Parenthood Thread

[SourRoses]

I'm starting to need tips on how to get my shoes on during pregnancy! It's getting harder every day. I'm struggling to reach my feet!

I don't have any experience, but if it were me I would consider it completely reasonable to just get more convenient shoes to wear for the rest of your pregnancy. After all, they all wear out soon enough anyway.
My mother's back prevents her from bending over much, so she exclusively wears slip-ons. Her preference is Skechers, they make a bunch of different sneaker type slip-ons, some are called "Go Walks" and other unimaginative, painfully obvious names. Some come in Wide which might be nice for swelling feet. Some with stretchy laces, looser ankle areas, etc. She even has a pair of pink suede slippers with an outdoor suitable tread that she wears in the backyard sometimes.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

Anyone? Or was this just to the quote?

I was asking them, but anyone can reply! I'd love to hear others' opinions too

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

I'm starting to need tips on how to get my shoes on during pregnancy! It's getting harder every day. I'm struggling to reach my feet!

Oh man, do I know the feeling! I had one of those bellies that went straight out. Things like putting on shoes and shaving my legs became rather difficult. But I found out that it was still easier (but less fun!) than having the baby on the outside lol

 

[SunriseChickers]

I don't have any experience, but if it were me I would consider it completely reasonable to just get more convenient shoes to wear for the rest of your pregnancy. After all, they all wear out soon enough anyway.
My mother's back prevents her from bending over much, so she exclusively wears slip-ons. Her preference is Skechers, they make a bunch of different sneaker type slip-ons, some are called "Go Walks" and other unimaginative, painfully obvious names. Some come in Wide which might be nice for swelling feet. Some with stretchy laces, looser ankle areas, etc. She even has a pair of pink suede slippers with an outdoor suitable tread that she wears in the backyard sometimes.

I have considered those thoughts. My shoes honestly aren't too difficult to put on themselves, it's just so uncomfy and I feel like I'm squishing the baby (and my stomach, and my lungs haha)! Sitting down definitely helps. Winter is coming up, so I expect I'll be even more pinched for what I can easily wear. At least my winter boots just zip!

 

[SunriseChickers]

Oh man, do I know the feeling! I had one of those bellies that went straight out. Things like putting on shoes and shaving my legs became rather difficult. But I found out that it was still easier (but less fun!) than having the baby on the outside lol

Baby boy is somewhat sideways, it seems, so we aren't quite straight out, lol. BUT, it makes bringing my knees up, even to the sides, really hard. I sit on the floor to shower due to chronic illness, and oh boy, it's getting hard. I'll have to rough it and sit on the cold shower seat soon.

 

[saysfaa]

In your opinion, what is the most difficult age child to parent?

When the children are adults, because that is the stage I am in now. Each stage was the hardest when I was in it.*

One of my mentors said, "Don't wish the time away." She said too many people go through parenthood wishing for the next stage - if only he would sleep through the night, if only she was potty trained, if only he could tie his own shoes, if only she could drive herself to school, etc -at the risk of missing the full joy of the stage they are in.

And at the risk of not taking full advantage of the opportunities of each stage. If you embrace the struggles of any given stage, you are more likely to build a good foundation for the later stages.

And, when things were really hard, and I (temporarily) didn't like a given child enough to be a good parent in a given moment, it helped to remember that I wanted my grandchildren to have good parents.

*For at least one of the children; stages were sometimes easier as I went through them for a given child but which age was harder or easier is/was not consistent. I have five.

 

[R3bauer]

Been a bit since I replied to this but I saw it was also asking for advice.
Best piece of advice I had ever received was from grandma, she and I were very close and she passed a few weeks after my oldest son was born.
She was the third person we told about him when we found out. Anyway, we were talking about parenthood, she was the expert, after having raised seven kids in post war eastern Iowa.
She had told me "That as long as you love, feed, and provide for your kids, nothing anyone says matters".
There will always be people saying your doing things wrong. Whether its chickens, gardening, or children.
Just do the best you can with the knowledge you have. You'll be great!

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

When the children are adults, because that is the stage I am in now. Each stage was the hardest when I was in it.*

One of my mentors said, "Don't wish the time away." She said too many people go through parenthood wishing for the next stage - if only he would sleep through the night, if only she was potty trained, if only he could tie his own shoes, if only she could drive herself to school, etc -at the risk of missing the full joy of the stage they are in.

And at the risk of not taking full advantage of the opportunities of each stage. If you embrace the struggles of any given stage, you are more likely to build a good foundation for the later stages.

And, when things were really hard, and I (temporarily) didn't like a given child enough to be a good parent in a given moment, it helped to remember that I wanted my grandchildren to have good parents.

*For at least one of the children; stages were sometimes easier as I went through them for a given child but which age was harder or easier is/was not consistent. I have five.

I somehow never saw this reply. Thanks for this advice! I'm really trying not to.wish anything away. I do look forward to when my baby is around 1.5 because it's one of my favorite ages, but I'll try not to even think about that and just enjoy every stage.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

Been a bit since I replied to this but I saw it was also asking for advice.
Best piece of advice I had ever received was from grandma, she and I were very close and she passed a few weeks after my oldest son was born.
She was the third person we told about him when we found out. Anyway, we were talking about parenthood, she was the expert, after having raised seven kids in post war eastern Iowa.
She had told me "That as long as you love, feed, and provide for your kids, nothing anyone says matters".
There will always be people saying your doing things wrong. Whether its chickens, gardening, or children.
Just do the best you can with the knowledge you have. You'll be great!

Your grandmother seemed like a sweet and intelligent lady! What she said takes a lot of the fear out of things. I can be hard not to worry about others' opinions because I'm discovering there are soooo many ways to raise a child and so many different opinions. My sister has a similar-aged child to mine and we both do things differently, but our babies are both loved and taken care of. According to your grandma, our babies will be alright based on that.

 

[SemiSweet2391]

Your grandmother seemed like a sweet and intelligent lady! What she said takes a lot of the fear out of things. I can be hard not to worry about others' opinions because I'm discovering there are soooo many ways to raise a child and so many different opinions. My sister has a similar-aged child to mine and we both do things differently, but our babies are both loved and taken care of. According to your grandma, our babies will be alright based on that.

I think that's the biggest thing that a child needs. Parents that love each other and love them! I think the vast majority of kids that have that will be ok