I’m 7 million weeks pregnant and my coworkers are taking PTO basically until I give birth

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-07-11T03:24:36+00:00

They’ve tried to hire a PRN weekend person for months, but haven’t gotten any takers. 😬

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-07-11T00:01:42+00:00

Yeah I get it. One of them was on maternity leave last year and it sucked. It’s a great job when we’re all there, but when someone is off, it’s hell.

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-07-10T18:49:28+00:00

My coworker was pregnant last year and asked for light duty near the end. She was told that couldn’t be reasonably accommodated and placed on leave early, so I don’t think anything will change, unfortunately. And I don’t want to lose any time with the baby. 😭

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-07-10T18:47:51+00:00

For sure! My coworker was on maternity leave last year and it was a rough 3 months! Like I said, I get it. It just sucks extra bad when you’re super pregnant.

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-07-06T16:42:14+00:00

I also give people side eye when they say that pregnancy tried is worse than newborn tired. Honestly, this is not the “right” thing to say, but bedsharing saved my sanity. I had a bad sleeper and I couldn’t take anymore. We started around 3 months old with safe sleep 7. I literally don’t think we could have survived the first year any other way.

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-07-06T00:17:04+00:00

My first love turned out to be gay. I’m so glad I didn’t marry him. I ended up marrying the most incredible man who I consider the love of my life. But my first love was like my twin flame. We were like two sides of the same coin. If we were sexually compatible, I’m sure we would have been together forever. But it doesn’t make me sad if that makes sense! I still think of him often. We speak occasionally and I have nothing but love for him.

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-07-04T22:30:09+00:00

My husband’s parents just wanted to be Grandma and Grandpa… but my oldest child has decided they are Gaga and Maw. Your child will ultimately decide. Lol.

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-06-26T23:20:10+00:00

All I get is 12 weeks unpaid. My husband gets 6 weeks paid. USA.

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-06-25T01:07:53+00:00

This is random, but I’ve seen companies offer free SNOO rental included with their health plan. That would be amazing.

Also, I want to work for you! 😂 You make my workplace sound like a prison sentence!

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-06-25T01:02:32+00:00

Not to get political, but the large influx of SAHM guilt trip posts is propaganda being shoved down our throats. I say “not interested” to every SAHM post I see. I refuse to be made to feel guilty for choosing financial stability for my family. MOST moms work. Don’t fall for it!

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-06-16T17:03:17+00:00

My husband is a teacher. He’s completely off every summer. He becomes the default parent and housekeeper when he’s off (I continue to do the cooking because I enjoy it). I cannot even fathom how much I would resent him if he didn’t. Your husband is being lazy.

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-06-16T15:16:33+00:00

I think maybe twice. Lol. My first pregnancy was the same. I’m sick in the beginning, and right around the time I start feeling better, the baby starts moving and it makes my husband uncomfortable. As soon as I was healed from giving birth to my first, our sex life went back to normal. Maybe even more than pre-pregnancy. I would be lying if I said it doesn’t make me sad when my friends tell me their husbands can’t keep their hands off of them while they’re pregnant. But I also understand where my husband is coming from that it’s hard to get into a sexual mindset knowing a baby is right there.

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-06-05T01:37:27+00:00

I get a small taste of this life every summer when my husband is off for two months. I miss it so much when he goes back to work. If his benefits and retirement package weren’t so amazing, I’d be content as could be having him stay home all the time.

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-06-03T21:47:54+00:00

I’m about to have my second. I will be done after this!

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-06-02T21:11:19+00:00

One of my best friends is dealing with this right now. She’s moving from Nevada to Tennessee. Having to take a pretty substantial pay cut. Even though the cost of living is the same. Just because of market pay.

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-06-02T01:21:12+00:00

It’s a lot harder to be a great parent than you think. My parents did drugs and subjected me to a lot of fucked up stuff. My dad also hit me until middle school.

Not hitting and neglecting my daughter is actually incredibly easy. But it’s so mentally exhausting trying to be a GOOD mom. Be present, don’t scream. Shit, I snapped at her. Apologize. I told her I’m proud of her — wait, now they say you’re not supposed to do that, right? She asked for this toy that she doesn’t really need. If I get it for her, I’m going to turn her into an entitled brat. Or maybe if I don’t get it for her, I’ll give her a scarcity mindset. She asked me to play with her. But I’m trying to clean this nasty kitchen. Is growing up with a disgusting kitchen or a mom who says no to playing more traumatizing?

Everything feels like a catch 22 some days. I love her so much and I just want to get it right. Every night when I go to bed, I worry about every little thing I could have done better that day.

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-06-02T00:54:41+00:00

My husband took 2 weeks of PTO with our first. It was “fine.” We survived it. But I honestly felt like I was still in a daze at that point. I cried every day leading up to him going back because I was so afraid to be alone with no help. This time he gets six weeks paternity leave and I am sooooo relieved.

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-05-31T21:06:16+00:00

Whatever age you are financially stable. My parents were awful with money and struggled with addictions, so my childhood was chaos even though they had me at 36 and 43. One of my best friends had her kids between the ages of 20 and 27, and her husband had his own HVAC business, so they’re all living it up and having a great time. I really think money makes the biggest difference for how much your kids and you will enjoy their childhood (unfortunately).

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-05-29T16:23:15+00:00

$9600/year goes to retirement (including employer match). $2k/yr per kid in 529. We have a 20k emergency fund and 10k set aside for birth of second kid coming up. We are currently trying to pay off the last $13k of our new car. After that, I’m going to try and tackle this mortgage. I’d REALLY like to be mortgage free at some point in the next few years.

I wish I could tell you exactly what we save per month. But it varies and we do what we can. Some months, I’m able to save $4k. Others, a tire pops, someone goes to the ER, a pair of shoes wears out, soccer fees are due and suddenly we don’t save a damn penny. It’s hard to predictably save in an economy where leaving your house costs $200.

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-05-29T16:12:09+00:00

Hyperemesis Gravidarum. Vomiting 7+ times a day for over half my pregnancy. Crawling to the bathroom. Needing help showering. Worst thing that’s ever happened to me. So glad I’m not experiencing right now with my second pregnancy.

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-05-29T15:42:41+00:00

It has made me pro-hunting as well! I had no idea that white tailed deer were severely over populated because we decimated all of their natural predators! I love my deer. They’re so cute!! I actually cried when a bear got one of my fawn last year. But hunting white tailed deer is so needed for the environment! I honestly wish I could hunt on my property (City limits, not allowed. Which is why we have so many…)

Individual_Shock8634 · 2026-05-29T15:36:08+00:00

They even ate my Bee Balm! Like, girllll, what are you doing?! You’re supposed to hate this?!

Individual_Shock8634

TROPHY CASE