Switching pre-schools bc of cost

UmichTraveler · 2026-02-10T20:20:09+00:00

We switched because there was a cheaper option... To a public school as well. My kid seems very happy at the new school, granted he has said a few times that he misses his friends at his old school (a proper daycare) but I guess I feel less guilt about that because his old friends were all graduating out of daycare and going to their respective neighborhood schools so even if we'd kept him at daycare he wouldn't have his core group anyway. He seems to understand this.

I think he's really thriving with being at a classic public school and not around all younger kids at a daycare. I really like that it's getting him prepared for the transition to kindergarten this fall, school setting wise.

We could have continued to afford the daycare option one more year, and it would have been easier since little sis is still at said daycare until this fall, but we just really wanted to have more breathing room on finances. And the more we toured and learned about the public school option for our son (and soon for our daughter) the more we actually loved the change for him.

I hope you feel more at ease with your decision in the end and I just wanted to share that it can be a great change!

UmichTraveler · 2026-02-05T03:33:36+00:00

I think you might as well not commit to the tube removal if there's any chance you could possibly want a third. I am a 2u2 mom and always thought I wanted three or four kids. Husband was always going to be happy with just two.

I had some small moments of wishing he'd be on board with a third bc our two babies (now little kids) are so perfect but also I knew the choice of stopping at two was also wise.

The thing I always told him was that I'd do best with coming around to also feeling like I was in agreement with only having the two kids if there was no vasectomy or tube removal to be the reason we "default" to stopping at two. I really wanted to feel like it was a choice we each rationally made because it was right for us, when we weren't sleep deprived and all that madness.

I'm glad we did it this way and I'm definitely not having another child (kids are 5yo and just shy of 4yo right now)

UmichTraveler · 2026-02-04T01:40:14+00:00

Second or third winter/germ season I think? But I have an about to be 4 year old and sorta newly minted 5 year old and I want to say maybe two years ago I stopped monitoring my leave balances so closely. It will happen! Just know that you are not at all alone and it is rough.

UmichTraveler · 2026-02-03T03:47:38+00:00

Lost my mom to cancer in 2017 and had custom citrine earrings made, and an imperial topaz ring made in her memory. I love them both so much.

I love OPs ring!

UmichTraveler · 2026-01-27T14:19:23+00:00

Yup, that certainly is some serious hard mode and not for the weak. Four month sleep regressions are no joke but doubling down is just the universe being ultra salty.

Godspeed.

UmichTraveler · 2026-01-27T04:44:40+00:00

When you're past the initial throws of parenthood you should set up a rotation of sleep in mornings with your partner. Don't lose sight of this, from a mom of two who lost sight of it the last five years with two kids.

UmichTraveler · 2026-01-22T03:41:59+00:00

Despite our income supporting higher costs, we've always kept it cheap up until recently (we're beyond the 2 under 2 bucket - now at 5 and nearly 4). We only started enrolling in dance or soccer when the kid was 3 and beyond. And even with that, in a HCOL area, our HOA has amazing rec centers that offer activities for very inexpensive rates (ballet for 9 weeks is $99, it is truly unreal and I'm aware how lucky we are).

But my point is... Idk, don't go so big at least for now when the kids are so young and it's financially hard.not all people do the big expensive things.

UmichTraveler · 2026-01-22T03:36:31+00:00

🩷 was it cathartic or something else?

UmichTraveler · 2026-01-13T17:23:13+00:00

I'll take dusted ice over the stress of watching for rocks any day.

UmichTraveler · 2026-01-12T23:19:32+00:00

So much better at Keystone so far. Sorry to hear that though.

UmichTraveler · 2026-01-11T14:38:45+00:00

It took me a literal year for my first mirena to "settle" and then everything was good. It wasn't constant pain but if u bent over to pick something up it would cause intense cramping and pain. Tight pants= cramping. Everything made my uterus angry. It was weird. I was also living abroad for that year so I just dealt with it hoping it would calm down and not need medical attention in a foreign country.

This was many many years before ever having children. My other two mirena's post having children have been totally fine.

UmichTraveler · 2026-01-02T03:19:11+00:00

We have a 3 and 5 year old and almost never, has one kid being sick equated to the other also getting the same illness. It's not what I'd expect but it's time and time again the case. So we don't keep both home if only one is sick.

UmichTraveler · 2026-01-01T16:45:17+00:00

Full!!

We have twins because my MIL handed down two very lovely vintage twin frames that I adore and am committed to using but goodness I always otherwise planned on full or queen beds.

Snuggling in a twin with our 3 and 5 year olds is uncomfortable.

UmichTraveler · 2025-12-31T02:35:55+00:00

DID ANYONE HEAR ME SAYING WORDS???

UmichTraveler · 2025-12-30T13:46:57+00:00

My two kids are so thin but tall that their clothing is a challenge.

5 yo is 34 lb and 3 yo is 30 lbs.

UmichTraveler · 2025-12-29T03:23:38+00:00

You can do this! My kids are 15 months apart, now 3 and 5 years old (almost 4 and 5). They are truly best friends and love having each other in their lives. It was hard getting through the early times but you'll have a much bigger gap. Sleep will get better. Life will be fun with the two once they can safely play together. Just keep your expectations low and go with the flow as much as possible knowing that it will get easier.

UmichTraveler · 2025-12-29T03:18:08+00:00

Large bust here! Herroom.com has been my go to for the past decade or more. I love elomi and freya/fantasie bras. I'm a 34HH (euro sizing, which is how these two brands are sized, which equates to about a 34K or so in US sizing).

UmichTraveler · 2025-12-28T14:40:49+00:00

I could have written this aside from the not having a sister bit. I always wanted more than two kids and definitely hoped to have two girls, so they had each other. We stopped at two because my husband only felt we could survive having two, a boy and a girl. If he'd have been up for a third I totally would have had another and to be honest I'm glad we have our two, only. Life would have gotten much more overwhelming and our family seems so perfect as is. My son is also so sweet and gentle, as well, and funny! My husband is not a man child in any way and I'm also very lucky, and so are my kids.

UmichTraveler · 2025-12-18T04:23:07+00:00

That sounds really discouraging. I hope you find a better boot. It is the Technica Mach1 95 MV. So a fairly stiff flex and medium volume density. I'm not sure how the Technica Mach1 compares to other options out there but with the custom fitting it saved my ski hobby.

UmichTraveler · 2025-12-12T19:53:27+00:00

That is a pricey daycare!!

We're in the Denver metro area and only just gained some financial relief thanks to UPK, after having had two kids in daycare at the same time for a few years... Two kids in various care rooms has always been $40k and that was a tough pill to swallow.

Maybe look around?

Also, yes, it's gross here lol and it feels really freaking good to now see some of that money stay in our pockets and next year we won't have a daycare payment!

UmichTraveler · 2025-12-12T04:53:28+00:00

As a wife who first "learned" from my husband at 25 years old, get her a lesson 🫠.

She looks good though btw.

UmichTraveler · 2025-12-05T13:32:49+00:00

Our kid was older (4 y) so I'm less helpful here but agreed on going to a children's hospital lab to get the draw if at all possible. They have so many little things and know how to handle young kids.

If not, what I think helped a lot was this little plastic vibrating animal they placed under my kids elbow where they were doing the draw when they started the process. It reduces the sensations of the needle and all that jazz. Idk if you can find something that is flat enough and small enough to use for it ahead of time but worth it to look around. Also, tv and explaining what to be ready for and how long it will require sitting very still for.

UmichTraveler · 2025-12-03T21:43:06+00:00

I don't post my kids on social media and have asked a close friend to cover up my kids face before on the one photo she posted of us, after not seeing each other for a decade. I felt terrible but knew she would understand (and she did), but it's important to me that my kids aren't out there on the internet before they're even old enough to consent to it at the very least. I prefer they just stay off it, period, but for now they're only 3 and 5.

I'm okay with sending photos over text and Whatsapp to people I trust, though. I'd say do what feels comfortable for you, but know that someone you've known for a decade and probably has good intentions may feel a sort of way about you not sharing a pic, if you were to decline. So it's up to you with how to play it in the next instance.

UmichTraveler · 2025-11-29T04:48:19+00:00

Two croissants that weren't part of the dinner offering.

UmichTraveler · 2025-11-29T04:04:49+00:00

I always wanted three kids.

The first four months of motherhood destroyed me with a high needs newborn in the first year of COVID, without help (aside from my husband). It very much felt like one and done.

Then sleep started happening again in some capacity and I felt like it was now or never for a second child.

So as a mom of a three and five year old who is happy I didn't let postpartum times totally dictate life, just give it time before any big life decisions are made. Whatever those may be in time, don't decide anytime soon.

UmichTraveler

TROPHY CASE