Hi guys, I’ve had my Tom Petty portrait tattoo for a few years now, and I think I’m ready to add some flowers to it.
The portrait itself is black with no color. Would it be weird to add flowers with color?
Which flowers would you add? I have 1-2 flowers I know I want, but should I just do a random mix, or just do the same few?
I need serious help on if I’m being crazy and overthinking. Literally most of my day is spent analyzing messages and behaviors.
I’ve been with my boyfriend for almost 3 years and have been friends with my best friend for about 5.
My friend started hanging out with my bf and I a little over a year ago and we all get along.
There’s been times when I’ve questioned my bf’s loyalty and feelings towards his friends vs me. He has a lot of girl friends and sometimes it feels like he cares more about them than me. But a lot of the time I check myself and I realize that my bf is a really caring guy and values his friendships.
Here’s where my overthinking starts. My best friend and I went on a group road-trip (bf didnt go) a few weeks ago. I saw that she got a text from a weird name with a ghost picture. I had never seen anything like that before and clocked it as weird from her. (She’s single and on dating apps, so I thought maaaaybe that was it??)
A few weeks before our trip we went shopping for it. She’s usually on time, but was late, and my bf at the time was out of the house on an errand. But when we got back and when they saw each other, it felt really awkward and I feel like they didn’t really make eye contact when they said hi which isn’t usually normal and then she left.
My bf and best friend also work in the same town which is different than me. And sometimes they will both message me at the same times throughout the day which makes me wonder if they’re talking to each other throughout the day too.
And this past weekend, my best friend and I went out for the afternoon while my bf and his friend were at our house hanging out (under the influence) and my friend wanted to come say hi to our cat that was laying in between my boyfriends legs on the chair. She pet the cat and was saying hi and meeting my bf’s friend, but it felt like my bf’s eyes were lingering on her and watching her with such a happy look on his face. And later he asked if they (him and his friend) were being too weird while she was over.
Then today, I’m supposed to go to a family dinner and I was expressing to my friend that I would like if my bf went. Which she responded with something like “yeah… but you’d be fine since you have your sister”. And it just feels weird talking about my bf to her now.
My friend also expresses to me that she feels like she’s just meant to be alone and struggles finding good guys to date that want more than just a physical relationship. And she would always give off the vibe that she has a good level head that would never cheat on her friend with their bf.
I keep reminding myself how crazy it is if this were actually happening. Like the two closest people I have in my life are just lying behind my back. It’s so hard to pull myself out of those thoughts. Sometimes it works but then they always come back and I keep questioning. I don’t know how to act sometimes because I have this suspicion. But how do you even ask or bring it up with either of them?
AIO???
TLDR: After small things adding up, I feel like my bf and best friend are cheating on me??
Hiiii, I’m 27F and struggling with relationships. I get jealous when some people are so easily and quickly liked and able to connect with people. I keep thinking something is wrong with me, that my presence just gives off unwanted vibes.
Even with my friends, family, and in my romantic relationship, I feel like I’m never the chosen one and it’s such a chore for people to hang out with me. When I talk, I feel like no one actually cares about what I say. But when I watch other people talk, they are so attentive and caring. I don’t understand it.
Does anyone else feel like this? Could it just be in my head?
Would love to hear your experiences & any feedback is welcome
My title is a broad overview of what I want to talk about— this is a little bit of a rant, but mostly I want to hear other’s perspectives on things like:
• Kissing babies & young children
• Diaper changing & diaper changing times
• Boss and Employee Relationships
• Teacher and Parent/Family Relationships
So I’m 27 F, and I’ve been working in ECE for over 7 years. I’ve worked in normal daycare centers, ministries, and Montessori schools. I like to think that I’m a good teacher, and I had decided to go back to school for ECE (rethinking it over now).
I got hired at my current job about 2-2 1/2 months ago. I took this job because they were offering me way more money than I ever made, the hours I wanted, and help with schooling. But since starting and being in the classroom everyday with certain teachers, seeing how my boss interacts with other teachers, I feel like I’m questioning myself.
For starters, some of the other teachers at my job are straight up kissing these babies and 1 year olds/toddlers. I was always always always told that you never kiss a child, no matter the age, but especially not babies. It’s astounding to me at how many teachers I see do this throughout the day. As an ECE educator, shouldn’t you be well aware of what that could do to a baby?? AND to add onto this, these teachers sometimes do this in front of the parents, and they don’t seem to mind???
My coworker (who is the lead) is a few years younger than I am, but with a lot of experience, is one the teachers who is always kissing the kids. She also throws them around (in a playful way), but is much more rough than I would ever do with kids so small. At my other jobs, I was always the children’s person, as I love showing my kids affection and care (in an appropriate way, I thought), but when I do play or show affection with the children here, I feel like I’m judged or looked at differently. My coworker gets quiet and basically ignores me when I am playing with them. I find it odd because she’s a very loud, outgoing, talkative person otherwise.
Anyway, today she was talking to me about how she wants to do diaper changes. At any of my other jobs, we had a 2 hour diaper check. If the diaper was even a little bit wet, we were required to change them. But here, she wants to just check and change them 3 times per day. She said that parents get agitated with her and always ask why their kids need more diapers. But this conversation came about when I was about to change a child’s diaper because they were very wet, and it was about 10 minutes away from their diaper check time. My coworker said she usually waits to do everyone at once that way we’re not continuously stopping what we’re doing to change diapers. Which I can agree with, but at that moment we were currently doing free play in the classroom and it was close to lunch time. I usually check diapers before transitioning to outside or the gym because a lot of the time my kids will poop sometime around then in the mornings. And who just lets a kid sit around in a soaked diaper?
I’m also kind of weirded out by my boss’s relationship with my coworkers. When I interviewed with my boss, she seemed very professional and straight to the point. But since a lot of my coworkers are younger, I get a really immature and unprofessional vibe from them sometimes. The way they talk to each other and mess around is weird. We’re in a community college type class, where we had to go for an on-site meeting (this was when I had just started and barely knew anyone), and I was taken aback at how my coworkers and boss acted. They were laughing and making jokes while a presentation was going on while other groups were quiet and listening. It seemed disrespectful, idk.
Alsooo, another thing I’ve found that’s inappropriate: teacher and family relationships. This definitely doesn’t go for all the teachers at my job, but my coworker and maybe one other teacher (that I’m aware of). My coworker will go on Facebook and add parents, get their numbers, and text them about things not involving their child. We have an app to message parents about their kids throughout the day, which I’m not able to use because the center won’t give me the technology for it yet because they’re lazy (that’s another conversation), so I haven’t been able to be in contact with parents except for pick up or drop off times. But at my other jobs, it was always frowned upon to have that type of relationship with families.
Sorry for the long post, do you guys think I’m over reacting about any of this? I’m an introverted person and I feel like I don’t know how to act and communicate with some of the younger teachers. I feel like I don’t belong & questioning if I’m the right fit in ECE. Any feedback is appreciated!
Hi guys! I’ve been seeing some posts about assistant teachers not doing anything, but rn I’m in the opposite boat and I just need to RANT.
I’ve been working with toddlers for years at this point, and have held a lead teacher role. But at my current job, I’m an assistant toddler teacher.
My coworker (lead teacher) used to be a school teacher but came to work in daycares and just started working with toddlers within the last two years.
My coworker in this toddler class (12 months-20months) does not help me with managing behaviors. We have 2-3 kids that need constant supervision because they are always grabbing onto other kids clothes, hitting, and pinching faces. I try so hard to be patient with these kids by taking them aside and talking with them calmly about why we can’t do that and redirection. But soon after they are always doing it again. And when there are 2-3 kids doing this out of 9 kids in the class, it’s a lot when the other teacher just watches or does the bare minimum to separate them.
The only time this teacher really sits with them is when she does art with them. But even then, she gets frustrated with them for eating the markers, paint, etc. and hardly lets them actually do any of the art themselves. She also doesn’t tell me when and what she’s doing with the art. A lot of the time she does it when I have the kids sitting down for circle time (they’re all calm and content for the most part) and then she starts getting all the art stuff out and ruins it. So I’m left cleaning up circle time and the rest of the toys while she’s trying to manage doing art with the kids that never ends up going well, and I always need to step in to wash hands or do damage control. Which is fine, I’m glad to help and keep them clean (coworker hardly helps them wash hands, never sweeps after snack, does a terrible job at wiping down the tables), but still, just communicate with me about what you’re doing or trying to do.
Also, I don’t know if it’s a disability (I’ve never outrightly asked), but she has told me that she doesn’t have 100% of her vision, and she’s constantly missing accidents. I will come back from my break and sit down with a child and see that they have a huge bruise on their head. I’ll ask her about it and she’s always like “oh, they do have a mark, I didn’t see that.” Just yesterday that happened, AND another child face planted in the gym, the lead teacher picked her up to check her (but not being able to see), she put her down thinking she was fine. So the kid runs over to me for some comfort and I immediately see that the top of her mouth is bleeding.
I’m also every kids person in the classroom, and I think that’s just because I’m the only one that actually comforts them. Any time someone gets hurt, or they’re upset for any reason, she doesn’t get down on their level, doesn’t really talk to them, doesn’t really hold them. She just stands and leans over and pats their shoulder or head. Or she yells across the room: “insert name, come here, you’re okay, come here” when not even looking in their direction.
Yesterday morning when I came in, all of the kids swarmed me and I was struggling to sit with them all and comfort them all. My coworker sat at the tables writing their lunch and snacks down (could’ve been done during naptime or really any other time but no). The only time I get any sort of break is when I’m doing diapers. But even then, she doesn’t choose to interact with them, or even watch them while I’m doing diapers!! I try to keep my focus on the child I’m changing, that way she’s actually forced to help whatever child may be crying or whatever, but there will be 2-3 kids climbing on the tables behind me, and I look to see what she’s doing, and her back is turned and she’s standing at the sink doing something. So when I tell them to get down, she’s like “oh, get down!” She hardly has any patience for them when she does actually have to deal with them.
Also, I prefer to do diapers especially poopy diapers, because she can’t see. Anytime she changes a diaper, I have to fix it because it’s on crooked, or there’s still poop left on their bottom.
My center also has a teacher appreciation wall, and the only thanks I ever got was from another teacher about how kind and thoughtful I am, with great connection to the kids in my class. But my bosses do nothing but praise my coworker for the work she does. Not once has any of my bosses complimented me for my work.
My coworker also chooses to go and work in other classrooms when our ratio allows it. Leaving me every time, to do literally everything with the class.
To sum all this up, my last day here is next Tuesday. I got a much better offer, and I’m so excited for the next adventure, but I’m sad to be leaving my kids, and I really hope that the next teacher that comes in will be great.
Thanks for listening!! 😌
Hi guys! So I’m looking for some advice on how to give my two weeks notice after a crazy work week and with it just being teacher appreciation week.
I’ve been at my current job for ~9 months & it’s been one of the better places that I’ve worked (I’ve worked at some not great places where I’ve left and given hardly any notice). However, I’m not a fan of my director/management in general. There’s favoritism and I feel like I’m not able to talk with them & when I do, I feel judged.
Anyway, I had interviewed for a new job a few weeks ago and finally got an offer. It’s much better benefits and pay, plus I’ll be getting the hours I want. I accepted the position but waiting to put my two weeks notice in until early next week.
The problem is, I really love my kids and their parents, and I’ve received some gifts from families plus my work. We just got a few new kids in our class & I just met their parents. Plus, my boss just had her baby unexpectedly, and another office person is going through a hard time, aaaaand we’re already kind of struggling because lack of floating help.
I feel like a horrible person for taking these gifts and leaving soon after. And I don’t even know how to go about putting my two weeks in since I’m probably not going to see my boss again because of maternity leave. What would I say to the assistant director?
I understand that sometimes you just have to do what’s best for you, even if it might suck for others or put others in a tough situation… but idk. Has anyone else gone through something like this?
I appreciate any advice, thanks!!