Animal Collective / Geologist on Life in Capitol Hill

Jaguar wrote:
Whatever happened to one parent staying home and raising their young?

Yeah, I fully get that most couples can't afford to do that anymore and all that other stuff they are opting for. It just bothers me that way too many households are so quick to pawn off raising their children to others. Of course, having taught, I've too often seen how horrible that can be. Full of bad environments, illnesses, indoctrination agendas, over-crowding, etc.. Then again, I was in the ghetto. I would seriously hope and assume that those $20,000ers are much, much better.

Ideally, I like the set-up that Rhett and Celeste have. A very nice balance for the entire family.

This f'n city is too damn expensive to be a stay at home person.

Yada wrote:
2. Are these nannies hot?

This is a very important question and it strikes at the heart of advice I give everyone about nannies, based on observations I've made over the years.

Do not get a hot nanny! Get a pleasantly plump middle-aged woman who is married and has raised her own kids.

The last thing you want is any temptation in the house. You don't want to be in a position where you would even be tempted to cheat or even look longingly. You also don't want a comical situation where the hot nanny comes upstairs at the exact, purely coincidental moment your bathtowel accidentally falls off and you're standing there all donged out and your wife just walked in the door early from work. If your nanny is a 52-year-old chubster, it's a humorous anecdote you share with friends and family. If your nanny is hot, you maybe get to see your kids every other weekend.

Also, it is surprisingly common for younger nannies to develop crushes on the dads. The last thing you want is your young hot nanny thinking about how she can "evolve" from her role in the family.

Also, young hot nannies usually have boyfriends and are constantly texting them or calling them or thinking about them. Even if you lay down the law and say, NO CELLPHONE USE, they will be on their cellphones when you're not around. 58-year-old nannies are much less likely to be attached to their phones and while they can very well have husbands or boyfriends, they're beyond the whole "OMG! he so cute!" stage

As to Jaguar's legitimate question, the fact is some people really enjoy their jobs and are fulfilled by them.

That's one of the reasons my wife chose to stay home with our child until she gets to first grade.

The other reason being…why the fuck would you even have children if all you're going to do is stick them in daycare for ten hours a day five days a week once they turn three or six months old???

Edit: Ooops, sorry didn't read Jag's comment before I commented. Though I stand by my comment. If you really care about your kid(s), take at least the first few (most formative) years of their lives and raise them yourself. That's more important than any job. you can always go back to your job later.

Relaxer wrote:
We had a nannny for 2+ years and her regular pay, plus one or two evening babysitting gigs, was usually between $2,500 and $3k a month. I was so happy when the kids hit school age.

@Relaxer - All excellent advice. That 'and other stuff' I noted was what I meant. Believe me, I get it. Sometimes I just think some couples convince themselves of that more because of modern social mores than they should nowadays. Mind you, I'm a firm believer in strong family units and support homeschooling in many cases. Comes from seeing way too many families destroyed as well as the horrendous dumbing down and destruction of way too many of our schools. Just my 2 cents.

I'm fully with you, Rhett/James.

Btw, I sense there is a real life story behind that towel incident. We all want to know!!!  :o

That's why we moved to the suburbs. Many of the people we know have a stay at home parent. Including one couple with two kids where the dad is the stay at home.

I should also say that I'm blessed with a wife talented enough to contract her services and work from home and make 40-50% of the money she was making when she went to a full time job. All while caring for a small child at home.

Otherwise money would be very, very tight.

Yada wrote:

Jaguar wrote:
Whatever happened to one parent staying home and raising their young?

Yeah, I fully get that most couples can't afford to do that anymore and all that other stuff they are opting for. It just bothers me that way too many households are so quick to pawn off raising their children to others. Of course, having taught, I've too often seen how horrible that can be. Full of bad environments, illnesses, indoctrination agendas, over-crowding, etc.. Then again, I was in the ghetto. I would seriously hope and assume that those $20,000ers are much, much better.

Ideally, I like the set-up that Rhett and Celeste have. A very nice balance for the entire family.

This f'n city is too damn expensive to be a stay at home person.

Have you ever been around kids?  They're fucking assholes man!

James wrote:
The other reason being…why the fuck would you even have children if all you're going to do is stick them in daycare for ten hours a day five days a week once they turn three or six months old???

Relaxer wrote:

Yada wrote:
2. Are these nannies hot?

This is a very important question and it strikes at the heart of advice I give everyone about nannies, based on observations I've made over the years.

Do not get a hot nanny! Get a pleasantly plump middle-aged woman who is married and has raised her own kids.

The last thing you want is any temptation in the house. You don't want to be in a position where you would even be tempted to cheat or even look longingly. You also don't want a comical situation where the hot nanny comes upstairs at the exact, purely coincidental moment your bathtowel accidentally falls off and you're standing there all donged out and your wife just walked in the door early from work. If your nanny is a 52-year-old chubster, it's a humorous anecdote you share with friends and family. If your nanny is hot, you maybe get to see your kids every other weekend.

Also, it is surprisingly common for younger nannies to develop crushes on the dads. The last thing you want is your young hot nanny thinking about how she can "evolve" from her role in the family.

Also, young hot nannies usually have boyfriends and are constantly texting them or calling them or thinking about them. Even if you lay down the law and say, NO CELLPHONE USE, they will be on their cellphones when you're not around. 58-year-old nannies are much less likely to be attached to their phones and while they can very well have husbands or boyfriends, they're beyond the whole "OMG! he so cute!" stage

As to Jaguar's legitimate question, the fact is some people really enjoy their jobs and are fulfilled by them.

Our live in helper is a lesbian.  Crisis averted.

I used to be a teacher. You're right. Most kids are assholes. But my public school kindergartner isn't.
;D
If you see her at VFest, ask her to sing a Dr. Dog or Bob Marley song for you.

nkotb wrote:
Have you ever been around kids?  They're fucking assholes man!

James wrote:
The other reason being…why the fuck would you even have children if all you're going to do is stick them in daycare for ten hours a day five days a week once they turn three or six months old???

Reminds me of one of my favorite Onion pieces ever.

http://www.theonion.com/articles/new-study-reveals-most-children-unrepentant-sociop,2870/

nkotb wrote:
Have you ever been around kids?  They're fucking assholes man!

James wrote:
The other reason being…why the fuck would you even have children if all you're going to do is stick them in daycare for ten hours a day five days a week once they turn three or six months old???

I kid, obviously.  My wife wanted to keep working as it's part of her identity as well as being a mom (not to say stay at home moms are ONLY moms, so calm down people…), and her job allows her a pretty flexible schedule so our son is only at school between 4 and 6 hours a day tops.  Plus, like I said, his school is a bit more of a teaching daycare, so its not just sticking him with someone for hours on end with no purpose.

But she's SO into being a mom now that she's considering staying at home.  Makes me a little nervous, money wise, but holy shit, I cant' even stress how much money that would save us.

James wrote:
I used to be a teacher. You're right. Most kids are assholes. But my public school kindergartner isn't.
;D
If you see her at VFest, ask her to sing a Dr. Dog or Bob Marley song for you.

nkotb wrote:
Have you ever been around kids?  They're fucking assholes man!

James wrote:
The other reason being…why the fuck would you even have children if all you're going to do is stick them in daycare for ten hours a day five days a week once they turn three or six months old???

what have i done?!?

next animal collective 'issue':  they always say they are from baltimore, yet only 1 of them live here (i get that they were raised here)

i don't ever remember them being a 'local' band and part of me thinks they are just riding on the coattails of the 'hip' baltimore scene of a few years ago

but i guess saying you are from baltimore is easier than saying NYC/LA/Lisbon/Baltimore/DC

anyway, despite all this, i'm still going to the show tonight ha ha.  Looking forward to seeing Micachu and the Shapes

Now that I've assembled all the dads - what's the hot stroller for 2013?!  We just did a trade-in, getting ready for no. 2.

HoyaSaxa03 wrote:
Now that I've assembled all the dads - what's the hot stroller for 2013?!  We just did a trade-in, getting ready for no. 2.

What? You just traded your first born in for a younger and newer model? Of all the things!

You stick your kid in daycare all day, then throw it in a stroller? Jesus Christ, BUY YOURSELF A WRAP TO CARRY IT AROUND IN!

HoyaSaxa03 wrote:
Now that I've assembled all the dads - what's the hot stroller for 2013?!  We just did a trade-in, getting ready for no. 2.

James wrote:
You stick your kid in daycare all day, then throw it in a stroller? Jesus Christ, BUY YOURSELF A WRAP TO CARRY IT AROUND IN!

HoyaSaxa03 wrote:
Now that I've assembled all the dads - what's the hot stroller for 2013?!  We just did a trade-in, getting ready for no. 2.

dude, I have 3 slings, wraps and carriers.  love that baby gear!  and the baby too, I guess.

^ Gadgets. The new Millenium: it's all about the gadgets.

cool, sorry for my faux online anger. rough day here.

HoyaSaxa03 wrote:

James wrote:
You stick your kid in daycare all day, then throw it in a stroller? Jesus Christ, BUY YOURSELF A WRAP TO CARRY IT AROUND IN!

HoyaSaxa03 wrote:
Now that I've assembled all the dads - what's the hot stroller for 2013?!  We just did a trade-in, getting ready for no. 2.

dude, I have 3 slings, wraps and carriers.  love that baby gear!  and the baby too, I guess.

Jaguar wrote:
^ Gadgets. The new Millenium: it's all about the gadgets.

the main goal is to avoid physical and emotional intimacy and limit actual time spent interacting with your child.  gadgets help.  so do wet nurses.

Boarding schools too. They're never too young to get a good education a thousand miles away.

Relaxer wrote:
Boarding schools too. They're never too young to get a good education a thousand miles away.

I was thinking of something along the lines of the backstory for Jon Heder's character in Blades of Glory.