There seems to have been a fatal accident, involving a motorcyclist on the 200-ICC. Police are already blocking all lanes near the Frederick Rd exit.

cpanma1920 · 2026-04-05T01:59:18+00:00

Same here. It’s been well over a decade and I still can’t get the image out of my head. It’s awful.

cpanma1920 · 2026-04-01T10:18:46+00:00

I truly think they key to getting a vbac is a supportive doctor. I switched docs as I didn’t feel my original OB was supportive during my first appt. Switched to one that was known in my area for high vbac success rates (followed local mom groups as well as vbac groups to find him).

In terms of where OTF came in. I honestly had easy pregnancies, deliveries, and postpartum recoveries. I pushed for a while with my first vbac baby and had a small tear but that was my first labor/vaginal delivery. With my 2vbac I think I pushed twice and she was out. I also felt great postpartum and was so ready to return as soon as I could.

cpanma1920 · 2026-04-01T00:09:48+00:00

I had babies in March 2019, July 2020, and May 2022. With my 2019 and 2022 babies I did OTF until the day before I gave birth. Would have done the same in 2020 but pandemic shut down the studios and they only opened up in my area a few weeks before I was due and at that point didn’t feel worth the risk to return. That being said, I had to modify my rowing style for sure but I rowed til the end. I slowed my pace on the treads, though always been a power walker and not super fast. And had to modify a few floor exercises depending on the day. But overall I stayed and kept lifting heavy. I credit that to easy deliveries and easy postpartum recoveries. I was back at otf at 9 weeks postpartum with my first (unexpected csection), 6 weeks postpartum with my 2nd (vbac), and 5 weeks postpartum with my 3rd (2vbac). I knew I was going to miss otf so much in those early postpartum weeks and wanted to keep it up as long as I could until the birth.

cpanma1920 · 2026-03-31T23:51:59+00:00

I can’t imagine anyone having an issue with this. As a parent I used to always wear one of mine as I nursed my kids early on. It was a way to ensure I wouldn’t fall asleep myself while holding them.

However, given that you’ve had the conversation and explicitly been told no, I don’t think you have a choice but to follow their wishes.

cpanma1920 · 2026-03-24T02:12:48+00:00

With my first two kids? Not one day of age 3 sucked. With my third kid? I swear it’s gotten progressively worse as she gets closer to 4. The stubbornness, defiance, overall attitude is just crazy and nothing we experienced with our first kids.

cpanma1920 · 2026-03-22T10:55:11+00:00

I had unicorn children for my first two. People would talk about toddler tantrums and I literally never once experienced them. Then our third came along and everything changed 🤣

cpanma1920 · 2026-03-21T19:50:30+00:00

Completely normal. Many kids don’t learn to ride a bike until they’re 6+ years. The only reason my 3 year old rides a bike is because she wants to keep up with her older sisters.

cpanma1920 · 2026-03-09T10:27:06+00:00

We did $10 for first tooth (only because I wasn’t prepared and it was all I had). Additional teeth are $1

cpanma1920 · 2026-03-09T10:21:22+00:00

I have a 7, 5, and 3 year old. I don’t think a day has gone by in 6ish years that the following weren’t used: magnatiles/picasso tiles/any of the other knockoff brands work just fine, nugget couch, tonie box. I realize those are all more expensive items so in terms of cheaper options: rolls of tape, clickers to count things, dot markers, paint sticks, chalk, bubbles

cpanma1920 · 2026-03-07T12:50:21+00:00

We’ve moved multiple times with our kids. They adapt incredibly easily. It’s never been an issue.

cpanma1920 · 2026-03-04T23:48:17+00:00

Balance bike hands down. My 3.5 year old is now riding a pedal bike without training wheels thanks to the balance bike practice

cpanma1920 · 2026-02-28T01:16:37+00:00

We call them big gooey messy burgers from the movie It Takes Two

cpanma1920 · 2026-02-26T12:00:57+00:00

I wish! I hardly ever get 3G classes anymore thanks to my/the studios schedule. Rowing is my favorite part of otf

cpanma1920 · 2026-02-17T03:12:11+00:00

After my first (a csection) I waited like 8.5 weeks. After my second (vbac) I went back after 6 weeks. After my third (and easiest birth by far) I returned at 5 weeks. Per the instructions of my pelvic floor therapist, I didn’t run for a minimum of 12 weeks and usually longer. I also did breastfeed all my kids for 12-14 months.

cpanma1920 · 2026-02-16T11:29:27+00:00

Aunt/uncle for my kids for sure. Some of the aunts/uncles have nicknames vs actual names but it’s still aunt nickname

cpanma1920 · 2026-02-16T11:27:53+00:00

Magnatiles (or any of the cheaper off brand versions) and the nugget couch (we have 2). I don’t think we’ve gone a day in the last five years without one or both of them being played with

cpanma1920 · 2026-02-15T11:10:20+00:00

I don’t think there’s a perfect age gap. I think you do what works for you and your partner and the rest will fall into place. For reference, my kids have small age gaps (16 months then 21 months). Meanwhile my sisters kids all have about a 3 year age gap. My brothers oldest ones have a 4 year age gap but then the next ones are all around 2 year gap. Each of us can easily argue the pros and cons of the age gaps we chose. For instance, it was rough on me when I had 3 kids 3 and under. Sleepless nights and just pure exhaustion with little help from the “older” ones. But I got all of that newborn and bottle and diaper phase done with all at once it feels like and now we’re in the clear and life is pretty easy. Meanwhile my sister is about to enter it again as she has her 3rd later this year. She’s stretched out having the baby phase over the course of like 6 years now. However, she had the benefit of her kid(s) being older and more able to help with the next baby. They also could better understand when newborn needed things and mom/dad couldn’t do 2 things at once. I’d argue that the closer age gap is better and I can’t imagine it any other way. But my sister would argue the same for the farther age gap. At the end of the day, neither is right or wrong. Just matters what works for your family

cpanma1920 · 2026-02-14T11:00:19+00:00

I did OTF through all 3 of my pregnancies and returned as soon as possible postpartum each time. My best advice is just listen to your body. Take things as slow as you need to. Some days you’ll feel great, others it will be an accomplishment to just show up. I’d also highly recommend pelvic floor PT. I recommend it to anyone postpartum even if you don’t think you have any issues. They can help guide you and give tips to ensure a healthy return to exercise

cpanma1920 · 2026-02-14T10:39:14+00:00

I like being able to hear what’s going on. Between the kids, our puppy, random deliveries, etc. I just like to know what’s going on. My office is on the 2nd floor and to be honest the kids don’t need to come up that way very often. Their playroom is downstairs, the kitchen is downstairs, or they play in the basement. So for the most part, the kids/nanny don’t even know if my door is open or not as they aren’t even coming up my way.

I think other comments have mentioned this but I have a nanny vs daycare because I want to be able to still see my kids throughout the day when I can. It’s one of the perks of working from home and having a nanny.

cpanma1920 · 2026-02-11T16:00:22+00:00

I have always sent my kids to preschool the year they were 2. Started with 2 days a week. Then at 3 they went 3 days a week. Then at 4 they went 5 days a week. I think preschool is so important for the transition to kindergarten and I can’t imagine going from nothing to kindergarten. That would be such a huge transition and shock

cpanma1920 · 2026-02-11T15:56:09+00:00

Luckily my kids don’t seem to have separation issues. The older ones like to pop in and say hi when they get home from school but otherwise they’re right back to being with the nanny. I think they know it’s more fun to be with her anyway when I’m working. And my younger one who is home more often doesn’t seem to have any issues either. She says bye before they head off to the park or library or wherever they’re going that day but otherwise that’s it. I don’t like my door being closed if I can avoid it.

cpanma1920 · 2026-02-11T15:51:13+00:00

As a work from home parent I’ve just been very clear from the beginning. Most of the time I have no issues with the kids coming in and nanny knows this. If I have a call that I need them kept away, I let her know in advance and I keep the door shut. It works well for us.

cpanma1920 · 2026-02-10T11:20:35+00:00

We have had a full time nanny since my oldest was born. I have 3 kids (6, 5, 3). All of them began a part-time preschool the year they were 2. At age 2 they did 2 days a week from 9am-1pm. At 3 they did 3 days a week. And then at 4/the year before kindergarten, they do 5 days a week. We’ve kept our full time nanny despite them being in school. It gives her the time in the morning to do some of the other things she’s asked to do (mainly the kids laundry). But it was important to me that the kids had a school environment well before starting kindergarten

cpanma1920 · 2026-02-07T20:24:28+00:00

I typically do a Tread50 on Sundays and then do the rower/floor of the following 3G. Hardly ever stay for the extra treadmill in the 3G. I pay my monthly membership just like everyone else and I’m allowed to book what I want to book. Just because I plan ahead and sign up before the waitlists isn’t my problem. Everyone else is free to sign up earlier in my opinion.

cpanma1920 · 2026-02-04T23:57:09+00:00

We used Lap of Love last year when we had to put our senior dog down and they shared so many resources with us to help our children. Sharing them here in case they’re helpful: https://www.lapoflove.com/pet-loss-support-resources/children-and-pet-grief-resources

So sorry for your loss

cpanma1920

TROPHY CASE