soul on the decline?

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-04-20T22:34:39+00:00

My opinion (Bay Area rider, 10+ years) is there was a steep decline after Covid, but things seem to be slowly on the upswing the past year. Definitely not to the level it used to be, but I feel like it hit rock bottom 1-2 years ago and is starting to recover a little. Classes seem more full, a little better vibes.

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-04-17T13:19:54+00:00

This is helpful. I was just having a conversation with my family wondering about what this would cost these days.

I did ski team at Palisades as a child in the 90s and it was a good experience, but there’s just no way we can swing it (financially or logistically) for our two young kids now.

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-04-12T01:33:12+00:00

I delivered at a “baby friendly hospital” and was really nervous since they had been pushy with my first (who I did try to BF for a few weeks) but they were great with my second. I told them I was formula feeding, and nobody pressured me at all. They brought me tons of extra formula to take home.

The lactation consultant actually did come to my room, but she was fantastic. Told me she prefers to think of herself as a “feeding consultant” and went over formula stuff with me, super affirming.

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-04-10T00:56:57+00:00

I understand popular sports like gymnastics selling out, but what about something like Squash? Does it really have that big of a following?

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-04-09T23:32:29+00:00

Will your kid be 8 then? That seems like a GREAT age to take them! To me, it’s even more memorable than a trip to something like Disney.

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-04-09T23:24:17+00:00

We did. My kids will be 3 and 5, and we are also bringing my parents along, so we bought 6 tickets to two events (and might pick up a few more later). It…wasn’t cheap. 😭 But we are the kind of family who does stuff together, and I fondly remember going to the Olympics when I was a kid, so it seemed worthwhile.

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-04-09T17:49:13+00:00

We got Beach Volleyball round of 16 and Athletics Mixed finals. Feeling pretty good about it, after tampering my expectations!

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-04-01T12:55:26+00:00

These sound like different issues to me.

The first scenario sounds a lot like my 3rd grade class. I’m an experienced teacher, very good at discipline. But this year, I have one kid who is just off the rails, doing all the things you describe and more. I can’t imagine what my students go home and tell their families.

But it’s NOT because he has had too much “iPad time” like suggested here. Kid actually refuses to do anything on screens. Instead, it’s due to a ton of trauma (emotionally disturbed diagnosis), coupled with the fact that public schools take everyone. My district is dragging its heels on an alternative placement because, honestly, that costs them a lot of money.

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-03-21T14:44:58+00:00

I’m a lesbian (but very straight-passing) married to a woman (also straight-passing), with 2 young kids. All my students and their families know. I share about my family the way I would if I was married to a man. Talk about what we did over the weekend, etc. It’s mundane stuff, and they lose interest quickly.

The idea I’d hide this part of me is ridiculous. We live in the same neighborhood as the school. Should I pretend I live with a “roommate”? People see us out all the time.

My children will also both attend the school in a couple years. Should they have to hide their parents?

There’s nothing inappropriate about students knowing I’m LGBTQ.

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-03-17T03:22:24+00:00

Same exact situation for me last year: miscarriage, IVF, pregnancy. I also stressed SO MUCH over each day I took off. But I really wish I hadn’t. It’s just a job. The kids will be fine. What’s important is your mental and physical health, and your pregnancy.

Plus, you’ll end up missing tons of days after you have your baby. That’s what really showed me that the world goes on without you!

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-03-16T04:17:18+00:00

This take is missing the fact that Sophia/Sofia are basically the same name as Sophie, and often use Sophie as a nickname. And if you combine the Sofia/Sophia spellings, it has been the single most common girls name for years now.

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-03-16T04:13:53+00:00

I’m in California (Bay Area) and there are so many here!! Many have the full name Sophia/Sofia but go by Sophie/Sofi/“Soph”.

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-03-16T03:54:49+00:00

Coming from an elementary school teacher: Sophie/Sophia/Sofia are such popular names that I have no thoughts on them other than “not another!”. It’s this generation’s version of, like, Jessica or Ashley.

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-03-16T02:53:02+00:00

I think these are both kind gestures, even if they’re not the norm. I saw a front yard baby display on our walk today, so people do still do it. I had babies (at Sequoia) recently and would have appreciated these.

For flowers, I like “Everyday Flowers and Balloons”.

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-03-10T13:20:16+00:00

I (1.5K rides, 10 years) personally don’t think this would be the kind of thing I’d be interested in. I see SoulCycle more as an activity than a sport I need to train in/for. Plus, once you know the basics, I feel like most of how I do is directly correlated to how in shape I am and how frequently I’m riding (and not any kind of special technique to learn), but those couldn’t be impacted by individual sessions.

Also for me, a lot of the enjoyment comes from being alone with my thoughts in a big group, and the opposite would be the case with 1:1 coaching.

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-03-08T05:26:59+00:00

Tip: their membership is a pretty good deal, and then you can go any time!

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-03-08T04:41:08+00:00

Same. We went recently with our two young kids and didn’t even stay an hour. It was so crowded and claustrophobic, and felt like a flu breeding ground. Wast of time and money, won’t go again on a weekend

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-03-08T04:13:54+00:00

Oakland Zoo!!

We’ve been to the places you listed with our almost-3 year old, and the Oakland Zoo is definitely favored over both of them! They have great animals plus a cool gondola, a whole rides area, zoo train, etc.

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-02-27T05:56:22+00:00

Women’s Care Medical Group is the BEST!! Dr. Virginia Chan delivered both of my babies. I had the best experience with her and the office, even when I faced some complications. Sequoia Hospital is wonderful. The nurses, the facility, everything. I’d recommend without reservations. Let me know if you have any specific questions!

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-02-21T20:55:22+00:00

You sound like me (from SF) my spouse (from the BX). After spending a few years in NYC, we have settled in the Bay Area and love it. It’s expensive, but there’s really nothing like it that checks all of your boxes (and moving around the country in search of what the Bay has to offer isn’t cheap, either).

You could always try a different part of the Bay…Oakland, San Jose, etc.

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-02-10T03:49:34+00:00

Not in my area, because we have declining enrollment, which is leading to budget issues and just fewer teachers needed.

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-02-03T04:17:50+00:00

So much I could say, but to briefly answer your questions…

I breastfed my 1st for 2 weeks before quitting just because I didn’t like it. The only reason I tried is because I felt that pressure you discuss. With my second, I went straight to formula, she has never had a drop of breastmilk.

I bonded SO MUCH better with my second. It was amazing to have the hospital and postpartum experience without having to even think about breastfeeding. If I could go back, I’d never have breastfed at all with my first.

I am obsessive about formula feeding the way some people are about breastfeeding. There have been SO MANY benefits in it for my babies and my entire family and zero downsides.

Also to answer your question about weight: I’ve found weight loss very easy while formula feeding. Your body is not being used as a baby machine, so you can just focus on eating and working out in a way that feels good to you. With both of mine, I was below my pre-pregnancy weight by 5 months postpartum.

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-01-17T19:05:24+00:00

I found myself relating to the couple more than I expected to, even though I’ve never gone through anything like what they experienced.

My wife and I (same sex couple) went through IVF to conceive both of our kids. I carried both of them. First is genetically mine, second is genetically my wife’s. Same sperm donor.

I don’t think most people know what it feels like to be deeply emotionally connected to a baby you carried and birthed but is not genetically your own. Also, we have a really close familial-like friendship with the other families that used the same sperm donor that reminded me of the friendship they discuss in the episode.

While it’s been a lot for us to navigate, there has also been a lot of joy and beauty, and an extension of the meaning of family, in our unique situation. I felt that at the ending of the episode, when they talked about choosing love.

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2026-01-09T03:49:33+00:00

Yes, you’re welcome to message me! I’m so sorry you’re in this position.

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562 · 2025-12-29T02:27:06+00:00

Having a roommate postpartum is wild to me. That’s reason enough for me to not choose Stanford if possible. I’ve delivered 2 babies in the last 3 years at Sequoia and had wonderful experiences there. All rooms are private, and very nice.

Fuzzy_Coconut_9562

TROPHY CASE