I Have One Question; Will Mystery Files Include Cryptids?

I know it's a stretch, but I'm convinced the monk doing a silly little dance in Satanized is a reference to St. Vitus dance. There seems to be a real theme of saints and martyrs recently, so I think it fits.

"To many observers from the West, the miseries caused by Poland's incorporation into the Russian Empire were often thought to be essentially constitutional in nature. Since Russian Autocracy ran contrary to Poland's traditions, it was imagined that a few modifications in the form of government -- a few concessions to local autonomy, a few gestures in the direction of democratization -- would somehow eliminate Polish grievances. Hence, when Polish insurrections continued to occur in spite of the reforms of so-called 'liberal Tsars', western opinion tended to lose patience and to believe the Russian stereotype of the ungrateful, incorrigible, and anarchic Pole."

Norman Davies, God's Playground vol 2

Things about pregnancy/childbirth/taking care of a newborn that no one talks about (or at least I didn't know until I experienced it)

When you're pregnant, you will be thirsty all the time, and you should be drinking a ton of water. If you think you should drink more water now, your mouth and throat will be bone dry on a regular basis.

If you do not drink enough, you wont have enough fluid in utero and may have to be induced. Think about your baby as a fish in a tank. Gotta make sure there's enough water. They do go to the bathroom in there.

As your baby grows, it puts pressure on all your other organs. That's obvious. What I didnt know is that this starts to impede your ability to empty your bladder and to poop. You will have to pee constantly (in addition to the water drinking bit), but I had to take a laxative/softener because it was debilitatingly painful to poop.

Tale an iron supplement! Good god, this was the biggest thing for me during my pregnancy. I was actually collapsing because I was iron deficient. Listen to your doctor. Take an iron supplement. They're available as gummies.

And while you're at it, take your prenatals, and try to start taking them before you become pregnant. If you have other health issues, like me, talk to your other doctors before you become pregnant. You may need to change your medication.

I worked until one week before my due date. Pregnancy is tiring, but bearable. You'll be going to bed early whether you want to or not, and you will be getting up frequently to pee at night as you get close.

There's multiple youtube series that go week by week. Watch them.

As for childbirth, it is a 12+ hour affair. However, 90% of that time is labor and not pushing. Labor is very painful, but manageable with medication and counter pressure. I did not have an epidural- they have a gas that helps a lot. It doesn't knock you out, just numbs the pain, and only when you put the mask over your face. You feel normal when the mask is removed.

Counter pressure is when your spouse or a member of the medical team puts pressure on your hips to help widen them. Your hips will kind of operate like a hinge. Counter pressure helps immensely.

Contractions happens in waves. You'll experience a wave of pain that peaks and then goes away. In the beginning, you may even be able to sleep while I labor. It will increase in intensity as time passes.

10% of labor is the pushing. It hurts as much as people say (or dont say). But it is over relatively quickly (I was pushing for 45 minutes). When you push, you are using the same muscles as when you poop. It feels like you're taking the biggest poop of your life.

You're going to pee/poop on the table/nurses. This is normal. They expect it.

Afterwards, they're going to want you to stay in the hospital for 2-3 days. You're not supposed to take your own medication (they will provide it for you). I assume this is because you are under their care.

Breastfeeding is hard! Both for you and your baby. You'd think as a defining characteristic of our species this would be easier, but it isnt!

You have to angle your boob correctly in their mouth, and potentially squeeze your areola, all while holding their body and head. It's very tricky. Ask for help, and continue asking for help.

My problem with breastfeeding wasnt just on my end- my baby would connect, then either not nurse, fall asleep, or get frustrated. At one month into childcare, I've kind of given up on breastfeeding. However! That doesnt mean I'm using formula.

YOUR INSURANCE MAY INCLUDE A FREE BREAST PUMP. ASK ABOUT IT!

My life would not be the same without my pump.

Also, your milk ducts may get a clog! No one told me about this. Its painful and it forms a lump. It is not cancer, it's a clog. It happens if you dont nurse enough, dont drink enough water, dont bathe enough, or your bra is too tight. Quite honestly, just go shirtless for as long as you can.

Taking care of a newborn, at least for me, is a cycle of change diaper, feed, burp, sleep. Rely on your spouse or friend. Sleep when you can. You will be up at night.

Dry your baby's butt with a tissue after wiping them. If you dont dry them, they get diaper rash. Use vaseline after drying them. Get your supplies ready before you take off their diaper. Put the new diaper under the old one in case they go while you're changing them.

Babies get acne! This is normal, and there isnt a lot you can do about it.

Ask about gas drops. Babies have very little control over their digestive system. Gas has been the most difficult need to address.

They dont hate you. They cant show you that they love you, but they do. They physically cannot express anything besides distress in the beginning. Do not beat yourself up.

You will experience mood swings. Talk about it, be open about them. They are normal. Rely on others.

Your baby will very quickly drink 4 ounces/125 ml in one sitting. You will feel like there's no way you can produce that much. You will. Pump/nurse frequently and until your boobs are empty, and go a little longer. Your body will meet the demand you present to it. If your baby isnt hungry, pump. Empty your boobs.

Get a PUMPING bra. Nursing bras and pumping bras are different. If you're pumping, get a pumping bra. It holds the collectors so you dont have to.

Most police stations will check your car seat to make sure it's installed properly. You will not be able to leave the hospital with your baby unless you have a properly installed car seat.

Learn about safe sleep and get some sleep sacks! Seriously, sleep sacks are awesome. Get some with swaddle wings and without. Once they start to roll, you arent supposed to swaddle them.

Get a little bouncer/chair that vibrates. They love it. Game changer.

Vampire and werewolf dating

Hey Tumblr! It’s been a few years since I last did this but I’m back at it again. I like to think I’m the reason they’ve changed the system to get free books but either way nows your chance to help out. I know the power of the internet so just hear me out right quick as I ask for a simple favor. See those cereal boxes up there? If you buy any Kellogg’s product with that Free Book logo keep the receipt! They are doing it so that when you submit a picture of your receipt showing you purchased the product you can get a free book for yourself or have a book donated! It’s super easy to sign up on their site so if you feel like doing that please do! Or maybe you’re lazy and you don’t want to do that. I’m asking you to send me a picture of your receipt! I set up an email especially for this: tumblrbooks4students@gmail.com Now I’m sure you’re wondering why I’m bringing it up, so here goes.

I teach kindergarten at a school where the kids have little to nothing. Through generous donations (government, three square, various community partners, etc.) the kids get backpacks, clothes, shoes, free breakfast/lunch, and some school supplies. The school is not in the best part of town. I’ve had students who live with grandparents because their own parents are in jail, kids who have parents that don’t have custody over them for various reasons, and so on and so forth. Now I am trying to get my kids to read books, but they literally don’t have any books at home that they can use to practice their reading. With COVID going on it’s going to be hard to have students get their hands on books because sharing is going to be a no go.

Here’s where you come in. If you happen to buy one of these specially marked boxes and don’t plan on using the receipt please send me a picture of that receipt (tumblrbooks4students@gmail.com). If 20 people on here send me a code I’ll be able to get 20 books, which will easily allow me to get each of my students a brand new book of their own. I will gladly take a picture of a handwritten thank you note from my students to show you how excited they are to get a book. They’re five so expect something awesome.

Even if you have no receipt or don’t buy the product I’d appreciate the signal boost. Thanks in advance.

I don't know if I can keep teaching. This is not what I signed up for.

SOLUTION TO THE TEACHER SHORTAGE: Make the students have a more positive experience in school. And who does that responsibility fall on? Yup, you. The teacher.

Whaaaat? Really @newsday?

They completely missed the mark with why teachers (especially STEM, Sped, and ENL) are leaving and potential teachers aren’t coming in. And it’s very simple:

1️⃣Give teachers a decent wage that’s based on the hours they actually work as opposed to time spent in the classroom only. We are one of the only professions that doesn’t get overtime for staying late. That needs to change.

2️⃣(And this might be an unpopular opinion)... Get rid of Common Core. Stop enacting shitty roll-outs to new standards before they’ve been tested and teachers don’t have time to get proper training to what a good lesson with those standards looks like.

3️⃣Stop attacking our unions. Stop messing with our retirement. Stop trying to make it more difficult for us to love our jobs.

4️⃣ Decrease the politics in education. Why do we need to worry about the state of public education (OUR JOBS) every four years?

5️⃣Stop treating new teachers like shit. What is the turnover rate looking like these days (especially in those rural, inner city, and poverty stricken areas)? Yeah, there’s more teachers needed, but how about we try to also KEEP the ones we have?

6️⃣And probably the most important (in my opinion)- MAKE SCHOOLS SAFE AGAIN. I was just talking to my friends about this. We all know it sucks that students don’t feel safe in their learning environment. But what about the people who come to work every day wondering if today might be their last?

I. Did. Not. Sign. Up. For. This.

Stop acting like the teacher shortage is because teachers are going into the wrong grade levels. Start looking at how to make teaching an enticing career choice.

⏸What do you think? What is one thing that would make your job as a teacher just a little easier? For me? I’ll take a 5️⃣ and 6️⃣ combo!