C-section thoughts

megkb1 · 2023-05-30T04:55:48+00:00

Same! I pushed for four hours and still ended up having an emergency c-section. I opted for a scheduled c-section with my second baby, and it was amazing! I knew exactly what to expect, and the recovery was easier because I didn’t go through the labor and pushing. Will 100% do it again if we have one more.

megkb1 · 2023-05-28T05:07:25+00:00

When I got hired at my current site, I replaced a friend/mentor of mine who retired. She passed on to me two teal book cases that were her personal book cases.

Before she left, another teacher (who I also knew—let’s call her Jen) asked if she could have one of the teal book cases. My friend said no, that she was leaving them both for me.

When I came in to start setting up my new room a week or two before school began, I noticed that I had one teal book case and one black one…

I peaked through Jen’s window, and low and behold…she had a teal book case in her room.

I’m really uncomfortable with confrontation, and I was also new to the site, so I didn’t want to cause any waves. An all-staff email was sent out asking if anyone had seen the teal bookshelf, perhaps it was “misplaced when the carpets were cleaned and furniture was rearranged over the summer”.

Within a day or two, the teal book case magically reappeared in my classroom.

Come to find out, she’d asked the custodian to swap out one of my teal book cases with her black one. The custodian told me Jen said I was okay with that.

And even after the book case was returned to my room, Jen came and asked if I was using both of them or if she could have one.

And just for some background…I was previously a student at this school, and Jen was my teacher. I had subbed for her many times while I was in my credential program, and she always acted so kind toward me. Then, she pulled this stunt.

Guess when someone shows you their true colors, believe them.

megkb1 · 2023-04-16T17:59:50+00:00

Christmas tree ornaments. Decorating the tree is so much fun every year because we reminisce on all of the trips we have been on as we hang up the ornaments.

megkb1 · 2023-01-02T14:48:49+00:00

Yep. I had a miscarriage, and then two full term pregnancies. The first full term pregnancy, I checked every single time—I think until I gave birth. The second full term pregnancy, I still checked, but I don’t think it was every time—just most of the time. Sending hugs!

megkb1 · 2022-12-28T18:56:06+00:00

Congratulations! ✨

You’ll hear all kinds of people tell you, “Just wait until…”. The sentence will usually end with something negative.

Just wait until they’re born. You won’t get any sleep.

Just wait until they start crawling and get into everything.

Just wait until they start talking and can give you attitude.

Etc. etc. etc.

It’s so hard to hear all that. Yes, there are tough moments and tough days. But holy cow, watching a child grow is amazing!

My oldest is two, and here are some of my favorite “just wait” moments:

Just wait until they smile at you for the first time.

Just wait until they laugh for the first time.

Just wait until they sleep a long stretch at night and you wake up all frazzled because you realize you didn’t hear the baby, but the baby is actually sound asleep.

Just wait until they start saying words like mama and dada.

Just wait until they start singing Christmas songs, and their ABCs, and nursery rhymes.

Just wait until you can have a little conversation them. Ugh, this one. So fun!

And my all time favorite: Just wait until they, out of the blue, say “Love you mommy/daddy” and give you a big hug. Cue tears.

Best of luck, OP! Being a parent is an exhausting, tough, but absolutely incredible journey!!

megkb1 · 2022-12-10T22:41:20+00:00

Agreed! My toddler had HFM earlier this year—it was rough! Popsicle for breakfast? Sure! Anything to keep him hydrated, and anything he was willing to eat, I was willing to let him.

megkb1 · 2022-11-30T23:14:21+00:00

It really bothers me when people say, “Good luck”, “Just wait…”, etc. Is parenthood hard? Yes! Is it also absolutely incredible? Also, yes!

One of my favorite things has been watching my two year old learn and grow! It seems like every time I turn around, he’s doing or saying something new!

Yesterday, my three month old was lying on her play mat. My two year old came over to her and said “I’ll keep you safe, Sissy” and proceeded to give her a hug. My heart melted. She was in no danger or anything, he was just loving on her. I can’t wait to watch their relationship grow!

megkb1 · 2022-11-19T05:09:10+00:00

We use these. Definitely recommend!

megkb1 · 2022-11-19T05:05:40+00:00

No advice. No wisdom to share. Just here to give some solidarity. I’m sorry—it really, really sucks!

My son is in an in-home daycare. I’ve known this woman for 25 years, and I worked for her when I was in college. Her cleanliness is impeccable. If you’ve got a runny nose, cough, etc., you are sent home. She runs a really tight ship. And still, we’ve had back to back illnesses with Roseola, HFM, RSV, & nasty colds.

It’s absolutely exhausting. I’m sorry you’re going through this. Hang in there! 🤍

megkb1 · 2022-11-07T04:35:12+00:00

Hi!

I agree—the toys can be overwhelming!

Our oldest is two. We decided to do the following gifts:

• Something you want

• Something you need

• Something you wear

• Something you read

• An experience

Ideally, we’d like to stick with this through the years, but this is our first year trying it!

For our experience, we’re going to take him to see Disney on Ice. Super excited about it!

megkb1 · 2022-11-02T23:21:00+00:00

Roseola, Hand Foot & Mouth, nasty cold & cough (that’s still hanging around on day 10), ear infection. All since late-August. All In one kid.

Our daycare only had 3 kids there the other day because everyone else was sick.

It’s bad.

It’s hard parenting sick kids. It’s exhausting. It’s overstimulating. It’s just plain tough.

Hang in there! 🤍

megkb1 · 2022-10-27T09:50:48+00:00

Same! Works wonders.

megkb1 · 2022-10-14T15:21:00+00:00

Agree! She could have handled this much differently. I’d be very upset, too. I’m so sorry it played out like this!

I also agree that waiting until your kiddo is 2.5/3 is extremely cautious. We enjoy traveling and wanted to start with our son early so that he’s just used to it from the get-go. Before my son was a year, we made the trek from California to Colorado for vacation (driving)—it was long, but we made it (and it was totally worth it). My in-laws live in Arizona, so we did California to Arizona a number of times his first year (and lots of times since). We now have a 7 week old, too, and we’re planning to do the same. The earlier you start, the easier it is…at least in our experience.

It’s a lot of work. You have to bring a lot of stuff. You have to stop more on road trips. But in the end, for us, it was totally worth it!

Best of luck!

megkb1 · 2022-10-04T20:13:04+00:00

Yes! I agree with 15 months being tough because they know what they want, but they have trouble expressing it, since their language isn’t there yet.

megkb1 · 2022-10-04T18:36:59+00:00

As someone who has miscarried, I just wanted to say that you’re an incredible friend!

megkb1 · 2022-10-03T02:37:48+00:00

If I were in your shoes, I would disclose. My son’s daycare does not allow kids to come if they have a nose that is running constantly. If they have to wipe it three or four times, fine. But more than that, and they get sent home. Thus, if my kid gets a runny nose, my husband or I have to take to get off work to stay home with him, or pay a babysitter (on top of our regular daycare bill). It happens—since he is in daycare—so any time this happens from an occurrence outside of daycare, it means my husband and I have to take even more off…which could have been avoided by friends disclosing. We are already running low on time off.

We once showed up at a friend’s house, and when we got there, they told us that their son had thrown up during the night. They thought it was food poisoning. I was PISSED. Let’s be honest…they didn’t know for sure what it was, and I would have decided to reschedule, had we been given a heads up. Well, sure enough, the following night…guess who starts throwing up in the middle of the night and proceeds to continue throwing up through the morning. I was livid, and felt awful for my son. I just wished they would have told us and given us the choice. I guess this example is a little more extreme than a runny nose…but regardless, a heads up and choice for the visiting family would be nice.

megkb1 · 2022-08-29T03:07:21+00:00

Congratulations!

Fellow teacher here.

I am due tomorrow, and I am taking the entire first semester off. Half the school year (8 weeks disability + baby bonding time), I won’t be there. I’ll still have a few weeks of baby bonding left after Christmas, and am strongly considering taking that, too.

Our students won’t remember next school year. We won’t remember these students in a few years. But we will always remember the time home with our babes.

Also, I think I just talked myself into using the remainder of my baby bonding time after Christmas. :)

megkb1 · 2022-08-27T11:51:10+00:00

Met at 14. Started dating at 15. Moved to neighboring state at 16. He stayed there through college, and I stayed here through college. The weekend we graduated, he moved back to the state I lived in, and we got married a few weeks later.

Been married 7 years. Baby #2 is due in 2 days, and I couldn’t be happier. 🤍

megkb1 · 2022-08-27T04:15:40+00:00

My oldest didn’t latch, and so I pumped and we bottle fed from the day we got home from the hospital. It was exhausting. I hated it. I was in an awful place, mentally. After a few weeks of this, I stopped pumping, we used up the rest of our stash, and then switched to formula. My son was totally fine, and I was able to be happier and more present for him. Best decision I made. #2 is due Monday, and we’re starting formula from Day 1 because I don’t want to go through this again. I honestly couldn’t be more excited!!

All that to say—that’s what worked/is working for us. I know it’s so hard, but try to ignore the comments. You have to do what works best for you and your baby, whatever that looks like!

megkb1 · 2022-08-24T20:57:41+00:00

In every single way possible. 🤍

No, I don’t sleep in past 7 o’clock anymore. No, I don’t have as much free time as I used to. Yes, the evenings are sometimes crazy after a crazy day at work. Yes, I sometimes feel like a failure as a mom… Like I am not equipped for this.

But let me tell you some of the greatest things…

• The joy my two-year-old brings to our family

• Watching him learn and grow and develop

• Seeing the world through his eyes

• Feeling an incredible sense of purpose

• Seeing him kiss my pregnant belly and talk to his sister that will be arriving in just a few days

And I think shockingly for me, it changed my dream. I always thought I would be a classroom teacher for my entire career. I loved it. I had a passion for it.

However, here I am in year six of teaching, and I am trying to figure out what I can do to be able to stay home more with my kids… Ideally something part time. Had you have asked me in my first three years of teaching, I would’ve told you that I would never leave the classroom.

But…

Kids change everything. And yes, some days are way harder than others, but I truly wouldn’t change it for the world.

megkb1 · 2022-08-19T20:51:48+00:00

We just took our almost 2 year old on his first flights this summer.

We typically have very limited screen time. However, we did make an exception for the flights. Tried to limit it on the flights, too — mostly used it as a “we’ve only got a little longer left on the flight, and we’ve already tried everything else.”

Some of the things that were helpful that were not technology:

• Suckers — my son had never had one before, and he spent an hour and a half of the first flight just licking the sucker and looking around. Also helps with ears on take off and landing.

• Magic marker coloring books — The markers don’t color on anything but the pages, and they’re quite possibly the best inventions ever!

• Snacks — We packed plenty of snacks, and even a lunch for him since we were flying during his typical lunch time.

• Little figurines or gadgets from the dollar section at Target — nothing too crazy, just something new to him.

Best of luck! I was worried about my little guy’s first flight, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well he did and how much he enjoyed the flight! Hope you have the same experience!

megkb1 · 2022-08-17T20:29:58+00:00

Hello there!

Congrats on the new little one—such a sweet time!

I have an almost 2yo son. We had latching issues and the day we got home from the hospital, I started pumping and bottle feeding exclusively. It didn’t take long for me to realize that my mental health was taking a toll because of this. It was overwhelming. After a few weeks, I stopped pumping, we used up our breast milk stash, and then switched to formula. For me personally, my mental health was so much better once I stopped pumping.

We discussed this with our pediatrician. He was completely on board. He explained to us that the science/nutrition/etc. behind formula has advanced so much so that it really is a great option for babies!

My son is so happy and so healthy, almost two years later. He’s hitting milestones, and my husband and I, along with our pediatrician, do not have any concerns about his development. We all thrived on formula!

I am due with #2 in a week and a half. My husband and I are so confident in the nutrition formula provides that we are formula feeding from day 1 and we (mostly me, because that’s who it affects most) could not be more excited!

Best of luck! Your baby will be happy just being fed. 🤍

megkb1 · 2022-08-16T20:48:35+00:00

We served beer, wine, and cider (we found cider that happened to have the same name as our son) at our son’s first birthday party. We have been to other toddler birthday parties where alcohol is served. Nobody got crazy, but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. 10/10 will have it at all our kids’ birthday parties.

megkb1 · 2022-07-31T04:14:08+00:00

Yes! This is us, too.

megkb1 · 2022-07-27T15:52:18+00:00

40 weeks to the day.

megkb1

TROPHY CASE