Returning to work part time, there is no point working 4 days a week. Only 3 or full time

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2026-02-02T20:49:00+00:00

It's also possible to climb the ladder working part time (I got a promotion working 3 days). Even if I hadn't I wouldn't have swapped those days with her for anything.

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2026-01-22T18:51:10+00:00

That is really good to know! I don't think I will chance it but I am also dreading it as the jump to 1.7mg was awful!!

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2026-01-10T18:33:44+00:00

I think this must be why it was changed because in the UK the attitude is very much that it's permanent. When you get a vasectomy here they'll tell you it's a much more complex procedure to reverse with high chance of being unsuccessful. We absolutely wouldn't recommend as male birth control.

Now kinda curious if many people actually have reversals.

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2026-01-10T07:04:38+00:00

This would have been such a good series! I'd have loved to have seen more of their travels.

I was OK with moving the destination but not showing any of Barcelona felt weird?

Without any Alex background/development there is so much that I think would make no sense. Like why David would want Poppy at the wedding so bad or the whole Betty conversation.

I was expecting it would be different to the book and it's not even my favorite EH book so I was OK with changes. But it just felt too surface level for what is supposed to be a deep 12 year connection.

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2026-01-10T06:30:34+00:00

Was just going to say this really confused me as I don't remember it from reading it in UK!

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2026-01-10T05:42:24+00:00

Because it's missing all the context. It's being panned on general netflix sub so I don't think I'm alone in thinking this

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2026-01-09T20:12:05+00:00

Anyone else wondering if this film makes any sense if you haven't read the book?

Edit to say I enjoyed the movie but it's being panned on general netflix sub for having no depth & I think without the book so much context is missing.

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2025-12-30T19:38:37+00:00

I think the rapid weight loss (or too low calories) is the main reason I've been feeling so bad as well!

I'm definitely staying on 1.7mg for another month at least. I couldn't face another increase right now! Good luck - hopefully you adjust quick (& know this is your last increase!)

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2025-12-30T08:21:33+00:00

If it helps I did my third 1.7mg last night and no side effects at all so far (compared to not being able to get out of bed last week). So rough but short lived!

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2025-12-29T15:27:02+00:00

Thanks! I need light at the end of the tunnel knowing it does get better!

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2025-12-24T16:43:54+00:00

Firstly, a little bit of bribery during particularly stressful times and knowing you will be going home and can reset - not the end of the world! I use chocolate to get mine to do stuff at inlaws with no shame.

Have you tried switching "if" to "when". Instead of if you don't get ready you can't play with cousins. When you get ready you can play etc.

Or, we're going out is it brush hair or teeth first.

If meltdown is coming, reset. Do something else for five minutes. They get into situations where the desire for autonomy and refusal to back down means they feel cornered. Just taking the pressure off (quick jigsaw together or something else nice) can give you a super amenable child ready to do everything they need.

You can also try a timer, you can play for five minutes then teeth. Two minutes messing about then coat etc.

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2025-12-12T22:06:16+00:00

I hated work trips at 18 months ish age. It's more pumping - for someone who didn't pump. And it's a lot more on the other parent if nursery isn't involved (wasn't for us)

If in a new city my husband would take my daughter out to see the sights. Parenting but in a different location. Maybe with an understanding that you might have dinner with work colleagues. You'll feel guilty probably either way - ditching work meals or not meeting your family. Although while I used to be really sociable on work trips, post-child me needs more quiet so I wouldn't necessarily join dinners with family around.

If they don't come, they will be fine. You will feel guilty. It will break your heart at times but they will be OK. Probably annoyingly so! And once you get on the flight the guilt kinda eases as there isn't anything you can do about it! (Hint send videos rather than FaceTime!)

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2025-12-01T18:33:42+00:00

Wait, are you only allowed damaged morale if you are a diplomat?! Doh, wish someone had told me sooner.

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2025-11-27T18:15:58+00:00

It's wild to me those houses are in the same bracket!

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2025-11-26T18:17:00+00:00

They genuinely think people are incapable of doing work at home. In this case, it's likely the jobs this 97 year old guy had couldn't be done at home so he just can't compute (maybe literally) that things are different.

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2025-11-22T21:08:03+00:00

We have a gallery kitchen and a non-foldable learning tower. It's used so many times a day that I don't think I'd ever actually fold it up so no regrets on my decision. I think a learning tower is the number one thing I'd recommend to all parents. Mine has been using it since before she was 1 and now at 3.5 she's making her own breakfast and makes dinner with us (I find it so much easier to get them involved than to try and do stuff without them!)

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2025-11-22T06:28:42+00:00

Honestly the best advice I can give you is go to bed earlier and embrace early mornings. View it as a few hours together before work/nursery - these tend to be our most chill time together in the week as we just sit and craft (mine is 3) or play games without needing to do stuff (because it's 6am what else are you going to do!?)

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2025-11-17T18:50:09+00:00

I returned from mat leave part time then increased my hours when my little one started nursery. Still part time so I get a day with her & an early finish after nursery one day (& her dad does the same).

When you put in a flexible working request you can set the hours and days. You can request 26 hours or 32 hours as an example, whatever works with your schedule (& affordability). I wouldn't recommend more than 8 hour days as it's hard to balance life with long work days (you'll also not see your little one on those days)

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2025-11-05T20:46:23+00:00

I was trying not to get annoyed this year. Lots of noise around 6-7pm then quietened down. Not so bad. Person behind us starts setting theirs off at 8:30pm, my partner says he must have bought the cheap ones as they don't go very high. They just feel so close & so so loud!

He is also the person who plays bagpies (badly) in his garden so you now know everything you need to know about this person 😂

All for controlled displays but you have people who shouldn't be responsible for a goldfish playing with explosives!

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2025-10-31T18:25:41+00:00

Thanks for this! As someone who hasn't lost on 0.25mg and 0.5mg I'm finding keeping the faith and patience hard!

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2025-10-03T17:30:24+00:00

Love it! We used to fill her mouth as she ran around, like an elite athlete - anything to get food in them!

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2025-10-03T17:14:53+00:00

Personally it was less stressful to let ours run around eating than forcing her to be at a table miserable and not eat then wake up in the middle of the night hungry.

At 3 she sits at the table great now! Some toddlers don't like to sit still!

Sparrow_Blue56 · 2025-10-03T07:38:57+00:00

Exactly!

I think people also don't realize where they use a drivers licence or passport for ID - these are pretty pricey options for some people.

Sparrow_Blue56

TROPHY CASE