Restrooms, little potties and wheelchairs

Today's entry has to do with bathrooms -- public bathrooms, to be more specific. Since having a child, I've ended up having more issues dealing with public restrooms. Pre-child, a public restroom was just someplace to do your business and wash your hands. Maybe, on occasion, you'd wash your face or put on makeup in a public restroom. That's it. In and out. Since having a baby, it's become a lot more. Now it's also a place to take your child for a diaper change or perhaps to nurse. When they're older, you get to take them to use the potty.

One of the best bathrooms for parents with small children I've been in so far is on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Yes, the PA Turnpike. Recently, some of the service plazas have been rebuilt. In the new service plaza, the women's restroom (I can't speak for the men's) has "Mommy and Me" stalls. It's great! It has a big potty for Mommy and a little potty for the kid. Plus, it has a fold-down baby chair on the wall. Greatest idea since the advent of the family restroom!

I love these "Mommy and Me" stalls and family restrooms. It makes it a lot easier to answer nature's call when you have a baby or young children. You never want a young child to use the restroom alone, and sometimes Daddy has to take his daughter to the restroom and doesn't want to take her in the men's room. Plus, they tend to be big enough in which to take a stroller.

But I've noticed a problem.

I've noticed that several places that have family restrooms no longer provide changing tables in their regular restrooms. And since family restrooms tend to be small and only have one toilet, you're stuck waiting to change a diaper. Or you just give up and find a bench, floor or even the stroller to make the change. But the problem lies more in those who abuse the family restroom.

Just as many people who aren't handicapped abuse the handicapped stall of the restroom (which is only acceptable if there's a line), there are people who could use the regular restroom who use the family restroom. And the group guilty of this is -- those in wheelchairs.

This weekend, I had to wait in line for the family restroom because the women's restroom didn't have a changing table. Then, there was a woman in a wheelchair in the family restroom. And who got in line after me? Another woman in a wheelchair! Now, the women's restroom didn't have a wait and an empty handicapped stall, so I was incredulous! I wanted to point that out, but instead I waited for 10 minutes before I gave up.

It reminded me of an incident at the bank one day. There was a long line. A guy in a wheelchair came in and rolled right to the front of the line and cut to the next teller. There was some mumbling, but no one said anything because he was in a wheelchair. People are afraid to offend, even when they are in the right.

I'm all for providing access, but, seriously, being handicapped does not give you the right to do as you please and ignore common courtesy. Save the family restroom for those with young children. And the rest of will try to remember not to use the handicapped stall.

Polo shirt, dress shorts and....

I don't have many issues when it comes to what people are wearing to church. As long as it's clean and presentable and isn't too terribly casual, I'm okay with it. So short shorts and tank tops are out, but I'm okay with a pair of jeans and a nice top.

Today I saw a man walk into church wearing something that seemed okay: A polo shirt and dress shorts. Then I saw his shoes: Crocs. The guy was wearing Crocs to church.

I have issues to begin with when it comes to Crocs. They are, by far, one of the ugliest shoe fashions ever invented. I guess they might be comfortable for some people. But that doesn't hide the fact that they are ugly.

And they are definitely inappropriate for church. They are up there with plain old flip flops. You know, dollar store beach flip flops, not the cute ones that are prettied up with beads, embroidery and flowers.

Crocs are for sitting on your boat going fishing and walking on the boardwalk at the beach. They're even okay for those who wait tables. They're a vacation shoe. They're an okay work shoe (although they're starting to be banned in some places as a work shoe). They're not for church.

That's my rant for the day. Don't even get me started on how stupid the Crocs looked with his polo shirt and belted dress pants.

Job searching

I'm growing weary of the job search, but I keep plugging away. A couple of years ago, I would've already gotten a job. There is just too much competition.

And phone interviews....

I hate phone interviews....

I've never had to do more phone interviews in my life. I know it's a screening to weed out all the resumes before bringing in people for actual interviews, but I hate it. I don't like not being able to read the person to whom I'm talking.

I'm still looking.

The plan is to continue looking. My husband and I are doing some pro bono work for a couple of places. He's designing Web sites. I'm writing content. It's resume material. Once my daughter is weaned, I'm going to start doing some volunteer work to get myself out of the house. I know a couple organizations that are always looking for help with public relations and events. My cousin has offered to take me to a networking group with which she's involved. Maybe it's finally time to be my own boss.

Pride

My daughter had her 12 month doctor appointment today. Everything went well. Her height and weight are steady. Her development is right on target. The doctor was happy with everything. She even told me, "It's nice to deal with a baby that isn't chunky. Evidence shows that chunky babies tend to be obese adults." The nurse praised me for keeping up with her well-child visits, saying, "You wouldn't believe how many people don't." Other than the shots and bloodwork, it ended up being a very nice visit.



Weaning has been going well. The mid-morning feeding has been phased out. She hasn't even missed it. And I have lots of pride in the fact that I made it a year. According to the CDC, only about 17 percent of babies are breastfed through an entire year. Greta and I are in the minority. And she was exclusively breastfed through six months. That's pretty rare as well. Even though solid foods aren't recommended until six months, so many parents (and doctors tell them to!) start solids at four months. I guess it's okay to start at four months, but it's not recommended.

I think people feed their babies too much. There's a reason nearly 33 percent of children in this country are obese. It starts young. But I've covered this before.

Weaning

My daughter will be a year old in a little more than a week. Ever since I started her on solids, I've done everything to her pace. Baby-led weaning it's called.

And we are already down to only four (sometimes five) 10-minute nursings a day. She is getting less and less interested in breastfeeding. And that's good. I won't have to quit cold turkey, and she won't be traumatized by the whole process. In a couple weeks I hope to phase out another nursing. Following her lead, I will not ask or offer to nurse. But I will nurse if she gives me the signs that she wants to nurse. I think I will start with the mid-morning nursing. It seems to be the one she's the least interested in. She may not even notice.

It's a bittersweet time. Bitter because she is growing more independent. Bitter because we won't have that intimate time together anymore. Bitter because she is no longer a baby. Sweet because of all the breast issues. I won't have to deal with being engorged anymore. No more leaking. No more clogged milk ducts. I'll be able to sleep on my stomach again (this is related to the clogged ducts). Normal-sized boobs. Regular bras!!!!

So, my baby girl is becoming a little girl. Such is life.

I am forced to be a stay-at-home mom

The day after my last post I was laid off. So I am unemployed. I've been doing the stay-at-home mom deal while I plow on with a job search. I still don't like being with my daughter 24/7. I need that time away from her. But I will say that she is the only thing that has kept me sane these couple months. If I didn't have her, I'd probably be wallowing in self-pity and loneliness.