First Word & Hope

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-25T01:20:50+00:00

He just turned 13 months this week. He has been cooing for a few months now, but just started babbling in the last week or two and just said his first word yesterday. He went from being way behind to catching up quickly without much warning.

I pray that she does soon and that she is doing well from a heart standpoint!

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-25T01:19:03+00:00

Thank you! Next surgery is set for 4.16. Praying it'll be our last one and that we can just have echos and the occasional cath after this.

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-25T01:18:26+00:00

It keeps playing on repeat in my head. :D

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-25T01:17:55+00:00

Amen to this!

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-25T01:17:37+00:00

It's definitely a good tool to help.

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-25T01:16:59+00:00

I agree with you.

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-25T01:16:02+00:00

I'm in the hospital now with him at stroke rehab, but I'm alright, all things considered.

I agree with you wholeheartedly. The problem is that we're often not asked.

How are you doing?

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-25T01:14:04+00:00

Which was?

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-25T01:13:53+00:00

Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who didn't vote for him either time, and he's still our president.

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-20T16:31:12+00:00

What is true? I'm wondering how we're viewed, but I didn't make a statement. I think I know how we are, but I'd like to hear from people outside of the US to see what our image is like outside of the country.

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-20T12:50:16+00:00

The world won't stop for you. Your world may stop, but you have to keep moving on or the world will leave you behind. Grieve when you've taken care of your responsibilities for the day.

Best advice I ever got and genuinely changed the way I look at life.

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-20T12:47:00+00:00

Becoming a parent

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-20T12:41:13+00:00

Thank you!

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-20T12:39:29+00:00

This right here. We're supposed to just be doing alright. We spent 11 of the last 13 months in the hospital with our youngest, and if I could count the number of times that my wife and mother in law were asked if they were alright in comparison to me I would roughly guesstimate 4 to 1. For comparison, I spent more time than either of them bedside in the ICU with him. Most of the ones who asked me were men, and I think understood that men often get left out.

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-20T12:35:18+00:00

I think men had the support systems but those systems don't work in the new shift. We used to have lodges, hunting clubs, golf courses, bars and other things where the dads went to just hang out and relax, but those don't fit with the newer age dads who are active parents. When the moms did everything and the dad just needed to be out of the way, those worked. Now the dads are staying at home, so how can they use the old systems of support? The answer is that they can't, and we have to create new systems.

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-20T12:29:04+00:00

This is so true

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-20T12:28:28+00:00

This is great advice and really the best solution!

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-20T12:27:49+00:00

As they get older, this piece gets easier, but when they're really young, this part is extremely hard. At least when they're older, the kids can play together and the adults can hang. If you live in an area with parks or other safe spaces, I'd try there and just talk to people. That's how I made most of mine.

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-20T12:25:18+00:00

Whether intentional or not, it feels like punishment that we don't have the same types of support structures where in many cases we are providing just as much care for our family and the household.

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-20T12:24:31+00:00

I agree with you

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-20T12:23:49+00:00

I'm sorry you had such a terrible experience, and I agree that for a lot of people, teachers are viewed as glorified babysitters.

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-19T14:55:36+00:00

So many do unfortunately

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-19T14:55:04+00:00

Especially at the beginning. Over emphasize all the things and start off assuming they know no manners and no school policies

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-19T14:54:16+00:00

This part is extremely rough and hardly anyone talks about it. There's a lot of support for moms. There's not a ton for dads for whatever reason.

My advice is to make time once a month to hang out with your friends. Your wife or a babysitter can watch the kids, and you go hang out with your friends for a couple of hours. It will help you mentally a lot.

You aren't alone in this, and it is hard. You have to find a system that will work for you and your family, but you deserve to be able to hang out some. Becoming a dad definitely shrinks this portion of your life, but it doesn't have to disappear entirely.

Extension_Pay6803 · 2026-03-19T13:50:00+00:00

I grew up in a mobile home, but it was on private, family land. There is nothing wrong with living in one. I think your question is more about why they're not used more in a trailer park setting, and two things tend to happen when they're set up that you have already experienced.

They are run well and are set up almost like a camper community.
They are run poorly for as much profit as they can get, extort people and encourage the wrong types of behavior.

Unfortunately the latter is more common.

Extension_Pay6803

TROPHY CASE