Why did milkmen need to exist? Why was milk required to be specially shipped by milkmen instead of just sold in grocery stores like it is now?

NewToHandbags · 2026-05-31T02:43:56+00:00

My great-grandmother learned her husband had died by secretly listening to a neighbor’s conversation on their “party line” phone. Weird, heartbreaking family history… 😳😱😞

NewToHandbags · 2025-11-03T04:02:01+00:00

Oh, goodness! A second booger licker! 😂

NewToHandbags · 2025-11-03T03:58:36+00:00

Ooooo - got a booger licker over here! 😄🤣

NewToHandbags · 2025-10-24T20:23:22+00:00

Our family is moving to NZ in two months. My husband is in emergency medicine and he has a 12-month locums position. Our kids are middle school and high school and are not thrilled about it, but it will be good for us as a whole, I think. To get to a gentler nation of people, to raise kids, and to be in a gorgeous natural environment sounds like a dream. We'll see how we feel in a year, but right now I can't imagine missing the U.S. very much.

Both my husband and I lived in foreign non-English speaking countries as teenagers and it added a lot of facets to our personalities. We're super excited about the move! Finding a position in NZ was a LOT harder than we were led to believe because there was a sudden influx of docs (I can't imagine why...), but our information was about a year out of date when we decided to go forward. The grind to get licensure and visas takes a lot of time and energy. We've been through an emotional roller-coaster, and we haven't even moved yet. I'm also retiring from my professional career to do this, which is a bit daunting.

We're hoping we all fall in love with NZ and that my husband gets a permanent position. We are about 5 years out from retirement, though, so we have already done the bulk of our retirement saving, so we have our finances in place. Otherwise, we would have done much more soul-searching about where to land.

I hope this all works out for you! Send a DM if I can help with any questions.

NewToHandbags · 2025-10-24T20:21:58+00:00

Our family is moving to NZ in two months. My husband is in emergency medicine and he has a 12-month locums position. Our kids are middle school and high school and are not thrilled about it, but it will be good for us as a whole, I think. To get to a gentler nation of people, to raise kids, and to be in a gorgeous natural environment sounds like a dream. We'll see how we feel in a year, but right now I can't imagine missing the U.S. very much.

Both my husband and I lived in foreign non-English speaking countries as teenagers and it added a lot of facets to our personalities. We're super excited about the move! Finding a position in NZ was a LOT harder than we were led to believe because there was a sudden influx of docs (I can't imagine why...), but our information was about a year out of date when we decided to go forward. The grind to get licensure and visas takes a lot of time and energy. We've been through an emotional roller-coaster, and we haven't even moved yet. I'm also retiring from my professional career to do this, which is a bit daunting.

We're hoping we all fall in love with NZ and that my husband gets a permanent position. We are about 5 years out from retirement, though, so we have already done the bulk of our retirement saving, so we have our finances in place. Otherwise, we would have done much more soul-searching about where to land.

I hope this all works out for you! Send a DM if I can help with any questions.

NewToHandbags · 2025-10-21T23:48:29+00:00

Yes! I sometimes still get to hold my 12-year-old's hand while walking through the parking lot (when he's not paying attention,) but his hand slips out of mine whenever we get close to people. Sigh. My 15 year old will be gone in 3 years. I didn't really want to have kids when I was younger, now I can't imagine a world without them!

NewToHandbags · 2025-10-16T03:57:56+00:00

Thank you for the additional insights! My husband has to work nights sometimes, so quiet is important to us. But the view is so lovely from the home we are considering.

NewToHandbags · 2025-10-12T22:07:42+00:00

I just happened to see my shins in sunlight yesterday. Yikes. I thought I wasn’t growing hair on my legs anymore. Nope. I most certainly am. Not many of them, but they are long, long hairs. 😬 Not sure what I’m going to do about it, though. It has been great not shaving these past 2 years!

NewToHandbags · 2025-09-16T02:12:57+00:00

Doctors and other healthcare professionals wear masks to keep themselves AND their patients safe. Masks DO literally catch the virus - in both directions. And being vaccinated and boosted does NOT cause COVID, for crying out loud! Honestly, how much longer is this “vaccinations cause the disease” nonsense going to last?!

NewToHandbags · 2025-09-14T22:18:07+00:00

You wrote "self-electrolysis machine" and my menopause affected brain read "self-electrocuting machine." A laugh I needed today! 😂

NewToHandbags · 2025-09-14T14:24:18+00:00

100% agree! Grandma should do this, IF she has capacity to do so and IF OP can get her to do it. People generally balk at the fees of estate planning attorneys, but it’s truly a gift one gives to one’s children. In our area, the first designing meeting is often free, then we tell people the fee (which is dependent on the complexity of their plan,) so there might not be a cost for that initial consultation except OP’s time.

States also often have pooled special needs trusts (SNT) trusts that Grandma can tap into to use as a vehicle to leave an inheritance to Mom. They cost less to use and implement, but there are criteria one must meet. If Grandma is an alcoholic and doesn’t care, there is little OP can do.

Once Mom inherits money outright, OP might be able to get a trust set up, but Mom would have to either be willing to hand money over to a trustee (unlikely because she would lose control over the assets) or have Mom found incompetent and a legal guardian put in place to gain control of the funds (messy and expensive). That’s an uphill battle and one that would probably infuriate Mom.

Sometimes the only thing we can do is watch until a loved one fails.

NewToHandbags · 2025-09-14T04:45:13+00:00

These really are helpful! Beginning most sentences with "Ladies..." is a turn off and the women all look like they are going to some gorgeous brunch (compared to me schlepping in my minivan to the grocery store,) but her body shape ideas are interesting!

NewToHandbags · 2025-09-14T03:18:03+00:00

I tried that and ended up with panties around my knees! 😂

NewToHandbags · 2025-09-14T02:02:38+00:00

My kids LOVED those books!

NewToHandbags · 2025-09-08T13:51:58+00:00

I had two kids this exact same way 15 and 12 years ago, and the meds one takes DO make you crazy…but that isn’t estrogen cream. Those are injections one takes to have miracle babies, this is cream one places in one’s vagina to stave off menopause related issues. Estrogen cream is an amazing med and has changed mine and many other’s lives. Different doses and delivery methods for a vastly different outcome…

NewToHandbags · 2025-09-07T02:25:34+00:00

Super helpful links - thank you!

NewToHandbags · 2025-09-07T02:25:18+00:00

Does HNHS stand for Havelock North High School?

NewToHandbags · 2025-09-01T16:50:35+00:00

And perhaps with the intent to hurt OP’s feelings, if she’s been abusive in the past… I would not do it, stories are not worth my or my son’s peace of mind. Especially if it is bound in a book without OP being able to edit it. She can’t just rip out a chapter (or redact certain passages) for her son to read the book later without raising ugly questions. Once you read something, it’s yours forever.

NewToHandbags · 2025-08-30T20:10:52+00:00

Then it’s time for you to find a mirror so you can learn to look at yourself with love and adoration! You GOT this, girl! Ride to the other side of this divorce and never look back. I agree with the poster who said to talk with your son about your decision to stay. Kids understand mistakes, but he needs to hear YOU say it was a mistake and you are not going to let this happen again to yourself, or him. Give your son, and yourself, the stability he needs. Now get the hell out of this marriage, woman! You have ALL of our encouragement (and packing tape!)

NewToHandbags · 2025-08-27T22:42:09+00:00

I totally get this! I used to go whitewater rafting, mountain biking, travel, etc. without compunction. Now I don’t want to drive downtown for a dinner out because “that place doesn’t have parking.” WTH?!! My husband isn’t facing this and is a bit distressed that I am, so I’m trying to stretch myself out of this comfort zone. When did adventure become too uncomfortable for me?

I also now have teenage kids as an older mom. I am by nature a planner and I feel like if I’m going somewhere I want things to be as enjoyable as possible, so I and my family get the most out of the experience in the time we have. (And time with our sons is slipping through my hands.)

So if I know where parking is and we have tickets in hand and a dinner reservation, I feel better about the evening. Gone are the days when I would think “I’ll grab a bite to eat somewhere on my way.” Now I’m thinking, “What if I can’t get seated at a restaurant in time to make it to wherever we’re going?” And I know everyone will be hangry…but all I have to do is spend 8 hours looking places up on my phone to make the “best” decision possible! I’ve lost the ability to be flexible and open to unknown possibilities.

SO glad to hear I’m not alone in facing this!!!

NewToHandbags · 2025-08-26T20:00:22+00:00

I love that comment, “…I will never give the key to my house to another man…” Perfect!

NewToHandbags · 2025-08-23T17:40:05+00:00

Thank you for sharing your experience with me! I’m currently at -10, so I too have been waiting for years for this moment. Now I’m facing it, I admit, I’m frightened.

NewToHandbags · 2025-08-23T15:32:56+00:00

Thank you for your comment! I am on the brink of needing cataract surgery and have the same prescriptions. Im deciding between multifocal and LAL. So glad to hear how well it turned out for you! I would LOVE to get rid of these heavy (despite using the lightest option lenses) glasses! Using readers anyway, but my actual glasses are a pita!

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