An introduction thread

[Sabriel]

My partner and I have two children, almost 5 and almost 3. Right now, we're all squeezed into a one-bedroom apartment, which is stressing us out beyond belief. Good thing we're into family bedding....

[cally]

1. Wow..what city

Most of the world lives this way but it is just hard. :hug;

[kimchi]

2. That really sucks.

We have one child and a "cottage" with three tiny bedrooms and I feel squeezed! I'm sure it is much worse in the wintertime.

Keep the faith!

[robbedvoter]

3. It's 3 of us in a bedroom and we stopped feeling squeezed when

we went to a birthday party of a family, who like yours were 4 in a one bedroom (4th floor walk-up). It was the first birthday party that we saw in an appartment (they use play rooms and such in the city). It was so wonderfully done, that we started to have my kid's birthdays in our home as well.
Ultimately, it's like the joke with the guy who goes to the rabbi and complains they are so many in the house. He is advised to bring the farm animals inside as well - and after a while, let them out. The great relief upon the last change is everlasting

[Pithlet]

4. I have two boys, 3 and 12 months

I'm so glaad this forum is here. Often I post something about parenting, or my kids, and it drops like a rock.

Here are pictures:







Edited: accidently posted one twice.

[tigereye]

18. aw cute!

[rbnyc]

28. beautiful boys!!

thanks for posting pics!

:loveya:

[abelenkpe]

54. so adorable!

great pictures.

[Ellen Forradalom]

5. I have a little boy age 5.

It's my husband, myself, our boy and our dog in a large (long, narrow) condo in Chicago.

[maddezmom]

6. well, I'm a mom to a 3 yr old and a 3 yr old...4 in Dec.

Just moved back from overseas. Any parents here with children with special needs???

[Cymbaline68]

10. Mommy to a special needs child here....

who is 3 1/2. Don't get me started on the 'lovely' benefits that we receive here in Texas...
:grr:
I'm also the proud Mom to a 13 month old.
I've been lurking for a while now and thought I would start out here in the parenting group.

[Tikki]

15. Welcome PWSMommy...

I have worked with special needs children and I know what kind of dedication goes into raising and educating children.

The victories in raising a special needs child are so sweet.



Tikki

[maddezmom]

24. hiya PWSMommy

glad you quit lurking. :) After you get a few more posts PM me, would love to chat and maybe get together.

[Ilsa]

48. Me too, PWS!

I have an almost eight-year old boy, special needs (Pervasive Developmental Disorder) and our five year old. I get tired of people asking me what special gifts he has, as if he's a virtuoso and we'll all be making millions, etc.

[csw77]

29. Hello

:hi:

I have a little boy who will be 4 this Thursday and he has PDD-NOS.

I also have a 6 year old little girl, a 20 month old boy, and I am 18 weeks pregnant with another boy. :)

[maddezmom]

49. welcome to DU csw77... You're one busy woman

congrats on your new pg. :)

[WestHoustonDem]

7. Enjoy the little ones now....................

I'm a single mom with a 15 year old who is PMSing.

[tigereye]

19. you are, or the 15 yr old?

;)

[WestHoustonDem]

21. The 15 year old

and it's not pretty, not pretty at all.

[CornField]

41. I hear ya -- my 12-year-old is swimming in hormones! nt

[blondeatlast]

8. Hubby and I have a son, 7. Destined (due to my health issues) to be

an only. Doing well in second grade after k and 1 were torture to get him through.

We live in a smallish, but very comfortable single family here in Phoenix.

[SmokingJacket]

12. Hey... my son also had a rough time in those grades

and is doing really well in second. Social issues, but he is also somewhat dyslexic. Now he's caught up in reading it's much better.

I have another son, too, 4, and we live in a small house in NY state.

[OnionPatch]

9. We're in southern California

in a rural area. We only have one child, a four-year-old daughter. She'll stay an only child because I started late. I was 41 when she was born!
I'm so glad to be able to talk parenting here!

[robbedvoter]

13. Got you beaten! 44 when I had my daughter!

And it's wonderful to start again, only with wisfom this time!

[BigMcLargehuge]

11. Hey everyone, Mrs. McLargehuge and I are parents to a 3 year old boy

and are awaiting the arrival of his sister (only 2.5 months left!). We live in a small house, 2 bedroom, with a nice rambling layout. This place is wicked old, and we like it that way. It has a huge yard and some nice woods in the back as part of the property.

It's nice and quiet, lots of birds and squirrels, and lots of room to run around and be sillt.

We are parent/child co-sleepers, although Ian sleeps in his own bed now, we only used his crib for occasional naps. It made the first few months much easier on all of us and became a very cozy habit until Ian decided he wanted his own bed just after his second birthday.

[Tikki]

14. grandPARENTING a two year old grandson...

We are fortunate that his single father (our son) is here, also, for this precious little guy's physical, emotional and financial support.

We are the primary care-givers; it is a joy and hard work when you are in your late 50's.

I have so much respect for the work mothers and fathers put into their families.

[Taverner]

16. Wifey and I have a 17 month old

First timers...his name is Nate and he's a doll.

We'll probably hold off on more kids until we migrate to Canada, or Bush is gone.

No way will I provide fodder for his war..

[abelenkpe]

55. sigh.

I hope bush and his like are replaced before my son grows up, too.
Let's hope that things change soon and all our kids can grow up in peace.

[gollygee]

17. Hi! I'm the mom of a 2-1/2 year old

here she is:



We co-sleep and we breastfed for about two years. I'm 35 and dh and I have been married for 6 years.

Nice to meet you all!

[tigereye]

20. my son is 8 and in third grade

I started late at 38, but not as late as some others. Good for you folks. We have one, and we are done. My son likes to read and play video games and attends a small progressive ( I call it a hippie) school. There aren't a lot of kids where we live, so I am always scrambling for different activities for him, like gymkhana, soccer, the pool, etc. Nice to see you all. :hi:

I like talking about kids with other progressive parents, although I think the parenting questions are similar despite one's politics. I was raised Catholic as one of 5 in a small town, so it is always interesting to me to see the differences and similarities of what my parents did and what I and my husband choose to do.

[Biased Liberal Media]

39. So adorable!

I just love that pic of her!!! :)

[City Lights]

22. I've got two.

A girl (12) and a boy (10). For the most part my kids are great. My biggest recurring problems are getting them to do their homework without a fight, and getting them to pick up after themselves. My daughter takes great pride in the fact that her room already resembles the Swamp from M*A*S*H*. (She takes after my sister ;-).)

:hi: everyone.

[davsand]

23. My daughter is 7.

I was 37 when we had her, and have never regretted it. We live in a small town in the middle of Illinois.

Glad to see a forum for those of us with kids.

Laura

[L84TEA]

25. Hi all...I have 3

I have a 11yr old girl, 9yr old boy and a 4yr old girl that has mild CP. Nice to meet you all!! :pals:

[wildeyed]

26. I have two little ones.

A girl and a boy, 4 and 2. They are beautiful beyond belief, but really stress me out on most days, too. My sitter just quit, giving very little notice, so it will be interesting to see how I handle my work commitments for the next month or two. May not be posting much, we shall see.....

[rbnyc]

27. We have a 2 month old boy.

I am a development coordinator for a breast cancer non-profit and my husband is a stay-at-home-dad by day and musician by night. We live in a railroad apartment in Brooklyn.

[Liberal Mommy]

30. We are in Round Rock, Texas

Three kiddos here, a daughter who will be 12 in Jan, a 2 yr old boy and a 10 month old boy. I'm a SAHM mom and we live in a 4 bd house next to a lake. We have a tiny yard so I'm grateful that our backyard connects with a beautiful park. :)

[lovedems]

31. We have 4 boys

and I talk about them alot on DU! They are 8,7,6, and 4. On Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings I have two and half hours of pure silence while all 4 of them are in school! The first time in 8 years! It is still pretty quiet during the week with my 3 big boys in school all day but how I love my 3 mornings a week!

Here are my 4 boys when we met Obama over the summer...

<img src="">

I have posted it before but I love the picture so much, I am posting it again! We live in a historic district in central Illinois and my boys attend Catholic School (and pre-school). Our oldest son is a very accomplished drummer and all 4 boys love PS2 and XBOX. We are not restrictive parents. The only thing we don't allow is bloody violence. If they want to watch "The Family Guy" that is OK with us. They know good and bad and what is acceptable and what isn't. They know we trust them to make the right decisions and we parent with the idea that we want our kids to respect us and not fear us.

They are 4 really kick ass boys. My husband and I are very proud of them!

[lastliberalintexas]

42. They will really appreciate

that picture when Mr. Obama is elected President one of these days! Very nice picture and the boys look adorable!

[SarahB]

32. Hi there!

I don't talk about parenting stuff much on DU because I simply do so much of it, it's a nice break to talk about other stuff.
I have 4, yes 4 (Not much harder than two children other than the grocery bills in my opinion and now that they're getting older, the built-in playmate factor is nice). I have a daughter who is 12 (and now taller than me- yikes!) and 3 boys that are 9, 6, and 3. I was and am a relatively young mom. Currently, I'm also going through a divorce (he's a good dad, but there's been problems with us since shortly after #3 came along and we're frankly miserable, so after much thought and counseling, this is it), going back to work soon, and life is seriously rather somewhat serious these days.

I was and am a very involved mother- co-sleeping, extended breastfeeding, etc with each of them and fortunately, they are pretty smart, thriving young people. I have a degree in early childhood education, am currently working toward a nursing degree, and in the past, I have worked as a post partum doula, teaching pre-school, and with 1st and 2nd graders with reading difficulties, so life for me has been highly kid-oriented if not busy, busy, and busy. But, anyone who knows me know I'm nothing if not energetic and ambitious, so bring it on! :D

Nice to be here! :hi:

I'll add a picture. What the heck?
This is us last Summer at the New England Aquarium in Boston. I'm the one on the far left. My daughter is next to me with my 3 year old son on her lap, followed by my 6 year old, and my 9 year old.

[movie_girl99]

33. I have 2 sweet cherubs

daughter-18 & son 13

[MARALE]

34. I have 2 of my own, 1 more living with us

I have a 16 year old boy and a friend of his from school who is living with us. Also a 9 year old girl. All are great and different in their own ways. The boy who is living with us was only supposed to stay while his mom found somewhere to live. I guess it wasn't a good situation for him at home, he pretty much took care of everything while she went out and partied. He seems to be doing great at our house and doesn't talk with his mom much or even want too. He is getting better grades and is involved in band and in a church group with my son. We would like for him to stay with us if possible. Does anyone know of the legal rights he or we have? He will be 17 in the summer and has been living with us since Aug. 28th. I really want to give him a chance at life and don't want him to go back to the messed up life he did have. Any sugestions?

[sandnsea]

35. 18, 20, 25, 28

Can I still stay? I have a grandbaby on the way!

[maddezmom]

50. Absolutely!!

:) Can we PM you with all our problems? hehe only kidding.

[AspenRose]

36. Pregnant with first baby in New Mexico.

I am clueless :dunce:

Well, maybe not TOTALLY clueless...my brother is 12 years my junior. I remember changing HIS diaper, feeding him, etc.

Anyway: I am also in graduate school. I plan to take a one year leave of absence from school shortly before the baby's due. Spring semester starts in January and baby is due Feb 11th.

My issues: Learning about breastfeeding, drinking enough water to stay hydrated so as to avoid preterm labor and cramping, finding room in our small house for only the baby ESSENTIALS (crib, etc).

My husband finally consented to allowing us a doula in L&D. This will greatly alleviate my fears about labor.

I watched my cousin give birth to her second child and it didn't frighten me or put me off, but she was younger and in better physical shape than I am currently in, so I am concerned about c-sections and episiotomies and things like that.

:hi:

[lastliberalintexas]

43. My c-section wasn't that bad

I know that there are women who really do have problems with them, but I've found that many/some who complain about their c-sections are "complainers" regardless. And I was 32 when I had my son, so I wasn't that young either- and I certainly wasn't in great physical shape!

I hate to tell you, though- you really are clueless! That was meant in the nicest way of course! It is so much work taking care of a little one, so please be prepared for that. The sleepless nights, the endless feedings, the crying/colic and the lack of any time for yourself really takes a toll, even if you have help, and even if your baby is good. My husband helped out, my son was a doll, didn't have colic, and didn't have any problems eating, and I still felt like I was a walking zombie. Until you're dealing with it, you just have no idea what sleep deprivation does to the human body.

I also think so many people around new parents only focus on the good and great things associated with babies that it makes it very hard on the new parent. You wonder if you are the only one who's ever felt helpless, ignorant, incompetent, isolated, alone, and frustrated. And you're certainly not!! We all experienced those things, so please don't feel like you're a failure or a bad parent! But expect to feel some bad things and have a few bad days so that you are prepared to deal with them when they hit. Being prepared is the answer.

There are of course great things and feelings you'll experience too! I was just very grateful to a friend of mine who was honest with me and told me about how hard it was for her, and her husband who was honest and admitted to his feelings of jealousy. No one else really told me anything like that. Everyone else talked about their children and parenting in idyllic and unrealistic terms, and it would have been very hard for me to live up to some fantasy standard. I was so glad that my friend had prepared me for the good and bad!

Most importantly, ENJOY yourself, your partner and your baby. My son is only 8 months old now, but I can tell you that the time really does slip by quickly. Before you know it, he's rolling over and sitting up and walking!

I'm sure that was more than you cared to hear, and I hope you take it as the friendly advice that it was meant to be. But that's another thing I must warn you about- you'll get advice from everyone!!!!! Take it for what you will, follow the good, ignore the bad, smile sweetly, nod your head- and then do what's best for your child and you!

I hope you're doing well and everything goes fine for you! And that you don't mind the advice! :)

[SarahB]

46. Not to start flames here, but....

I am a woman who has had c-sections and have complained, not because I'm a "whiner", but because of a medically documented increase of risks with cesareans as opposed to vaginal births. I have dealt with the following during my cesareans: 1.my uterus being cut without anesthesia working properly, 2. adynamic ileus (temporary painful condition where your lower digestive tract ceases to function post operatively, and 3. A spinal headache that lasted an entire week.
I was also young and in good health delivering healthy babies.

Cesareans can be a life-saving procedure and for some of us very necessary (if by some chance I wanted more children, I'd have to have a cesarean at this point). Likely for me, my long labors and subsequent difficulties delivering probably stemmed from minor, unknown pelvic injuries from a childhood car accident and very large babies. I don't mean to scare anyone because the chances of one of these happening to one person is relatively small. I just had inordinately bad luck when it came to positive childbirth experiences, but at the same time the World Health Organization recommends a cesarean rate of 15% for optimal outcomes. The US is over 25% and by most researchers in this field, it's considered too high and therefor interfering with optimal outcomes, but medicine is screwed up in our country, so why would birth be any different?

I'd recommend anyone giving birth become very informed. Books like The Birth Book by Dr. William Sears is a good start. For more a more in statistical depth analysis, Obstetrical Myths Vs. Research Realities by Henci Goer.

Again, I'm not trying to start flames and I am very grateful for my children and their good health, but at the same time the notion of anyone less than 100% content with their cesarean is a whiner kind of got to me. There are valid reasons at times for women to have to grieve their experiences. It's not just in regard to cesareans either. Loving one's child and gratitude for one's child and dealing with the aftermath of a difficult birth experience are two separate issues and it's just something I felt compelled to say say something about.

[rbnyc]

45. I thought I was next to clueless too...

...but by the time my son was 2 weeks old I felt like an expert in nearly all things baby.

Childbirth class will help you with your fears about labor and delivery, and having a Douala is a great idea.

I'm 26 and my son is just over 2 months old now. (My first.) I did have a C-section because he was breech and because I sustained multiple pelvic fractures last year.

The C-section was really fine. I was scared when I first went into the OR, but it really was all very manageable. And I'm sure you've heard, C-section babies are cuter because they have perfect round heads and aren't all beaten up from fighting their way out.

But, I would have done natural childbirth if it had been a reasonable option for me.

Keep us posted.

[rbnyc]

51. I'm not 26, I'm 36! Wishful typo-ing! (nt)

[abelenkpe]

53. Y'know

I had been prepared for a misshapen skull for my son with natural childbirth, but amazingly his skull is absolutely gorgeous. The director of this dance company I am involved with is from Ghana and she kept saying she would shape Connor's skull once he was born, but she took one look at him and said 'Wow, no shaping needed here!' which I considered a compliment. Her daughter's little girl was delivered c-section a few months before my son was born, and I do have to admit her round skull is super cute.

[jlucu]

37. Hi from MN

I'm a mom to a gorgeous 8 month old girl. Not officially decided, but thinking she'll be an only. We are in St. Paul, MN in a small 1.5 story house. Just getting a hang of this parenting thing - working 4 days a week (one from home), so I have a balance that I enjoy so far! Dad is off at ECFE (Eearly Childhood Family Ed offered here in MN at the public schools) with baby - so I have my evening to myself.

[Biased Liberal Media]

38. I'm a mom of an almost 5 year old

girl. Nice to meet you all!

[Zing Zing Zingbah]

40. I have a son who is 2 (25 months).

I'm married and currently living in Florida, however we are planning to move back up North in 6 months. It will probably be another 3 years before we have another baby, if we do have another one. I know I don't want anymore than two.

[AlCzervik]

44. Hubby and i have been married for 14 years now and we have

a ten year old daughter. we have relocated 2 times now and we will be again in about 6 months. We are both born and raised massholes, moved to Spring Texas for a few years and now reside in Elk Grove Ca, thats a tad south of Sacramento. we will be moving to Pacifica because of my husbands job, outsourcing sucks and thats exactly why we have to move. I'm looking forward to living in that area but it will be a tough transition for my daughter since she's older now, the other 2 times she was too little for it to really bother her. We wont be having more children which sometimes makes me a little sad but i also know my limits and I'm not in the best shape to be pregnant. Anyhow, it's really nice to have this forum. Hello all, :)

[doni_georgia]

47. I have 3 kids

Girl - will be 10 next week, Boy 8 1/2, and Girl age 6.

[outraged2]

52. Hi

Its nice to meet everyone. I've been lurking for a while and was hapy to find this forum/group. I have a son who will be 8 in about a month, he's a handful. :)

[SW FL Dem]

56. I have a 13 year old son who is an only

Hubby and I are both 46 and too old to consider expanding our family. We live in Florida with 3 dogs and a 16 1/2 yr old cat. I'm a licensed attorney, but have been a stay at home mom for most of my son's life.

My son slept in his crib until I went back to work when he was 3. I missed him so much during the day, we started letting him snuggle in the big bed at night. It wasn't a problem until he started growing and I couldn't carry him to bed anymore so we just bought a king sized bed and let him stay the night. I know it brought us closer as a family, especially when hubby's job situation led to us leaving CA for FL (away from friends and family). Luckily, after a year in FL (3rd grade) my son decided that he wanted to spread out in his own bed. We had been suggesting it for a while, one night, he decided he was ready and that was that. TG, he's now 13, almost 5'6" and 150 pounds. I don't think he'd fit anymore.

My son is my best friend (even at 13). He still holds my hand and loves to snuggle on the couch with me and watch "chick flicks". He's a great kid. Being his mom is the hardest and most rewarding thing I have ever done. Now that he's in 8th grade, I am beginning to realize that his days in this house are coming to an end WAY too soon. I thought dealing with a baby was hard, the thought of letting my baby drive and move out of the house in a couple of years is absolutely terrifying!

Here one of my favorite pics of my kid, it was taken on his 6th birthday.

[AwakeAtLast]

57. I'm late to the party

but as you all know, with children, we are sometimes late to everything!

I have a 2 1/2-year-old (will be 3 in February). She is the funniest person I have ever been around! She has been our "little comedian" since day one.

I work full time teaching music, so we are always on the go. December is especially tough for me, but once those programs are over, I can finally relax and get some shopping done.

Lovely to meet all of you! I am looking forward to the many morsels of advice that you all will have for me!

[LibertyLover]

58. Introducing myself

My husband and I live in a modest 4 bedroom house. We have one daughter, 2 years old, adopted from China. My husband has a 24 year old daughter from his first marriage who lived with us for almost a year and a 21 year old son whom we never see (thankfully). We have 5 dogs, 4 rats and 2 guinea pigs. It's a good thing that greyhounds can curl themselves into small places - otherwise the house would feel a heck of a lot smaller than it is.

[amandae]

59. Hi everyone!

I'm really glad that DU has a parenting board so that we can come here and post/ask questions, rather than go to one of the many conservative-leaning parenting forums!!

I'm a mom to three busy children, ages 2, 4 (almost 5) and 7. The oldest one is in 1st grade. The oldest two are girls and the third is a boy - and it has been a big difference between my girls and my son! At first going from two to three was easy, or at least easier than going from one to two. The older two were really good friends and kept each other busy while I was changing/feeding/holding the baby. Now that he's mobile though ... different story!! He's EVERYWHERE! All at the same time! At least the girls are still really good friends, and good helpers, too. And they all like to tattle on each other so I get the goods on whoever is misbehaving! LOL :)

:hi:

[MediumBrownDog]

60. 40 year old mother of one son, 5 months old

who is a joy. He's a 'good baby,' happy all the time, slept through the night consistently starting at 15 weeks. In response to the c-section comments above, here's a different take -- I had an elective c-section with my baby. After weighing all of the risks and benefits, a c-section was the right choice for me for many reasons. It went perfectly, my recovery was lightning quick because I was rested and hydrated for the surgery, and yes, my baby's head was perfectly round -- although that didn't figure into my decision at all, it was a nice benefit!