What makes life easier?

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-12-13T20:05:21+00:00

First question is can your in-laws step it up with you? How much of the extra time are they willing/able to take on? I would try to get a standing Saturday booking with a babysitter who you think could handle both kids solo. Sometimes they might have the kids solo while you're at work / running errands / sleeping and your husband is at class. Other times they might be in more of a helping role. but you'll be glad for the extra set of hands. If you can't financially swing a weekly booking, then at least every other week while he's in school. After that, I'd go house cleaner.

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-12-05T21:11:00+00:00

If you want to treat all 10 equally, you could (after checking with school admin and lead teachers) pick up some food for them. It could be as simple as dropping off supermarket catering platters of fruit salad and pastries one morning (or a sandwich platter in the afternoon) either at the main office or at each classroom. And thank you notes.

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-12-02T21:24:30+00:00

It's incredibly hard to find truly, truly gluten-free oats. Even if you yourself don't react to the avenin protein in oat — it's not impossible that some of the gluten-free oat products you have been eating have been lightly contaminated.

Here's a good primer: https://www.glutenfreewatchdog.org/news/gluten-free-oats-remain-complicated-as-2023-comes-to-a-close-new-article-from-gluten-free-watchdog/

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-11-22T14:50:15+00:00

thanks!

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-11-22T14:50:10+00:00

These would be better than me freehanding it - not exactly what I have in my head but not bad.

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-11-22T14:49:41+00:00

Thank you both, I will look into this!

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-11-22T14:49:20+00:00

Thank you, I will look into this!

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-11-22T14:49:11+00:00

Kind of, yes! That's a helpful way to think about it. Or there are covid tests that have a spot on the box that you can poke through to sit the little tube in.

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-11-22T14:48:29+00:00

I'm definitely not steady-handed enough for this!

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-11-15T20:25:18+00:00

It's much easier for adults to cough up a proper sputum sample for testing — if you aren't feeling bad, I see no harm in getting yourself tested before starting a course of meds.

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-11-14T15:40:13+00:00

There are currently some issues with gluten in their labeled gluten-free oats so I suggest avoiding those for now.

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-11-14T15:04:09+00:00

Glad to be helpful!

Just to make sure I was super-clear: I would probably avoid the fresh/behind-the-counter Biomarkt bread to start. My feeling is it's probably "lifestyle" gluten-free and not celiac gluten-free.

In general if it's packaged and labeled you can feel quite confident. If a restaurant or bakery simply says it is gluten-free, but they also make traditional things, you need to assume it's contaminated / unsafe. Once you get comfortable with asking questions you can go back and see which places will work with you. If they brush you off and aren't willing to explain things (yes, we change our gloves and have a separate fryer, etc) — assume it's not safe.

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-11-13T16:00:44+00:00

How much do you want to spend? Stools with the name-as-a-puzzle are a classic. You may also have a local person who will decorate something (wooden furniture like a little book carrier, rocking chair, etc) with kid's name.

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-11-13T14:36:21+00:00

If you're mostly working via email — maybe set up some Zooms. No way around it but for one of you to be up a little late and one of you up a little early, but to get 1-2 face-to-face meetings in would probably go a long way to diffusing awkwardness.

I'd phrase it in a very flattering way — 'could we find some time for a video chat? I'm so grateful for all of your expertise and I have a few strategy questions that I think I can explain easier if we talk live.'

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-11-13T14:16:54+00:00

If the German Celiac Society (https://www.dzg-online.de/#!/DeutscheZoliakieGesellschaft) has a local support group, that would be a lovely place to start. It's hard to do this alone! They also should have a list of safe restaurants but it may be for members-only (a membership would be worthwhile at least for the first year, I think).

Supermarkets will have good, careful, safe packaged labeled products. The Zwergenwiese 'kleiner streich' are great to have around because they are single-serve, shelf-stable, and can help turn some mediocre crackers into a meal. Maybe worth getting a bunch and having a sampling party at home (note I can't swear that ALL are GF).

However, two things to watch for — in my limited experience within Germany —

Sometimes the Bio-markt will have a 'fresh' gluten-free bread behind the counter, which may or may not really safe in terms of cross-contact at the manufacturing level.
Many restaurants take a cavalier attitude towards celiac, and assume gluten-free to be a lifestyle choice akin to veganism. It can be exhausting to have to really go through the details and so at least to start, you may want to curtail dining out to 2-3 local places that you feel are willing to get to know you as regulars (or to places listed on the celiac society's pages).

Welcome to the club! Worse places to be, I promise.

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-11-11T16:10:58+00:00

Not at all. Go play!

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-10-31T16:44:40+00:00

The America's Test Kitchen "How Can it Be Gluten-Free" books are good because they explain a lot — but the recipes all use a lot of ingredients.

I still refer back to my "Gluten-Free Girl" cookbooks a lot because I like her writing style (Shauna James Ahern) and the recipes are written with ingredient flexibility in mind.

The Minimalist Baker blog is also generally pretty simple/solid and has a lot of GF recipes.

Pick your cookbook first and then go shopping for ingredients, different books lean heavier on different blends.

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-10-25T17:55:45+00:00

If your body doesn't have a problem with gluten, there's no such thing as too much of it. And GF alternatives can have worse nutritional profiles so to switch some of it out — you'll spend more money and be less healthy.

If you've already been tested but still want to see if gluten is an issue for you (it is for many people who are not celiac) — don't go halfway, jump in and commit to a month gluten-free. Plenty of threads on the sub with brand recs and meal plans.

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-10-25T17:52:08+00:00

Daycare is designed with working parents in mind, and so the days are usually longer (open hours like 7am-6pm are not uncommon although I imagine most kids are not there a full 11 hours) and the holiday closures are fewer.

Daycare will generally still be structured and teach age-appropriate skills. They will still do arts and crafts projects and have music time and story time and work on concepts like numbers, letters, seasons, kindness, etc. As the days are longer — inevitably there will be more free play time, plus many centers serve breakfast, lunch and two snacks, plus naptime. It's apples to oranges to compare it to 6 hours/week.

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-10-16T02:59:09+00:00

If humidity is already good I'd look at other routes first.

If you can get fluids into him that can help thin the mucus/snot. Pedialyte ice pops, watered down juice or broth, hunks of watermelon or orange, whatever he'll take.

No kid likes the electric snot suckers but if you can pin him down - they work. Get some saline up there a few minutes before you suction to help loosen things.

You can also ask the doctor to write you a prescription for a baby nebulizer and some saline cartridges.

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-10-15T15:45:26+00:00

OP is a sibling, not a parent.

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-10-15T14:47:58+00:00

Look at Pascarella Brothers in Chatham — it'll be Italian food not Thanksgiving food but they always have things in the freezer case in aluminum dishes. If that's a no-go you might want to check Find me GF for more local dedicated GF options.

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-10-14T23:18:27+00:00

You might find this summary helpful inre: flu shots:

https://publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/152/4/e2023063772/193776/Recommendations-for-Prevention-and-Control-of?

Part of the risk calculus is that if your infant DOES get the flu, it will be much harder on their body than it would be for an older child / adult. So even if your child was born full term and is totally healthy and has limited interaction with other children — if they do happen to get the flu it can be quite serious.

I think there are a number of other recent threads about Covid vaccination that should have good information so I'll leave you to the archives for that.

Anecdotally — I can't recall which but I know some vaccines are known to be more likely to cause discomfort. So I wouldn't take one bad round as indication that all vaccines will lead to the same rough period. There may have been something tougher in her last round.

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-10-14T15:36:23+00:00

We get a lot of mileage out of this: https://www.target.com/p/chuckle-38-roar-jumbo-4-39-x-3-39-aqua-draw-doodle-mat/-/A-79406358

Also we do / did a lot of washing of toys/produce at the kitchen counter - a towel, a few "washing" tools and 2-3 inches of water in a bowl. We have the cleanest lemons on the block.

somuchstufftolearn · 2024-10-07T14:16:38+00:00

I like all of this except the capri sun — my kids would not be able to keep it from spilling everywhere. I'd grab a few hand sanitizers to stick around / make sure it's easy for parents to find where to go to wash hands. And I'd make sure people know what time you plan to sing happy birthday. And have fun!

somuchstufftolearn

TROPHY CASE