Parenting Advice: Mom’s Post Desperately Asking Her Husband to Help with their New Baby Goes Viral.

Being a mom is one of the best things a woman can experience. But with the little bundle of joy come greater responsibilities and most moms find themselves torn between a bunch of commitments. They not only have to be there for the baby, but they also have to make sure the house is in perfect order. Above all, most of them have regular jobs, too. 

Their husbands on the other hand believe that the moms are the ones who should really take care of the children and they don’t do much to facilitate the process of bringing a child. 

A woman and a mother named Celeste Erlsch, 38, has spoken of the struggles and the importance of the role of the daddy figure in the life of the children. Her post under the blog she runs, The Ultimate Mom Challenge, has recently gone viral. 

She wrote an open letter to her husband, begging him to help with the upbringing of their two kids. Needless to say, many moms felt like she was speaking in their behalf too. Once shared on the Facebook page “Breastfeeding Mama Talk,” the post has been seen and shared by millions of women and mothers. 

Celeste’s Open Letter

“Dear Husband,

 

I. Need. More. Help.

Last night was hard for you. I asked you to watch the baby so I could go to bed early. The baby was crying. Wailing, really. I could hear him from upstairs and my stomach knotted from the sound, wondering if I should come down there and relieve you or just shut the door so I could get some desperately needed sleep. I chose the latter.

You came into the room 20 minutes later, with the baby still frantically crying. You placed the baby in the bassinet and gently pushed the bassinet just a few inches closer to my side of the bed, a clear gesture that you were done watching him.

I wanted to scream at you. I wanted to launch an epic fight that very moment. I had been watching the baby and the toddler all damn day. I was going to be waking up with the baby to feed him all damn night. The least you could do is hold him for a couple of hours in the evening so I can attempt to sleep.

Just a few hours of precious sleep. Is that too much to ask?

I know we both watched our parents fulfill the typical mother-father roles growing up. Both our mothers were the primary caretakers and our fathers were relatively hands–off. They were excellent dads, but they weren’t expected to spend a significant amount of time changing diapers, feeding, caring, and tending to the kids. Our mothers were the superwomen who maintained the family dynamics. Cooking, cleaning, and raising the children. Any help from dad was welcome but unexpected.

I see us falling into these family dynamics more and more each day. My responsibility to feed the family, keep the house clean, and take care of the kids is assumed, even as I return to work. I blame myself for most of it too. I have set the precedent that I can do it. And in truth, I want to. No offense, but I’m not sure I want to know what a week’s worth of dinner would look like with you in charge.

I also see my friends and other moms doing it all, and doing it well. I know you see it, too. If they can manage it, and if our mothers did it so well for us, why can’t I?

I don’t know.

Maybe our friends are playing the part in public and secretly struggling. Maybe our moms suffered in silence for years and now, thirty years later, they simply don’t remember how hard it really was. Or maybe, and this is something I berate myself over every single day, I’m just not as qualified for the job as everyone else. And as much as I cringe just thinking it, I’m going to say it: I need more help.

Part of me feels like a failure for even asking. I mean, you do help. You are an amazing father, and you do a great job with the kids. And besides, this should come easy to me, right? Motherly instincts, no?

But I’m human, and I’m running on five hours of sleep and tired as hell. I need you.
In the morning, I need you to get our toddler ready so I can care for the baby and make everyone’s lunches and drink a cup of coffee. And no, getting the toddler ready does not mean plopping him in front of the TV. It means making sure he went potty, giving him some breakfast, seeing if he wants water, and packing his bag for school.

At night, I need an hour to decompress in bed knowing our toddler is asleep in his room and the baby is in your care. I know it’s hard to listen to the baby cry. Believe me, I know. But if I can watch and pacify the baby for the majority of the day, you can do it for an hour or two at night. Please. I need you.

On weekends, I need more breaks. Times where I can get out of the house by myself and feel like an individual. Even if it’s just a walk around the block or a trip to the grocery store. And some days when I’ve scheduled swim class and play dates, and it seems like I’ve got it all under control, I need you to offer to lend me a hand. Or suggest I go lay down during the kids’ naptime. Or start putting away the dishes without me suggesting it. I need you.

Lastly, I need to hear you’re grateful for all I do. I want to know that you notice the laundry is done and a nice dinner has been prepared. I want to know you appreciate that I breastfeed at all hours and pump when I’m at work when it would be easier for me to formula feed. I hope you notice that I never ask you to stay home from your networking events and sport activities. As the mom, it’s assumed I’ll be home all the time and always available to care for the kids while you’re out and I feed that assumption by, well, being home all the time.
I know it’s not how our parents did it, and I hate even asking. I wish I could do it all and make it look effortless. And I wish I didn’t need kudos for doing things most people expect from a mom. But I’m waving a white flag and admitting I’m only human. I’m telling you how much I need you, and if I keep going at the pace I’ve been on, I will break. And that would hurt you, the kids, and our family.

Because, let’s face it: you need me, too.”

 

The Second Shift

Nowadays, the media and the society try to convince us of the equal treatment of men and women in the workplace, but no one speaks of their role in the house. 

According to a survey conducted by the The Nation, after they get home from work, more than half of all the women will do housework. When it comes to men, the numbers are just 20%. 

Whereas women spend additional three hours a day cleaning the house, doing laundry, and other housework, men spend the same amount of time taking a nap or enjoying doing something they like. 

Stop Nagging!

Whenever the woman feel like she needs any sort of assistance around the place or the kids, most husbands interpret that as nagging. This is why many wives don’t ask for help and take all the responsibilities on themselves. 

Communication Is The Key

Although this is something you’ve heard many times before, communication really is what every couple needs more of.

It’s always nice to be straightforward when it comes to the expectations you have from the spouse, no matter if you have children or not.

Husbands and daddies should be more considerate and offer a helping hand even when they are not asked to. They should be aware of the responsibilities that come with marriage and take equal part in having them done.

Speaking to Bored Panda, Celeste says, “My husband and I talk about this topic fairly regularly, he knows my concerns and we work on that daily. The reason I wrote an open letter is that I know lots of women facing similar issues. I discuss this topic all the time with my friends. I wanted to put it out there to start a larger discussion. I wanted women to feel encouraged to ask for help. I wanted husbands to know we need more help.”

Surprisingly, more and more dads are stay-at-home fathers. Based on information released by the U.S Census Bureau, in the last six years the number of dads who don’t work but take care of their children reached 140,000. 

Researchers say that most fathers who get involved in taking care of their kids work less hours compared to other dads and they posses certain traits such as higher self-esteem as well as lover level of depression. 

Some Great News For Moms Over Here!

M.D., FAAP Ben Siegel, professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at Boston University School of Medicine and chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics says that “more men are organizing their lives around their families.” He also says that dads taking care of their children is not just a trend, and that’s really encouraging. 

The Bottom Line

Roland Warren, president of the National Fatherhood Initiative (NFI) which is a non-profit organization that promotes responsible fatherhood says that what many fathers need is support and an ‘upgrade.’

Dear wives and mothers, encourage your partners to be part of their children’s lives and whenever they show they are a wonderful husband or father let them know that. Appreciate what they do in order to receive more in return. 

Girl rested her feet on the dashboard – It made her life change forever

This sad story is a reminder that the harmless decisions we take in life can sometimes turn into fatal ones.

A girl named Bethany Benson and her boyfriend were on a road trip when Bethany felt sleepy and tried finding a comfortable position. At one moment, she decided to tilt the seat and stretch her legs on the dashboard. Moments later, she felt asleep. 

Little did she know that taking that position will make her life a living hell. 

When Bethany opened her eyes, she was no longer in the car, but in a hospital bed, surrounded with a bunch of doctors who were fighting for her life. 

During the trip, a small car that was driving ahead of Bethany’s boyfriend’s car crashed into a motorcycle, killing the motorcyclist. Behind the car, there was a huge truck. Witnessing the accident, the truck driver hit the breaks, which caused for Bethany’s boyfriend to hit into the truck with a high speed. 

At the time of the crash, Bethany was sound asleep and doctors say that the combination of sleeping and trauma caused her to block out what had happened. 

The couple’s car was damaged to the extent that it led experts wondering how it was even possible for Bethany and her boyfriend to survive. 

He ended up with 100 stitches on the face and a scar, but Bethany’s condition was extremely severe. She experienced excruciating pain and the chances of her survival were slim. 

As the airbag opened, it caused Bethany’s feet to hit her face. She ended up with a broken cheekbone and nose, broken eye socket, broken jaw, compressed feet and more. 

Sadly, she also had a brain bleeding which turned to be more serious than what doctors initially thought. 

It caused a permanent brain damage and Bethany turned into a completely different person. She lost the ability to hear and speak French. She also experienced difficulties using English and communicate with those around her. 

The handful of pills she takes every single day only helps her condition get a bit milder.  

Years passed by and Bethany is still struggling to function properly. Her mother says that she acts like a teenager and throws tantrums for no reason. She even writes messages in which she offends and threatens people but later completely forgets ever doing that.  

Life can take a different turn in an instant. For Bethany, it was just one simple decision that turned it upside down forever. 

If she hadn’t put her legs on the dashboard maybe she would have suffered tiny injuries only. 

Let her story be a lesson for the rest of us to never stretch our feet while in a driving vehicle and to always have our seat-belt on.

Take a look at Bethany’s full story in the video below. 

Strangers make offensive comments about 6-year-old boy who survived house fire

Being considerate and empathetic are traits that many people lost along the way. So, many times, instead of offering our support and kind words to those who had gone through so much in their life, we opt to avoid them and even laugh at the tragedies that struck them.

6-year-old boy named Wayne Nixon was involved in a North Carolina house fire this May and he suffered severe burns and injuries. Sadly, his older brother lost his life. 

Wayne’s journey to recovery was a tough one. He had to undergo multiple surgeries and treatments, but his face is still disfigured. 

Ever since he left the hospital, Wayne has been target of bullies and people who wouldn’t stop stare at him, and that crushes this boy’s heart and self-esteem. 

“He comes home and cries sometimes. We come home and cry sometimes,” his grandmother, Wanda Nixon told WGHP. “I wish people would think about the person that’s up under the mask and the way it makes them feel.”

Currently, sweet Wayne is wearing a clear mask and a burn suit that helps facilitate the process of his recovery. His grandma says that many people look at him and call him names. Most of them say he’s scary. 

“To me, he’s not scary. He’s this young man right here under his mask,” she said.

“He has a heart. He bleeds just like you. Stop staring,” she said. “He’s my little warrior. He’s determined. He keeps me going. I know that.”

Hopefully, after watching this video we will finally realize how our offensive comments and stares make others feel and we’ll stop being rude once and for all. 

Meet Grace, a 7-year-old with Down syndrome who has a successful modeling carrier

Having a child with Down Syndrome can be challenging, but once you accept the extra chromosome that God gave you as a present, you’ll learn that these children are special in many ways.

They may share similar facial features, but they are all individuals with unique likes and dislikes. 

When the parents of adorable Grace Isabella Wharton learned their baby had Down Syndrome, they felt odd. Her mom, Cheryl Wharton, admits that the news made her cry for 24 hours. It wasn’t that she didn’t like her daughter, but she was aware the girl will face difficulties in life because of the negative perception the society has about people with the condition. 

However, Grace, who is now 7 years old, loves the way she looks and she’s very confident in herself. She’s a model and has a very successful career. Her name is already famous in the modeling industry. 

Cheryl and John are very dedicated parents who would do anything in their power to see their child thriving and having a happy and fulfilling life.

As a result, they decided to take her to a modeling photo shoot for children with disabilities one day. They believed she would have fun being photographed, but sweet Grace captured the hearts of everyone there. They knew the girl was born to be a model. She just had it in her. 

Having Down Syndrome never stepped on Grace’s way to a happy childhood. 

“Grace was then signed up within a very short space of time. Disney showed interest in her and she’s done work with them, CBeebies and the BBC since. She’s been really busy,” Cheryl told Daily Mail.

Currently, Grace is part of the company Zebedee Management that represents more than 300 people with different disabilities. 

Including these people in all the segments of the society is a step forward to full acceptance of the differences because the differences are what make this world a better and more colorful place. 

Grace isn’t doing this only for herself, but also for others who share her condition and feel marginalized. She’s a role model to many young children because the message she spreads is that if you want something badly, no one and nothing can get on your way. 

This brave little girl represents the change that she wants to see in the world, and we are all so very proud of her. 

So far, Grace has been part of numerous campaigns among which the diversity campaign called “Behind the Scars.” 

According to her mom, during the past years, Grace experienced some health issues related to her condition and had to undergo some major surgeries, but despite that, she has never been ill.  

She also experiences difficulties forming words and sounds as a result of a low muscle tone. 

But none of this stops Grace from enjoying her life and making people around her happy. 

Despite being a successful model, Grace is also keeping up with her school and shows amazing school performance. Her teacher, Charlotte Williams, says that little Grace has lots of friends and is sort of a celebrity among the peers. 

“I am very lucky because I have had Grace in my class for two years now,” the teacher said. 

The great news is that people with Down Syndrome are given more opportunities to shine and show what they can do and achieve. They are not seen as they used to, and we only hope things will go for the better with every passing day. 

”It is very important for us to get the message across that she is just a little girl who happens to have Down Syndrome. It’s no big deal, she is a feisty little girl and will always just be our daughter,” Cheryl said.

‘She’s always come through everything that she was faced with. She’s our little fighter,’ Grace’s father John said. 

Grace is changing the world for people with Down Syndrome one step at a time. 

Her vibrant personality and cute smile are addictive. It’s not surprising that she steals the hearts of everyone who meets her. 

Way to go young lady, you’re such an inspiration!

Teenage boy looks after his elderly neighbors

Despite the fact that most people consider teenagers to be trouble-makers, that’s not really the case.

Many times, these kids aren’t even given the chance to prove the world wrong. Luckily, a young boy is changing the way his peers are seen by the society by doing something truly exceptional.

The story of 15-year-old Romemylion Mitchell is here to restore our faith in the younger generations.

This caring boy has noticed how his neighbors, an elderly couple living all by themselves, need help with everyday stuff such as running errands and going to the store. So, he decided to step in and be there for them whenever they need any kind of assistance.

Romemylion has known the couple his entire life and the compassion he shows for them is just fascinating.

No day passes by without him checking on them. In fact, he pays them a visit a couple of times during the day. He doesn’t go to school before he makes sure they have all they need.

Recently, Tiki Joyner Edwards, the couple’s daughter who lives far away, learned of what the teen boy is doing for her parents and she was left in disbelief as her heart melted.

Knowing that there is someone who gives them so much love and support leaves her at ease. Above all, he does all that because he loves to, and never asks for anything in return.

She just can’t believe that someone so young can be so compassionate and caring.

Feeling the need to thank him, Tiki decided to share her parent’s story on Facebook and tell the whole world how amazing their teenage neighbor is.

“He rides with Dad to the store, helps him shop and brings the groceries in.. he cuts the grass and whatever they may need.”

A little while back, the woman, Cianne, ended up in a hospital. When Romemylion heard the news, he rushed to visit her. The sight of him entering her room and giving her a tight hug of solace triggered emotions at the hospital staff and Tiki. It was as though he was hugging his own mother.

“When he saw Mom today he busted out crying and just held her tight… what a blessing and just wanted to pass on something heartwarming instead of the sad news we see and hear every day,” Tiki wrote.

Tiki hopes that what she had to share with the world will change the way people perceive teenagers as these young souls can be truly loving and caring.

Honestly, not many people would do what Romemylion does, let alone someone that young.

We hope Romemylion will inspire others to become better people.

Woman With Down Syndrome Is Changing The World Of Modeling

This world is full of people who accept and live by the standards imposed by the society, and sadly, this includes predetermining what is beautiful and what is not.

Many times, this leads to people feel less worthy only because they are not as tall or as fit as the models they see on TV.

However, there are also those who don’t accept their value and beauty to be determined by foolish standards and do all in their power to change the perception that others have about them.

Such person is one brave young woman from Australia named Madeline Stuart. Regardless of everything she was told, including that she couldn’t achieve what her peers could, she was determined to prove the world wrong and become famous.

Madeline is a runway model with Down Syndrome and her name is now huge in the modeling industry thanks to her dedication and determination to shine and fight stereotypes about the people living with the syndrome.

Stuart’s passion for modeling began some 5 years ago when she first saw a fashion show.

Seeing the models walk with such confidence made her be like them and show her beauty to everyone.

As he was determined to start a career in modeling, Stuart shared her plans with her mother who was hesitant whether she should support her daughter’s dream. In fact, she was always supportive and told Stuart she could do anything she would put her mind to, but this was a bit different. She didn’t want her daughter to experience disappointment as she was aware how that industry worked.

But, when she gave it a second thought, she knew her lovely daughter will succeed because she wasn’t different but as beautiful as all those models that walked the runway.

The first step towards accomplishing her goal was losing 44 pounds. As for the confidence and the desire, they were there the whole time.

Only a year after Stuart put her heart into become a model, she stepped onto the runway.

Her first session was a huge success and very shortly after people spotted her, she got plenty of bookings.

Now, she fits in 18 shows every single season and she loves it.

Stuart’s name became a synonym for diversity in the industry and she opened the path for other girls with the syndrome. They all look up to her and considered her their role model.

Forbes Magazine named her the number one person who is progressing diversity in the fashion industry in 2017.

On the way to her success Stuart also makes sure to check her health regularly.

She’s now reaching for the stars and is a supermodel who keeps on setting higher targets and standards.

Young Stuart is an example that when we love something so very much and we are determined to achieve it, the success is guaranteed.

Scumbag filmed dragging 79-year-old woman to the floor during robbery

Every time I hear stories of elderly and vulnerable people being victims of thugs and getting hurt along the way makes my heart break into million pieces. Sadly, they are easy target, just like the 79-year-old lady who got dragged violently and was lifted off her feat and then pulled to the ground.

The wrongdoer attacked the elderly lady because he wanted to steal her purse. After she found herself lying on the ground, terrified and helpless, he ran away with his prey.

Now, the police at Kettering police department, in the UK, are trying to track the thief down. They have released a CCTV footage of the gruesome act that left many in disbelief of how cruel someone can be.

The video has gone viral and was spread all over the social media. Speaking of it, Detective Constable Paul Bates said: “Many people will be shocked by the CCTV footage we have released today and rightly so.”

“This lady, like everyone else, should be able to go about her business and feel safe. Her attacker has taken that feeling of safety away from her and it is imperative that he is identified and brought to justice.”

The poor lady ended up with a broken arm that would take a lot of time to heal. Sadly, she will no longer feel safe in her hometown, and neither the rest of the citizens.

As per Metro, the police is doing their best to bring the cruel person to justice as soon as possible.

8-year-old boy jumps to his death from ninth-floor apartment in Ukraine

The life of the eight-year-old boy named Anton ended in the split of a second. After being abused for a long period of time, he decided to put an end to his struggles by jumping from the ninth floor of the building in Ukraine where he lived with his parents.

The tragic incident took place on August 23 after the boy came home from school. Some of the neighbors said how they heard shouting coming from Anton’s family apartment. Allegedly, the parents were mad at their son for ripping his clothes. Moments later, Anton left this world in the most horrific way. 

The neighbor who lives downstairs, Zhanna, recalls how the noise coming from the family’s apartment meant the boy got beaten again. After that, there was complete silence which was later broken with the sound of the boy’s body falling on the ground. 

‘Several seconds passed and there was that horrific thud when a body hits the ground,’ Zhanna said.

‘I looked out of my kitchen window and seaw the boy lying below. I called an ambulance and the police.’

‘I saw the family going upstairs to their flat. Ten minutes later the boy was lying on the ground as his parents were racing downstairs in the street,’ said Andrey, another neighbor of Anton’s family.

Anton was pronounced dead at the scene. An innocent life was lost due to the way he was treated by his cruel parents. Currently, authorities are launching investigation against the neglectful parents. 

Anton’s mom and dad were questioned and they admitted beating the boy on the day he jumped into his death. They also confessed how they beat him regularly because according to them, he was misbehaving.

If they are found guilty, the parents face up to five years of jail time. Sadly, the recently fled the apartment and authorities are unaware of where they might be. 

The principal of the school Anton attended, Oksana Zelenska, said how the boy was felling behind and his parents weren’t interested in him at all. 

Psychologist Zoya Pershyna added: ‘Anton visited me for counselling several times. I did not see it coming.’

Maybe if someone from Anton’s surrounding realized how serious the negligence and abuse over him was and alerted social services on time, this tragedy wouldn’t have happened.