Posts by Kate Cox2

Oh goodness, I am counting down the days until I finally give birth—and then, hopefully, I can get back to my regular routine again..
It truly irritates me how every little thing seems to be off-limits these days... and then there are moments where I completely lose my focus and end up doing something silly..

The other day, my little niece was playing with one of those bouncy balls on a spring attached to a pole—you know, the kind where you climb onto the extended part and just hop around..
Well, naturally, I decided to give it a go myself—and my husband absolutely lost it! He started yelling, "No!! Are you out of your mind?" 😁
And honestly? I suppose I wasn't... 😁

rustyrider20 said:🤷 Honestly, I’m constantly bumping into things because I have zero sense of how much space my stomach actually takes up—I’ve just always been used to squeezing through tight spots. God knows how many times I’ve accidentally clocked someone in the face with my gut while trying to shimmy between tables at a crowded Starbucks 😬... At this point, I’m more worried about bruising people than anyone being worried about me

🤣
I experience this exact same thing... I completely lose track of my own dimensions and regularly end up slamming right into doorframes or banisters...🤦

One time, I actually smacked my stomach so hard against a door handle—the poor elderly woman watching me practically turned pale from the impact! 😁

Edward Williams8 said:Most of my friends deal with unplanned pregnancies, and I'm actually in the worst possible position regarding this because they all have moms or mothers-in-law living right upstairs or downstairs, super flexible jobs, or they work for their husbands...
Me? I don't have a built-in babysitting service, my mother-in-law is non-existent, I have strict office hours, and in these last 8 months, I haven't once complained to them about how hard things are...
And I never let them make me feel inferior for not having kids yet and just enjoying life with my husband...

It is quite a heavy realization to face, isn't it? We simply don't have any parents around here to step in or offer that immediate support when things get overwhelming. It’s just me and my sister, and honestly, she’s working in the private sector—you know how relentless those corporate roles can be lately—and she can barely find a spare moment for herself, let alone her own daughter. 😢

But, quite frankly, I find myself agreeing with your sentiment entirely! It truly strikes me that those specific comments were almost exclusively coming from women who hadn't actually planned for a pregnancy... and honestly, I can't help but feel there was a distinct undercurrent of jealousy directed toward both my husband and me.🤷
It is truly baffling to me how some people develop such deep-seated complexes regarding my decision not to have children. I am not entirely sure what your specific circumstances might be, but for my husband and me, our five years of marriage without kids was a deliberate, conscious choice—not a matter of infertility or any other biological hurdle. In my estimation, that is precisely what causes the most friction. It seems to me that many of these critics haven't even experienced the reality of a committed marriage or a life lived together as a duo, let alone understood the fulfillment found in a child-free partnership. They judge from a distance without ever having stood in our shoes.

Donna Chase12 said:Look, sure, things get tough sometimes, but when someone hits me with that nasty little comment like, "Just wait until you don't even have time for yourself, let alone your plants," while I'm sitting here three weeks after getting home having already bought a massive haul of new greenery, repotted everything, and spending my daily downtime watering and pruning... 😂 🤣 😂
That's just a textbook example of people being petty for no damn reason.👎

Well, that sounds perfectly normal to me—you simply know your own priorities and what brings you joy, so you organize your life around those needs. You went out to get more plants because that matters to you; someone else might just veg out in front of the TV, whereas I’d probably spend my time painting my nails.😍

Edward Williams8 said:In these last few days—and there’s probably another month and a half left of this—honestly, just go home and lie down. Don't bother showering, don't step foot outside, don't exert yourself. Just stay in bed. Don't eat anything except fruit. Sleep while you can, because you're all about to get screwed. You better get all that sleep in now, since you won't be getting any more anytime soon. Go grab a coffee while you still have the chance, or go catch a movie at the AMC, because there won't be any films playing for the next several decades... JUST STAY POSITIVE!

I mean, I truly don't understand...😕
is it sheer human stupidity? Is it jealousy? Pure malice???
What is it??

I look back at things from five years ago involving my own relatives. By then, they already had kids, whereas my spouse and I had decided to just live our lives, be hedonists, and enjoy being just the two of us for a little longer. It was as if they were somehow jealous that we were still actually enjoying ourselves—while they were all miserable, stuck in their endless "domestic servitude." 👎
I mean, seriously...🤷

Amanda Reed4 said:I’ve heard every single variation of this nonsense too (the whole "get your sleep in now because you won't get any later" routine, etc.).
Maybe I actually want to be tired! And then I'll just rub those rude faces in it—even if I'm lying about it... he he he!!!

Honestly, there is something quite cathartic about looking someone right in the eye and lying through your teeth—you know, the whole "Oh, I'm perfectly fine," or "I slept like a baby," or "It wasn't hard at all" routine... just to get back at them for being so malicious and making those "threats" in the first place...😁>

Edward Williams8 said:I mean, come on, you could have at least given her a little smack with those things. Like, "sorry, my hands are shaking because I'm pregnant"...
@rustyrider20: why are you feeling bad for me? I'm practically begging for scraps at the playground every other day just to get anything, whereas you probably look all sweet and charming while I just look like a massive pregnant woman

Honestly, man—nobody gives me anything special either. As for discounts? Forget about it. Not even a dream.
Though, I have to say, when I was visiting family out in the Midwest a few days ago, almost every elderly lady at the local market would tuck an extra little something into my bag.😍😍😍

rustyrider20 said:You’re hearing all sorts of nonsense
...as if there's any reason not to wear thongs instead of standard undies—they just sit a little deeper, that's all.🤣 😁Actually, thongs are usually thinner, more breathable, they dry faster, and they allow for much better airflow
(honestly, I dealt with my worst bouts of yeast infections when I actually listened to "smart" advice and switched exclusively to cotton briefs).😉

Honestly, that was the very first thing a family friend—who happens to be a neonatal nurse—told my mother when she heard about the pregnancy...she told me, "Honey, I’d be too embarrassed to admit you wear those things all the time..." 🤣 🤣
and even my doctor joked about it, saying, "Oh boy, they really should make maternity versions of those," 🙄
but hey, I suppose my anatomy has simply grown accustomed to thongs over the years 😁
.

It honestly drove me absolutely insane how everyone would act so judgmental the moment they realized I was wearing thongs. It’s as if it were some sort of strictly forbidden ritual during pregnancy...😁
I truly haven't the slightest clue why people care; I kept wearing them without any issue whatsoever, though I did finally pick up some standard briefs just recently. But then again, as I have remarked before—I am quite a resilient individual, and nothing really bothers me much.😁

And another thing... you actually drive a car???? 😲That simply cannot be allowed!!!! Honestly, you aren't supposed to do that at all... 🙄

Dana Miller2 said:See, I actually had the exact opposite experience. It was one of those things that actually made my pregnancy a little easier.
People usually let me cut ahead at the checkout, and in hospital waiting rooms, being pregnant basically meant I got priority every single time.
I remember this one day, a lady processing paperwork for blood work and glucose tests basically barked at two old guys who tried to cut in front of me and told them, "Nope, pregnant women go first."
Even at Microsoft, the cashier will usually pull me out of line and let me go first... everyone's been pretty sweet to me.
Sometimes it's even a little awkward because I really don't mind waiting... it's not like standing up is killing me right now.
🙂

At the hospital, they consistently call me forward first, and they even take the time to explain to everyone else not to be upset, because, well, pregnant women always get priority.

Ali when I'm out shopping or dealing with government offices... 🙂 😢

8472 said:I suspect that kind of logic simply doesn't cross the minds of those waiting for a boy—especially since, at the end of the day, the firstborn son is still the firstborn son. 🙄😂

Well, I suppose that truly depends on your own character and what you value most in life. Personally, having a son holds absolutely no more weight for me than having a daughter, so I find it impossible to view things through that particular lens.

A friend of mine was telling me about her time visiting a hospital out in rural Alabama, and she mentioned seeing women in tears because they were terrified to go home. Apparently, their husbands and mothers-in-law wouldn't even let them back through the front door just because once again they had
given birth to a girl.
Honestly, I mean—give me a break! It is truly devastating to think anyone could hold such backward views...👎

vividhawk87 said:It honestly drives me crazy how my sister-in-law—who’s actually younger than me by just six weeks—gets all the attention during her pregnancy. Every time they post an update, everyone goes "wow," but when I try to share something, it's just a lukewarm "oh, okay." Like, the other day I told them I finally felt the baby kick, and instead of a "that's amazing!" or "I'm so happy for you!", she just immediately pivoted to talking about how her little one is constantly moving around. It’s like my milestones don't even count.

My skin gets so dry after a shower, but I've been using Vaseline, and it works wonders; I feel so soft and smooth afterward.
And don't even get me started on stretch marks. They drive me absolutely insane—no matter how much lotion I apply, they just keep appearing!

Good grief...😢 I find myself contemplating the profound importance of one's sleeping arrangements. It is a matter of significant gravity, really. A bed is not merely a piece of furniture; it is the very foundation of our physical and mental restoration! One cannot simply underestimate the impact of a quality mattress on one's daily productivity and overall temperament. I often find myself drifting into long discussions regarding thread counts and lumbar support—it's quite essential for maintaining a balanced lifestyle in this fast-paced American society. Truly, we must prioritize our rest if we expect to thrive.
I find myself genuinely perplexed by the lack of enthusiasm surrounding your recent changes. Honestly, I am struggling to grasp how nobody is celebrating this! It feels like such a monumental shift, yet there is this inexplicable silence where there should be widespread applause.

rustyrider20 said:I sign off on ALL of that... except for the very last part. I'm still mobile and feeling light enough that it doesn't bother me having to stand up.

These damn hormones...😠yesterday I was sobbing all day long, then today it's like I'm in some paradise garden skipping through flowers and chocolate.🙄.
I don't even care about the comments, the staring, or the people eyeing me from head to toe or checking out my belly anymore.
And all those unsolicited pieces of advice? I'm totally tuning them out.

I don't know if you happened to catch that commercial for those organic baby products—you know the one, where the mom gives the little one a kiss and he just peacefully closes his eyes...😍😍😍
I haven't even been able to finish watching the ad; my eyes start welling up the second I see that baby's face..🙄

Benjamin Roberts5 said:Honestly, my skin has never felt better or softer than it does right now during this pregnancy.🤷
I guess I'm one of those lucky few when it comes to that... it's seriously soft, like a baby's bottom.😍

And I actually don't mind at all when people touch my belly. 😍
Actually, I kind of love it.
But people always ask if it's okay first, which is nice. It's rare to find someone who just reaches out without asking...

I wish I had your patience...
It drives me absolutely insane—nobody ever asks me—it’s just infuriating, seriously.😠

Frank Morales6 said:The humidity and the heat are what get to me most.
And then there’s the condescension from certain people—acting like their way of thinking is the only valid one, only to act shocked when I decide to do things my own way.

Even worse is when they throw in those little parting shots, like, "Well, just you wait...". (Whether it's when you're heading to the hospital, when the baby arrives, or even once they start daycare... there's always some unsolicited "wisdom" ready to go.)

Good grief, honestly—it sounds less like advice and more like a veiled threat.🙄
Just... please, leave me alone! :2up:

Here is a recipe for some "homemade" suppositories to help manage internal hemorrhoids.

I am hopeful this might provide some relief for those who need it.

It’s perfectly normal for your cycle to be a bit wonky after you stop taking birth control pills...
it just needs some time to recalibrate and get everything back on track. (In my own experience, it actually took me about four months to get my period back after being on the pill for six months.)

Kimberly Nguyen said:As for my kid, he's actually going to sit down and read the damn assigned reading 🙂 ...

I couldn't agree more—honestly, I think one book per month is actually quite reasonable..🤷

Austin Chavez5 said:Man, honestly, I’d love to just ban using the internet for book reports, but then again, half the time my kid is drowning in extracurriculars and homework and doesn't have time to actually finish the book, or the local library is totally out of copies. Sometimes the internet is just a necessary evil, you know?

I honestly feel the same way about banning it (and I truly hope my firstborn inherits my deep love for actual books!), but let's be real: you just can't control that level of access..
Especially if the teacher is a bit older and isn't exactly a digital native—they end up getting bypassed the moment they decide to assign something, unfortunately..
How is a teacher even supposed to know if a student actually read the book when every single tiny detail is available with a quick Google search?

By the way, it just occurred to me—back in college, I had one professor who would start class by asking us what the physical cover of the required reading looked like. It was his little trick to immediately sniff out anyone who had just skimmed some online summary instead of holding the actual book...

Kimberly Nguyen said:And even in our school district, we’d only be assigned one book a month, and then we’d end up racing all over town trying to find a copy because the local school library barely had anything on the shelves... but hey, we dealt with it...

But this whole assignment they're giving for book reports now... when I was in school, we actually wrote about the setting, the time period, the main characters, the supporting cast—everything actually related to the story itself...

But these kids? They have to write their report by picking three specific days where they happened to be reading, and then they have to describe how they *felt* while they were reading it 🙄 without being allowed to mention a single thing about the actual plot... I mean, seriously, what the hell? And they have to fill up a page and a half of A4 paper! So what does the kid do? They just scramble to write absolute nonsense, tossing sentences around and flipping them just to make it sound meaningful. I honestly don't get the logic behind this garbage. 🤷

As for this whole "focusing on feelings" thing—I’ve never heard of such a requirement. Maybe they have some sort of specialized "emotional intelligence" teacher now??😁
My eighth graders do the same old thing: listing main characters, adding notes about the author, and so on—but let's be honest, they all just scrape everything off the internet. They don't even open the book; they just find enough online fluff to pass the written portion...
When I was in high school, I remember there were maybe one or two study guides available, and my teacher kept copies of both, so you couldn't really pull a fast one on her. But nowadays, it seems much harder to catch them red-handed...