Category: Our stories
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So Tonight I Banned Fortnite
So tonight I banned Fortnite.
From tonight, Fortnite is not allowed in my house.
No more playing it, no more talking about it, no more watching some guy shout about it on Youtube.
Fortnite brings nothing but bad attitude, anger and arguments into my house, and enough is enough.
It’s not my boy’s fault that he thinks Fortnite is ‘sick’. It’s not his fault Fortnite makes him behave a certain way. And it’s not his fault that I’ve finally banned it.
It’s not his fault that he is now going to be left out of conversations in school. And it’s not his fault that peer pressure is going to make him mad at me.
It’s not his fault.
Fortnite brings about an attitude and behaviour that is not okay. It encourages violence and arrogance and self entitlement.
No more.
It’s not his fault, but it’s MY choice.
I’m done. Fortnite has officially LEFT THE BUILDING.
Credit https://www.facebook.com/TodayIAmMe/
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Stop You Don’t Need To Purple Push Your Baby Out
🚫STOP! YOU DON’T NEED TO PURPLE PUSH TO GET YOUR BABY OUT🚫
What if I told you you don’t even need to push?🤫 Did you know your body is capable of pushing your baby out all on its own without extreme effort and/or hours of pushing? Ever heard a mommy say “I just couldn’t stop pushing and suddenly my baby was out!”. It’s called The Fetal Ejection Reflex!❤️
This is true for all humans as well as other mammals. So why are women told to purple push?🤨 Purple pushing is what we have accepted as normal in a medicalized world. Imagine a woman laying on her back while everyone in the room is telling her to hold her breath, put her chin to her chest, grab her legs and push for 10 second counts. All while at least 2-3 people are yelling “push push push push”.
That’s what we call purple pushing and/or directed pushing. It is not the most effective, comfortable or natural way to give birth. The fetal ejection reflex happens for women when they are fully safe, supported, and allowed to birth in peace. This can be rare to be seen or experienced in a birth filled with interventions, inductions and medication. What is the normal process for the fetal ejection reflex?🤔 How can you increase your chances of experiencing FER(fetal ejection reflex)?🤔 What are the benefits of FER?🤔
📌It is very common for a mother to experience labor to begin at night and progress rather easily in her home when it is dark and less people are around with less stimulation. Mommy feels it’s time to go to the hospital, she gets there, is surrounded by bright lights, loud sounds, a new environment with strangers which all raise her adrenaline levels and suddenly her labor slows down or will stop completely. This is a normal response to over stimulation and “flight or fight”. The neocortex of the mothers brain has been stimulated further preventing the mother from accessing her parasympathetic nervous system necessary for the primal state of giving birth. This is when hospitals start intervening the birthing process.
📌Often times, once mother is reaching the FER on her own, her labor will naturally slow or stop. This is the spot where hospital, again is wondering why labor is “stalling”, further introducing interventions like more pitocin or breaking your bag of waters. When in reality your body is resting up and building adrenaline to finish birthing the baby, and giving you an extreme amount of adrenaline and oxytocin to have you wide eyed and bushy tailed when your baby is born. It is not harmful to you or your baby to wait for your body to start laboring again. THIS IS NORMAL!
📌FER causes large amounts of adrenaline which in turn makes mommy seem uncontrollable. She might start to say things like “I can’t do this”, or “I’m gonna die”. This is a natural response to FER beginning. Hospital staff at this point works hard to try to get mommy under control or tell her she needs an epidural or narcotics to “calm down”. THIS RESPONSE FROM MOMMY IS NORMAL AND SHOULD BE MET WITH NOTHING BUT KIND WORDS AND ENCOURAGEMENT TO KEEP LABORING!
📌We are taught in a hospital setting that once we reach 10cm, it’s time to purple push. This can lead to hours upon hours of heavy duty pushing that can be ineffective, cause more vaginal tearing, cause stress to mother and baby and lead to a cesarean if mommy doesn’t push her baby out in a timely fashion and/or use of forceps for delivery. This is when we start to hear “your pelvis is too small”, or “baby is stuck”, or “baby is too big to come down”. Baby will come out on it’s own with patience and the understanding of how a woman’s body is meant to give birth!
📌During FER mommy experiences each contraction allowing her body to move baby down on its own until finally a large amount of Oxytocin is released and baby is ejected with only 3-4 strong contractions/pushes. Mommy will guide her own baby out with just listening to her body and using none to minimal effort. This reduces stress, vaginal tearing, and allows the delicate dance of perfectly balanced hormones to begin. Perfectly bonding and guiding mother and baby. It’s truly a magical sight and experience 😍
💜THINGS YOU CAN DO TO INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF FER💜
➖Meet anyone and everyone who could be delivering your baby
➖Get acquainted with the facility you will be giving birth in
➖Don’t allow everyone in your family to your birth. The less amount of people watching you birth, the better.
➖Make your birth intimate by lighting candles(if in a hospital you can use flameless candles). Bring essential oils and/or oil diffuser. Dim the lights in the room as much as possible. Ask everyone to use soft voices and only talk in between contractions. Lots of massages by your partner. Slow music to help you relax. Familiar items from your home, like pillows, blankets and a few favorite items of yours.
➖ONLY AGREE TO INTERVENTIONS IF THEY ARE ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY
➖Make it known that you do not want directed pushing/purple pushing
➖With the epidural, FER can be hard to come by but it’s still achievable with a well placed epidural and if you wait till you have the deep overwhelming urge to push.
‼️I AM NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL AND AM NOT ADVISING YOU OF ANYTHING. PLEASE SPEAK TO YOUR PROVIDER‼️
PhotoCred: Monet Nicole – Birthing Stories
-Reposted from Badassmotherbirther
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I Decided To Try And Wax My Lady Bits At Home
I decided to try to wax my lady bits at home..by myself.
Here’s a funny story for you ladies and gents.
So, it’s 6:00pm my time, and I’m feeling anxious/bored.
I decided to be adventurous and use this bikini wax that I had bought a few days earlier (how hard can it be right??? just read the directions).
I’m getting everything set up and I’m talking to my best guy friend. He says “just grow a pair and rip it off”. He’s literally talking about the test strip that I did on my leg.
Now, I have a REALLY high pain tolerance. I don’t really get anxious when other people wax me (my face and my arms) but my anxiety is through the roof. I rip it off, and say “okay that wasn’t so bad..I’ll call you when I finish”. And hang up.
1st strip of my lady bits: I hesitated but it wasn’t too bad.
2nd strip: same thing
3rd strip: I go to rip it off and my wax is sitting on a stool above me and spills allllll over my hoo-hah.
NOW keep in mind, I only wanted to do my bikini line. So, now I have wax all over my snowman and my first inital response is to try to wipe it off with a towel. WHY?! IDK.
It smears. Everywhere. I’m talking CAKED on (like what I did there?). I panic and start attaching the strips they give you so I can just rip it off.
4th strip: I saw Jesus. I swear he came down, picked up my body and took me home.
I jump in the shower with the rest of the strips on and nothing seems to get them off, even the oil.
I’m running around my apartment like a mad woman. My sister isn’t home but she’ll have a funny video to watch when she reviews the cameras.
I start to cry from the panic taking over my body. I think to myself “OKAY I’ll just shave it all off. Paper and all”. WHY DO I DO THESE THINGS TO MYSELF.
I’m starting to shave it while also googling how to get this shit off of me. Found an article where it said “DON’T SHAVE WAX OFF OF YOUR VAGINA”. But it was too late. I was already too deep in.
Now, I’m sitting here regretting every wrong decision that led up to this moment and my goodies look like I have the mange.
NEVER take chances when it comes to your golden box ladies. NEVER.
I am okay. Traumatized, but okay. Going to let it rest for a few days and then go to an actual esthetician to finish it. Will NOT be mentioning this story when I go. I can already imagine the looks when she sees it though 😩
credit https://www.facebook.com/caela.cox
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Go Mama Tell Him About Anger
“This was my hallway last Wednesday.
Broken. Sharp. Treacherous.
This was my hallway.
It was my son who did this.
Sometimes, often really, things break – irreparably. And it takes your breath away … straight away.
It took my breath away when my son stormed into the bathroom, frustrated, angry, fed-up for his very own, very significant to him, reasons. And when he chose to SLAM the bathroom door, causing the heavy mirror mounted to the front to slip out of the hardware holding it in place and crash onto the floor – a million, BROKEN pieces were left reflecting the afternoon light.
I was quiet. I surveyed the damage and took a deep breath. Put the dog outside so he wouldn’t cut his feet, put the cat in the basement for the same reason.
I walked into the backyard and felt the hot tears streaming down my face. It’s amazing how alone you can feel as a single parent in moments like these. I realized how scared and disappointed I felt. Did this really just happen? Yes. This was real.
And as I stood and considered whether or not this was an indication of his developing character, I heard his tears through the window above me, coming from inside the bathroom.
His soul hurt. This was not what he expected either. Hello, Anger – I don’t remember inviting you into my house.
Scary.
Terrified.
Ashamed.
Worried.
Scared.
Deep breath, #MamaWarrior. Deep breath. That small, fragile soul needs you right now. He needs your very best. Your biggest compassion. Your most gentle and firm mama love and reassurance. More deep breaths. Go Mama.
Go. Go now. Go open the front door, tiptoe through the broken glass, hear him hearing you coming, watch the bathroom door crack open, see the face you love most in the world red with worry and wet with tears, his voice is suddenly so small: “Mama, I’ll never do it again, I am SO sorry.” More tears. More weeping. Such uncertainty on his sweet face.
Go Mama. Get him. Go now. Scoop him into your lap. Yup, you’re crying too. Damn this was big. Hold him tight. Watch how he curls into a ball in your arms so quickly. See how eager he is to be loved by you. To be reassured by you. See how small he still is. See how fragile that spirit is.
I love you.
You are safe.
I am right here.
The worst part is over now.
I’ve got you.
I’m here.
I love you.
Go Mama. Tell him about Anger. Tell him now. Anger is a really powerful feeling. You have a right to your Anger. Anger burns hot. It can purify. It can also destroy. He nods. He feels it. He’s met Anger now.
There’s a better way to show your big feelings.
We’ll work on it together …. tomorrow.
I’m here to help you.
You are safe.
You are never alone in your anger.
You are never alone in your fears.
I’m here. We’re here together.
Now we will clean together.
And we cleaned up the broken pieces. We swept and we vacuumed. It was quiet work. It was careful work. It was thoughtful work.
Sometimes things break. Sometimes we break them. It’s not the breaking that matters, the how or why. What matters is how we choose to respond to the broken-ness. Does it kill us? Does it throw us into a downward spiral of blame and punishment?
OR
Does it help us remember how to love deepest? Does it push us towards compassion and over the hurdle of “rightness” and “wrongness” into LOVENESS?
Yes. LOVENESS.
Go Mama. Go now. Get that baby of yours. Teach that. Show that. Live that. It’s called LOVENESS. Go. Now.”
Submitted by Kathleen Fleming & Majestic Unicorn
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The Amazing Baggage Activity
This starts my 22nd year of teaching middle school. Yesterday was quite possibly one of the most impactful days I have ever had.
I tried a new activity called “The Baggage Activity”. I asked the kids what it meant to have baggage and they mostly said it was hurtful stuff you carry around on your shoulders.
I asked them to write down on a piece of paper what was bothering them, what was heavy on their heart, what was hurting them, etc. No names were to be on a paper. They wadded the paper up, and threw it across the room.
They picked up a piece of paper and took turns reading out loud what their classmate wrote. After a student read a paper, I asked who wrote that, and if they cared to share.
I’m here to tell you, I have never been so moved to tears as what these kids opened up and about and shared with the class.
Things like suicide, parents in prison, drugs in their family, being left by their parents, death, cancer, losing pets (one said their gerbil died cause it was fat, we giggled😁) and on and on.
The kids who read the papers would cry because what they were reading was tough. The person who shared (if they chose to tell us it was them) would cry sometimes too. It was an emotionally draining day, but I firmly believe my kids will judge a little less, love a little more, and forgive a little faster.
This bag hangs by my door to remind them that we all have baggage. We will leave it at the door. As they left I told them, they are not alone, they are loved, and we have each other’s back.
I am honored to be their teacher.
Credit https://www.facebook.com/CampbellCountySuicidePreventionCoalition/
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Candle Warning In The Colder Months
Last night I lit my crackle wick candle and got in the bath for about an hour. I then put it on my drawers and went for a nap before my night shift (I know sounds stupid). Basically I woke up to badger scratching at my door and whimpering. I woke up and looked like I was in a new paranormal activity, I had black coming out of my nose and was coughing black phlegm.
I thought nothing of it but talked to the fire service at work and upon asking for advice the commander deemed that I needed oxygen therapy, when the brigades turned up at work I showed them the pics and was given oxygen therapy starting on 10litres for half an hour. They said if they turned up to a job I would’ve been blue lighted to the hospital because of the amount of soot and risk of carbon monoxide poisening. Once the paramedics turned up I had my chest checked and all my stats. They told me if I had slept through to my alarm at 21:00hrs (I woke up around 19:30hrs) … I probably wouldn’t be here now.. dramatic I know!
So be careful of the colder months sitting in a closed room with a big candle for a few hours… or if you’ve got young children/babies… I’m thankful it was me and not a small child…it’s easily done.
Big thanks to the lovely firefighters and paramedics ❤️💙 DW Home Candles Homesense Homesense UPDATE: no reply from dw home candles. Only a refund has been offered by homesense.
Credit https://www.facebook.com/farrah.lorrel
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Potential Danger From Your Fitbit
Please be aware…
I’m posting this to educate others of the potential damage a Fitbit watch could have on you or your family.
On Wednesday night, I was sleeping when I woke up in a panic to my wrist burning. I quickly realized my Fitbit was burning up so I tried frantically to get it off. With a few failed attempts, I jumped out of bed and turned the light on where my wife was able to unlatch the band on my Fitbit.
Potential Danger From Your Fitbit It felt like it melted through my arm. There was smoke coming out of the Fitbit battery and our bedroom smelled like an electrical fire. We called a nurse to see if we should be seen and she told us we needed to go to the ER since the wound was white and already blistering. At the ER they cleaned out the wound, took x-rays to make sure no debris remained in my arm and then referred me to a wound clinic. When I was seen at the wound clinic, they informed me it was a 3rd degree burn. At my follow-up appointment they will determine if I need a skin graft.
I do not have feeling in parts of my wrist due to nerve damage and I will have a large scar that will be with me the rest of my life. This was a traumatic experience and I hope no one else has to go through it. So, if you own a Fitbit, please reconsider using it. Please share.
Potential Danger From Your Fitbit -
Ode To My Bladder
Ode to my bladder
Enjoy!
Ode to my bladder
My bladder and I were always friends, and she would never leak,
But since we’ve have this baby, she’s just become so very weak.
I’m sorry that your space was invaded, and you were squashed up god knows where,
I think you think I didn’t notice, or that I didn’t care.
I know that you’ve been in overdrive, working very hard,
So you’re probably a little fragile and feeling rather scarred.
But now that things have settled, I’d really like to say,
Take a chill pill bladder, so that you don’t ruin my day.
Remember when I used to laugh, and things would be just fine,
Now when someone makes me laugh, I’m weeing all the time.
And as for when I have a cough, you choose not to play along,
I have to cross my legs, so everyone knows what’s wrong.
Jumping on a bouncy castle, I used to have such fun,
But now I know a bouncy castle, is not for a newborns mum.
You know that I’m a violent sneezer, it happens rather a lot,
But if you could just please stop me weeing, then I won’t loose the plot.
So I’m sorry that in my pregnancy, our friendship went a miss,
But please let me enjoy myself, without having to take a piss.
Reply from my bladder…
Look at you kicking off, I can’t help it if I leak, I’m not the one who got pregnant, it’s not my fault I’m weak
Without a care for me, you decided to have a baby,
I told you it was stupid and I thought that you were crazy
You made me work so hard, like 5 times through the night,
I knew I was exhausted, and boy how I was right
Things would not have been so bad if only you’d have listened,
If you’d have done your exercises, tenna ladies would not be christened
You were told to look after your pelvic floor, then all would be just fine,
But you did not do it properly, and now the fault is mine.
And then you had a csection, so a catheter was needed,
And I didn’t want it, I begged you and I pleaded
So quite frankly it’s all your fault and I have been through hell,
And I don’t want to wee all the time, in case you couldn’t tell
So help me to get stronger, that would just be bliss,
And then you won’t get so embarrassed every time I piss
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Hey Men Do You Wonder Why Your Partner Is A Little Cranky?
Wondering why your partner is feeling a little cranky lately?
Wonder why when you’re tapping your wife late at night and she doesn’t move, or looks over at you like you’re George Pell’s lawyer (you piece of shit)
It’s not because she’s as hairy as a yeti and isn’t interested in sex.
Oh, contraire mon amie. On contraire. Us women, we love it.
No it’s because she’s exhausted. But I know you know that… I mean I know you’ve heard her say it a million times but I’m going to break it down for you as to why she’s so exhausted and what she means when she’s saying to your little angels “no sweetheart, mummy can’t read you another 5 books because mummy has to go hang the clothes otherwise no one will have laundry! Ha ha 😒”
Because her mental load is bigger than your washing pile… and on top of that, there’s a load of cleaning to do.
Every day and every night.
Before you go to tap her on the shoulder because your peen is doing the electric boogaloo in your pants, ask yourself… have I helped out today?
Or Have I eaten dinner and then disappeared to the toilet for five hours as soon as I was done and conveniently missed all the dishes being done?
Or have I sulked like a toddler because I had work today and will do a real shitty job so no one asks me again?
Because I’m pretty sure that’s the reason she snaps at you and everyone else like a rubber band.
Because making the doctors appointments, the dentists, organising the bills, gift buying, school meetings, socialising, and WORKING- uh I’m tired making this list, isn’t enough for her load, she’s gotta cook dinner too and then clean up afterwards as well.
And that toilet you’re talking a long ass shit on? Guess who’s scrubbing your skiddies? You got it in one!
So why doesn’t she ask for help? “Ohhh if she wants help she’s just gotta say it” (insert stupid voice here)
Because mate, she shouldn’t have to ask you, or anyone in the bloody house.
Do you live here? Do you eat off that plate? So it’s your job too honey.
She doesn’t need to remind you, tell you, or give you a list, because you’re an adult who lives in a house… together! Crazy, I know! 🤭 And it’s also crazy because, no ones giving her lists, because last I checked, with or without glasses, we can all see the fucking mess, so why is it only one of us is concerned while the other one walks over it like they’re going on a bear hunt?
Say it with me real slow okay…if 👏🏻 your 👏🏻 wife 👏🏻 does 👏🏻more 👏🏻doesn’t 👏🏻 mean 👏🏻 you 👏🏻 do 👏🏻 less 👏🏻🖕🏻(sorry finger slipped)
And when you feel that urge to sit down when the house is a bomb site, fight it, fight it real hard, because otherwise, you’ll be fighting for your relationship, and there are plenty of others out there that can control their bowel movements until after they’ve finished clearing the dinner table. 😉
❤️
Credit https://www.facebook.com/themumontherun/