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Life as a New Parent


Yoda

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We got super lucky when our kids were young with the fact that my wife's mom ZqxTZO4.gif retired (she actually got let go from her job for a really stupid reason and just never bothered getting another one) and we were simply able to pay her to watch our kids for us. She got a little bit of income and we saved a ton of $$$.

 

 

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My wife was gonna work full time but halfway through her 12 weeks off she decided she wasn't gonna be ready to leave the kid too early so she went in to quit. Luckily her boss offered a part time deal and that has limited our child care expenses the last four years, while she has still been able to work some. And my mom happened to retire right when the second one was born so he has been free so far.

 

And I will be looking into a vasectomy soon. :lol:

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So my wife and I took our oldest kid to a kindergarten orientation yesterday at the school he'll be going to in the fall. Holy crap was that a surreal experience. He's in a kindergarten class now with the same curriculum at his daycare, but for some reason being at the school itself made it more "real." Definitely brought back memories of my own childhood with the small lockers, the hallways, etc.

 

It was a bit frustrating hearing the Principal talk so much about data and standardized testing. It's a blue ribbon school so i'm sure they've gotten everything down to a science in terms of preparing the kids for each subsequent grade, but it all seemed like a factory. Maybe it was that way when I was a kid too, I dunno. I sure never felt like that as a student though.

 

I was also a little surprised that they were telling parents that it was ok if your 5 year old didn't know any letters or numbers yet. My son can do simple math and has already started reading. He's going to be in trouble all the time if he has to start back at square one.

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QUOTE (Yoda @ Feb 16, 2017 -> 11:12 AM)
On December 22, 2016 my gf and I welcomed into this world a blessing that has changed our lives in a positive way. Since that moment our new role as parents has opened up our eyes to how much beauty there is to life in the small things we take for granted as adults.

 

We read stories about the baby blues, depression, postpartum psychosis, and other emotions parents go through but luckily, so far, it has been a smooth ride. We’re definitely not getting much sleep right now (as the baby is only 1 mo. 3 wks old) but we’ve adjusted to taking naps when we can.

 

Anyone else a new parent or have any stories they would like to share about their experiences with having a newborn at home? I know if we didn’t have the support of our close family and friends we probably wouldn’t have our sanity in place. They have been 110% supportive.

You no longer have a life. Congrats.

 

In three years time, you will no longer remember what it was like to NOT have a child.

 

And as you already know.... it's amazing... and maddening... and crazy... and beautiful.

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QUOTE (hi8is @ May 5, 2017 -> 11:57 AM)
You no longer have a life. Congrats.

 

In three years time, you will no longer remember what it was like to NOT have a child.

 

And as you already know.... it's amazing... and maddening... and crazy... and beautiful.

 

Ha. Thanks for reinforcing the having no life part.

 

I've enjoyed it thus far. I think in about a month or so he'll start teething so that should be really fun.

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QUOTE (JenksIsMyHero @ May 5, 2017 -> 10:54 AM)
So my wife and I took our oldest kid to a kindergarten orientation yesterday at the school he'll be going to in the fall. Holy crap was that a surreal experience. He's in a kindergarten class now with the same curriculum at his daycare, but for some reason being at the school itself made it more "real." Definitely brought back memories of my own childhood with the small lockers, the hallways, etc.

 

It was a bit frustrating hearing the Principal talk so much about data and standardized testing. It's a blue ribbon school so i'm sure they've gotten everything down to a science in terms of preparing the kids for each subsequent grade, but it all seemed like a factory. Maybe it was that way when I was a kid too, I dunno. I sure never felt like that as a student though.

 

I was also a little surprised that they were telling parents that it was ok if your 5 year old didn't know any letters or numbers yet. My son can do simple math and has already started reading. He's going to be in trouble all the time if he has to start back at square one.

My boy was in the same situation. If you want a little advice, find something he likes to do, my son liked word finds and coloring race cars, and bring them to the teacher before the year starts. Explain to the the teacher that when your child is done with their work, give him/her these otherwise my child will get bored and make your life a living hell.

We figured this out halfway through kindergarten and did it every year until 3rd grade. Most teachers were receptive to it once he caused issues when he was bored.

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QUOTE (ptatc @ May 5, 2017 -> 01:53 PM)
My boy was in the same situation. If you want a little advice, find something he likes to do, my son liked word finds and coloring race cars, and bring them to the teacher before the year starts. Explain to the the teacher that when your child is done with their work, give him/her these otherwise my child will get bored and make your life a living hell.

We figured this out halfway through kindergarten and did it every year until 3rd grade. Most teachers were receptive to it once he caused issues when he was bored.

 

That's a great idea. I think we'll do that.

 

I can see my son going either way really. He could think he's hot s*** for knowing all the answers and enjoy feeling that way, or he will get bored and distracted and cause trouble. I guess we'll see in a few short months!

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QUOTE (JenksIsMyHero @ May 5, 2017 -> 02:03 PM)
That's a great idea. I think we'll do that.

 

I can see my son going either way really. He could think he's hot s*** for knowing all the answers and enjoy feeling that way, or he will get bored and distracted and cause trouble. I guess we'll see in a few short months!

Good Luck! My son was square in the "idle hands are the devils workshop" category.

 

I remember one time they had a worksheet or something to do at a group table. The group couldn't go to the play area until everybody in the group finished. He finished his and took everyone's sheet and finished it for them so they could get to the play area.

 

Once the teacher gave him the extra things we gave her, he was fine but it took us awhile to figure out how to keep him out of trouble.

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Our daughter was sick most of the week with some random virus...which of course caused massive amounts of crankiness. Anyway, she got better on Thurs/Friday and was still a bit whiny, but generally better...until Saturday came. It was a day where I swear she was taken over by the devil. I don't think I can remember a time (where she wasn't sick) that she was this poorly behaved. It was on another planet. My wife and I were utterly exhausted. She must have had 15 tantrums on the day, crying episodes, total insanity. Thankfully on Sunday...the girl we all knew and love emerged.

 

I guess this was a huge preview into what being a teenager will be like, haha.

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My wife went on her first business trip since he's been born and quite frankly the complete day/overnight responsibilities I've had since he's been born.

 

There's a lot of fun bonding that happens when you are that tuned in. But also, the logistics are as difficult as you'd expect. Luckily he was a good sport, but the house will not be too clean :)

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QUOTE (bmags @ May 8, 2017 -> 11:37 AM)
My wife went on her first business trip since he's been born and quite frankly the complete day/overnight responsibilities I've had since he's been born.

 

There's a lot of fun bonding that happens when you are that tuned in. But also, the logistics are as difficult as you'd expect. Luckily he was a good sport, but the house will not be too clean :)

 

 

Damn bmags, you're old. :lol:

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QUOTE (ptatc @ May 5, 2017 -> 12:10 PM)
Good Luck! My son was square in the "idle hands are the devils workshop" category.

 

I remember one time they had a worksheet or something to do at a group table. The group couldn't go to the play area until everybody in the group finished. He finished his and took everyone's sheet and finished it for them so they could get to the play area.

 

Once the teacher gave him the extra things we gave her, he was fine but it took us awhile to figure out how to keep him out of trouble.

Sounds like a hell of a problem solver to me

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QUOTE (bmags @ May 8, 2017 -> 11:37 AM)
My wife went on her first business trip since he's been born and quite frankly the complete day/overnight responsibilities I've had since he's been born.

 

There's a lot of fun bonding that happens when you are that tuned in. But also, the logistics are as difficult as you'd expect. Luckily he was a good sport, but the house will not be too clean :)

Turns out being a mom is hard. I dont pay my wife nearly enough....

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QUOTE (bmags @ May 16, 2017 -> 10:39 AM)
Yes, painfully. Though that means you are almost turned in.

 

Hey old message board friend

 

Nah... I don't have any kids. I think it means the added stress has caused you to catch up to me.

 

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  • 3 weeks later...

Update:

 

Our son is now 5 months, 2 weeks old.

 

His eye vision is not developing as his eye specialist expects it to. Tomorrow we are driving 2+ hours to Riley Hospital for Children at Indiana University Health so the MRI department can put our baby under anesthesia and do an MRI scan on his eyes and brain. I am a bit nervous but also optimistic. The past couple of weeks we have seen how our baby is able to track some objects that don’t make noise since his eye specialist thinks he’s only been tracking because of the sounds we make.

 

Everyone, I am asking for prayers/good thoughts this way. I hope his eye specialist is wrong about this and that the MRI results show good results and perhaps he just needs glasses. This world, despite what we hear and see on the news and social media, is too beautiful for him not to see it with his own eyes.

 

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Thanks everyone! Truly appreciate it.

 

We're in the waiting room right now. We're told it'll be an hour and a half to 2 hours. The hardest part so far was our baby didn't eat since 6am so he was really fuzzy half way through our 2.5 hr drive here. All that aside, after today we'll be waiting about 2-4 business days for his eye specialist to receive the report, study it, and then give us a call.

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