u/Technical_Artichoke5

Hello, just wanted to check if anyone has supercash they're not using. Needing to buy a new stash of maternity clothes!

I’m a teacher with a 16 month old daughter and husband who is a SAHD.

I typically work 55+ hours a week when school is in session. One big downside, other than missing my baby all the time, is that she literally never has needed or wanted me. Even when she was a newborn, I wasn’t able to nurse and I exclusively pumped for 7 months. I was more physically attached to the pump than to her. She has always preferred and needed her dad more than me. She never was all that happy to see me when I came home from work, and never asked for me when crying.

Anyway, I’ve been on break for the last 5 weeks or so. And lo and behold… turns out my daughter loves me after all. She now wants me over my husband and showers me in kisses and cuddles constantly.

I’m so happy to have this time to finally bond with my baby. And now I’m heartbroken at the idea of returning to work in another 5 weeks. I just hope she won’t forget how much she loves me even when I disappear for most of her waking hours.

We are abroad visiting family with our 16 month old for over a month. Baby would refuse to sleep in the pack n play next to our bed, and with jetlag we just resorted to cosleeping for the last month. Going home in one week and terrified that she won’t go back to her crib. I’m pregnant and can’t cosleep with her.

Has anyone experienced something similar? How did the transition go? Any advice on how to approach it? We have sleep trained her in the past but would feel bad about doing it while she’s jet lagged.

We are due with #2 in December, and #1 will be 22 months old, so just 2 under 2 for 2 months.

I’m taking an 8 month leave from work and my husband works a very flexible WFH job. We feel more than capable to handle both of them full time at home. However, we are considering sending #1 to a local parents’ day out program a few times a week. It would be from 9:30-1:30 and only $35 each day. We want her to get some socialization before she starts preschool and also thinking it may be nice to have a chunk of the day with just #2.

My only concern is that with #2 being a winter baby, #1 will bring home illnesses from the program and get #2 sick during the newborn days.

What would you do? Keep toddler at home to stay healthy and safe throughout the newborn days? Or send toddler to program to get socialization and a break for parents, risking sickness?

I had a singleton pregnancy that ended in a miscarriage two years ago. Two cycles later, I naturally conceived di/di twins, which sadly resulted in vanishing twin but brought me my now-15 month old.

Now I am pregnant with what I was hoping was a sibling for my toddler, and apparently I conceived di/di twins again?! One is measuring a little over 6 weeks and one is not really developing yet, so doc thinks it's likely another vanishing twin.

Why do I keep conceiving twins?!?! There is no history of twins on either side of the family. We are hoping for 2 or 3 children total. With my record, it looks like that can easily become 4 or 5 if lightning continues to strike? Anyone here have experience with conceiving multiples multiple times in a row? Why is this happening if it's not genetic?

I have a toddler and have another on the way. I love my job and career, but I still want to spend more time with my family. I can afford to take a lower-paying job at this point.

Which job would you choose?

• Job 1:
  • My current dream job as a teacher, just going from full-time to part-time
  • Doing probably 60% of the work for 40% of the pay (due to health insurance premiums tripling)
  • Work 32 hours/week - 3 school days/week, some nights and weekends, all in-person.
  • Summers off.
  • $85k/year. We wouldn't be able to save much, but we are good to retire in our 50s already.
• Job 2:
  • Job in nonprofit
  • Less job security, and adjacent but not completely aligned to my skills/values.
  • Work 32 hours/week, half being remote.
  • No summers off, but more flexible PTO throughout the year.
  • $125k/yr. Extra savings would go into kids' 529 accounts and maybe a bit of lifestyle creep.

Which job would be better from the perspective of a working mom who wants to maximize time with kids but also loves their career?