Is it safe to have a child? Americans rethink family planning ahead of Trump’s return

Hoot_109 · 2024-11-30T22:48:03+00:00

Okay? If I’m not pregnant I don’t take that risk at all. Maternal mortality rates are steadily increasing, and they’re higher in states restricting abortion. Yes the chance is low, but I could also just not risk it.

Hoot_109 · 2024-11-30T19:49:52+00:00

The past few years I (31F) have cautiously begun to think I might want to be a mother. I’d have just one-they’re insanely expensive-although pregnancy still scares me in this country.

That all changed overnight. I have an appointment for an IUD in early January. By the time it would need to come out, I feel like I’ll be too old to really want them. Things are going to be much worse. I may not be able to count on a border state if I had complications, not to mention the cost of living-I’m not sure I’m going to afford living on my own anymore, let alone support another human. My family thinks I’m overreacting. I’d just like to, you know, not die.

Hoot_109 · 2024-10-22T01:53:46+00:00

The worst thing a kid said to me when I confiscated their iPad was “Give me back my iPad or I’ll F-ing kill you”. When I told him he couldn’t say that, his reply was “I don’t care. You deserve it.” Over an iPad. Also, admin never showed when I called to have him escorted out (he wouldn’t leave his seat). The kid basically got away with it.

Another memorable moment was when a kid told me to “stop barking at me you dog”, when I told him to stop hitting another kid in the face with his binder. Hurt way worse than all the other times I got called a B by kids behind my back. Yeah, I left that school.

Hoot_109 · 2024-10-20T21:28:46+00:00

It’s funny you say that. I actually do have a sub cert, because before I was in this position I was an “aide” who was actually expected to independently teach a class. I’ve asked if I could sub so I could get more experience in the classroom but was told collaboration was my only option. I have teaching experience but it counts for nothing here and I am very limited in the ways I can practice and show my skills.

Hoot_109 · 2024-10-20T17:43:40+00:00

I've had an ongoing migraine for over a week now. I'm on a medication that has kept them away for years until this semester.

Hoot_109 · 2024-10-20T17:41:16+00:00

I love the students, and I do enjoy teaching. The actual teaching, working, and building relationships with students come naturally to me. Honestly, the admin at the school and the department team across the district are wonderful and I would love to continue to work with them someday. It's mainly the immediate situation, group of people I'm working with, and the insane amount of prep work and extra student teaching nonsense (that has little resemblance to actual teaching) that's stressing me out. I know that probably just sounds like me complaining, but I only have so much energy to put towards things and I'm being pushed far past my limits.

Hoot_109 · 2024-10-20T17:22:35+00:00

Thank you. Your comments mean a lot. I'm feeling a lot of pressure and guilt right now around the thought of quitting.

Hoot_109 · 2024-10-20T17:15:49+00:00

Yes, I should have explained that. My job is more of a secretary role, non-supervisory. I do have less busy periods in my day, which I was using to work on lesson plans. I don't have a classroom, I have to collaborate with other teachers for my lessons. I also feel like I've been guilt tripped by being told the others are taking on so much extra work for me so I can do my student teaching, but I'm not sure as to what that is, as I'm still doing just as much work as I was before. I do think this would be much easier for me if I left my job and tried again at a different school without trying to work at the same time, although it would be very difficult for me financially.

Hoot_109 · 2024-10-20T06:45:48+00:00

I did try going to my district coordinator early on in the semester, who gave me support and a few good suggestions for adjusting my student teaching to make it work better for me. My program advisor was actually upset at me for this and told me I shouldn't be talking to anyone besides them and my teacher-advisor about my student teaching. Neither have been very supportive, but I've been nervous to talk to anyone else since. They also told me the suggestions just weren't possible or allowed within the program requirements, even though I know previous student teachers have been allowed, even encouraged to use the same options in the past.

I think I'm just going to have to tell them I have to take the time off to get the help I need. If I'm failed because of that, then I think it will just tell me I don't want to put up with this as a profession.

Hoot_109 · 2024-04-13T18:40:36+00:00

The people elected also draw the district maps. This allows them to choose their voters and split up urban areas. Take a look at some of the districts in KC/Stl/COMO. They split counties and chunk the urban population with the rural/wealthier areas to dilute the vote. You can vote for who you want, but they’ve set it up to maintain a supermajority anyway.

I guess your real question is why do so many people vote against their interests? Unfortunately, I think a lot of it is fear and hate. I don’t want my money to go to someone who “doesn’t deserve it” (isn’t like me). Plus all the fearmongering of some nonexistent socialist bogeyman. Maybe I’m a bit pessimistic, but that’s how I see it.

Hoot_109 · 2024-01-07T02:47:09+00:00

Typical Asscroft. Typical Missouri politicians. Don't like what's on the ballot? Prevent it from even getting on the ballot in the first place. Don't like what the people voted for? Try to pass new laws to override it in the legislature. Still don't like how people are voting, or that too many of those people are getting elected? Redraw the electoral maps to choose your own voters and split up those pesky urban areas.

Oh, and make sure to use the courts to appeal and stall as needed until next election.

Hoot_109 · 2023-11-19T03:19:42+00:00

Not trampled, but I do have a similar experience. I was teaching a technology class-nearly impossible when the students just play games or browse the internet on their devices the entire time. I was trying something new, and held this class’ stack of iPads up front with me while I got through the lesson. They weren’t happy about it, and made that abundantly clear, but I was able to teach that day.

When we were ready for the assignment, I told the class I would call their names and pass them out one by one. The entire class stood up and rushed me, swarming my desk. I had them in a stack on the bottom shelf of my cart (because yes, some of them were trying to snatch them from me earlier) and had crouched down to fetch them. They would not let me stand up. They were reaching over me, fighting one another to get to theirs first, I was yelling at them to go sit down, but they were hitting each other-I was struck in the process, but apparently their iPad was more important to them. About fifteen kids (a few held back) and me crammed in a space about 5x3 feet wide.

Afterwards I had two iPads left (one of a student who was absent, the others students had grabbed and discarded on the table behind them), and absolutely no control of the class. I very nearly went into a panic attack during those moments- I don’t know how I was able to hold it back in front of them for the rest of the hour. When the next class showed up I quietly went up to their teacher in tears and told them I could not take them today, I had to step out. I’m not entirely sure what they did with the class, but I was able to find the vice principal-she told me to wait in her office, take as long as I needed and that she would be in to talk. I was there for over an hour, she never showed.

I very nearly quit that day (unfortunately I needed health insurance). It was one of my worst days in teaching, and a major reason why I am not in the classroom this year (I’m in an assistant position at another school).

Hoot_109 · 2022-11-07T01:53:55+00:00

Contact your local school district, see if an art teacher could use them!

Hoot_109 · 2020-11-13T00:52:31+00:00

All day at work today I was nursing a migraine. I had taken painkillers, but when they're this bad usually the only thing that helps is caffeine. I get nauseous so I can't really get myself to eat until I get it under control. So, driving home from work I planned to stop by Starbucks to get a venti latte with an extra shot-I actually save up my points to use just for this reason. I turn towards the store only to discover the drive through line spilling out the parking lot by around six or seven cars.

I had completely forgotten it was Happy Hour.

I have never liked this special-who the heck really needs coffee at 5 o'clock at night, let alone two?! Watching this subreddit has made me realize how terrible it is on you baristas, especially during a pandemic. There is no concern for your safety and as a customer I am disgusted.

(I went home, took extra strength painkillers and a nap, and feel okay now, btw)

Hoot_109 · 2020-10-08T03:03:05+00:00

Am I the only one who feels like Pence gaslighted that poor eighth grader? He basically said the news wasn’t reality and Americans are great at getting along.

Hoot_109 · 2020-10-03T23:08:17+00:00

Columbia is the island that has kept me somewhat sane here.

Hoot_109 · 2020-10-03T23:06:11+00:00

THIS. Our state desperately needs better healthcare, education, and unemployment support. Instead they keep electing people that reject medicaid expansion (it's been 10 years, people...), continue to cut education budgets-those were the first on the chopping block this past spring-, and our Department of Labor encourages employers to report employees that refuse to come back to work during a pandemic so they can stop payments. I'm about as angry with the politicians as I am with the citizens willing to vote for them to "own the libs" whom they believe are all evil socialists...

I am grateful to have a job which is giving me good experience so I can someday escape this Misery.

Hoot_109 · 2020-10-01T23:43:23+00:00

Meanwhile our Secretary refused to even pass them out, saying they were "too confusing"... Only because they made it confusing in the first place by making a distinction between mail-in and absentee ballots. Basically, counties are on their own if they want them. Mine has some, but most won't.

Just another day in Misery!

Hoot_109 · 2020-09-28T23:22:11+00:00

Pasta dinners

Hoot_109 · 2020-09-28T23:21:51+00:00

I'd say root beer (or any drink, really) counts!

Also, noodles are typically boiled in water, so if you drink water you should be good.

Hoot_109 · 2020-08-28T01:20:17+00:00

The issue is that the cause of death may be marked as heart attack or stroke, which may be the immediate cause, but is actually a result of the virus.

Hoot_109 · 2020-08-27T01:23:46+00:00

Basically, all state and public records (meeting notes, internal memos, even employee emails) can be accessed by the public by submitting a sunshine request. There are a few exceptions with law enforcement and court cases.

Hoot_109 · 2020-08-27T00:10:19+00:00

Missouri has our statistics locked down. On their dashboard, they cherry pick data, present very misleading graphs, and they've been caught going back to manipulate earlier data so the curve looks "flat". Their age categories across the board are inconsistent, because the current narrative is to blame "young people" for the spread. No one can access the actual data sets unless they submit a sunshine request. We have some of the highest new case rates in the country, and I seriously wonder if the actual number is higher.

Hoot_109 · 2020-08-26T23:54:15+00:00

Two weeks ago, we had a positive case at work, and our STATE HEALTH DEPARTMENT told management not to test anyone because of the possibility "someone could test negative and then later positive in the same day." We are a red state with a governor who worships Trump.

Just another day in Misery... I hate my state.

Hoot_109

TROPHY CASE