Mom Learns Priceless Lesson From Stranger After Sons Poolside Meltdown

From the moment nine-month-pregnant Caitlin Fitzpatrick Curley arrived at the neighborhoodpool with her two children in tow, her son immediately spiraled into one of his all-too-familiar meltdowns.

Curley’sOBGYN had recommended she be taking things easy, but her hectic life made accommodating the suggestion particularly difficult. Venturing to the pool was her compromise. She was trying to tireher kids by swimming,so the whole family couldeventually rest, but her efforts were proving themselves to bedishearteningly futile.

Curley quickly backtracked, packing her babies back up as fast as any nine-month-pregnant mom could,trying to narrowly escape the other poolside moms’ judgmental glances.

However, just as Curley felt herself completely crumbling, one mom ran toward her, arms flailing.

What thisstranger said toCurleyduring one of her darkest parentingmoments is something shewill likely carry with her indefinitely.

Five years later, Curley, mommy blogger of My Little Poppies, still regularly reflects on this moment. She nowmakes a conscious effort to pass this stranger’s messageforward to other struggling moms when she sees heavy stressweighing them down.

Keep scrolling through to read Curley’s beautiful story about the power of mommy-on-mommy kindness.

[H/T: The Mighty]

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A few years ago, Caitlin Fitzpatrick Curley (then mom of two and nine months pregnant with baby number three)was having an unbearably challenging day.

She had hauled her two fiesty kids to the neighborhood pool, hoping the exercise would tucker them out.

However, the minute they arrived, her son unraveledinto a cascading meltdown.

The following is astory Curley wrote of the experience, whichfirst appeared on The Mighty,a platform for people with disabilities, diseases, and disorders to share their stories. Herstory details how one stranger’s kindness turned this awful momentinto a behavior-changing lessonshe’ll likely carry with herforever.

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To the Lady at the Pool Who Spoke Up During One of My Lowest Parenting Moments
By: Caitlin Fitzpatrick Curley

“Ill never forget that summer.

“It was hot, I was nine months pregnant with our third child and supposed to be on rest. My OB had instructed me not to lift more than ten pounds.”

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“The concept of rest is laughable to any mother, let alone a nine-month-pregnant one with a 19-month-old and three-year-old, who would later be diagnosed with sensory processing disorder.

“I neglected to tell my doctor that I spent most days underarming my three-year-old out of public places, with a diaper bag slung on one shoulder, my daughters hand in one of my own and tears in my eyes.

“Every public meltdown, every set of eyes on me, made me feel deflated. At that time, I felt my sons behavior was a reflection of my parenting skills.”

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“That summer, my husband got us a pool membership. The plan was to have the kids wear themselves out in the kiddie pool and water tables.

“I could plunk my pregnant self in the kiddie pool with them and ‘rest.’

“In reality, Id manage to wrangle my toddlers and all our pool gear into the car, drive to the facility, lug everyone through the building and out back to where the pool is located only to have my oldest melt down, after which wed get him out of there, all the way back through the facility and home.”

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“The other moms would look away in an attempt to be polite.

“They would rifle through their diaper bags or start up a quiet conversation with their children, pretending not to notice us. It was impossible not to notice us.

“We arrived at the pool one excruciatingly hot and humid morning. My son immediately melted down, and all the moms did their pretending-not-to-see-it thing.

“I tried to talk him down, but it wasnt working. Cheeks flushed, heart pounding, I tried to calm myself down. Defeated but determined not to convey it, I set my jaw and collected our belongings.

“My son continued melting down. I was moving as quickly as I could for an extremely pregnant woman.”

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“The pool moms continued to look away as I struggled to lower my nine-month-pregnant-body down to his level to pick him up.

“Once I had him, I grabbed my daughters hand and our bags.

“‘Excuse me!’ I heard a female voice from the opposite side of the pool call out.

“I hesitated. I was trying not to cry. Reluctantly, I looked up and met her eyes. The woman was walking toward us with gusto, arms swinging.”

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“‘Bravo, mama! Bra-vo! No one here will say this to you,’ she said, as she gestured toward my silent audience with one hand, ‘but you are doing the right thing. Youve got this! Good job, Mom!’ And then, she started to clap her hands.

“She applauded my parenting at one of my lowest parenting moments to date.”

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“I thanked her. She had validated my parenting when I was questioning it and feeling small.

“‘Thank you,’ I mouthed again, for my words were now gone. She nodded and turned on her heels and walked away.

“When I finally made it back to my car and managed to get the kids clipped into their car seats, I put my head to the steering wheel and did the ugly pregnancy cry thing.

“I realized I had been feeling quite alone with this spirited, strong-willed three-year-old.

“On this day, I felt supported and was extremely grateful for that womans words. I wanted to go back to thank her properly, but my son was still melting down in his seat and I was far too emotional to be coherent.”

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“Do you know how often I think of that stranger and her kindness? It has been five years, but I think of her all the time.

“I think of her when Im in Target and someones kid is ‘acting up.’

“I think of her when I am checking out at the grocery store and the mom with four ‘whiny’ kids in tow is behind me; I see that look in the moms eyes and I know shes struggling to hold it all together.

“I think of her every single time I see a pregnant woman managing toddlers.

“I think of her when the frazzled looking mom in the minivan cuts me off and then apologizes with a wave. I can see the ruckus going on in her backseat.

“I know how loud it must be in her car, how difficult it must be to think, let alone drive.”

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“I think of her when I see a mom whisking her crying child out of mass on Sundays.

“I think of her every time I see a child ‘pitching a fit’ or a mother who looks exhausted.

“We have all been there, havent we? And some of us have been there more than others.

“Do you know what? I always say something now. Always. And, if I cant say something due to distance or whatnot, I make eye contact and send that mom a genuine youve got this smile.

“I know how much a kind word can mean in a dark moment, and I know kind words are contagious. They can alter behavior.”

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“I dont know where the woman from the pool is today. I wish I could thank her.

“I wish I could let her know the words she spoke to me on that day changed me and my behavior, forever.

“Thanks to her, I am not fumbling with my purse, trying not to notice the elephant in the room. Now, I know better.”

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“As kids, we were taught if we dont have anything nice to say, we shouldnt say anything at all. Id like to add an addendum to that saying for all the mamas out there:

“If you are thinking kind thoughts, always share them. If you have something nice you could say, say it.”

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“Think about how lovely this world would be if everyone poured forth all the kind thoughts and observations that they keep in the silence of their minds.”

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At one of her lowest lows, this mom was gifted beautiful praise from another knowing mom. Since that moment, she has passed this stranger’s kindness forward, uplifting countless other mommies battling similar stresses.

What do you think of Curley’s story? What has been your most challenging parenting moment to date? Tell us your story in the comments below.

You can read more of Curley’s heartfelt parenting insight on her blog, My Little Poppies. For regular updates,follow her onFacebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

This post first appeared on TheMighty.com.

Read more: https://www.littlethings.com/son-breaks-down-at-pool/

Baby Boy Born With His Brain Outside His Skull Stuns Doctors By Continuing to Thrive

From time to time medical science gets stumped. This is one of those times.

It was some kind of miracle that baby Bentley Yoder is alive. He was born with his brain actually outside his skull.

An ultrasound had alerted the family of his condition, and it was advised that an abortion would be best.

It was a rare neural tube defect known as encephalocele. This birth defect is where the brain herniates from the skull. The bones then fail to properly form around it. After the baby would be born, he simply would not live much longer, and if by chance he did, there would be no cognitive function at all.

The parents were stunned and shocked at the news. Nevertheless, Sierra and Dustin Yoder decided to proceed with the pregnancy. Even if just for an hour or two, they wanted to hold their baby.

A few months later Sierra give birth and 36 hours later, the baby was still alive. They actually got to bring him home, but he was often sick and had to be brought back to the hospital. He was on a ventilator for a respiratory virus, but he actually recovered and began thriving.

Bentley hospitalized with a virus.

Now the doctors were already shocked, but it didnt end there. The boy was using his brain as it was encased in a sac type membrane which protruded from his head. Everyone was even more shocked when Bentley turned seven months and was a very cheerful child!

He looked especially cute as hair began growing around the brain sac.

Bentley, the happy baby.

Nevertheless, a lot of health issues were still expected. The Boston Childrens Hospital performed a procedure in order to expand the boys cranium. The hope was that his brain would be able to slip back into his head.

Bentley post-op.

It would be a month after surgery and Bentley could actually hold his head up. The boy ate a lot and the parents said he was back to being his usual self, smiling big and happy.

Bentley back to his cheerful self

Doctors are now forecasting a hopeful future for Bentley!

Check out the wonderful story of Bentley:

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIjbu6vMOTI]

Read more: https://damn.com/baby-born-brain-outside-skull/

Little Girl Tells Her Mom The Sweetest Thing After Meeting Her Baby Brother

Being a big sister is an important responsibility. The big sister has to show their younger sibling the right path. They will look to her for guidance their entire life. She can even save her sibling’s life, just like this quick-thinking little girl.

Taylor Black is 4 years old and a new big sis. There are some children who aren’t excited to be big siblings. They’d much rather be an only child or the baby of their family. But not Taylor! She is in absolute awe of her little brother when she first meets him. But, she has a bone to pick with her mother.

Her mom thinks the new baby has her nose, but Taylor disagrees. She thinks he has her nose! She tells her mom that he “has everything of me!” She thinks the little guy looks just like her, with the same nose and face. She gets so emotional, she doesn’t start crying but instead starts singing a little tune. She is very happy that her brother makes the Blacks a family of four.

Watch the video below to see Taylor’s heartwarming reaction. I just love it when kids are sweet like this!

Don’t forget to SHARE this precious moment with all of your friends and family!

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Read more: https://www.littlethings.com/he-has-my-nose/

Adorable Baby Names With Surprising Animal Inspirations!

Something about springtime seems to bring out new beginnings with every passing day!

Flowers are blooming, birds are hatching, and somehow, it seems like more babies are born in these idyllic springtime months than at any other time of the year.

Even if you dont have a bun in the oven yourself, its a nice time of year to think about names, for little ones of the present and future.

Most expectant mothers have a theme that they stick with when it comes to naming. Thats because, as we saw with these common last names, theres always a deeper meaning under the surface of a name.

Some might focus on family history, while others might draw inspiration from a beloved author or symbolic homeland. For our part, we cant help but think of a sweet theme of our very own: names inspired by adorable animals.

Scroll through the gallery below to see a few of our very favorite baby names, which all have unexpected origins in the animal kingdom!

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Animal Name #1: Paloma

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Tayra Lucero for LittleThings

Paloma is a lovely name with a grand, Romanesque feel to it.

Most of us probably associate it most closely with the famous jewelry designer Paloma Picasso, daughter of Pablo.

That’s why it may come as a bit of a surprise that this elegant name traces its roots back to the ordinary pigeon.

This girl’s name does a beautiful job of taking an everyday creature, and playing up its subtle,iridescent quality.

Animal Name #2: Leo

Animal

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Did you know that Leo is actually the Latin word for lion?

The name, which also lends its fierce power to an astrological sign, has been growing in popularity recently, maybe thanks to celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio.

These days, the strong, ferocious boy’s name makes a nice standalone label, or a good nickname for something a bit longer and less fashionable, like Leonard or Leopold.

It also has the unusual distinction of being the name of a whole slew of popes.

Animal Name #3: Ursula

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The name Ursula is most often associated with the fearsome sea-witch inThe Little Mermaid.

Surprisingly, however, Ursula has its roots in the Latin word for bear,ursa.

We think that it’s about time this underused girl’s name got a much-needed revival, one that celebrates its sweet mama bear origins!

Even better, it already comes with two constellations, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor.

Animal Name #4: Colin

Animal

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Colin is a cute and quaint boy’s name that hasn’t been in popular circulation for a few decades.

We think it’s ripe for a comeback, though, because it has a truly adorable meaning!

Colin comes from a Scottish Gaelic word meaning “young dog.”

In other words, it’s just another word for puppy. That sounds like a pretty sweet name for anyone, if you ask us!

Animal Name #5: Pippa

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Pippais acute name that has been enjoying a lot of popularity in recent years, thanks to Princess Kate’s younger sister.

Before that, this quaint nickname hadn’t been popular since the Victorian days.

That’s because it’s short for the more hefty and cumbersome Philippa, which means “friend of horses.”

We much prefer the nickname, which shares the meaning, but is much lighter than the origin name.

Animal Name #6: Rudolph

Animal

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Rudolph is a name with plenty of animal associations; we’re talking about a certain red-nosed reindeer, of course!

Surprisingly, though, Rudolph traces its roots back to a very different creature: the wolf.

The ferocious boy’s name comes from ancient German words meaning “famous” and “wolf.”

We’re betting that the very first Rudolph never thought he’d be associated with Christmas’ favorite reindeer.

Animal Name #7: Ava

Animal

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For years, the best-known Ava of them all was the glamorous Hollywood actress Ava Gardener.

Now, that’s likely to change in no time at all; Ava is one of the most popular girl’s names on every list.

It’s from a Latin word meaning, simply, “bird,” and we agree that it has a very pretty ring to it!

Now, along with longtime list-toppers like Emily and Kate, Ava is poised to take over the next generation of little girls.

Animal Name #8: Todd

Animal

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Todd is a sturdy, dependable boy’s name that had its heyday in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

It’s still popular today, especially for parents looking for a simple, classic name.

However, not everyone realizes that this all-American name has its roots in England, where it comes from the Middle English word for fox!

Animal Name #9: Rachel

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Rachel is an ancient Hebrew girl’s namethat means ewe, or female sheep.

It’s millennia-old; in fact, the first famous Rachel showed up in the Bible, as one of the matriarchs of the Tribes of Israel.

Along with other old-fashioned Hebrew names like Elizabeth, Sarah, and Rebecca, it was popular in the early days of pilgrims in America.

More recently, it bounced up the ranks in the ’80s and ’90s, thanks in part to characters like Rachel Green fromFriends!

Animal Name #10: Corbett

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These days, using surnames as given names is hotter than ever; just look at the popularity of names like Fletcher and Harper!

That’s why we have a hunch that the gender-neutral Corbett is about to have its moment in the sun; it’s a handsome name with a nice ring to it!

Even better, this old European surname comes complete with a cool backstory.

The name, a combination of Old English and Norman French, means”raven” and was traditionally given to someone with dark, glossy hair.

Animal Name #11: Melissa

Animal

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Melissa is a sweet and pretty name, with a special meaning to match.

It’s an old Greek name that means “honeybee,” which we think isjust adorable.

It shares its origins with words like “miele” and “meli,” both of which mean “honey.”

Melissa peaked in popularity in the late ’70s and early ’80s, but a name this sweet never really goes out of fashion!

Animal Name #12: Jonas

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If you’re familiar with the Bible, you might associate Jonas with the Hebrew version Jonah, given to an Old Testament figure who spent some time in the belly of a whale.

In fact, thisGreek variation of the classic boy’s name has its origins in a different animal that appears in the Bible: the dove!

The dove, a traditional symbol of peace,would make for a lovely, serene name for a baby boy.

Even better, this name has been climbing up the ranks in the past five years as a nice alternative to played-out names like Jacob and Jonathan.

Animal Name #13: Tabitha

Animal

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Tabitha is a pretty, uniquename that feels a little bit dusty to the modern ear, since itwas big back in the late 19th century.

Thislovely name is from the Aramaic language, and means “gazelle,” which has delicate, light-footed connotations.

It had a big resurgence in the 1970s, especially in the U.K., and has dropped back down in recent years.

That said, we think that this name should cycle back up to the top again soon, because it has a distinct and cool ring to it.

Animal Name #14: Arthur

Animal

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Arthur is an old-fashioned regal name, with plenty of associations.

Fromthe mythical King Arthur to a certain aardvark, there are plenty of good role models with this name!

The name first became popular thanks to the legend of Arthur, who was probablygiven the name thanks to its meaning: bear-king.

The ancient Celtic name has gone through waves of popularity since then, and is looking poised to make a stylish comeback in the next few years!

If you love these adorable animal-inspired baby names, make sure toSHARE with anyone who is expecting a little one!

Read more: https://www.littlethings.com/animal-baby-names/

Study helps explain why some new moms post nonstop on Facebook

Image: Getty Images

Several years ago,Sarah Schoppe-Sullivan noticed something curious as she scrolled through Facebook: Many of her female friends used an image of their child as a personal profile photo.EvenSchoppe-Sullivan made the switch without fully realizing the implications.

“It just kind of dawned on me at one point, ‘Hey that’s your identity, thats a really profound statement,'” she toldMashable.“It’s saying, ‘This is who I am right now.'”

Of course, plenty of new moms see Facebook as simply a way of sharing joyous baby-related updates with family and friends.

Schoppe-Sullivan, however, thought something more complicated might be going on, particularly as moms tried to navigatethe tricky terrain of balancing their new identity with their old one.

As a professor of human sciences and psychology at The Ohio State University, she set out to understandif and when women seek validation on Facebook for their roles as mothers, and whether they’re at greater risk of depressive symptoms when they do so. She was already evaluatingnew parenthood in a long-term study and decided to explore those new questions in her ongoing research.

“A lot of moms may feel pressured to portray this very positive image of motherhood.”

The results, published last week in Sex Roles, may make new moms reconsider why they use Facebook to post about their children. While the social media platform can offer guidance and support from a large community, frequent posting for some users can also amplify their anxiety about motherhood.

Schoppe-Sullivan and her co-authors analyzed data from 127 participants and found that when women felt more societal pressure to be perfect mothers and viewed motherhood as central to their identity, they were more likely to share child-related updates and photos.The majority of moms in the study did use their baby’s image as a profile photo at some point.

Themothers who strove for perfection as parents and sought external validation for their maternal role also expressed stronger emotional responses both positive and negative to the frequency and nature of their friends’ likes and comments..

That relationship with Facebook may have come at a cost. Nine months after giving birth, those same mothers reported more depressive symptoms like having a poor appetite, not being able to shake off the blues and experiencing restless sleep.

The study couldn’t pinpoint a cause-and-effect dynamic between a new mom’s desire for validation, her increased Facebook use and a greater risk for symptoms of depression, butSchoppe-Sullivan believes there could be a direct link.

“A lot of moms may feel pressured to portray this very positive image of motherhood, and if on the inside you’re not feeling that good, I think that could be detrimental,” she said.

The study does have some important limitations.Schoppe-Sullivan surveyed well-educated, employed women who were mostly white, which means the results aren’t nationally representative. The participants also self-reported their social media use, which can be a reliable way to account for their habits but isn’t necessarily the most accurate method.

“This is an evolving way of representing your identity and your family and whats important to you.”

Schoppe-Sullivan and her co-authors did control for several factors, including maternal age, education and personality traits that might make participants more prone to experiencing depression. Only one of five key traits neuroticism was associated with a mother’s more intense emotional reaction to if and how people responded to her Facebook posts. The researchers also controlled for depressive symptoms at three months postpartum.

While some may be quick to use the study’s findings as a justification for judging new moms who constantly post photos of their newborn, that’s not the pointSchoppe-Sullivan is trying to make.

Like with any personal social media post, users are trying to carefully craft their identity. New mothers, in particular, encounter unyielding expectations about how they should behave, which can feel magnified on a platform like Facebook.

They may feel pressure to adhere to impossibly high parenting standards, said Schoppe-Sullivan, and turn to Facebook for both support in meeting those expectations and validation that they’re fulfilling a stereotypical maternal role.

“This is an evolving way of representing your identity and your family and whats important to you,” she said.

The working women in the study, she added, may have wanted to defy stereotypes about mothers who have careers and prove to friends and family that devotion to their child came first.

Some moms who post frequent updates and photos of their child may feel none of these pressures and care little about validation. But for those who notice that frequent Facebook posts involve stress and angst,Schoppe-Sullivan had some simple advice: take a break.

That can mean turning off notifications, posting less frequently and finding other ways to distribute photos to family members and friends eager to see them.

“There are ways to manage this,” said Schoppe-Sullivan, “so youre not necessarily getting sucked into it.”

Have something to add to this story? Share it in the comments.

Read more: https://mashable.com/2016/05/30/moms-facebook-photos/