The bigger issue is that schools are not childcare and those two ideas need to be decoupled.
Yes, and...the generally accepted school calendar is still based on the notion that families have a stay at home mom and/or agrarian based economies. Neither of which is practical.
I think the 40-hour work week is a farce that doesn't represent societal shifts.
But then we get into fewer multigenerational households, the high cost of childcare, underfunded school districts, rising costs of goods and services. Multiple threads to pull on this one, and it probably should be completely unraveled. I know that in my community, every ballot issue intended to bring more resourcing to the schools is shot down by low voter turn out, and the overly loud voices of people without children in the schools.
Oh yes, there’s no reason for fall or winter break. And the end of semester break in December only needs to be 10 days long. The US school year calendar needs to be completely revamped.
Oh man. This is a big UO with my junior high kid. She needs those breaks!! It helped her with burnout so much. Now February break followed by spring break was a bit much. Just combine them and make it a two week spring break. If we could do away with the test test test more test culture and make school a bit more fun then yeah the breaks wouldn’t be as necessary. Once they get to junior high though school just stops being fun.
So have you started the process? It takes fucking years, I'm too old.
We started this summer talking to an Italian attorney and pulling together all the documents. We are just needing (hopefully) one more. All my great grandparents on both sides are from the same area of Sicily and none of them were timely about getting US citizenship (as in, all my grandparents were born before that happened and I'm not entirely sure some of them ever did) which gives us a lot of options to pursue. We picked our great grandfather whose line has no military service to the US in it and whose timeline also falls within some Italian laws pertaining to the line of citizenship as being most straightforward. I'm understanding that if I get this, my son will have it too, which is a big motivator no matter how long it takes but I hope to live another 50 to 55 years (not unheard of in my family) so why not? I'm also hoping if 1/3 of us is successful it will help the others, and my cousin is further along than my brother and me.
ETA: Yeah, it would be waaay less consulted to go through your mom. Was she an Italian citizen when you were born? That seems pretty straightforward based on the advice we got but I'm not an expert.
The citizenship isn't the only path to leaving but I would find it satisfying.
we are just starting this process! My grandfather came here from Italy when he was a teenager. We are hiring a company to do all the work for us - we have our intro call in 2 weeks. I’m assuming this will take a few years but that’s ok
I don't like gas stoves and I still miss my flat top electric that we had in our apartment even after having gas in this house for almost 15 years. I do not understand why every house has gas and most people prefer it. It takes forever to boil water!
This blew our minds when we moved to Georgia. I had no idea gas stoves in a home was a thing until then. we had to watch YouTube to learn how to operate one. We were early to mid 20’s and learning to cook as it was. We were also confused by the gas dryer options.
So many people in the US have an absolutely ridiculous idea of how big of a car they want to drive. Friends with two kids urgently "need" a 3 row SUV, the number of massive trucks is insane, etc. I'm not suggesting everyone should drive a Smartcar, but the cultural identity thing of wide open spaces is very apparent in average vehicle size, to the extent that I bet a lot of people will read this and think they agree while themselves driving cars that in most other countries are seen as massive.
I agree, and the same with having lots of bathrooms (and big houses really). You don’t *need* three or four bathrooms.
I think I’ve mentioned this before. We have buyer’s remorse. We purchased this house with plans to move GMIL in. We went three bathrooms with the hopes of converting one into a suite for her. She died a year after we purchased and started quoting remodeling. As a family of 4 this house is too big and cluttered. I feel like we are accumulating more than we need due to extra space. Now we are stuck. Pandemic hit after her death. Now rates are ridiculous.
You think teacher burnout/shortages/leaving the profession is dire now? Take away the breaks. Holy shit.
I certainly am not advocating a "take away the breaks" approach. I think the whole August-to-June set up and the way breaks are crammed in seemingly every other week is fucked and the whole schedule needs to be revamped.
My H and I lease our cars for 2-3 years at a time because we like having new cars. Financially, it's probably not the best idea, but we don't care.
Not all places are suitable for children (i.e., breweries, distilleries, to name a few). I wish there were more local "adult-only" places to go for drinks/dinner other than going on a vaca to an adult-only location/venue to achieve that.
You think teacher burnout/shortages/leaving the profession is dire now? Take away the breaks. Holy shit.
But more vacation time is also in no way an appropriate substitute for professional autonomy, respect, safe working conditions, and appropriate monetary compensation, among other things. The whole system, as is, is BS.
So your OU is you think schools should be open on Christmas Day now?
Yes, read my original UO. I think there are too many school closures. I’m not going to go to school board meetings and advocate for this or anything. But please don’t try to paint me as anti-Semitic just because my UO is that I think fall break is as equally inconvenient as spring break and summer break. That was not at all my intent.
In case it needs to be said, I don’t think you’re anti-Semitic.
If your position is we need to keep religion out of schools, I could not be more aligned. Like that is a soapbox issue for me.
But given the reality of the school calendar at this present moment, dismissively saying “just take an excused absence” reads pretty shitty. Because we all know where that burden is going to fall.
Post by Patsy Baloney on Jul 25, 2023 11:14:16 GMT -5
Alright, I’m tired of talking about school. School sucks.
Here’s mine:
I really don’t like dogs. They’re *fine* but I don’t understand the obsession. I understand once you have a dog it is imperative that your whole life revolves around your dog. It’s just not my scene.
Leave your fucking dog at home.
In the same vein as this opinion, I don’t understand the necessity for dog parks because dog people make every park a dog park. Every store is a dog store. Every activity is a dog activity.
I knowwwww. I’m only even looking for something like this because I don’t want to pack more than one purse. Maybe it’s just so hideously impractical of a bag that that’s why I can’t find one I actually like. so…you may be on to something with your opinion!
Yes, read my original UO. I think there are too many school closures. I’m not going to go to school board meetings and advocate for this or anything. But please don’t try to paint me as anti-Semitic just because my UO is that I think fall break is as equally inconvenient as spring break and summer break. That was not at all my intent.
In case it needs to be said, I don’t think you’re anti-Semitic.
If your position is we need to keep religion out of schools, I could not be more aligned. Like that is a soapbox issue for me.
But given the reality of the school calendar at this present moment, dismissively saying “just take an excused absence” reads pretty shitty. Because we all know where that burden is going to fall.
I apologize if my comment came across as flippant. Again, this is the UO thread so I was referring to an alternate model that I wish existed (where religion is 100% kept out of schools, school breaks are not Christo-centric, where there’s a longer year so instruction isn’t rushed and everyone taking a few excused absences for days important to their families is nbd, sports are fully separate from schools so their schedules don’t dictate academic calendars, schools are appropriately funded to make all this happen, etc) not the current US school model which is problematic in many ways.
Alright, I’m tired of talking about school. School sucks.
Here’s mine:
I really don’t like dogs. They’re *fine* but I don’t understand the obsession. I understand once you have a dog it is imperative that your whole life revolves around your dog. It’s just not my scene.
Leave your fucking dog at home.
In the same vein as this opinion, I don’t understand the necessity for dog parks because dog people make every park a dog park. Every store is a dog store. Every activity is a dog activity.
A cat wrote this post.
TikTok vets tell me that the dog park is a horrible place for dogs, and you should never bring your dog there.
Alright, I’m tired of talking about school. School sucks.
Here’s mine:
I really don’t like dogs. They’re *fine* but I don’t understand the obsession. I understand once you have a dog it is imperative that your whole life revolves around your dog. It’s just not my scene.
Leave your fucking dog at home.
In the same vein as this opinion, I don’t understand the necessity for dog parks because dog people make every park a dog park. Every store is a dog store. Every activity is a dog activity.
A cat wrote this post.
TikTok vets tell me that the dog park is a horrible place for dogs, and you should never bring your dog there.
Why shouldn't you take your dog to the dog park? Freckles hates it there, it makes her anxious so we don't take her, but I'm just curious. I didn't know this.
You don’t need more than a backpack’s worth of stuff for most 7-10 day vacations.
I guess my UO is that, I check my luggage no matter how long I am gone for. Dragging a suitcase around the airport is miserable and completely unnecessary. Cramming into the overhead, standing on stupid long lines to board and make sure there is space. No thanks.
Why shouldn't you take your dog to the dog park? Freckles hates it there, it makes her anxious so we don't take her, but I'm just curious. I didn't know this.
I guess they see so many injuries and stress from dogs that are in dog parks.
Why shouldn't you take your dog to the dog park? Freckles hates it there, it makes her anxious so we don't take her, but I'm just curious. I didn't know this.
Basically, other dog owners suck. I’d never take a puppy there because I don’t trust other dog owners to vaccinate and spay/neuter their pets. And I don’t trust them to only bring dogs that can play nicely with others.
Work should have the same breaks as school, not fewer breaks for school.
I’m sure all of the, “we should go to school more,” posts are from people who like their school system and don’t spend all their time fighting with it and dealing with their kids’ trauma being a part of it. Or maybe they really like work and want to be able to be there with fewer barriers.
The less school and work the better, as far as I’m concerned.
This so so hard. I mean, it's easy for me to say because I WFH so the teacher workdays etc don't inconvenience me, but my kid needs a break from all the negativity.
I took him out of school for a week to go to Disney last fall. I know a lot of people here are very anti-that but he was extremely depressed at the end of 3rd grade and kept saying he couldn't go on if his 4th grade teacher was like his 3rd grade, so honestly the school can get over it. I'm doing it again next fall.
Why shouldn't you take your dog to the dog park? Freckles hates it there, it makes her anxious so we don't take her, but I'm just curious. I didn't know this.
I guess they see so many injuries and stress from dogs that are in dog parks.
Post by purplepenguin7 on Jul 25, 2023 11:33:43 GMT -5
I'm not advocating for it at all but year-round school does not mean more days in the classrom. Students (and teachers) attend school the same amount of days as a traditional school just in a completely different schedeule. They still observe holidays that fall during their waves.
This is a work problem not a school problem. Kids need breaks year round. Teachers need breaks year round. I have never worked or had a kid in a school district with 3 weeks at Christmas. We have 5 days. This is acceptable, 3 weeks is not (this is easily fixed, but I'm guessing parents would complain if they changed it).
And you should not expect Jewish students to miss school when other holidays for other religionsChristianity are observed.
FTFY. I could be wrong. It's been awhile since I've been in school and I don't have kids.
Los Angeles recently tried to shorten their three week winter break and parents were up in arms, and they were not the parents struggling to find alternate care for their kids because they had to work during that time.
Post by goldengirlz on Jul 25, 2023 11:41:48 GMT -5
S/O of the birthday thread, but I like celebrating things. I even like Hallmark holidays. Yes, it’s cheesy, but life would be pretty monotonous if every day were the same. Sometimes it’s fun to wake up to presents or have an excuse to eat donuts for breakfast. It doesn’t need to be fighting the crowds for a mediocre $200 prix fixe dinner — it can just be making the day a notch more special than the ordinary, like getting takeout and opening a bottle of wine and then having sex on a random Wednesday.
Post by sunnysally on Jul 25, 2023 11:42:55 GMT -5
I don't think fillers/botox/other facial treatments make people look younger; it just looks like they spent $$$$ on facial treatments. Self care doesn't mean spending tons of money on yourself. Spend your money how you want, but don't complain about not having money when you spend more than a month's grocery budget on your eyebrows. Not every place needs to be kid and dog friendly. Yogurt and peanut butter are gross.
Alright, I’m tired of talking about school. School sucks.
Here’s mine:
I really don’t like dogs. They’re *fine* but I don’t understand the obsession. I understand once you have a dog it is imperative that your whole life revolves around your dog. It’s just not my scene.
Leave your fucking dog at home.
In the same vein as this opinion, I don’t understand the necessity for dog parks because dog people make every park a dog park. Every store is a dog store. Every activity is a dog activity.
A cat wrote this post.
I love my dog, but I don't like *having* a dog. Figuring out dog care when we vacation is a hassle, he loves to swim all the time but then smells awful, he tracks in so much dirt, he is needy, not great with visitors, etc etc.
I love him, but never want another one. This is unpopular with my H, who I don't think ever sees himself without a dog.
My MIL is one of those people who won't leave the house without her dog and takes it to inappropriate places. We've tried talking to her multiple times, but she insists that everyone loves her dog. ("The ladies at the bank love seeing her!") Spoiler: they don't.
S/O of the birthday thread, but I like celebrating things. I even like Hallmark holidays. Yes, it’s cheesy, but life would be pretty monotonous if every day were the same. Sometimes it’s fun to wake up to presents or have an excuse to eat donuts for breakfast. It doesn’t need to be fighting the crowds for a mediocre $200 prix fixe dinner — it can just be making the day a notch more special than the ordinary, like getting takeout and opening a bottle of wine and then having sex on a random Wednesday.
It was odd to me how many folks in that thread were like, “I enjoy gift giving and wish my SO would celebrate,” but had clearly given up. Why should the person who enjoys celebrating have to lower their expectations? Partners should rise to meet each other.
I always thought I wanted a gas stove bc I'd heard all my life how much better they are. My current house is the first one to have gas.
I don't really notice anything better about it.
I hate, with all my soul, cleaning the grates. Flat top electric was so much easier to keep clean.
Depending on what they are made of, you might be able to stick them in the dishwasher! I used to do that when I lived in a rental with gas.
I've mostly had electric as an adult and I hate how you can't go from high to low heat without switching burners. Our house is fully electric though (no gas at all!) so we don't really have a choice.
I used to put them in the oven when I did a self clean. Other things I have cleaned using the self clean feature are pizza stones and the outdoor grill grates.