Our daughter is in third grade and has finally started walking home solo—she took her first trip about two weeks ago, then again yesterday. This morning was her first time heading to school by herself.🎉 I’ll admit, I’m still a nervous wreck—the anxiety is real—but she calls me every single time before she sets off so I know roughly how long she'll be. I just watch her from the window.😁 I’m actually home right now since I’m in my 35th week of pregnancy; I stopped working this past Monday. Ideally, I should be resting, but we live on the third floor of an apartment building, and trekking down those stairs several times a day is a struggle. Besides, we figured it was high time she gained some independence. It’s the perfect chance for her to get used to the routine while I'm around, so she isn't just wandering an empty house when she gets back.
Up until now, one of us has always walked her to and from school—one parent in the morning, the other in the afternoon. We both work standard 9-to-5 jobs, but usually, one of us would head in early and leave around 4:15 just to make sure we could pick her up by 4:40 or so.
Now, I’m torn. Some people say third grade is too early for a kid to walk alone, others say it’s late—it’s subjective, I suppose. We made the call based on two specific factors: First, the traffic. We live right in the heart of Washington, D.C., and the school is incredibly close—literally a three-minute walk away once she crosses two intersections and hits the school street. But honestly? Drivers here are absolute savages. They know they're near a school, they see the kids, they see the "School Zone" signs, there are crosswalks and lights everywhere... yet people drive like maniacs. They blow through red lights, ignore pedestrians, and park all over the sidewalks, forcing you to walk into the street just to get around them. Then you have people stopping dead in the middle of a crosswalk just to stare at their phones. It’s a level of chaos in the middle of a major metropolis that is frankly infuriating. She’s a very cautious kid, but until now, we were simply too terrified to let her go solo.
The second reason is what rowdypanther12 mentioned—avoiding having her home alone. It's not that she'd burn the house down; she's responsible and bright—it's just that she hates being by herself. She never had any interest in leaving after-school programs early if she knew the house would be empty until 5:00. Now that I'm home, she happily packs up after lunch at school and heads straight back.😁
The first time she went alone, I nearly died of fright. A trip that should take three minutes took her twenty. She just couldn't find me, you know? When she stepped out into the street... I watched her from the window and almost died laughing. Every car that passed, she'd dodge; she'd touch every wall, peer at things on the ground, poke at bushes... she was moving like she’d been caught in a storm. I gave her a bit of a lecture the moment she walked through the door, explaining that she can't move quite that cautiously.😁 The second time, she was back in a flash.
She just called me to say she's coming home; I’m going to go crochet by the window.😁
Ashley Bailey75 said:This! The way I lose it when people try to dismiss my VALID anger by waving it off like, "meh, it's just the hormones." I honestly don't complain much and I'm definitely not one to throw tantrums, but it is incredibly frustrating when someone tries to invalidate how you feel like that. 🙂
Exactly.
Look, if I wasn't already losing my grip on reality before this, I’ve officially lost that final shred of sanity—totally. I’m snapping—but it's coming from a place of pure, unadulterated desperation.😁
shadowbadger15 said:Maybe you notice it more than they actually do, or perhaps they really are teasing you?
Personally, I don't think 26 pounds in this timeframe is much at all, especially if you were on the thinner side to begin with. I'm currently in my 30th week and have put on about 25 pounds, and nobody has made any comments about me being fat, even though I subjectively feel much wider than I am tall.
Don't let it get to you; try to just shrug it off. If you start making jokes about yourself first, they won't find it fun to pick on you anymore.
And regarding what you wrote about the name—man, we are struggling with that too since we haven't picked one yet. God forbid, given how judgmental people can be.
Even if they’re just joking around, it doesn't matter. If someone wants to play that game, I’ll play it right back—with interest. Next time someone decides to make a comment about my weight, I’m going to start listing every single condiment I can think of until we see who runs out of breath first.😁 Luckily, I have my defenders—because frankly, men and women aren't exactly thrilled when that starts happening, especially the ladies. They take it personally on my behalf.😁 Then go ahead—hold a whole damn vigil to argue that Mom isn't overweight, she’s just pregnant. Because clearly, those two things aren't the same.😁
Arthur Fisher42 said:Charlie Chaplin, I second your entire previous post; I actually had a good laugh because it was so spot-on and true to life! As for the name situation, we handled it this way—we told everyone, dead serious, that the little guy would be named Barnabas, and if they thought that was too long, they could always shorten it to Barna. You should have seen their faces! When we finally admitted we were joking a few minutes later, almost any other name was fine, even Duke 👏
This is quite simply brilliant.🤣
Look, everyone has an opinion on names—that’s just how it works. While my friends were out there naming their kids all sorts of things, most of those choices struck me as either hideous or just plain nonsensical. But honestly? What am I supposed to say when someone hands me a kid with a terrible name? It’s their child, not mine—so why should I care? The move is simple: give a polite little laugh, say, "Oh, what a lovely name!" and leave it at that. Why on earth would you go out of your way to insult someone? Even if nobody asked for your input—and let’s face it, they didn't—it’s common courtesy to lie and say the name is great. If you actually want to be a real friend, that's the standard.🤣
The name. THE NAME. Jesus, the drama surrounding a simple name is unreal. "Do you really have to call him that?" "They’re just going to call him ________ (insert two or three terrible nicknames here)." "Mark asked if you could please reconsider the name one more time..." "Well, there are plenty of other lovely names out there... just not this one..."
I’m honestly confused—where in the sentence "He will be called ____" did anyone see the question, "Hey, what are your thoughts on this name, and if you dislike it, what would you suggest instead?"
🍿
Edit: It's a normal name. It's not like they named him Hospice.
I figured I’d chime in—I’m usually high-strung, but with this pregnancy, my patience is basically non-existent. It's like being three times as irritable as usual.
First off, the weight gain is driving me insane.😁 It wasn't a massive explosion—I've put on about 26 pounds over 34 weeks—which is slightly more than ideal, but not catastrophic. HOWEVER! I’m naturally thin, and now I feel like a stranger in my own skin; these extra pounds just don't sit right on me. I HAVE A DOUBLE CHIN. Honestly, I feel like punching someone.😁 DOUBLE CHIN!!!!!!!
Beyond that, what really gets under my skin (as I assume it does for most of you here) is how people feel entitled to comment on my size. So what if I am? I’m the one eating the food, not you. My mother is a constant source of irritation—she can't help but call me fat and constantly compare me to my first pregnancy ("You were so thin then, look at you now," etc.). Her absolute peak of nonsense was telling me: "How is that poor baby going to survive with all that extra padding?" 🙂
Then there's my mother-in-law. She used to call me "Fatty" on a regular basis until I gave her a look so sharp she probably felt her carotid artery pulse. Since that moment, she hasn't used the word "fat" directly, but she's mastered the art of the passive-aggressive detour—things like: "Oh, your face has changed so much! You look totally different now!" YEAH. When you gain 26 pounds, your face changes. YOU GET A DOUBLE CHIN. I'm well aware; trust me, I know...
Work is another headache. I’m finishing up this week before heading out for two weeks of vacation followed by maternity leave, but for the last three months, my colleagues have been acting like I’m a ghost. They wonder why I'm not doing more, why I'm not at home, blah blah blah... But the second I mention my upcoming departure, the waterworks start. The mourning, the drama, the "ohhh, how will we possibly manage without you?" and "there's going to be so much work once you're gone!" It's exhausting. Just let me leave. As for how *they* will handle it... who cares? They need to decide if they want me there or not—not that I should even bring it up and trigger their guilt trips. Honestly, I couldn't care less how they cope without me.
What's particularly grating is how certain people treat me like I've lost all cognitive function. Look, pregnancy hormones are a thing—I'm irritable, I get it, I'm self-aware—but it goes deeper than that. Something happens that would reasonably infuriate any sane human being, but the moment I react, the patronizing starts: "Don't get upset, I'll fix it, just stay calm." As if the issue is my temper rather than the actual situation that caused it. Of course, everyone else plays the martyr—they view me as this hormone-driven terror while they remain these perfect, saintly creatures suffering through my outbursts...
Please, stop buying gold jewelry for kids. Seriously.
Most kids can't stand gold chains. They’ll thank you later—they'll look like happy little angels while Mom forces them to wear it on special occasions... and they will absolutely hate it.
I have always hated those kinds of gifts, and from what I know, most of my friends feel the same way. Both when we were children and now that we're adults.
For those First Communions and Confirmations, there is a mass influx of tacky gold—chunky crosses, diamond hearts, gold animals, you name it. Not only is it ugly, but even if it weren't, there's a slim chance they'll ever actually wear it.
Do some research into what they actually care about. If they love books, buy them a book. If they play soccer, get them cleats. A gift doesn't need to be "fancy" or "appropriate for the occasion." What matters is that it's bought with genuine love and thought for the child—so buy based on their interests, not what you think the neighbors will approve of.
Personally, I made it crystal clear to everyone around my tenth birthday that I wasn't into gold jewelry. They kept buying it anyway, acting foolishly—thinking, "What does a kid know? They'll wear it when they grow up," and so on. (I ended up with a mountain of tacky, low-quality yellow gold that I despised with every fiber of my being!) As soon as I moved out from my parents' place (who were quite stubborn about this issue—much like yours, though heaven forbid you try to change them)—I took it all straight to a jeweler and sold it for scrap. I got significantly less than what they originally cost. Then, I took all that cash and spent it on coffee and cigarettes. Why?
Because those gifts weren't bought for me; they were bought for the sake of appearances. So, I turned those unwanted gifts into something actually useful.
P.S. I am an adult now. I only wear my engagement ring—which was bought specifically for me, according to my taste, after asking for my opinion—and one silver ring that holds sentimental value. Believe it or not, zero gold.
It seems "adults" don't always have the best judgment after all!
And now you can tell me all you want about not looking a gift horse in the mouth. But if you give someone a gift without caring whether they actually like it, you should probably just keep it. And if you still insist on giving me some garbage that I've explicitly TOLD you I hate—well, then I'm perfectly entitled to throw that gift in the trash if I feel like it. Because that's exactly what it is.
James Rogers53 said:this is a fantastic way to lose everything that actually makes your body look like something. It doesn't matter how many pounds you drop—that number tells you absolutely nothing.
I used guys for the photos because they're easier to find, but the logic applies to women too. Some bombshell with a killer silhouette and great curves isn't surviving on two slices of bread and a tiny cup of yogurt a day to get that look—they eat what they need, when they need it, and most importantly—THEY TRAIN. Something women—and clearly you, based on your posts—don't seem to grasp. That’s why you’ll never be a knockout, just average; in a few years, guys will be looking at you thinking: "Would I turn my head if she offered me $10,000?" No.
hehehehhehe, you completely missed the point of your own post, since both links are identical.😁
Then again... if you look closer and assume you did that on purpose: 😂
The mods are probably gonna scrub this post, but man... lol... 😂
Honestly, these are the exact kind of people I see at my office—the ones who make me wonder why they even bother having high-speed internet in the first place. I’ll admit, I was wrong before; my theory was that they only get online just to show off, then never actually use it. Kudos to 🙏
So, I’m circling back to a question someone asked a few pages ago—I haven't seen anyone actually address it yet: how does it work with those dentists who run private practices but also take Medicare? Specifically, which treatments do you have to pay out of pocket and which ones are covered by Medicare? How is that whole system structured? I'm a little confused here.😢
I mean, sure—if you want to call me militantly opinionated or whatever... I guess I am.😁 Just kidding. Honestly, it doesn't feel like these discussions are really about anything meaningful to me anymore—it seems I just get worked up way too easily. Whatever! 😍
If I’ve misread the situation—though I doubt it, given that the OP clearly holds a negative view toward sexual experimentation during youth (which, let's be honest, is perfectly natural)—then my apologies. However, you jumped to a conclusion about a subject you're clearly uninformed about. What am I supposed to do with that? Spend thirty minutes lecturing you on basic biology and human sexuality? I don't see the point; you’d probably just dismiss my arguments as nonsense anyway.
My comment was strictly about your assessment of the book, nothing more. I didn't call YOU an idiot—I don't think that. But your assumption regarding a book you haven't read, seen, or even Googled, specifically, and I quote:
"Oh, so these are those books like 'Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus' or whatever. Does anyone actually take that stuff seriously?"
I'm sorry if you took offense; that wasn't my intention. But if you think your previous comment wasn't total nonsense... well, it was.
But look, let’s clear things up first: homophobia doesn't pose a direct threat to me. Even though I'm bisexual, I'm currently in a relationship with a man—and since I don't explicitly broadcast my sexual orientation to him, there's zero reason for him to assume I'm anything other than a good, traditional American woman. But here's where I stand:
Okay, you (not you specifically, but just some hypothetical person) are homophobic. That means you harbor hatred toward gay people. As long as you don't act on it or express it, that's your right. I hate you (acting as the personification of the homophobe here). That's fine too, provided I don't act on it.
However, if you start discriminating against gay people—in any capacity whatsoever—then I will feel compelled to discriminate against you. Isn't that just basic fairness? 😁
And again, I’m not talking about YOU as a person on this forum—I mean your actual identity, name and all. I'm talking about the homophobe.
Sean Cruz said:Honestly, those books are just like "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus" or whatever. Does anyone actually take that stuff seriously?
I don't buy this idea of "bisexuality" being an inherent trait. I think we’re all essentially bisexual, but we just suppress it. 🙄
In this day and age, it's considered modern to think that way, so you see more women experimenting. In all likelihood, sex with another woman isn't the most common fantasy for the average woman—it's really just for those who are already predisposed to homosexuality.
Good grief. Please stop spouting nonsense about things you clearly don't understand. "My Secret Garden" by Nancy Friday was an actual study on female sexual fantasies conducted back in the 1970s—quite thorough, too—covering a representative sample of women across all ages (in the US, Europe, etc.). So, it’s a scientific study, not some random bullshit. Though, I'll admit, it's a fun read, haha.😁
As for the original poster, it's the same old story. How have I not learned to avoid any thread touching on anything related to homosexuality yet? It always leaves me disgusted seeing what people post.
Homophobes make me sick—truly. I think you're all just uneducated, narrow-minded cattle. Look, if a moderator needs to hand out a ban, then fine, let them—but I honestly believe people like that deserve to be insulted, because they're nothing but trash. Just like racists or xenophobes... They aren't even real people; the normal rules of society don't apply to them.
Quick question—someone mentioned patches earlier? How often am I supposed to be applying those, and more importantly, what’s the damage to my wallet? Right now, my pills run me about $33 a month, which isn't exactly breaking the bank, but I end up dropping $400 on them every single year. If patches are even pricier... that’s going to be a real bummer. Also, what's the deal with those implants? Like, they just tuck a little thing under your skin and it slowly releases hormones over several months?
(God, if my parents found out how I talk about this stuff—they're both EMTs, they'd absolutely kill me😁 )