u/Interesting-Arm9680

What easy, non-cheesy projects or crafts have you done to create family keepsakes or memory objects that you actually use and treasure?

I’m currently on maternity leave with my second baby, and seeing my 3-year-old next to the little one has been such a heartbreaking reminder of how fast childhood goes by.

I’ve always been terrible at small projects like this (if I’m being honest, I have always kind of rolled my eyes at this stuff), but I’d love to start some simple traditions or make something meaningful while I have this time. I’m especially interested in things that get used regularly rather than just sit on a shelf.

For example, a friend made a “Happy Birthday” banner using her kids’ handprints that they hang up for every family birthday. I love that it’s personal, practical, and pretty easy.

Would love ideas from people who have done something similar!

Hi! For the past 15 years I have only ever liked my hair when it’s blown dry with tension and tears. As a result, it takes me forever to do my hair, I can’t stand doing it, and I wash my hair way less than I should (my hair is on the dry side, so it looks fine even if it feels gross). Now, I’m in a season of my life where it would be just awesome if I could air dry my hair and not feel so unpolished.

I have a natural wave, but I’ve found that anytime I use product without heat, I get this icky texture to my hair and my scalp is a bit irritated. If I air dry without product, the frizz is violent.

Any tips or product recommendations for how to embrace a more natural, wavy texture without the frizz and ick feeling?

Hi! I’m looking for something to add a little extra fun and interest at home while caring for my brand new baby. Ideally it’s something I can do with one hand or while holding a baby. I love the idea of crocheting, but realistically I won’t be able to do this while (constantly) feeding. Any recommendations?

Hi all,

My son was born at term (37+4) this past Wednesday. Within about 20 hours the nurses noticed he was breathing fast and he was admitted to NICU for transient tachypnea if the newborn. The doctors explained this likely would be 1-3 days just to give him extra help and support clearing some fluid from his lungs that didn’t come out during his (pretty quick) delivery. That was super early Thursday morning.

Now it’s Saturday morning. He is much improved, especially in the last 12 hours. His respirations are about normal, all other stats look good, and he’s much more awake and alert. He is still on “bubbles” (CPAP), which comes with a required feeding tube since they can’t eat when on this machine. Yesterdat his doctor agreed he was progressing and assured us that once he was breathing more normally he would be removed from everything quickly (not weaning off, but just stopped). Since he is term, once he’s off the bubbles he just reverts to regular discharge standards as if he were not in NICU. he would pass these tests and we’d go home.

However, the nurse just told me that despite what his main doctor said yesterday, they don’t like to make changes on the weekends, so they may not take him off. This alone is infuriating— 2 more days of this because it’s a weekend?! Beyond that, because he’s doing better he is awake and moving a lot more and the CPAP and feeding tube are really really bothering him. His numbers only go out of range when he is crying trying to pull them out. The nurse agreed with this. Finally, he has been on a set amount of food, not cue-based. He’s been getting SO hungry before his scheduled feeding time, which also makes him upset. The nurse is recommending we move to cue-based.

I’m spiraling because I think we are going to be here for several more days simply because of these interventions, not real need. They need to make sure he is eating enough before we can leave, but he wants to eat more! They just won’t let him. If we were home, he would be eating enough! And once he’s off the bubbles, I think they are going to wait “a few days” to see how he does. This is all just SO MUCH longer than the 1-3 days they said when we came up here.

Any advice for responsibly advocating for us to move toward discharge, especially on a weekend? I’m desperate to get this poor baby comfortable and home, but will of course not take any chances if he still needs to be here. I just hate the idea that he is bed-bound, hungry, and uncomfortable simply because it’s a weekend and the interventions escalated beyond his initial need.