Just curious...

[PicklePod05]

You can blame this thread on my boyfriend, for spiking my curiosity, he's on here somewhere... :p lol I know, curiosity killed the cat, but it doesn't stop me from being curious lol Anyway, my boyfriend and I were talking about the board yesterday, and I was telling him about the suggestions you all were making on my hair dilema, and he said "I wonder how many people on there have kids". That, of course, got me wondering... Who all here does have kids, how old are they, and are/were you able to do the more complicated styles when they were babies?

[VintageJess]

I have one child, a 16 month old son, who keeps me running from "Son up until son down." Ha, ha.
Seriously, most days I am lucky if I can get a shower, hair dryed and makeup. I have started to take showers and wash my hair at night, for safety reasons more than anything (my bathroom is on the 2nd floor, and Jack can now open doors, and pretty much escape, so I don't feel very safe taking a shower in the morning once my husband is gone to work.) Anyway, when I shower at night, I then roller or pin my hair overnight and that seems to be working pretty well. Then I can wake up and take a couple of minutes to style. Also, my hair is fairly fine and soft and that also seems to help hold the curl (plus LOTS of spray!!)
I try to pick out my clothes the night before, and that helps things to go smoother for our mornings too. I then stay clean for, oh, about ten minutes before he has smeared something or other on me. Oh well. My life would be so boring and empty without my little guy.

Jessica

[PicklePod05]

Haha I know how that is. My daughter is 5 months old, and hates to sleep during the day. She's at that point where if she doesn't see me, she gets really upset, and if she goes with her grandma, she thinks my boyfriend and I are leaving, so she starts crying hehe. Luckily she can't crawl yet, but she's getting there, I know that's going to make it even harder to do my hair hehe

[Irena]

...curiosity killed the cat, but it doesn't stop me from being curious...

Curiosity may have kiiled the cat, but satisfaction brought him back!

[RetroMom]

Hi All: I'm brand new here. I'm a stay-at-home mom with 4 kids. Their ages are 12 (boy) 9 (twins b/g) and 4 (boy). Up until I was expecting my last one, I always set my hair. I really like the 1940's styles, and I used to always wear my hair in a shoulder length pageboy. But for the last few years, my hair has been cut pixie style. Still kind of retro, but more 1950's than '40s. When I did set my hair, I used to do exactly what VintageJess did, I washed it at night and slept in curlers or pin curls and just styled the next day. The discussions are so fun here! I'm so glad I joined!!

[Chantilly Lace]

And I have a 9 month old daughter. After neglecting myself for many many months now :( I have decided to reclaim my womanhood! There are so many fun styles posted here! I can't wait to try!

[Etienne]

Well, welcome, RetroMom and Chantilly Lace! Always nice to have new ladies in the lounge! I look forward to seeing posts of your hairstyles!--Etienne

[WoeSis]

i have one child, a daughter. Taylor, my girl, will be thirteen in August. She's very much her own person, not terribly into vintage styles. But she also enjoys swing music and dance, and she LOVES old comedies a la The Thin Man, Bringing Up Baby.

[CherryRed]

I have a 3 1/2 yr old little boy. I haven't been doing vintage long enough to say he has interfered with it. Although I have loved it my whole life. I haven't gotten myself in a regular routine yet. I know I need to set my hair at night. I am a SAHM too for now, and have a tiny side business. So I am pretty much a wreck during the day unless it is Friday and I fix myself up for date nite with DH. We don't go out but just have a nice evening together, with cocktails and music.:cheers1:

DS loves to dance with me. One of his favorite songs is "Moondance"

[mysterygal]

I have 3 girls, ages, 9,5 and 3. I had the hardest time doing anything with my hair when the girls were babies...one thing, I was just so tired all the time and, it seems they are so time consuming themselves that it was an accomplishment just getting a shower in! Recently I've been learning to do new tricks with my hair, pretty soon I need to go to the salon and get it styled...it's getting to that point where you can't do much with it . My advice though for all you mom's with kids...do try to have date nights with your hubby, even if you stay at home, it does wonders on keeping the two of you connected

[CherryRed]

My advice though for all you mom's with kids...do try to have date nights with your hubby, even if you stay at home, it does wonders on keeping the two of you connected

I can't agree with you more! This is something we look forward to all week. Our communication has improved and disagreements don't snowball into fights, anymore.

[mysterygal]

that was one of the things me and the hubby agreed on before kids is that OUR relationship always comes first, I'm glad we took it serious, if the parents are happy, everyone's happy!;)

[PicklePod05]

We don't have much of a "date night" per say, but since out daughter goes to sleep around 9 or 10, we have our goof around/talk about the day time for a couple hours before we hit the sack ourselves. It does wonders for talking about problems calmly and rationally :o)

[Angelicious]

I have one daughter, who turned 4 last month. I'm a single mother and struggling to finish university, so I don't do much more than drag a brush through my hair and pin or tie it out of my eyes. I'm trying to find time to try pincurls, but am really dissuaded by the thought of trying to tame my fuzzy mop in time to get anything done with the rest of the day. :rolleyes:

[Chantilly Lace]

Date night... what's that? That's another part of my womanhood that I'm reclaiming! I'm a work in progress, ladies!

[mysterygal]

I know, parenthood does something to you and it's not always a pretty sight! What we had to end up doing was sitting down and 'schedule' a night every week that we either go out or just use it as a night where we know we can have some good adult conversation and get all caught up with whatever's going on in our lives...I love kids, don't get me wrong but I do miss being spontaneous at times.
Also, even if you can't find time to do your hair...I've learned do something, anything! that will pamper you...it keeps you from going into ruts.

[PicklePod05]

True, but easier said than done! lol At times, I have trouble keeping up with my homework, cleaning and such, let alone pampering myself. Every once in a while, I get to do a little something like putting on makeup or doing my hair in a style other than it being down or in a ponytail lol

[Chantilly Lace]

I hope we aren't scaring anyone!! ;)

[ITG]

Well, at least the conversation you moms are having makes for some birth control for those that are children-less. I hope to be married at least 2 years before I start having kids. In fact, I want to travel across Europe before having kids. I have this fear that when I get married I'll accidentally get pregnant and not get to do my traveling in Europe and then have to wait til the kids are older to do it.

[PicklePod05]

Haha yeah, that's the way it always starts out... :p lol I wasn't planning on having kids until I was married, either... That didn't work out too well, though lol
Well, if any of you are getting scared, really it's just a matter of figuring out what works for you and your baby to get the things that you need to done. Not too easy at first, but eventually you get there, you just have to be flexible about it :p

[RetroMom]

It is very hard to carve out time for yourself and time with your hubby when the kids are little. I agree with all the comments posted, that you must set time aside for yourselves. You can't parent well if your over-stressed. I wanted to have kids right away, but my husband and I were married 5 years before our first was born. There was a time when I didn't think I would have any kids, now I have 4!

My schedule revolves around them, who has to go where, is it my turn to help out, bring food, etc.. but I guess that's what being a parent is. They grow up so fast. Enjoy them while they are little. :)

[Chantilly Lace]

Well, we mustn't forget our "wifely duties" either! Teehee!

[RetroMom]

You are sooooo right!!

[Marc Chevalier]

Well, we mustn't forget our "wifely duties" either! Teehee!

Hope it's a more a pleasure than a duty! (Or am I being naive? [huh] )

[mysterygal]

I hope we aren't scaring anyone!! ;)
lol lol just giving a reality check;)

[mysterygal]

Hope it's a more a pleasure than a duty! (Or am I being naive? [huh] )
It's definetly a pleasure...the rewards are great...there are just some things you don't think about when having kids.

[Tin Pan Sally]

I'm a Mom. We did it the old fashioned way; got married first THEN got pregnant. See how golden era I am? ;)
Don't expect to have time and energy for hair-dos every day when you are caring for babies and toddlers. It will hardly be a priority! I had a simple standby up-do to fall back on.

[Marc Chevalier]

Well, we mustn't forget our "wifely duties" either! Teehee!

Hope it's a more a pleasure than a duty! (Or am I being naive? [huh] )

It's definetly a pleasure...the rewards are great...

Whew! That's a relief! ;)


.

[Tin Pan Sally]

Are you asking about the wifely duties or the motherhood, Marc?

[Marc Chevalier]

The wifely duties.

[cztheday]

I have two little boys, 4 and 2.5. It has only been during the last two months that that light emerged at the end of the tunnel. They play with one of their many train sets while I shower (15 mins), do makeup (10 min) and hair (15 mins - a quick blow dry with a small round brush will give me a nice wavy curl that looks 1940s). 40 minutes total. Of course, I am often visited by them, because one is either not sharing, or they want to do something else. The 4 year old is good at managing the situation, and cajoling his brother into being a good boy. It's great because I am finding my sanity again - and I smell nicer too.

The best part is when my little guys see me emerge from my room and they say cool things like "Mom, you look beautiful," or "I like the color of your lipstick." With comments like that they will either grow up to be gay, or just really considerate boys. Either way, they are the best!

[Marc Chevalier]

With comments like that they will either grow up to be gay, or just really considerate boys.

Or both! In any case, they sound like great kids.

[cztheday]

Or both! In any case, they sound like great kids.
They are great kids. And I'm trying to keep them cultured on the retro world. They listen to everything from Mozart to Sinatra to Madonna (as well as the Sesame Street tunes). My 4 year old loves to dance, yet also loves sports and computers. My two year old would easily pass up TV to play with trains. I think one thing that REALLY helps is that they are rarely allowed to watch TV. Fifty or 60 years ago, people weren't as bombarded by shameless marketing as we are now. Everywhere you turn, testosterone laden, gun-weilding, half-naked images are thrown at us: in the mall, billboards, magazines, let alone TV. Studies have shown that kids have such a skewed view on the world based on the values set forth on TV. (Can you tell I studied this in college?) I really see a difference in my boys demeaner compared to my friends' kids (who get more TV). My boys are less violent and more patient with the world.

On the other hand, maybe I just got lucky.

[mysterygal]

cztheday, that's an adorable picture of you two!

[mysterygal]

The wifely duties.
wifely duties is nothing compared to raising kids!

[PicklePod05]

wifely duties is nothing compared to raising kids!

Definately not, it's trying to find a time when the baby's asleep and no one else is to do it. Especially things like cleaning, baby toys tend to make a lot of noise... lol


Hope it's a more a pleasure than a duty! (Or am I being naive? [huh] )

The rewards definately out weigh the challenge of finding time to eat, sleep, take showers, do the housework and such :) Sometimes, there just aren't enough hours in the day! lol

My biggest challenge right now is getting my daughter to actually sleep and then to stay that way for more than 20 min haha. She's quite the little mischevious one (she gets that from her dad haha) As I've been typing this post, she's already woken up twice, because she'd rather play than sleep lol I almost always have to wait until she goes to bed for the night to take a shower, and sometimes it just gets too late, and the rest of the house is already asleep by the time I get the chance to do so lol

[QUOTE=Tin Pan Sally]I'm a Mom. We did it the old fashioned way; got married first THEN got pregnant.QUOTE]

That's how my boyfriend and I planned it. Unfortunately it didn't quite work out so well haha. Now that she's here, though, I wouldn't have it any other way :)

[cztheday]

cztheday, that's an adorable picture of you two!
Thanks MysteryGal. Tell me, do you or anyone else here consider some of your wifely duties picking up your husbands "snail trails"? You know, socks, shoes, lost bills. I think my husband exhausts me more than my children do. And speaking of hair, do you find that your spouse is more impatient with your beauty routine than your chidlren are? I don't get it. He wants me to look nice, but gets frustrated when I take the time to do so.[huh]

[PicklePod05]

Oh yes lol I go to bed earlier than my boyfriend, and when he takes off his shoes and socks, he never seems to find a good place for them, no matter how hard he tries. I always end up nearly tripping overthem the next morning, when I stumble out of bed half asleep to make a bottle for my daughter. Don't forget the jackets, either lol I don't mind, though, at least he tries :)

[mysterygal]

Thanks MysteryGal. Tell me, do you or anyone else here consider some of your wifely duties picking up your husbands "snail trails"? You know, socks, shoes, lost bills. I think my husband exhausts me more than my children do. And speaking of hair, do you find that your spouse is more impatient with your beauty routine than your chidlren are? I don't get it. He wants me to look nice, but gets frustrated when I take the time to do so.[huh]
lol lol oh yes, the snail trail! what's irritating is he's a perfectionist..big time. If I were to leave a mess in the house, would not look good. He get's home, and you can perfectly tell where he's been...coat on the chair, shoes and socks halfway between the great room and kitchen and so on...maid anyone?:rolleyes:
The difference with my husband, is, it doesn't matter how long I take, all he's interested is the finished result....reading this, he's starting to sound pretty awful! ok, to put it back to the nice side, he really is a wonderful man

[cztheday]

lol lol oh yes, the snail trail! what's irritating is he's a perfectionist..big time. If I were to leave a mess in the house, would not look good. He get's home, and you can perfectly tell where he's been...coat on the chair, shoes and socks halfway between the great room and kitchen and so on...maid anyone?:rolleyes:
The difference with my husband, is, it doesn't matter how long I take, all he's interested is the finished result....reading this, he's starting to sound pretty awful! ok, to put it back to the nice side, he really is a wonderful man
It seems as though you have a great attitude about the snail trails. The funny part is, I even once had a cleaning lady who complained about the messes my husband leaves behind. lol But, mine is a good guy, too. He can fix my computer, lift heavy things and open jars. Oh, and the other "wifely duties," well, it's definitely not a chore ;) (pun intended).

[mysterygal]

what's with those lids to jars anyways?:D there's been a few times where no matter what I did, I couldn't get the blasted thing off so had to wait for the mister to get home.

[JustJen]

I have a 6 year old and a 2 year old (both boys) so I'm always up early to do my hair before work. I tried the whole sleeping in rag rolls, scratchy rollers, and sponge rollers. Didn't work so well for me as I awoke each morning to find that they had mostly come undone from my scratching them. Not to mention the amount of hair they contained!!

Both boys tend to like to sleep in the morning so I'm pretty safe as long as I'm ready by 7 am. They usually play together well in our bedroom while I "try out" new fangled hairstyles on the weekends. Usually though, I stick to my hot rollers. I end up with a cross between 1940's waves and 1950's curls. I like it though and it works for me for now.

My husband is wonderful about pretty much everything (he's no saint even though that's what my co-workers call him). We both have "snail trails" but those usually get kicked out of the way and bunched up against the wall until laundry day-lol. Sheesh, even our 6 year old has snail trails.

I don't worry much about housework until the weekends. Don't get me wrong, the house is clean but it is a bit messy. I'm constantly reminding my husband, "Would you rather look back on your life in 50 years and say, 'Gee, I had a really clean house', or 'Gee, I did what I could to spend time with my kids'"? That usually quells any growlings he has.

I do hate cleaning. The only redeeming quality I find is that Soft Scrubbing an enameled cast iron sink brings such great satisfaction. Sure beats paying a therapist. LOL

Jen

[mysterygal]

sleeping in sponge rollers...I did that about a week ago, had probably the best curl ever but the worst night sleep!
Keeping house and spending lots of quality time with the kids is still a hard balance for me, there's a lot of evenings when the kids are in bed that I realize I could of done less of something and spent more time with them..parenting has definetely been a learning experience for me, and I imagine it to one for years to come.
Luckily, the kids are now at a point where most days I can get myself looking pretty darn good...I love it and so does the mister!

[fortworthgal]

I've been married 5 years, but we don't have any children. Right now, our plan is to remain childless, but we aren't saying never - it just isn't what we want for our lives at this point. It may never be. I think it is a wise person who can realize that they do not want children, rather than bringing an unwanted child into the world. I don't think I have to say this here, but please don't judge us - we are very happy in our decision.

I have nothing but respect for those that do choose to be parents, though! My nieces and nephews are enough for me! lol