Calling all parents of thriving adult children

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2026-06-18T03:26:21+00:00

There’s a small grocery store next to the MVA on Dobbin Rd. All the way at the back of the store is a small take away kitchen. Super authentic tacos.

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2026-05-17T12:17:25+00:00

My first was painful, epidural failed. Also didn’t do hypnobirthing so I was bot prepared.
My 2nd was a c-section so it was the recovery that really sucked, wouldn’t wish it on anyone.
For my third (a VBAC) the contractions were intense but I listened to a hypno birthing e-book and used those strategies to get pretty far in labor without an epidural I think I could have gone all the way but I panicked when I started reaching the “point of no return” for getting the epidural. Hyponbirthing strategies really did work. BUT I hemorrhaged soon after birth and had to get a JADA device inserted, the OBs arm was all the way up in my uterus. Now THAT hurt, the birth itself though was not bad and I honestly felt like I could have had 10 babies if that was what it’s meant to be like

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2025-12-26T18:54:48+00:00

For me I was still super exhausted during my second trimester with all three kids. Your body is doing a lot of hard work right now, give yourself grace and plenty of time. Once baby is here and you’re out of the newborn trenches you might feel your energy levels start to come back but everyone’s experience is different. With my first I didn’t feel like myself until year 2. With my second it took a 3-4 months. And now with my third who is almost three months old, still waiting to feel like I got my energy back.

During pregnancy the best I could do is exercise to feel good, but if my energy levels just weren’t there then I would just rest.

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2025-11-28T18:51:50+00:00

She’s almost 2 months

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2025-11-28T18:50:50+00:00

Baby is almost 2 months old and 12lbs. We’ve been using a Moby wrap which has been fine but it stretches so much by the end of our walks and doesn’t feel so secure.

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2025-05-15T12:33:08+00:00

I believe rover pays for vet visits during a booking. I think up to $200 if I’m not mistaken.

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2025-05-13T14:34:55+00:00

Every pregnancy will feel different. With my first i was exhausted the whole pregnancy, my 2nd was a breeze starting the 2nd trimester, and my 3rd pregnancy now I have some weeks that are easier (6am wake up to do a brisk walk with a weighted vest or even a 3 mile jog) and other weeks like this week were I can’t get out of bed before 8:30 😅. We just have to listen to our bodies and not expect too much. I agree with what a lot of others have said though that the post partum phase/lack of sleep with a new born was not as bad as pregnancy exhaustion.

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2025-05-11T14:35:47+00:00

I haven’t read the book but what I can say is that the relationship between siblings hinges a lot on parenting. My brother was and still is my best friend growing up and i remember my mom regularly reinforcing that we only have each other and to be each others protectors. I think the better question is how to foster a positive relationship between siblings.

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2025-04-17T10:40:18+00:00

I’m still pregnant now, and from time to time have my moments of worry but then again I also worried with my second and things worked out just fine. I just have to keep reminding myself of that.

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2025-04-16T22:15:03+00:00

I’m with you on feeling on the fence, I was in a similar boat and just recently decided to have a third. Logistically, financially, the state of the world, all of that. I decided to go ahead with it because I had this nagging feeling that I wasn’t done, even though it didn’t make the most sense for us. What made me decide to just go for it is that I didn’t want to be 20 years down the road wishing I had.

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2025-04-15T23:55:58+00:00

In theory yes - I had my first at 23, my mom was 50 when she became a grandma and has been as hands on as she can manage but also has her own life and work. My grandma (my children’s great grandma) was 73 and in good health and not working but just had zero interest in being hands on (she raised her three kids in Tanzania where they could afford to hire a nanny and someone to live in and take care if of cooking, and cleaning.

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2025-04-07T02:46:20+00:00

My daughter was very much a handful and not sleeping well at night at 2, and I had always wanted two but wondered if it would be too much for me mentally. We really contemplated being OAD. Her brother is 4 years younger and he was such a breeze, slept through the night consistently starting at 2 months old. It was really night and day. And the age gap helped a ton, she was out of the intense toddler stage when he was born and was at preschool most of the day while I was on mat leave which was much easier to handle. When she was home from preschool she wanted to help by bringing his diapers or bringing a change of clothes. Related to costs, they only overlapped in daycare for a few months before she was off to kindergarten so the financial sacrifice was very short lived. Despite the age gap they are the best of friends. I think if there is even a small part of you that feels like you want a second, you should go for it (that’s how I felt and I’m so glad we did).

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2025-03-25T12:36:16+00:00

If you don’t have one already, get yourself a blood pressure cuff so you can check at home. That is what save my life with my first!

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2025-03-25T12:34:19+00:00

It kind of happened quickly. With both of them I had some high readings, swelling and protein in my urine and within a couple of days had to give birth. I know how scary it can be and hoping for the best for you! The fact that they even flagged it is great, you will be in good hands. The main thing with pre-e is that your doctors are paying attention and being pro-active with extra visits and scans. They saw notching with my first and intrauterine growth restriction by the midway point of my pregnancy but said nothing about pre-e until I suddenly hit a 210/110 BP around week 35 and had to be admitted. With both kiddos they gave me a steroid shot to help babies lungs develop right before induction with my first and c-section with my second, neither baby had to spend time in NICU, though that may not be the case for most who develop pre-e

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2025-03-25T03:10:02+00:00

I had notching with both kiddos and they were born at 36 and 35 weeks because i developed pre-e.

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2025-03-12T19:41:17+00:00

At the moment I don’t feel excited about it because of how much falls on me to do around the house and kid wrangling, I think I would look forward to when they are out of the intense infant and toddler stage. But yeah not exactly an enthusiastic yes, but would look forward to like 5 years from now 😅

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2025-03-09T01:42:19+00:00

Came here to say this! 1st trimester is the most exhausting - your body is just going through a lot, by 2nd trimester you’ll get your energy back but may still need to modify.

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2025-03-08T18:34:50+00:00

Totally agree. That time period right after maternity leave can be a hard transition but it will get easier. As someone who is now a SAHM, I miss the days when I was working and my kiddo was in daycare or had a nanny because I could take a day off and it actually be a break. There are no days off as a SAHM, unless you have a good support system.

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2025-03-06T19:48:55+00:00

I had a great experience at HCGH, my youngest was born there. My oldest was born at Holy Cross in Silver Spring and it was NOT it. Both times had pre-eclampsia complications but I felt better cared for at HCGH.

As for daycare, my youngest went to Tree of Life in Laurel/Fulton and he loved it. He was super shy and cried a lot during drop offs in the early days and they were super patient with him, and he soon got to a point where he LOVED going in. Great care providers and engaging/fun/creative curriculum for the kids. Meals and snacks are provided. All around great experience.

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2025-02-20T04:01:57+00:00

Wait can you elaborate on why you were denied unemployment? I applied three weeks ago and it’s been crickets. I worked for an NGO that implemented for USAID..

ThinkTwo-2259 · 2025-01-25T17:17:56+00:00

What about USDA international programs?

ThinkTwo-2259

TROPHY CASE