily, which is why we can afford to be a little more flexible when it comes to his schoolwork. On the flip side, I have a colleague whose daughters, aged 16 and 18, won't lift a finger. Their mom is basically cleaning up after them constantly—it's like living in a disaster zone; their rooms look like nuclear fallout shelters. They struggle with even the simplest tasks, yet somehow they're straight-A students at school. 👍 Just look at that 🙏 My colleague insists that academics are the only thing that matters, arguing that they can learn to clean or cook once they're adults. I value education just as much as she does, but I also believe it's vital for them to develop practical life skills outside of a classroom.
rapidmaker10 said:My kid is 11, but he’s basically a hermit who refuses to hang out with any of the boys. He comes home from school, grabs some food, and immediately disappears into his computer... then he spends hours in this endless loop of playing games, collecting Bionicle figures, and drawing them. When I try to force him to actually sit down and do his homework, he insists he doesn't have any. He won't even pack his backpack until 9 PM, just tossing everything in haphazardly. On top of all that, he’s been incredibly rude and mouthy lately. Regarding what xanas said...😲 Absolutely terrifying...
It’s like reading a description of my own son from about three years ago. It feels like they were cloned. 😂They always claim they have nothing to study or write about; and when I show up at the school, all they can do is 😲 I'm actually home right now on maternity leave, and he’s incredibly excited about getting a little sister. It wasn't planned, but he's totally on board with it—except for the constant complaining about how much better things were before, back when I was working all the time and he was the king of the castle at home ☕ You can probably imagine how much "studying" he actually did: endless hours of surfing the web, gaming, PlayStation, TV, snacks, and then doing it all over again... Now he tells me the only perk of me being home is that he doesn't have to microwave his food because lunch is always freshly cooked 🤣 Meanwhile, according to him, I'm just boring, annoying, and outdated because all I ever want to do is talk about school and push him to study (to quote him)...
Around 3:15 this morning, I was woken up by the sound of some drunks screaming and fighting right out on the street. My first thought was just, thank God my son isn't out roaming the streets at this hour, so I don't have to deal with any of that nonsense. Otherwise, I’d probably be stuck playing the neighborhood night watchman from my window or balcony all night long...
My eighth grader is going through a massive puberty phase, but at his core, he’s still very much a little kid—I guess boys just take longer to catch up emotionally. He actually told me he fell asleep right in the middle of a club set because he was so exhausted 😂 (I honestly couldn't believe it, considering the noise, the crowd, the lights, and that whole overwhelming "first time at a rave" feeling 😁). He can be incredibly naive sometimes, which is sweet, but what really gets to me are those sudden bouts of grumpiness and these random waves of mild depression that seem to come out of nowhere (it makes me wonder how kids growing up in broken homes handle it all 😲). It’s even harder when he starts whining about having nothing to do, and if I try to suggest something, it’s just 😲🙄. Then, this past Sunday, he looked me straight in the eye and declared that he’s officially the smartest person in the house—meaning he's smarter than both me and his dad 😂 (honestly, I just lost it laughing ).
Honestly, if we could just use some common sense here at the clinic to figure out what she’s dealing with, maybe she wouldn't have to deal with the hassle of a specialist appointment in the first place... ☕
They took a bite out of my paycheck too, so I just paid off that whole mess. Honestly? Never again. In my book, using credit is a zero out of ten, while paying cash is a solid hundred. It’s just not worth it. That kind of debt trap is only for people who aren't thinking straight or those living on a fixed retirement income.
Since you're still a minor, you'll definitely need to get parental consent first... It’s probably best to head to one of the local hospitals to get everything sorted out.
That is just awful..👎 I honestly could never bring myself to think about eating like that, especially when my only goal was to stay fit... It’s just plain unhealthy!
Austin Harris24 said:Honestly, I can't stand leggings and tank tops...😢a plus, they just make me overheat whenever I'm stuck in an enclosed space. I'd much rather go with some shorts and a longer tee (just so I don't end up dealing with kidney issues again—which, by the way, is incredibly painful). For being outdoors, I definitely need a scarf, gloves, though I rarely bother with a hat.
I'm in the exact same boat: all winter long, it's just a bra and thermal tights under my pants (or as my godmother calls them, "cozy-tights"). I absolutely hate leggings and bodysuits; I might throw on an undershirt if I'm feeling really adventurous, but that's about it.
Why bother stressing over what he expects? Just buy whatever fits your budget. You choose a best man because of the friendship, not because you want to empty your bank account. If he’s really that obsessed with money, tell him to pick Ivanka Trump to be his best man instead! What is he expecting, for you to go out and buy him a beachfront condo in Miami!?
Hi there, I've finally jumped in! I have been reading through all the previous posts quite carefully, and I am honestly so pleasantly surprised to see such a growing interest in agriculture among the younger generation here in America. It is truly inspiring! To be honest, this whole discussion has completely opened my eyes regarding walnut production—I had absolutely no idea just how versatile they actually are. 👍 Now, I am seriously considering starting my own walnut grove, but I find myself stuck on the one question that matters most to me: how much time does a family actually need to commit each week to managing about 3.5 acres of walnuts if everyone is working full-time jobs in the city? Is it even feasible to manage it that way, or do you really need to be 100% dedicated, constantly hovering over the saplings and such? Or would just heading out on the weekends to handle maintenance be enough?
Legally speaking, you have the right to seek treatment at any medical facility in the US! You should take a quick look at what’s actually written on your referral (it usually says something like "Referred to: ... blah, blah...")—if it lists something general, like a laboratory or an internist, then it’s valid everywhere. However, if it specifies a particular place, like the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, then it’s only valid for that specific institution. In that case, you'll need to take the referral back to your primary doctor before your appointment so they can update it and verify it with their official stamp.
Look at me, 😕 😲 I honestly hadn't even thought of that!!! Thanks! I'm heading to my doctor tomorrow to grab a referral for some liver function tests (that should be plenty to get things started).