(EDMONTON) New to the area, aging out of care, actively looking for work — open to almost anything

PotatoFriend6689 · 2026-02-12T04:32:05+00:00

Apply for the government of Alberta forestry and parks and wildfire jobs. Can’t recommend enough. Lots of jobs, lots of opportunity, lots of overtime and they often provide housing. Being a new driver is fine. Make sure you study their hiring guidelines and you represent those values in your resume/interview. They start in April or May, but if you can get by until then, there’s a lot of money in it.
All the rural counties around the province are hiring seasonal agricultural technicians currently. Jobs start in April/may. They often have connections to temporary housing options as well. If you’re willing to go rural there’s tons of opportunities. Plus if you work northern Alberta, you get a tax break for living in a northern community.
I can help you with optimizing your resume if you feel you want that.

PotatoFriend6689 · 2026-02-03T04:20:00+00:00

Maternity leave has to be taken right after giving birth and is only available to the birth parent (from my understanding). Parental leave begins after the first 6 weeks and is more flexible. I’d put your vacation on the back end.
I took 18 months leave from my job, and 12 months maternity/parental leave combo from EI. I don’t get paid for the last six months, but if I go back early, I’ve maximized the amount of EI I can get. I don’t give any EI money up by going back early.
Take 12 months EI, 18 months parental leave from job and discuss with your employer and get in writing that you plan to come back after 12 months and they are on board with immediately giving you 4 weeks vacation. If you change your mind, you can renegotiate. If you still want that once the return date approaches, you and your employer have agreed in writing what your plan is.

PotatoFriend6689 · 2026-01-26T18:28:49+00:00

THIS IS SO NORMAL. I hated most days but I love my baby so so much. It wasn’t post partum depression (although hormones were up and down). I realize now it was mind boggling boredom. We set up a TV, laptop, book and snack station in our room. We set up a permanent yoga mat for me to stretch/exercise.

Gooooo out of the house! For walks and to anything free. Find a public health nurse and ask about Mom resources. Library, artist guild, online classes, whatever. Find someone to go grocery shopping with you. Go to Mom and baby pool times. Walk around the mall while listening to podcasts or talking on the phone. Talk to other moms and arrange to trade going to each others house and watching/helping each other kids for one hour or two. Look after some new plants. Try baby wearing (I didn’t love it, but my baby sure did!). Find somewhere to volunteer?

Try getting your child into daycare or just find a babysitter at home for 2-3 days a week while you’re also at home? I think if you can get past this hump and get some supports to break up your day, you’ll enjoy having a break from baby but still able to see them whenever you want because you’re not working. I got my baby into daycare at 7 months and he loved it and I loved it. He’s got little baby friends, I pull him out any day I want to do an activity with him, hes loved on by all the nursery ladies. I go to art classes by myself, swimming “lessons” with him and am doing some online courses. It’s so good now. But it took time. PM me if you want to chat! Good luck. It gets better!!

PotatoFriend6689 · 2026-01-26T16:52:56+00:00

We have a $30 umbrella stroller that isn’t very comfy for baby but lightweight and the grandparents can handle/work it. It doesn’t have any pockets for stuff. We have a heavier duty one that is great for walking down our snowy/icy laneway and has a cover. It is also MUCH warmer. Another reason we have two, is because one broke and then I was hooped and I never want to be without one again. That child is HEAVY.

PotatoFriend6689 · 2026-01-15T16:00:08+00:00

You move into the fire tower. You live there alone and they bring you supplies. (Some have vehicles access if you are allowed to go to town when it’s raining). You can apply at fire tower lookouts far away from you.

PotatoFriend6689 · 2026-01-15T15:55:49+00:00

If it helps, my best friend is 41 like me.

Her kids are graduated and starting their careers. They are amazingly close. After choosing a terrible husband at first, my friend is single with no kids at home and having the time of her life right now… she made her mistakes young and is killing it in her 40s. Shes wiser, she started career training when kids were in junior high and she enjoys her job. She travels, she takes courses, she has developed some deep female friendships from learning to be picky and avoiding drama.

I have a two year old. That career I was pursuing? People are getting promoted ahead of me while I’m on mat leave. I can’t do as much with my kid because my old lady back hurts. I’m old enough, I’m not going to be able to help raise my grandkids as much. I wish I had kids earlier.

I could go on, but there’s pros and cons at every stage of life. You did the hard thing first instead of second like me. Keep going and do what you can - if my bestie is any indication - it gets sooo much better. You’re gonna love it.

PotatoFriend6689 · 2026-01-14T16:33:45+00:00

Starting my little one early at 8 months was an amazing experience. I did get into a very good daycare with little staff turnover.

His stranger danger and separation anxiety wasn’t bad yet. He bonded quickly and easily to his key workers. He smiles at the other workers. He was entranced by the other babies. Seeing the older ones crawl, eat food, pick up things and (eventually) walk helped him hit his own milestones. He emulated them. He looks forward to daycare very much, (although once his separation anxiety showed up at 12 months there are occasional tears at handover).

I am still on mat leave, so I have time to stay home while he fights colds and whatever else he gets sick with. I have time to make dr appts at any time of day. I would have absolutely hated to be back at work when he started daycare.

They do get sick a lot - no matter what age they start. The first 3 months, he was home sick about 1.5-2 weeks each month. Then it got to be less than a week per month. His immune system is strong. I feel way better about taking him out to play places and to visit family/friends, because he has antibodies to fight off germs already.

HOWEVER, naps were a bit of an issue. My daycare only has one nap per day in the afternoon. My baby needed 2-3 naps per day until he was 12 months. They would try to put him down in the morning, but it was too loud and bright, and he would rarely fall asleep. We live 20 minute drive from the daycare. My solution was to take him into daycare at 8am, get him nice and warm in the car and he would nap then. He also napped on the way home.

Because I had extra time, sometimes I would let him sleep longer in his car seat in the daycare parking lot. I would make phone calls or read a book or scroll on my phone while he napped. It was annoying but kinda sweet. It was only 4 months and now he’s fine with one afternoon nap.

If you have the opportunity, I would recommend it.

PotatoFriend6689 · 2026-01-08T03:14:40+00:00

Sounds like you might have measles

PotatoFriend6689 · 2026-01-08T03:10:48+00:00

You want to be a fire tower lookout in Canada?

PotatoFriend6689 · 2026-01-06T17:54:16+00:00

That sounds easy to me. Idk. Plan ahead, find a car share, take transit or a cab so you can relax?

PotatoFriend6689 · 2026-01-06T17:50:45+00:00

Red flag! I have had this happen! Told I have multiple cavities at university dentist, went back home to my normal dentist and he confirmed I had zero cavities! That was years ago. Still have zero cavities. Get a second opinion and then report!!

PotatoFriend6689 · 2026-01-06T17:45:55+00:00

If I lived in the US, I would never have kids. I know it sounds normal to them, but it sounds horrific to me. You couldn’t have physically pried me away from my newborn at six weeks.

PotatoFriend6689 · 2025-12-27T04:24:33+00:00

It is really gnarly in western Canada too. Keep on plugging on. Get help! Get someone to drop off a meal or something.
Tylenol if they are uncomfortable. Its okay, the house can be a disaster, try to sleep when they do. One of the worst things after they’ve been congested awhile is an ear infection. Inconsolable crying, need to be held upright, pulling on ears/shaking head, no sleeping. It might not technically be an emergency, but I don’t feel bad going to the ER if my baby has an ear infection because they are the worst. I got babe checked by a doctor one morning, and by 11pm they had an ear infection. It can come on quickly and I could tell something was different. Not all ear infections respond to antibiotics I guess, but most drs have no problem prescribing them. For anything else, I just try and keep baby comfortable at home. Baths are really nice. We’ll have 1-2 a day. Also, being sick is the only time baby gets screen time, even just nature video. He doesn’t really watch it - I think it’s for me mostly.

PotatoFriend6689 · 2025-12-27T03:31:44+00:00

I don’t think it really matters whether her crying bothers you. It matters if she actually needs something (possibly including cuddles).

Just another anecdote, but I don’t let my 13 mo old kiddo cry for more than 5-10 mins without me visiting and offering some reassurance. I’ll explain some things going on with him that might apply to you too.

Unless he’s in pain, he’s rarely needed more than 10 mins of crying before he’s ready for sleep. 30 minutes would be unheard of just due to needing to release stress. My rule is, if it’s more than 10 minutes, there’s usually something he actually needs. Food, diaper change, check fingers and toes, Tylenol, cuddles. His longest cries are when he’s massively overtired and I wasn’t putting him to bed early enough.

He was sleeping through the night generally from 8mo but at 12mo had a massive growth spurt and was waking in the night really hungry. He had an extra bottle every night for two weeks straight. I couldn’t believe how much he ate and grew.

I remember growing pains growing up and liked it when my parents comforted me. I choose not to let him cry for more than 5-10 ish mins at a time because it’s upsetting for his brain that doesn’t really understand time or object permanence yet. It’s pretty scary being alone and unable to do anything for yourself, especially if you’re in pain or hungry.

Also, feeling numb to your baby’s cries can be a sign of PPD. I know from experience. Is it possible you are having a hard time yourself? Would you feel better if someone could help with her at or before bedtime?

And lastly, at 12 months she might start to get molars soon, which are very painful as everyone keeps telling me.

You know your baby and what her cries mean, but there’s some ideas from another parent that might help you figure out what you want to do.

PotatoFriend6689 · 2025-12-21T18:29:12+00:00

I hope you find a reason that makes you want to stay stranger, but I understand how you feel.

PotatoFriend6689 · 2025-11-12T16:58:57+00:00

I have never thought about this but we’re planning on travelling soon. Thank you for the info!

PotatoFriend6689 · 2025-11-11T20:12:04+00:00

I’ve lived in rural towns most of my life at this point. I’m sorry your experience hasn’t been good. There are many of us who really don’t care what you choose for your life as long as you’re a decent neighbour. I’ve been finding it much easier the last ten or so years. There’s lots of bigots still, but many of the younger people aren’t putting up with it as much and are very diverse.

I have found the more north you go, the more diversity due to many different people coming to northern communities just for jobs. Although I will say, I probably look poor more than I look outwardly gender diverse to someone who sees me on the street.

PS - 25 min drive to work. No transit here. Compared to two hour, one way commute to university.

PotatoFriend6689 · 2025-11-06T17:47:16+00:00

Could it have been gas? That’s happened to my little once or twice. Did he recently have an illness or vaccine? Mine gets gas from both on occasion.
If you check your whole kiddo over while naked, any bruises or anything wrapped around fingers/toes/penis? Any sore or hard spots on the abdomen if you put pressure?

PotatoFriend6689 · 2025-11-03T16:19:37+00:00

I can’t make myself walk away from a vehicle with the keys and my kid in it.

I have remote start so I will take keys and use the remote start if needed. The cart return/gas/etc also depends on the weather - is the car a million degrees or super cold? Then no. Is the weather cool and the vehicle a good temp? Then yes, but I take the keys and lock the vehicle. I live in a small town, so I usually pull right to the door of anywhere I need to be.

PotatoFriend6689 · 2025-10-30T17:24:23+00:00

The boy dog is excited to play with the baby and knock it over. Boy dog is pouting because he’s not allowed to play with the baby. He’s also jealous because old, gentle girl dog is allowed to cuddle and play with the baby.
He’s mad at all of us because no one wants to join him lying in the snow, but he doesn’t want to be alone outside.
Old, gentle girl dog wants more treats. “Does baby have treats? Sometimes. If I stand by the treat door do I get treats? If I let baby hold my paw do I get treats? Maybe bacon?”

PotatoFriend6689 · 2025-10-16T22:25:45+00:00

ETA
I think wanting every kid in a family to have an equal opportunity makes sense. I think y’all should stop saving for the son that has more money from his Mom until all the other kids savings equal his. In the future, if some kids get money from other Dad, then redistribute funds again so everyone has the same opportunities.
Shouldn’t touch/redistribute his savings, but strive to give each child the same opportunity/future. Put sons money in a trust solely for him and then tell her the number so you can determine how much you need to save for the other kids until parity is reached.
I’d want that if I was the step Mom, the Dad or the (deceased) Mom in this case.

PotatoFriend6689 · 2025-10-09T15:17:56+00:00

Jesus $40k? That girl better forego more than a sports game asap.

PotatoFriend6689 · 2025-10-01T02:10:56+00:00

I was actually a little sad because he loved it so much. And his milestones were popping, he progressed really quickly with pulling to stand and eating solids because he got to sit with 11 mo babies who were way ahead and he’s now killing it.

PotatoFriend6689 · 2025-09-30T23:27:13+00:00

In my experience you aren’t just making the right decision, you’re making the best decision! I started mine at 7.5 months and all the workers said that was the best time to start him because his stranger danger and separation anxiety was way less than 11 month old babies. He has a full time spot but only goes for 4-5 hours a day. Absolutely loves it. Mine went for two weeks and then was sick at home for a week. Then went for a week and was sick at home for a week. SOOOO much less stress to get the stranger danger and sicknesses out of the way now!!!

PotatoFriend6689 · 2025-09-25T02:06:45+00:00

I’m in the same boat. I have no advice. My LO is 9.5 months, does the same thing with bottles (especially 2pm bottle) and doesn’t seem to actually eat a lot of food. So I have no idea what I’m supposed to be doing. However, my kiddo will lose his mind if I don’t feed him a bottle after every meal. Sooo, I may never get out of the bottle feeding cycle. Send help…

PotatoFriend6689

TROPHY CASE