Another Boppy lover here. My kids are teens, so we gave our boppy away years ago, but I am using another one again as I begin my latest nannying adventure. I would cover it as suggested, and keep it for a bit. We used ours long past nursing. The kids were as attached to it as I was.

Haven't read other replies, but I use Clorox wipes. They are pricy, but imho are worth it. I don't have to worry about having clean rags, washing them, etc. The kids can easily use them at a young age, and it is worth it to pay for the wipes when the kids can easily help with cleaning chores. I get the wipes on sale whenever I can, and I know they cost less at Costco.

We have always been big on community service. SOme of the things we have done with preschoolers: *visiting at a retirement home or the home of a shut-in neighbor (bringing meals, drawing pictures to hang on the fridge, singing songs) *working at the food bank (toddlers can help sort and pack foods at some foodbanks- ours encouraged service from very young people, some have age limits) *delivering food to shut-ins from the food bank (mostly they sit in the car seat for the ride, but the older ladies *love* visits from toddlers. We used a wagon to haul the food when kids were little.) *adopting families at Christmas/Easter/Thanksgiving and having kidlets help with the shopping, etc. *stream and park cleanup parties *sponsoring a child *giving food to folks on the corner- this is a sticky one. We have a lot of folks who stand on the corner asking for handouts. At the age of 6, it just really hurt my son to not help a man he saw who had the shakes so bad but I didn't want to give him money to buy alcohol with- we had just been to the grocery, so I pulled over, and helped my son give the man a bag of apples. He was so impressed and grateful. Many years later, we still see this man and my son (18 now) still hands him an orange or banana. We started carrying extra oranges/apples/veggies and will roll down the window and hand them to folks instead of cash. I know there are more things we have done.... let me know if you have specific questions. Volunteering with a toddler or preschooler takes a bit more work on the part of the supervising grownup, but can be very rewarding, and really helps teach from a very young age how good you have it!

We did this when my kids were this age. We included narrations, pictures copied from the book, or drawn while listening to the book. It was great fun.

My dream is to be an artist. And to have a career that supports that, until I get good enough that I am selling my art and it supports me. With that in mind, I am quitting all my part time and respite care jobs in June, taking a postpartum doula training in July, and focusing on painting and making art. Right now, I am in the scary part of living the dream- planning and taking actions. It is a big leap, a big change, and a big step. :001_smile:

Nope. Not nuts. Happens. Happened with my second pregnancy. I also felt her move very early in the pregnancy. I was very huge and roly-poly by the time she came- boy was I glad she came 2 weeks early!!

I was very glad the second one came sooner than the first- she weighed a pound and a half more than the first- if she had been full term there is no way I could have had her vaginally. I was also starting to develop toxemia, and was swelling up badly. Was very glad she came 2 weeks early!

I think Peela suits you!

10+ years ago when I first came to the boards, I was LB in Seattle, but shortly before the change to the new boards, there were getting to be several folks who had LB in their board names, and it made doing a quick search for threads involving me a bit trickier (I am lazy, really). It was also around this time that I started shaving my head, and my family started calling me some of the nicknames from one of our fave books A Porcupine Named Fluffy- Spike, Lance, Needleroozer...... so when I decided that I wanted to change my board name to something a bit more fun and unusual, I grabbed Needleroozer. My hair is long again, so it doesn't fit as well, but I still like it.

I had to take my dd shopping and get a very specific formal outfit for her upcoming recitals and gigs, and it took us 2 days and 3 different malls to find what we needed, but we did. I *hate* shopping, I really do..... all the walking, the prices, the fact that it makes you so hungry and then you have to pay mall prices for icky food..... What I did for myself was force my dd to carry everything, and go to one. more. store. so I could look for pants for my interview next week. At Sears, in the Land's End clearance section, I found some great side-zip slacks, and some buttery soft pants. I went to the checkout line with 2 pair, thinking I was going to pay the sale price of $60. and turns out they were on sale for $5. each. So I ended up buying 5 pair of pants, originally worth a total of $245. for a total of $34- 5 pair for the price of one!! Woot!!! Now I am off to take some ibuprofin for my sore hips, and take a nap before I have to work tonight.

I am so proud of you for your daily riding! One of the things I did for myself this week was to make time to have tea (and scrumptious bread) with a dear, creative friend of mine.:001_smile: In addition, I secretly watched DWTS after the kids were in bed. I also woke early enough to get a long hot bath before the kids got up. THe other things I did for myself involve starting a new meaningful career: Collecting references and having phone interviews with perspective clients.

I have been wondering how he was doing.... am so sorry to hear about this. Lifting you up and sending love and hugs to you. May you stay strong and may he feel the love and choose wisely. Your friend, Needle

:iagree::iagree: Especially the part about the insane-driving quirks..... how do I know if they are within the range of "normal", whatever that really is, or if they may be needs that need some special assistance, etc.

Thanks for your thoughts, ladies! Looks like I need a couple of pairs of pants for the interview process. I am scheduled for a haircut this weekend, so that will help,too. Jean, that is a good idea.... I hadn't thought of the kurta as an option. I had the phone interview and it went really well, except that they want to pay significantly less than the going rate here in Seattle, and there are others who are willing to do this much work for less. Stoopid economy. Now I have some thinking to do.........

If it is a job where you will be dressed very casually (as to avoid too much baby puke or poo on nice clothes, lol), how dressy do you get for the interview? How fancy of a top do I need, and do I need slacks? Khakis? Are my nice jeans too casual? I may need to get some new clothes........... I have a phone interview for a postpartum doula client today, and asking this in the hopes I will have an interview with this family next week. The hours would be perfect, it isn't too far a drive, and it would be super to have a client before I do the training (Though I am also really worried about doing it before I have the support of the training, sigh.) Wish me luck! It has been a frustrating day parenting and work-wise, I am wiped out, nervous, and cranky. I need to go pull myself together to get ready for this!

I would love that! Not sure what your schedule is like.... I am back to 20 to 30 hours a week with my 18 yr old client until they move in June, but give me a call, maybe we can find a time we are both available. I miss walkies with you!

Hang in there, baby. I hear you, and am dealing with this too, right now. It can be so hard to be nice when in such pain. Hang in there, and know you are loved. :grouphug::grouphug:

Been feeling schlumy here too, due to injuries, and hormones. Thanks for posting this, and for all the good ideas. For myself, I see I need to "get out of my head, and into my body", as my Reverend likes to say.

Seeing that there are 54 other folks who can't remember when they dusted last makes me feel a bit better about myself..... way to be enabled, lol.

For me, one of the things I like best about this community is having cheerleaders..... regardless of whether it is going back to school after a divorce, creating a new career after homeschooling is done, picking up knitting or scrapbooking after 20 yrs of parenting, "painting to live", or writing a novel; we are here to support and cheer each other. You can do it Aubrey! Write away, and post those word counts! Woot! Woot! Woot! :grouphug: :hurray: :party:

I still really like mine to go together as we don't live in the best neighborhood, but do let them go alone. I feel better about my Girl riding her bike alone than I do her jogging alone. My Boy is old enough that he goes all sorts of places alone- walking, city bus, etc., but I still protect the Girl a bit, and encourage her brother to do the same. They both have cell phones with them at all times when away from the house.

Thanks! These look great, and you can't even beat $5. a pair at the thrift store!

For how long do I boil chicken when I am precooking it for later use? I threw in herbs and garlic to add some flavour.

I agree with posters who have said keeping them home will be the easiest for you. You can get a lot of schooling done while in bed, the older can help with the youngers, and if you have a window in your room, and good nature books, you can still do nature study. Hang in there, LB

Same here. I think the person's comfort level should be thought of- tons of folks love to be called Mr. Mrs., but there are just as many for whom it is very uncomfortable. Personally, I have a very long name, both my first and last names, with lots of L's- too hard for most young kids. Kids have called me "Nanny" for 30 years now, and it works for me. I was out in the city a few months ago, and someone came up behind me, yelling, "Nanny!!", and grabbed me in a big bear hug. It was a 19 yr old boy I had taken care of- everyone got a huge kick out out that- 19 years later, and he still thought of me as Nanny. Loved it.