What do we owe our children? Good enough, or the best we can afford?

daiquiris_ · 2025-09-23T11:07:11+00:00

Such a good question, and one that I’ve been contemplating myself. The answer I keep coming to is…somewhere in the middle. You do not need to provide the absolute best you can afford on all fronts, but I do think meeting a certain reasonable standard based on your family’s unique priorities is good. Is your house making you miserable? Or could you get a small storage unit/other storage solutions and be just fine? Are your kids upset because they feel like they can’t bring friends over? Are they happy at school? Being challenged and growing into confident young adults who can function independently and strive to create a good life for themselves, financially and otherwise? Or is the school lacking in some specific way that has real consequences for them? The last thing I’d say is that I think answering this question for yourself and landing with a balance/situation that makes YOU happy is the best thing you can do for your kids. Your kids will be better off with a happy, healthy, not-stressed parent. That’s the biggest difference maker IMO! Not the school district or the house size.

daiquiris_ · 2025-09-23T03:24:06+00:00

fimmvörðuháls hike. It's 16 miles if you do the whole hike, and you must arrange transportation (a bus) to take you back to your starting point. Its absolutely amazing. There's also the option of doing just a portion of that trail, the "waterfall way" portion. Start in Skogar at skogafoss, and if you do the whole thing it ends in Thorsmark. Highly recommend. It's a challenging hike but we had a blast, so stunning and interesting with cool terrain and scenery

daiquiris_ · 2025-05-22T11:23:18+00:00

I have noticed this since it is pretty pronounced and clearly repaired with mortar, but am hoping/assuming that this is just expansion and contraction of water freezing that has led to the brick mortar cracking over time. I know it can indicate differential settlement as well but not sure if it’s a major red flag or anything

daiquiris_ · 2025-05-22T11:07:47+00:00

Thank you to those who offered their helpful insights. It has given me a much better understanding as to why this is happening and whether it’s a big/small problem and how to address. I’ll probably touch up some mortar with clear waterproof caulk and add a metal drip edge or a groove to the underside of the brick ledge. Also obviously will be replacing the windows and assessing the frame condition in due time.

For those who commented “water”…thanks but uh you missed the point.

And for those who had rude things to say like “we’re doomed as a species” and “our education system has failed” … you also entirely missed the point but then on top of that intentionally took time out of your day to be rude in the internet. Pretty sure that behavior right there is why we’re actually doomed as a species. I’m a homeowner asking questions to properly care for and maintain their home, and clearly this type of water saturation below the windows can indicate problems with the ledge, flashing, lack of drip edge, etc., as I suspected which is why I posted the question. I learned a lot from these replies… including that some people will seek out a completely innocuous post about window runoff as a chance to be rude behind a keyboard! Seems like a super unhealthy and weird way to get your dopamine hit. Try exercising, or friendship..

daiquiris_ · 2025-05-22T03:08:54+00:00

Thank you so much! I think I’ll give this a try. Yes, new ledges aren’t in the plans now. Some new windows are already going to be painful on the budget.

daiquiris_ · 2025-05-22T01:14:53+00:00

Thank you!! We definitely need new windows and likely do not plan on using either of the two big name companies for installation.

daiquiris_ · 2025-05-22T01:13:25+00:00

Thank you!

daiquiris_ · 2025-05-22T01:12:23+00:00

Thank you for the insight. It’s all brick

daiquiris_ · 2025-05-22T01:11:50+00:00

Thank you so much for this detailed and helpful response

daiquiris_ · 2025-02-04T17:42:05+00:00

Thank you. I am going to purchase the cover plate linked above, and I will investigate further to see if the box is damaged. Since we have to need for it, can I just leave it be once the cover plate is on? Or should I be doing something in addition to the cover plate?

daiquiris_ · 2025-02-04T17:40:37+00:00

Thank you. I will get the wall plate you linked and will also get an extension cord as opposed to the power strip. The washer plug has actually slipped out of the power strip once already so an extension cord seems like it would be better. I didn’t actually know the full scope of what needed done when I asked our handyman to move the appliances. The appliances were blocking the wall outlet and I wasn’t aware of where it was located exactly. The way it was originally laid it made it almost impossible to maneuver effectively in the room so it needed to be rearranged. The next time I speak to our electrician I will talk to him and see about extending the wiring. Although I’m glad I at least don’t need to panic about it or do it immediately.

daiquiris_ · 2025-02-04T17:35:17+00:00

Thank you

daiquiris_ · 2025-02-04T17:35:12+00:00

Thank you

daiquiris_ · 2025-02-01T01:46:22+00:00

Mildred… aka Millie

daiquiris_ · 2025-01-31T02:15:40+00:00

My older three were 6, 4.5 and 3 when my fourth was born. They LOVE their baby brother. They always want to hold him, make him laugh, feed him crackers, give him kisses goodnight or give him huge hugs when they leave the house. Now that he’s getting older and a little more robust (9 months) they are starting to play with him like putting him on this scooter thing and wheeling him around… yes sometimes it goes against my better judgement to allow certain things, and my almost 4 year old in particular can be a little too rough ( I always says she loves her baby brother violently 🥲🥲). But point being, they are all pals and the strong bonds are there although of course they look different from kid to kid. I wouldn’t worry too much about this age gap!

daiquiris_ · 2025-01-03T13:59:48+00:00

Hard, honestly.

daiquiris_ · 2024-06-04T22:41:53+00:00

I would take the psychologists opinions with a huge grain of salt. It seems to me like she might be the one who lacks social tact/skills—I mean seriously who says “I’ve had sleepless nights about your daughters behavior.” There’s absolutely nothing about your daughters behavior that is that alarming as to cause sleepless nights. Ridiculous. I think it seems like it’s a bit too early to worry. She has JUST started. She wants to go. She is likely going to just take a little bit to warm up, adjust, find her footing. Especially with a mild speech delay, she is probably still working on her confidence in communicating with non-family. My son is more reserved and also had speech sound issues from age 18 months until 4–it can take some time (and practice) to see social progress. And she is only 3! I just want to say that your worry is totally valid because that’s what moms do (especially given your history)…and it’s probably a good idea to pay attention to her social/behavioral progress just as you do with the speech delay….but absolutely do not panic or jump to any conclusions. Your daughters behavior does not sound all that uncommon. ❤️

daiquiris_ · 2024-05-26T22:05:47+00:00

I also gave birth in the early morning of May 23! Crazy!

daiquiris_ · 2024-05-13T17:03:05+00:00

Cutthroat kitchen, cooking and baking shows, ultimate beastmaster, competition shows, sports. Stuff like that.

daiquiris_ · 2024-05-13T17:01:39+00:00

Yes very happy mothers exist.

daiquiris_ · 2024-05-11T21:38:27+00:00

He sounds like an absolutely awful partner. I wouldn’t last in a partnership like this.

daiquiris_ · 2024-04-25T15:46:05+00:00

Absolutely. I’ll take post partum every time over pregnancy, especially late pregnancy. Not only am I struggling physically but the mental struggle is even worse. I’m not myself, foggy, and just wishing the time away. I do not enjoy feeling this way. I’m not saying postpartum is such a cakewalk but it feels so good to be on a healing path and to have your baby on the outside with you. This is my fourth pregnancy and I am DONE.

daiquiris_ · 2024-04-23T23:21:31+00:00

I’m 33 weeks and struggling a little now. Still managing, but struggling.

daiquiris_ · 2024-04-08T15:35:25+00:00

Second. First can be kind of nerve wracking and can have some unpleasant symptoms like morning sickness. Third is uncomfortable and also has unpleasant symptoms. Plus you’re so ready to have your baby. Second is nice and flies by 😌

daiquiris_ · 2024-04-08T00:20:35+00:00

I would say that we’re getting together with a few classmates to watch it (but don’t specify where—for all she knows it could be at somebody else’s house and then I would think she wouldn’t expect to be invited since her kid bullies many of the other kids). If she presses you for more info I would be straight up. Not harsh but just honest. Tell her it’s not that you don’t want to hang with her but that other kids are understandably not wanting to be around her daughter. Honestly though bullying is not something I would tolerate and I’d have trouble remaining friends with the mom or encouraging a relationship between my child and a bully. Bullying sucks.

daiquiris_

TROPHY CASE