Wednesday Open Letters

[traveltheworld]

Dear DH,

I get it, work has been really busy for you.  But considering that you've been at this job for 8 years and have only had to work a handful of evenings and weekends, I don't think it's that bad.  This is what it means to be middle management - until your new hire is up and running, you are going to have to pick up some of the slack.  It's not the end of the world.  Just deal with it.  And yes, you do get paid enough to do this, because again - a handful of times in the past 8 years.

Signed,
Wife who is trying very hard not to be judgy

Also Dear DH,

When I ask if you think our daughter prefers the nanny over me, the ONLY response should be "absolutely not!"  This is not one of those instances where you should carefully deliberate your answer.

Signed,
Annoyed wife

Dear DD,

I'm very very glad that you love our nanny so much.  But it hurt my feelings that you wanted to sit with her instead of me for breakfast.

Signed,
Sad mommy

Dear Self,

It was one meal.  Get over it.

Signed,
Insecure working mom

[phdmomma]

Dear Sinus Infection,
I am so over you. My face is killing me.
Signed,
Tired

Dear Doctor,
The flonase that you gave me two weeks ago is not cutting it, how about some antibiotics?
Signed,
My face hurts

Dear Students,
I am old and do not respond to homework emails at 11pm at night, also you've had a week to do this homework and I warned you that it would be long.
Signed,
Grumpy old professor

[Covergirl82]

phdmomma - A saline nasal rinse (like using a neti pot) may help with congestion. If you are very congested, you may want to try boiling water (and put in a drop or two of oregano and/or eucalyptus essential oils if you have them or can get them) to help break up the congestion before you do the nasal rinse. So sorry, sinus infections are awful.

Dear work,

I’m super glad you need extra parking spaces for new hires attending orientation on Monday and Tuesday, which means I am “forced” to work from home. I will certainly enjoy the quiet and ability to more easily focus! Although I am side-eyeing the director who said in her email that she wasn’t expecting a huge increase in the number of new employees to onboard prior to the onboarding pause… It seems like that should have been expected and planned on.

Sincerely,
Employee

Dear SIL,

Maybe you just happened to move to area without many houses available for sale, but I do find it a little funny that just a few years ago you were saying (preaching) that a “simpler life” was more Godly (and of course, you were living a “simpler life”). I truly am glad that your H has a really good job now so that you don’t feel financially strained like you were a few years ago, but I had to chuckle when I saw that the house you just signed a purchase agreement for is 5,000 square feet and almost half a million dollars.

Signed,
SIL who hopes you reflect on your self-righteousness sometime

[186momx]

Dear DD
Thank you so much for helping mommy out last night. I feel so much better having the house cleaned and the dry goods pack in the camper. You are a rock star for helping me and I am glad that we got it done so fast that we did read for 40 minutes and got to watch 2 new Magic School Bus episodes before bed.
Thank you Love
Mom

Dear Tax Clients on the extension list
You do realize that they are due on Monday. We called all of you at the beginning of October to remind you. A couple of you have been crickets the other couple who do keep calling and asking us question on what to bring I want to strangle. Just bring in your stuff already.
Cranky Tax Lady

[katrine05]

Dear DH,

Can you try and not let DD fall asleep on the drive home. I know she's tired, but that short 15 minute nap results in her falling asleep 2 hours past when she should at night, which makes her even more tired in the morning. 15 minute nap does not equal 2 hours of good quality night sleep.

Love Wifey

Dear IT guy,

Please don't think I'm a complete moron since I called you to come replace my mouse thinking it was dead, when in actuality, my computer was turned off.

Signed,
Extremely sleep deprived working mom

[HeartofCheese]

Dear cough,

You like Mountain Dew, right? I bet the fizz might be good for you. And the caffeine will be good for me...

Signed,
Been sick too long

[HeartofCheese]

Dear WPs,

Thinking of you: www.forbes.com/sites/kateashford/2015/06/30/working-mother/#4b9db2be26df

You're welcome,
me

P.S. Try to get past the word "heyday." It's worth it.

[rere]

Dear family,

So far it's been a good day. Woke up on my own, laid back in bed after breakfast, wentertainment for a 4 mile walk. Let's have a nice evening together with some chili, and wine for me.

Signed,

Needed a day off.

Ps. Still no on hiking tomorrow instead of the trampoline park?

[rere]

Dear Teacher,

So if I hadn't emailed you, you wouldn't have noticed that DS was the only one in his group that did his work correctly, so he would have been stuck with an F. That dropped his semester grade from A to B , so kind of a big deal. He got 100% on all tests. Also, we are new to this system, so thinking back to my high school , CP classes were mid to high level. Apparently, in order to placate parents that all kids are College Prep, this is now lower level class. We've fixed this mistake for him next semester, especially since several times in these group work situations, DS has been penalized for other kids not doing their work. ...at all. Apparently in college prep classes, it is a novelty for these kids to turn in work, or stay awake.

Signed,

We are outa here and moving on up to AP.

[186momx]

Dear DH
You are banned from helping DD with her homework. 1 page of 1st grade math and the 3 problems you helped her do she got wrong. The only problem she got right was the word problem that you couldn't figure out and I helped her with. DD learned a good lesson and said she won't be asking you for help and will wait until mommy can help her.
PS
We won't tell you so you don't get your feelings hurt
DD and Me

Dear Mrs. J (1st grade teacher)
Could we maybe have a lesson on common core math. You gave DD the right answers on her homework that daddy and her messed up on but I have no clue what all these 0000+000=000+0000 means.
Mom who loves math but is confused. Also it looks like algebra but DD says it isn't. What gives??

[justcheckingin73]

186momx, I hated dealing with common core when DD was in elementary. I would tell her that I knew how to do it but I had no idea how to teach her the way they were trying to teach her. And at one point, the way I taught her was easier for her to understand than what they were trying to teach. I don’t know why it has to be a mandate - if a kid learns the “old” way better then let them do that. 

Dear Weather,

Thank you for raining. DD’s XC meet and practice were cancelled so I don’t have to race to get her from there to Religious Ed tonight. But, how about you don’t rain for the Conference meet next week. Last year was miserable.

Thanks,
A now, much less stressed mom

[rere]

Oct 11, 2017 12:54:55 GMT -5 justcheckingin73 said:

186momx, I hated dealing with common core when DD was in elementary. I would tell her that I knew how to do it but I had no idea how to teach her the way they were trying to teach her. And at one point, the way I taught her was easier for her to understand than what they were trying to teach. I don’t know why it has to be a mandate - if a kid learns the “old” way better then let them do that. 

Dear Weather,

Thank you for raining. DD’s XC meet and practice were cancelled so I don’t have to race to get her from there to Religious Ed tonight. But, how about you don’t rain for the Conference meet next week. Last year was miserable.

Thanks,
A now, much less stressed mom

I can't tell you how many arguments we had with DD which was basically her, YOU AREN'T DOING IT RIGHT! Us, THAT'S THE RIGHT ANSWER!

[justcheckingin73]

Oct 11, 2017 13:02:07 GMT -5 rere said:

Oct 11, 2017 12:54:55 GMT -5 justcheckingin73 said:

186momx , I hated dealing with common core when DD was in elementary. I would tell her that I knew how to do it but I had no idea how to teach her the way they were trying to teach her. And at one point, the way I taught her was easier for her to understand than what they were trying to teach. I don’t know why it has to be a mandate - if a kid learns the “old” way better then let them do that. 

Dear Weather,

Thank you for raining. DD’s XC meet and practice were cancelled so I don’t have to race to get her from there to Religious Ed tonight. But, how about you don’t rain for the Conference meet next week. Last year was miserable.

Thanks,
A now, much less stressed mom

I can't tell you how many arguments we had with DD which was basically her, YOU AREN'T DOING IT RIGHT! Us, THAT'S THE RIGHT ANSWER!

Lol. I believe we had the same arguments. 

[Covergirl82]

Oct 11, 2017 11:58:28 GMT -5 HeartofCheese said:

Dear WPs,

Thinking of you: www.forbes.com/sites/kateashford/2015/06/30/working-mother/#4b9db2be26df

You're welcome,
me

P.S. Try to get past the word "heyday." It's worth it.

Thanks for sharing!  I have to laugh a little, because H and his twin sister have completely polar opposite views of their mom, who was a single working mother.  H is honestly a good partner at home and with the kids, and he supports me to help me feel "successful" as a working mom.  SIL on the other hand (still) resents their mom work working (because she totally had a choice, right? especially since their dad didn't pay child support) and that was supposedly a big determining factor in her wanting to be a SAHM.  (Though I believe that everyone makes decisions as to what is right for their families, if one parent stays home or both work, etc.)  Hopefully both my kids, when they are older, appreciate that I worked. 

[186momx]

rere, justcheckingin73, the thing is DD wrote the right answer down but that is all she wrote down was the answer. No work shown and no sequence stuff so she got it wrong. I see lots of fighting with the teacher soon as DD gets it when we do it as algebra but this other crap she is lost. Maybe it is because she comes to work and see me add and subtract numbers all day and there is always a right answer.

[justcheckingin73]

Oct 11, 2017 13:26:58 GMT -5 186momx said:

rere , justcheckingin73 , the thing is DD wrote the right answer down but that is all she wrote down was the answer. No work shown and no sequence stuff so she got it wrong. I see lots of fighting with the teacher soon as DD gets it when we do it as algebra but this other crap she is lost. Maybe it is because she comes to work and see me add and subtract numbers all day and there is always a right answer.

That’s tough. I hope you get some help/tips from the teacher. I personally consult the internet a lot when it comes to math. 

[erinshelley21]

Dear immediate family,
We kicked that road trips ass! We didn't necessarily make great time but we had very minimal whining and crying which is huge with a 3 year old and a 7 month old.
Love, a happy wife and mama.

Dear body,
I'll order healthy groceries for pick up for tomorrow. But I do not have the energy to do more than order Mexican take out for tonight. You ate A LOT of delicious but fried seafood and other unhealthy junk but damn was it all good.
Love, time to get back on the wagon.

[2chatter]

Common Core goes away here after elementary. I'm so happy.

Dear Mom,
I read an article just now that made me further reflect that while I appreciated you working, it made my life kind of hard in some ways - latchkey starting in fourth grade being one of them. It's a big part of why I stay on this mommy track and work remotely - but without your example of work and balance and having it all I would be way less sane than I am and like I keep telling you, thanks.
Grateful Daughter who is certain her kids will be critical of the choices I have made, too, in the most kind hearted way possible

[k3am]

Dear DH's company,

I've always thought your party themes were a crap shoot. Some have been great (black tie? Easy. 1920's? Easy.) and some not so much (ranch chic? Las Vegas casino casual?). But this year's takes the cake.

Silicon Valley Heros. WTF. I'm picturing a bunch of guys wearing jeans and t-shirts. I'm considering calling in sick so I don't have to worry about what to wear.

Signed,
You guys all knew you'd hear what the ridiculous theme was sooner or later, right?

[186momx]

k3am, YUCK...I'm envisioning a lot of jeans and trendy t-shirt. Please tell me they feed you well and give you lots of free adult beverages at these events.

[phdmomma]

k3am, So basically stuff from the back of the closet?

Dear Doctor,
Thank you for calling in antibiotics, I feel like death, and still have to teach.
Signed,
Your grateful patient.

[2chatter]

I'd dress as Nancy Botwin FTW with that theme. For real.

[rere]

k3am A zip up hoodie and converse?

[k3am]

Oct 11, 2017 16:29:37 GMT -5 2chatter said:

I'd dress as Nancy Botwin FTW with that theme. For real.

Wrong valley though

[2chatter]

k3am darn! I was thinking LA adjacent. WTH does that theme even mean???

[k3am]

2chatter, according to DH, it means you can wear whatever you want. Which is awful as an attendee.

[sunbutter]

Oct 11, 2017 13:33:58 GMT -5 justcheckingin73 said:

Oct 11, 2017 13:26:58 GMT -5 186momx said:

rere , justcheckingin73 , the thing is DD wrote the right answer down but that is all she wrote down was the answer. No work shown and no sequence stuff so she got it wrong. I see lots of fighting with the teacher soon as DD gets it when we do it as algebra but this other crap she is lost. Maybe it is because she comes to work and see me add and subtract numbers all day and there is always a right answer.

That’s tough. I hope you get some help/tips from the teacher. I personally consult the internet a lot when it comes to math. 

Yes, I had to relearn 2 and 3rd grade math. We actually had the teacher give us a parents night where she went over example problems so that we could see how they were learning things.

Pretty comical when a bunch of parents with science degrees and a mathematician who designs missiles for a living were mass texting each other with you tube links to get through the word problems and bar models, lol.

[supertrooper1]

Dear billie,
How are you? You haven't posted in a while. Just wondering if you're ok. Please come out of lurking if you're still here.
Concerned WP

[billie]

Hi supertrooper1! I'm OK, thanks for thinking of me.

Honestly I'm struggling a little bit, I've been back at work for about two months and with two kids it's been super tough. DH works long hours so I'm alone with the kids a lot and I'm exhausted. You guys know I've been trying to find a less stressful job for a while now with no success. Ugh.

[mommyatty]

k3am- Dress as Wonder Woman. Aren’t Silicon Valley people all into comic books? Or Super Girl!