#Preschool programme

[infantcaresg]

This blog provides helpful advice and information for new parents in Singapore. It covers topics like choosing infant care, sleep training, feeding, baby health and more. The author shares personal experiences and professional guidance on caring for babies and young children.

[rnaeborowski]

libraries are just so good... you can go there and just read for free.... and if they don't have the book you're looking for there's a big chance they can get a hold of it for you

[kumonindiasrilanka]

Give your child the tools for success and watch them thrive academically and beyond. Join Kumon today and let's build a brighter future together! Learn more.

[necrowtic]

^the awards in question

Have you watched bluey? It's really really good!

just so everyone can appreciate how funny this is i got this ask in response to me making a post talking about my love for arthouse films

[religion-is-a-mental-illness]

Editor’s note: This hypothetically open letter was originally posted by its anonymous author on Medium and was rapidly removed as “hate speech.” We found it to be a refreshing dose of honesty, a charming and relatable open letter from one parent to other parents (not to the child, obviously!) about dealing with a challenging and dangerous moment in raising children, especially “weird” adolescents who search for their identities harder than others and risk making life-damaging mistakes in a way never before possible. We are reposting it here on New Discourses with the permission of the author.

--

By: Donna M.

Published: Mar 5, 2021

My dear, sweet, son,

I’ve got to break it to you: you’re not trans, you’re just weird.

This seems like a cruel thing to point out right now. Clearly, you are struggling and feeling pretty awful about things. I can see that you are in a rough patch, and one of the first rules of parenting is to not pile on. The world is pretty heavy on your shoulders. You’re fifteen. There’s a pandemic going on. But here I come anyway. I’m about to throw more on you.

When you were two ­– a happy, chubby, little tyke in pull-ups, you watched the world with wary eyes behind the thumb in your mouth. You leapt with joy in the rhythm of the toddle music classes. You chattered and shared stories about your stuffed animals. You loved your little sister. Enjoyed cookies and finger painting. That was all pretty normal.

But you also started to count to one thousand on our walks. And you started to call out the store names as we drove around. And you preferred reading books rather than playing with the other two-year-olds at preschool. And you hated sitting in the circle when instructed. And you hated the feel of blue jeans. And you threw big tantrums when you lost any kind of game. In other words, you started to show signs that you were… weird.

The grandparents were the first to notice. They said gentle things like “You oughta keep an eye on that one,” and sent us links to Wall Street Journal articles about child prodigies. And then the other parents in the play groups started to comment; “He’s pretty intense, huh?” And the teachers were on to it pretty quickly. They started to use fancy terms like “asynchronous development.”

By third grade, we realized you were different, but we still didn’t realize you were weird. Truthfully, we’re used to people like you. Our family is full of engineers, artists, musicians, computer programmers, and a lot of “free-thinkers.” Family gatherings always have chess, political debates, and quartets around the piano. That’s just us.

And besides, you had a small but solid group of friends. There was Pokémon, then Minecraft, then Magic, then Dungeons and Dragons, then Catan. You were never in the center of things, but you weren’t alone.

But then, in middle school, things started to change. By 7th grade, school finally started to require some effort, and it turned out you were pretty disorganized. People kept calling you smart, but the teachers were annoyed at your humor, and frustrated that you wouldn’t or couldn’t follow the guidelines for assignments. Classmates didn’t appreciate your frank (if accurate) descriptions of their efforts. I’ll admit, we got pretty frustrated with you, too.

And then puberty arrived, with its triple curse of acne, braces, and bizarre growth. The girls appeared to have it all together (I know they don’t, but they do appear that way). And the popular boys seemed to know exactly what to do. They can talk sports to each other, they brag about their romantic exploits. They never get in trouble for stupid reasons like forgetting an assignment three times in a row. Your anxiety started to kick in, and it seemed like you got smaller. And some of your guy friends moved on.

So you drifted over to the weird-o crowd. Well — I’m not sure what you call yourselves, but that’s what we would have called you back when I was in school. At different schools these are the geeks, or the theater kids, the math team kids, or the artsy-fartsy kids. This used to be where the gay kids ended up, but I think they’re more dispersed now. You get some kids whose parents are going through some rough times. Some girls with anorexia. A few boys who are edgy and angry. Kids with a great sense of humor and big hearts.

And some of these kids are really passionate. Just full of righteous anger about the injustices of the world. And some of them are dramatic. And truthfully, that looks pretty attractive to you. Because you share some of that confusion and anger about the world. And though you may not be sure what you think or what you feel, you are certain you don’t want to be on the bad side. You certainly aren’t like those popular boys with their suave charm and dominating manners. You’re not like them at all.

You’re actually more like those vibrant girls who can speak for hours about their ideas. Well, you would be if you could find the words to speak. And there is something so fascinating about those girls, but you can’t quite put your finger on it. You’d never think about talking to those girls anyway, because that’d be weird. Because you are weird. You’ve never been good at chit-chat, or eye contact. Or girls. And besides, you wouldn’t want them to get the wrong impression. You understand that your peers are starting to date, but you really don’t see the point. Sex is still gross and weird to you. It’s better to just call yourself “asexual” or “pansexual.” It’s like a get-out-of-jail-free card that helps you avoid the whole mess. And your group of friends tell you that you are super cool and brave for being able to say that about yourself.

But you’ve fallen into a funk. Anyone can see that. But computer games help. And there’s always trying to beat the speed record for that one game you’re kinda good at. And that one guy on reddit always has good tricks. And the people on that message board seem to get your humor.

So when one of them posts a meme about trans rights, it makes sense that you’d check it out. You’re curious! You’re a free thinker! You’re not like the normies. And the web quiz hits home. You do feel discomfort with your body. You don’t like sports. You do wonder what it would be like to be a girl. You’ve always felt like something was different about you.

You’re right. There is something different about you.

But you’re not trans, you’re just weird.

So we’re right here for you. We’ll always be here for you. But those online folks who urge you to “crack your trans egg” and rush to hormones and surgeries don’t know you at all. They don’t know that gifted kids and ADHD kids and Autism kids and Asperger’s kids are slower to develop emotionally and sexually. They don’t know that sexuality takes time and experience to figure out, and that the majority of trans teens seeking medical treatment haven’t even masturbated or kissed someone yet. They don’t know that 80% of trans children end up becoming comfortable with their birth sex if you just give them time. They don’t know that there are increasing numbers of desisting and de-transitioning people in their twenties. They don’t realize that hormones permanently stunt your growth, decrease your IQ, and can cause sterility. They don’t know that these hormones are prescribed off-label and there’s no research on the long-term outcomes. They don’t even know that the most recent research shows that short-term outcomes are clearly worse.

They don’t realize that you’re weird. But I do. You’re weird, kiddo. You’ll figure that out in a year or two. But that’s okay. We are all weird. And I love you anyway. You’re going to be just fine.

==

You always hear stories and justifications like, "she never liked wearing a dress," or "he always hated having his hair cut." This is post-hoc confirmation bias. Not only does this confirm everything critics say about this being a movement based on gross stereotypes, but they always leave out things like, "she refused to eat anything yellow," and "he was obsessed with elevator and crossing buttons and would cry if he wasn't the one to light it up."

It's okay to be weird.

[sequinsmile-x]

I Knew You'd Linger Like a Tattoo Kiss - Head Kisses

-x-

A series of unrelated one-shots and mini fics about the many types of kisses Aaron and Emily share.

-x-

Hi friends,

Here's another one of these prompts to wrap up the week. This is just soft, with a touch of mommy issues because I can't help myself.

Please see the masterlist for a full list of tags, and the list of prompts for this series.

-x-

Words: 2k

Read over on Ao3, or below the cut

Emily tried to avoid one-on-one time with her mother as much as possible. It was easier to do since she’d had Samuel, the 18-month-old and Jack both excellent distractions for Elizabeth when she came over to the house, her love for her grandsons obvious whenever they were together. 

On her worst days, Emily envied her mother's relationship with Samuel and Jack. The easy way she showed her love for them, the affection Emily had to earn when she was young given away as if it was free. It was nothing but proof to her that Elizabeth had always been capable of it, but had prioritised different things when she was young. 

She’d tried to get out of lunch with her mother, not entirely in the mood to be her best self after a rough night with Samuel. He was sick, the 18-month-old refusing to sleep and crying if he was anywhere but in her arms, so she and Aaron had barely slept as they took turns to soothe him. She’d almost called her mom to tell her she couldn’t make it, but Aaron had encouraged her out of the door, reminding her if she didn’t do it now she’d just have to rearrange it after a week of building herself up to it. She’d kissed him goodbye, whilst grumbling about his need to always be so damn sensible, and she’d made her way to her mother’s favourite restaurant. 

The first thing she does when she arrives is order the biggest coffee she can, wanting to make sure she is as alert as she possibly could be. She’s barely sat down for 5 minutes when she hears her mother’s voice echoing around her.

“Emily,” she exclaims, stamping a kiss on each of Emily’s cheeks as she stands to greet her, “It’s good to see you,” she says, frowning as she pulls back, “Are you okay? You look exhausted.” 

She suppresses an eye roll and clenches her teeth, wondering if it is too early to order a glass of wine, “Thanks, Mom,” she says as she takes her seat again, “Sammy is sick so we had a rough night.”

“Oh no,” Elizabeth says as she sits down, “Is he okay?” 

Emily nods, “He’ll be fine, it’s just a bug Jack brought home from school. He’ll be okay in a day or two. He’s all about me when he’s sick though,” she says, unable to pretend she didn’t enjoy all the extra snuggles from her toddler who was seemingly always on the go these days, “So Aaron tried to help but I was up most the night.” 

Elizabeth raises her eyebrows, “Well, if you didn’t coddle him so much he’d manage just fine I’m sure.” 

She sucks in a deep breath and smiles tightly, knowing that the only way to stop herself from biting at the bait offered to her was to change the conversation. “How are you, Mom? How’s work?” 

Her technique works, just as it always did, and she sits back and half listens as Elizabeth talks about work and the embassy. She checks her phone to make sure Aaron hasn’t attempted to contact her, and she smiles at the picture of Samuel and Jack that she has set as her wallpaper, the two of them giggling at something Aaron had said. 

“You’ll never guess who I saw - Steve Clemente.” 

Emily frowns, “Who?” 

Elizabeth rolls her eyes, “Really, Emily. You’ve met the man at my Christmas party the last few years. He’s the President over at Primrose Academy.” 

She hums and nods, “Of course, sorry,” she replies, sipping her coffee, “I remember now.” 

“Well, I was able to get Samuel on the list for their Preschool programme,” she says, opening up her menu, missing the confusion that passes across Emily’s face, “We’re a bit late but this is why it pays to know people.” 

“Sammy is 18 months old.” 

Elizabeth sighs, “It’s like you’re being purposely obtuse today,” she says, shaking her head as she looks back up at her, “I know how old my grandson is, Emily. But the waiting list for these programmes is 2 years. It’s a very prestigious school.” 

Emily presses her lips together and swallows thickly, preparing herself for an argument, “I appreciate the effort, Mom. But we’re not going to be sending him to private school.” 

Elizabeth’s head snaps up, her eyebrows furrowed as she looks at her daughter, “Excuse me?” 

“When the time comes we’re going to send him to the same preschool Jack went to,” she says, looking around for the waiter, the idea of a glass of wine with lunch more appealing than it had ever been, “It’s a great school.” 

Elizabeth sighs, “Emily, Samuel has the benefit of the Prentiss name-”

“He’s a Hotchner,” she corrects, her smile tight as she stares at her mother. 

“What?”

“Sammy. His surname is Hotchner, not Prentiss.” 

“You’re being obtuse again, I know that too. But you seem to be ignoring the benefits your son has purely from who we are.” 

The waiter chooses that moment to walk over, his smile kind as he starts to ask what they want to drink, a question Emily answers before he’s finished asking.

“Wine, please. A large glass.” 

The waiter clears his throat, looking back and forth between the two of them, “Any particular one, ma’am?” 

“Whichever one is closest.” ___

She smiles as she steps into her house, the tension automatically seeping from her shoulders the second the warmth of home washes over her. She hears cartoons coming from the living room and she walks in to find Jack sitting on the couch, his focus on the television. 

“Hey sweetie,” she says as she leans over the back of the couch and kisses the top of his head, “Are you okay?” 

He nods, barely looking away from his favourite show, “Yeah. How was grandma?” 

“She was…” she scrunches her nose up and blows out a breath, “Grandma,” she smiles at him, “Where are Daddy and your brother?” 

“Upstairs,” he replies, “Dad is trying to get Sammy to nap,” he shrugs at her, “It wasn’t going very well.” 

She laughs and leans down to kiss his head again, “I’m going to go see if I can help,” she says, pushing his hair from his forehead, “We’re upstairs if you need us, okay?” 

“Okay, Mom.” 

She heads upstairs and smiles as she steps into the nursery, love spreading through her chest as she’s met with the image of her husband pacing back and forth, their grumpy toddler in his arms. 

“Come on, buddy. You’ll feel better if you nap.”

“No,” Samuel grunts, rubbing his face against Aaron’s chest.

“Daddy’s right,” Emily says from the doorway, both of them looking at her at the same time, matching expressions on their faces, “You’ll feel better if you nap.”

“Mama!” Samuel exclaims, his lower lip pushed out in a pout as he reaches out for her, scrambling in Aaron’s arms. 

“I’ve got you, baby,” she says, lifting him into her arms and kissing the top of his head, “Mama’s got you,” she looks up at her husband, “You’ve been giving Daddy a hard time whilst I’ve been gone?” 

“Only you have the magic touch, it seems,” Aaron says, kissing the top of her head and then her lips as she tilts her head up, “How was lunch?”

She groans and runs her hand up and down Samuel’s back, “It was as expected,” she grumbles, turning her attention back to their son who was already a little calmer, “You want to get some sleep, sweet boy?” 

“Not tired,” he complains, and Aaron hides a smile, a look in his eyes that lets her know exactly what he’s thinking. 

He gets that from you.

“Well, I am,” she says, kissing his head again as she walks towards the loveseat in the corner of the room, “Why don’t we all just sit down for a little while.” 

“‘kay,” he says, pressing his face against her neck as she sits down. She rests her cheek against the top of his head and rubs circles on his back, knowing it is a surefire way to get him to fall asleep. 

Aaron joins them, his arm around her shoulders, and he pulls her closer, “Want to talk about it?” 

She hums, “She mentioned getting Sammy onto a list for a private preschool.” 

Aaron frowns, “He’s 18 months old.” 

She chuckles, “That’s what I said too,” she replies before her smile slips away, “I made it clear that isn’t what we want but…” she blows out a shaky breath, “But then she made it clear she didn’t agree.” 

He tightens his grip on her, his lips against her hairline as he blows out a slow breath, an obvious attempt to keep his cool, “What did she say, sweetheart?” 

“She said I’m risking my kid's futures for the sake of being stubborn.” 

He clenches his teeth and sighs, stamping a kiss against her head before he replies, “That’s not true, Em.” 

“I know,” she sighs, shaking her head a little as she looks down at Samuel, the little boy halfway to sleep already, “At least I think I do,” she looks up at Aaron and offers a half-shrug, “I don’t know. I hated going to private school, and I want something different for the boys. But we could afford it,” she licks her lower lip, “Hell, we could afford to send half a dozen kids to private school all the way through to high school if we want to,” she raises an eyebrow at him when she watches something spark in his eyes, “Down boy,” she jokes and they share a smile, “We could afford it but…that doesn’t mean we should do it, does it?” 

“Of course not, sweetheart,” he says, tucking some of her hair behind her ear, “We know what’s best for our children, not your mother, or an old friend of hers, but us,” he smiles softly, “And if we want to send Sammy and Jack to public school, or all half a dozen of them,” he winks when she rolls her eyes, “Then we will. And we can change our minds in the future if we want to. But you aren’t doing them a disservice or depriving them of something because you want them to have a different experience to you.” 

She nods, leaning forward and pressing her forehead against his shoulder, “I know,” she says, believing this time, and she blows out a slow breath, “I just never felt like I could be myself at those places,” she says, “All that mattered was getting good grades and being the best,” she sighs contentedly when he kisses the top of her head, “I never want the boys to think that’s all they are good for.” 

“They won’t,” he assures her, kissing her head one more time before he encourages her to look up at him, “You’re an excellent mom, Em,” he says, his smile growing as hers does, “Our boys are lucky to have you.” 

She stamps a kiss against his lips, “They are lucky to have you too.”

He smiles and looks down, shaking his head slightly when he sees that Samuel is fast asleep, “He’s sleeping.” 

She hums and looks at her son, his nose bright red and sore from where he’d been rubbing his fists against it, “Poor baby, was he okay whilst I was gone?” 

Aaron nods, “He was fine, he missed you - but he always does when you’re not here,” he runs his fingers up and down her arm, drawing a soothing pattern as they silently agree to stay sitting there with their son for a while, “So, about this half a dozen kids-”

“Aaron.” 

[cripple-woe]

Got into a wild argument with a guy today. he butted into a conversation which simply did not involve him — Specifically to tell me that I had to ‘grow up’ and that it ‘wasn’t healthy’ for me to have my special interests!

For clarification, my ‘main special interests’ are:

- build a bear

- the lion king franchise

- preschool television programmes

- sonic the hedgehog

Like I was just infodumping to a friend because some of my Christmas gifts are gonna be VINTAGE LION KING 2 MERCH (hard to find). And he’s stood there like ‘yeah watch like some horror for once it can’t be good if you only watch stories made for kids you’re not going to be able to decipher adult stories’. What??

1. If I’m theoretically not watching any adult stories like you’re implying, why would I need to decipher them?

2. I love horror, what the hell are you talking about??

3. if you think lyrics like ‘it’s the circle of life, and it moves us all, through despair and hope, through faith and love, till we find our place on the path unwinding in the circle of life’ is a message only kids can find moving — you may be the stupid one, actually.

4. shut up dude I’m going to watch Sesame Street now out of spite.

[warrior-cats-rewritten]

Anthro!AU. There's no real timeline for this.

Names follow 3 formats. Let's grab... Dovewing!

Dovewing is also called Dove, Miss Wing, and Dove Wing.

Turtle Tail is also called Turtletail, Miss Tail (or Miss T) and Turtle.

Cats like Millie or Snake will sometimes take last names, but highly prefer their single name.

Bramblekit absolutely took a cookie when offered while he was at Frostfur's house, thinking they were chocolate chip, only to get oatmeal raisin. He hated it but was too polite to spit it out.

Snowbird cut Ratscar off from seeing his nespring when she found out about his connections to a cult called The Place of No Stars.

Blossompaw and Briarpaw regularly swam in a river nearby their house, with Bumblepaw on watch for anyone coming who might get them in trouble.

Briarlight also put flame stickers/decals on her wheelchair. She sometimes rotates them out for seasonal stuff, like holiday themed ones. She put a weed sticker on it once for 4/20 and Millie threw a fit over it.

During the nasty custody battle between Goldenflower and Tigerclaw, Swiftpaw told Tigerclaw he never wanted to see him again, he would rather be dead than have his father hold any custody of him.

Smudge regularly visits and babysits Squirrelkit and Leafkit, he wishes Firestar would move back to Kittypet Town, but understands that his best friend is happier in Clan City.

Leafpool was in a very bad situation when she was pregnant with her triplets, as Crowfeather left her with nothing when they broke up. She pretended that she was going to be a surrogate, as Brambleclaw and Squirrelflight were having trouble conceiving. That was the lie.

Squirrelflight works as a professional chef. Ferncloud works as a stay-at-home mom but makes plush for her friends and their kids, as sewing is her passion. Thornclaw is a PE teacher. Ashfur is a drama teacher. Brambleberry is a chemistry teacher. Leafpool is a doctor. Cinderheart is a receptionist at the hospital Leafpool works at.

Hollyleaf and Cinderheart were "borderline dating" for MONTHS before Jayfeather snapped and screamed at one of them "just spit it out already!"

Jayfeather is a programmer, and works at making more video games and controllers accessible to blind folks like him! He works with Snowtail (Snowkit) who also works helps out gamers who are HoH.

Scourge is a lawyer, who helps Firestar find the evidence that Tigerstar murdered Redtail during an election.

Turtle Tail is preschool teacher, and works with Sorreltail and Snowbird. They work together at Kit School in Sanctuary Lake Elementary School/Preschool.

Clan City has 5 main districts, for the 5 Clans. Everyone is generally very proud of their home and where their family came from, and xenophobia seems to be on the rise... Many come over, but just as many are driven out by the harsh attitudes of the locals.

In another time, there are more districts. Jingo District, Blood District, and Warrior District. There is also Mountain City, and Gorge City where people in the Sky District lived for many years following a massive disaster that forced everyone to evacuate, they lived with the locals there for years, giving a mjor economy boost to a dying city, and caused quite the controversy when they left.

Guardian Village is nearby as well, traditional people who live amongst ruins, as well as many dotted Sister Settlements, where a semi-nomadic traveling group sets up camps. There is The River Kingdom, a valley where a group of secretive cats live in peace, also called The Park by outsiders.

In another time, the 5 founders of Clan City, Skystar, Thunderstar, Windstar, Shadowstar and Riverstar, settled there together after disaster swept the area. Shadowstar came from Mountain Village, plauge causing some cats to leave for hope of a better life, Windstar came from a village on the Moor that was destroyed by wildfires with her fiance Gorse Fur, Skystar came from what would later become Rogue Town, bounced through orphanages with her brother Fox, Thunderstar was born to 2 Mountain Cats, Clear Sky and Bright Storm, soon after arriving in the area, and Riverstar came from the River Kingdom to escape a flood with his young niece Flutter.

[redfoxwritesstuff]

Sunflower, Chapter 13

Chapter warnings: None- a bit fillery AN: Look, I've been sick for like a week and I'm drinking hot toddies like they're water this weekend so at least my throat won't hurt. I'm sorry in advanced for *anything* that may be posted.

Masterlist

Mia hated moving. Growing up in poverty, it was a near annual event for all of her life and it never got easier. The idea of moving alone stressed her out. It made her stomach roll. It was never a pleasant experience. 

At least, that was, until now. 

Tom hadn’t been kidding about the moving crew. She didn’t even have a chance to pack anything before they were at her door, bright and early. All she could really do was keep Sally out of the way, try to hype the child up about how exciting the move was going to be and then send her off to the babysitter’s for her shift. 

That was something she hadn’t thought about before moving. Mia had counted on the connivance of having a babysitter next door. Now she’s have to make the drive back to her old complex to drop Sally off before going into work and then do it again to pick her up. Sure, the new apartment was closer to work but in reality it hadn’t ment anything. 

Tom would probably not mind if she enrolled Sally in a proper preschool on his dime. 

Mia swept the thought away. She wouldn’t do that, not so soon and not without talking to Tom about it first. He’d already spent so much money.

He’d been gone for just over a day and she was right, she did miss him. It was a simple fact that caught her off guard. It left a sweet taste in her mouth as she rolled around the concept. 

That she could deal with fine, overall. What she struggled with most was that Sally missed him. 

Tom had texted when he landed and they had attempted to chat by text while she was getting ready for bed but the conversation was stifled, awkward. 

Now she was busy and so was he, or so she assumed. Maybe he was sleeping? He has texted her early in the morning to bid her a good morning but she hadn’t heard from him since. 

It felt weird to leave the movers in charge of packing her apartment, her whole life while she left for work. They had her mark what was to be disposed of and accepted directions to watch for bugs and call for any questions. If they found anything that they believed would bring bugs to her new home, they were to call her to verify what to do and if she didn’t answer, make a judgment call. 

She had to trust them.

That was a lot of control to give strangers but Tom insisted that he arranged the best. Small appliances and electronics would be cleaned and packed safely. Food would be safely stored during travel and fragile items would be given the most care. Furniture would be disassembled and reassembled at the new apartment for her and she could expect each box to be placed in their assigned rooms. 

Mia insisted on filling a suitcase with her intimate items as well as Sally’s underwear. Sure, they were professionals but it still felt strange to have strangers pack those items. 

On her way to work, Mia ran by the new apartment complex. Just as Tom had promised, she got the keys and there was no fuss or surprises. The unit was the same one they were shown and everything was exactly as she was promised. It was clean and well taken care of. Not even the windows had the slightest smear or dirty or finger prints. 

Tom must have told them about the child- it’s disclosed on most leases anyway but it surprised Mia that there was childproofing done to the unit. There was a simple chain lock installed higher up on the balcony doors and a second stronger deadbolt added to the front door as well, higher. Like Mia’s old apartment, this one provided valet trash service. The trash can was the same small black can however rather than being picked up weekly, the service walled the halls nightly and would pick up whenever needed as long as the can was outside before the designated time. 

The front door locked by a programmable key code. It took only a few moments to show Mia how to program a guest code that would expire in twelve hours. She also got a backup key should the battery die or she finds she’s forgotten the code. As was typical of a rental, the office also maintained a hard copy of the key. 

It felt good to be at work. At work Mia could dodge questions about her personal life, hide for her breaks and be too busy to chat. She put everything into her work. For just over eight hours of the day, she could just live her normal, not complicated life. 

The small dress and flashy makeup made her look different than she did on her personal time, more dolled up and with a side of glamor. She wondered if anyone would recognize her from the photos of her and Tom. She didn’t even know how well she was shown or if the pictures even showed her face but she worried anyway.

Tom had said not to look and so far she hadn’t. 

Before she knew it, it was one in the morning and it was time for her to go. She was dead on her feet and not looking forward to driving from one end of the valley to the other and back again to get Sally. 

How would her new neighbors feel about her coming home with a small child in the middle of the night? Would the sound of her coming home bother the unit below her? It wasn’t something she had to worry about before, her neighbors in her old apartment were well used to her schedule.

Sally was a hard sleeper and didn’t wake while being carried to the car. Mia had always felt bad for the way her work caused her daughter to have a chaotic sleep schedule. Now it would only get worse. 

Once she was strapped in with the windows down, Mia handed Gretchen her payment for the night. She had raised her own kids as a single mother in poverty and knew well the struggles Mia faced and passed on a lifetime of kindness in the forgiving rates she charged Mia. 

She was retired, on social security and food stamps. Gretchen, like most Americans born into poverty, never managed to escape it. Her rent was subsidized and her boys, now men around Tom’s age themselves would send her money and deliveries when they could. 

Nothing official to put on the records but it was enough to ensure their mother was comfortable in her poverty while ensuring she always had access to the programs that would provide for her should they fall on hard times themselves. Generational poverty taught them how to game the system and not feel bad about it.

“That fancy man moving you uptown?” Gretchen was a old school country woman who would talk in country music lyrics if you let her. It always caught a newcomer off guard when she would first speak but Mia had always loved to sink into the warm twang of her voice. 

Gretchen had dark skin that carried deep wrinkles with the scars of battles long ago fought. Her stark white hair was nearly always in a series of simple braids and adorned with small golden trinkets. Sometimes she added vibrant colors to her hair, raking advantage of the blank canvas her age provided. 

People expected urban when they first saw Gretchen but the truth was urban was what her boys, not her. She had fought and sacrificed to give them access to what benefits came with growing up in the city. Her heart was forever in the ranches of Utah, a place where she loved but never really felt like she belonged. 

Being a black woman, she never did fit in there even though she had been born and raised. Too much unconscious and blatant racism both but still, home called to her heart. It was better to stay in the city though. She felt safer having people that looked like her around. 

“Seemed to me it happened pretty sudden. You ain’t have men around much before, now a fancy one is moving you. Better be careful, Girl.” 

Gretchen never called no one by their names. There was always a pet name or nickname regardless of if you wanted it. That was part of her charm and just one more way god had made her beautiful. 

“I promise, I’m being careful.” Gretchen was like a second mother to Mia in many ways. She was forever thankful for the way she would fuss over her and Sally. The love of someone who didn’t have any obligation to love you felt a the more sweet. “The apartment is paid for the year up front. There’s no losing it and I don’t know how much he’s going to be around anyway.” 

“If you say so.” Gretchen opened the driver’s door for Mia, signaling that the time for talking was done and it was time for her to get on going. “Sugar, would it be better if I came to Sally for the next few weeks or so while you get settled?” 

Gretchen was an angel, truly sent by the heavens. 

Mia was beyond exhausted when she pulled into her assigned parking spot. Sally was likewise exhausted in the backseat of the car, sleeping soundly. She was excited to see their new home bit there was only so much excitement a kid of her age can manage when it’s two in the morning. 

Carrying the child, Mia made the walk to her unit. The elevator was a godsend, saving her from having to climb stairs to the fourth floor with the dozing child in her arms. 

It felt surreal to unlock the door to the unit. Her unit. Their home. Would he call it his home too? Surely not- he had a home in England somewhere. London, hadn’t he said? 

“We’re home.” Mia whispered softly to the dozing sack of potatoes in her arms. “Let’s take a look around and then get you to bed.”

The apartment was clean and neat, even with all the boxes. Just as promised, the small dining table was assembled in the dining area. Boxes were stacked neatly against the wall, clearly labeled with their contents. Inside the refrigerator and freezer was all their perishable foods.

On the counter was a fruit bowl that she hadn’t owed piled high with fruit. A card was propped in front of the bowl that read: “Welcome Home” and signed by the management. Next to the bowl was a coloring book and simple pack of markers, a box of trash bags, a bottle of dish soap and a pack of sponges. 

It was such a kind gesture that she had never seen before. It felt good to be treated with such respect by the management. Was this what it felt like to not be renting a poverty apartment?

Mia showed Sally the master bedroom so that if she woke in the middle of the night she would know where to go. Next was the hall bathroom between the two bedrooms. The outlet in the hall was topped with a built in nightlight. It was a soft white light. Was that always there or had they made that change for her as well?

The bathroom had a similar built in nightlight above the light switch. When Mia turned the light on, the nightlight turned off automatically. She was sure that light wasn’t there before.

How much trouble did they go through making such small changes for her comfort in the unit? Had Tom asked for it or did they do it themselves? Was it difficult? She hoped it hadn’t cost them much to do. 

In Sally’s room, there was no built in nightlight. She appreciated that, she had been wanting to wean Sally off the nightlights. For now though, they would use the nightlights to keep the dark away. It was hard enough to sleep in a unknown space.

Sally’s bed was assembled and made. Her dresser was placed against the wall with her bookshelf next to it. They had unpacked her books and placed them back on the shelf. The toy bins were placed back in the shelf they belonged to. 

It was a relief to see that the room didn’t have the same level of strangeness that was in the rest of the apartment. The movers had made an effort to settle this room. 

Did that cost extra or were they just that kind?

The bed was made, blankets neatly folded back and waiting for Sally’s little body. Mia had planned to wash the bedding in the morning- the apartment had a built in washer and dryer set- since someone else had been handling them. Moving was a messy business anyway. But as she nestled Sally into her bed, it was clear that wasn’t needed. The bedding was freshly laundered and smelled linen fresh. 

She tripped over her dress as they ran through the hotel halls. His laugh, ever so unique and warm seemed to surround her. Holding her hand in his, he kept her on their feet. 

Hurry, hurry- keep running. Run as fast as your legs can take you to your future. Don’t look back. Let him lead. Follow him to the ends of the earth. Her white dress tangled around her legs and she struggled to hold onto the heels in her hands. 

She knew better than to be running around a resort without shoes but couldn’t be bothered to care. This was a fairytale where the floors were clean and no drunk’s vomit or spilled drinks would dirty her feet. 

Tom’s hand reached out and blocked an empty elevator door from closing. As it opened again, he slipped inside, pulling her in with him. The car was empty and they were alone for the first time. Finally alone. 

Oh how good it felt to be alone with him. 

Tag List: @winterisakiller @alexakeyloveloki, @jennyggggrrr, @dangertoozmanykids101 @tilltheendwilliwrite @tinchentitri @wizardcherryblossom @buttercupcookies-blog @violethaze @kats72 @soulpiercing

[roseinyoursaltwater]

Mystreet Career Headcannons (part 1)

Hehe because I can (also I kind of just play off of their MCD counterparts to an extent)

Salaries are based off of Washington State since Jess is from there.

• Aaron - Works from home as a Video Game Programmer

- going off of the love of video games he is shown to have a PDH, I think this is fitting. Working from home also matches his private personality.

- Salary: $80,000

• Aphmau - Preschool teacher /also involved in local government.

- Aphmau has a deep love for children, especially in MCD. She is very nurturing. Also she was a lord so I think having a play in politics on a small scale is the modern world is fitting

- Salary: Early ED Teacher: $28,000; Select Board member: $25,000

• Garroth - Human Resource Specialist

- Garroth is a calm individual in MCD and very empathetic making him great at bonding with people which is helpfully when introducing new employees and helping current ones

- Salary: $90,000

• Laurance - Line Cook

- Laurance is started to have a love for cooking. He also is seen a huge piece of support and keeping people together in MCD, which is a huge part of being a like cook. Keeping everybody together and on track

- Salary: $40,000

• Dante - High School History Teacher

- this leans heavily into MCD Dante, Dante’s huge character trait is remembering what happened. Which is so historian of him. Also he just gives hot history teacher (yum)

- Salary: $48,000

• Travis - Car Sales Man

- Travis definitely doesn’t do something related to his college major. I feel like Travis just floats from job to job. He just likes talking

- Salary: $45,000

[nijikawa-satoki]

A new OC that Satoki has made! Her name is Cuowu, a dragon cyborg. And like us, she's plural ^w^

Name: Cuòwù Japanese: 錯誤 Sakugo

Species: dragon cyborg Ability: analyzing computer code at godlike speeds

Sex: intersex (fully functional male and female reproductive organs) Gender: genderfluid and genderflux, varies by alter Pronouns: she/any, varies by alter Sexuality: sex-repulsed aroace, varies by alter

Gender, Pronouns, & Sexuality by Alter 　Cuowu: genderfluid & genderflux, she/any, sex-repulsed aroace 　Xinxing: non-binary girl, xe/xer 　Tamodvaram: non-binary, they/them, grayace 　Baiwan: agender, it/its, panromantic

Birthday: 0323/06/29 Age: 22 (takes offense when referred to as a child in any manner)

A kind dragon cyborg that works as a programmer. Do not poke fun at her childlike stature!!

Cuowu was born with a life-threatening illness which causes their muscles and organs to deteriorate at a rather rapid pace. In order to ensure a long and mostly healthy life for them, their parents agreed to allow cybernetic implants which would supplement their organs, except for the heart and brain. Cuowu's heart and brain are completely machine, thus making them a cyborg. As a result of having this illness, Cuowu unfortunately developed anxiety and became prone to panic attacks, especially when in the vicinity of a hospital. They thankfully remember to take their meds for this. An unfortunate side effect of these life saving implants is that her growth has completely halted, leaving her stuck at a height of 102,5 cm, or the average height of a six-year-old girl. She hates this since it often causes her to be mistaken for a preschooler.

Because some of the implants didn't work, she is paralyzed from her waist down, thus causing her to rely on a wheelchair to get around. However, this inability to move a lot has also caused her to become overweight. The combination of her paralysis and her muscle deterioration has also caused her to suffer incontinence, requiring her to wear diapers. Her computer desk was special made to accommodate her wheelchair.

Even though her brain is artificial, she is neurodivergent, perplexing even the most knowledgeable of neuroscientists. Having autism and ADHD, she finds herself always starting projects, but not always finishing them. Let's just say that her room is full of unconnected hard drives containing old projects.

Because of her illness, Cuowu is medically unable to live on her own, and as such still lives with her parents, also having a live-in nurse that ensures she is taking her meds (poor bean is on 20 different medications for various reasons) and to assist her with the maintenance of the cybernetic components (especially her brain and heart, which require heavy sedation so that she can be taken to a hospital for the maintenance due to said maintenance requiring surgery). However, she mainly stays in her bedroom, usually keeping herself occupied with various coding projects.

Regarding Cuowu's ability to analyze code at unfathomable speeds, this aids her in her work, since she can find bugs and address them before anyone can even notice.

Whatever you do, do not ask her about any hyperfixation. Because she won't ever stop talking about it.

Because their brain is essentially a mini computer, this results in some rather interesting quirks. For example, Cuowu is physically incapable of stereotyping and any other form of fast thinking. All of her thinking is slow and logical, leading to her deep understanding of how computers and cybernetics work. This quirk also aids her in hyperfixations (i.e. she actually understands quantum mechanics and astrophysics quite well due to her physical lack of intuition, allowing her to efficiently understand various sciences). However, she also experiences plurality, with currently 4 alters (Cuowu (host, she/any), Xinxing (Japanese: 新星 Shinsei, xe/xer), Tamodvaram (Japanese: タモードヴァーラム Tamōdovāramu, Malayalam: തമോദ്വാരം tamōdvāraṁ, they/them), and Baiwan (Japanese: 佰萬 Hyakuman, it/its)). The cause of her plurality is currently unknown to anyone except Cuowu. Her code for controlling her eye colour helps with indicating who is fronting as a matter of convenience (she wrote the source code herself).

Cuowu's best subjects (before her health forced her to drop out of school) were math and science. Her worst subject was actually language, due to speech difficulties resulting from various lung issues and issues with her throat. To make up for this, she usually communicates via the online chatrooms she's in and using sign language, despite her hearing being sharper than most dragons. The irony though, is that she is very fluent in many languages, despite her speech issues.

A non-exhaustive list of health issues and conditions Cuowu has: draconis muscular degenera (a degenerative illness in dragons that deteriorates the muscles; terminal without cybernetics), draconis organus degenera (degenerative illness in dragons that deteriorates the organs; terminal without cybernetics), autism, ADHD, incontinence (yes, she requires diapers and is caused by her muscles deteriorating), lower spinal paralysis (causing her to require a wheelchair), asthma (mostly addressed thanks to cybernetic implants within her lungs), severe epilepsy (despite her brain being artificial; has a specific sensor within that alerts her nurse whenever a seizure occurs), mild photosensitivity (she gets extreme migraines when out in the sun), vitamin D deficiency (due to no sunlight exposure), completely non-existent immune system (part of why she stays in her room all the time), innumerable throat problems (which resulted in her having a permanent feeding tube and developing many speech impediments), anxiety disorder, so on and so forth.

[lohstandfound]

🌵🍄❄️

🌵- share the link to a playlist you love

I know that there are definitely playlists i have saved on spotify but i have not listened to them yet. nor do i listen to most of the playlists i have made. the only playlists that i use is the one i use for the preschool programme at work, and the one that i just add everything to. here's the one i add everything to. there is so many songs its a mess

actually, after looking through the playlists i had saved i found the r&j mother mother jukebox musical playlist someone. i believe they had a powerpoint about it

🍄- share a head canon for one of your favourite ships or pairings

i still absolutely stand by jake asking chloe out for the very first time using a cheesy poem he put in her locker and chloe kept it stuck inside her locker ever since. never took it down

❄️- what's your dream theme/plot for a fic, and who would write it best?

i keep thinking about an if we were villains or bunny au. the iwwv au would probably have significantly less murder since the few posts i've written about it are about messy relationships and a midsummer night's dream (so i suppose it would follow a different structure than a Shakespearean tragedy)

the bunny au i have a pretty fair idea of what it would look like but i just dont think i could do it justice. i might, but it would take so much planning (like the iwwv one) and im still trying to plan out regicide au

i dont know who would write these ideas best. hm...

[etraytin]

Not sure the very first song, but the first song I ever got in trouble for was Smart Woman (In A Real Short Skirt) by Jimmy Buffett. My folks got a call from my very conservative Lutheran preschool program because I was singing it, apparently with fair accuracy, at school.

It goes something like this:

"Bimbo limbo is where I been, I know you know that it's wearing me thin. Times are changing, and it's about time, I'm rearranging all the guilt in my mind.

I'm lookin' for a smart woman in a real short skirt, Smart woman who knows how to flirt. Smart woman, got a mind of her own, Smart woman that'll take me home, take me home."

We still listened to a lot of Jimmy Buffett at my house, but my parents curated their song lists a bit more after that, especially when programmable CD players came along. (I was old enough to drive and had listened to A Chorus Line probably fifty times before I realized that my mom had been programming out Surprise, Surprise and Dance Ten, Looks Three all those years.)

reblog and put in the tags the earliest songs you remember actively liking as a child (asking adults to play them for you, learning the lyrics, being excited when they came on the radio etc.)

[educationservicee]

MISSION CUBSAT: A Stellar Initiative by The Bishop’s School!

Space science sparks curiosity, innovation, and global progress. At The Bishop’s School, we’re proud to cultivate these values from an early age. Our best preschool in Mira Road lays the foundation for inquisitive young minds, helping them dream big—right from their first step into learning.

On 23rd & 24th February 2019, our students took part in Mission CubSat, a two-day educational programme led by Sir Suresh Naik from the Space Education Center. This initiative wasn’t just a lesson in science—it was an unforgettable experience that left our pre-primary school in Mira Road buzzing with excitement and inspiration.

The event encouraged students to understand satellite functions and even build their own. It concluded with a successful satellite launch—right here in the Mira Bhayandar area! Events like these make our institution the most forward-thinking play school in Mira Bhayandar.

It was a historic moment—the first satellite-related educational event in the region making headlines in the NIE edition of Times of India. That’s what makes us the best play school in Mira Bhayandar we combine fun, learning, and inspiration every step of the way.

Thanks to the vision of our Honourable Management and the enthusiasm of our students, The Bishop’s School continues to stand tall as the best school in Mira Road where every child is encouraged to reach for the stars!

We’re more than just a school—we're a launchpad for tomorrow's leaders. Choose the best preschool in Mira Road and give your child a future filled with possibility.

 Read the full blog here or more information, Mission CUBSAT read the blog and see how we inspire the future generation!

[creativelear]

Your Childs Potential: Top English Tuition & Creative Writing Classes for Primary Student Singapore

As your child embarks on their primary school journey, building a strong foundation in English is more important than ever. Whether your little one is just entering Primary 1 or progressing into Primary 2, having the right support through Primary English classes in Singapore can significantly boost their confidence, creativity, and academic performance. At Creative Learning, we provide tailored programmes that nurture language mastery from an early age, focusing on essential skills such as composition writing, grammar, vocabulary, and creative expression.

Why Choose Primary English Composition Classes?

Primary English composition class isn’t just about writing full sentences or memorising words — it’s about cultivating clear thinking, structured storytelling, and expressive communication. At Creative Learning, our English Composition Writing Programme introduces students to a structured yet imaginative approach. Through our step-by-step model, children learn to brainstorm ideas, plan outlines, and write full-length compositions with ease and creativity.

Our programme aligns with the MOE syllabus and incorporates tested strategies to help young learners grasp the key elements of composition writing — from developing characters and setting to creating coherent plotlines. This gives students a strong head start, especially as they transition into higher primary levels where writing exams become more demanding.

Comprehensive Primary English Classes in Singapore

Creative Learning offers a wide range of Primary English classes in Singapore to suit different needs and levels. Our Lower Primary Programme is specifically crafted for Primary 1 and Primary 2 students, focusing on foundational skills like reading comprehension, sentence construction, vocabulary building, and verbal communication.

We understand that every child learns differently. That’s why our classes are kept small and personalised, ensuring that each student receives the guidance they need to thrive. By making lessons engaging and interactive, we help students develop a love for English — a crucial step in setting the tone for future academic success.

English Tuition for Primary 1: Starting Strong

English tuition for Primary 1 in Singapore is about more than just academic preparation — it’s about creating a supportive environment where students can grow their confidence and communication skills. Our Primary 1 tuition classes help young learners make the transition from preschool to primary school smoother by focusing on language fundamentals such as phonics, sentence structure, and vocabulary usage.

We also introduce them to simple composition formats and comprehension techniques, preparing them for the more complex writing tasks they’ll encounter in later years. With the right guidance early on, children are more likely to perform well and develop a positive attitude towards English.

Creative Writing for Primary Two: Nurturing Imagination

At Primary 2, students are introduced to more advanced forms of writing. This is where creative writing for Primary Two in Singapore becomes a key area of focus. Through our well-structured programme, students learn how to craft engaging narratives using descriptive language, varied sentence structures, and cohesive storylines.

Using our guide to writing a Primary 2 composition, we teach students how to break down a story into a clear beginning, middle, and end. We also introduce them to vocabulary banks and visual prompts, helping them to generate ideas and express them fluently.

English Tuition for Primary 2: Strengthening Core Skills

Our English tuition for Primary 2 in Singapore builds on the foundation laid in Primary 1 and challenges students to deepen their understanding of grammar rules, comprehension strategies, and composition techniques. At this stage, we introduce higher-order thinking exercises and exposure to a variety of text types — from narratives to expository writing — to develop well-rounded language skills.

Through our engaging lessons and experienced tutors, students gain the confidence to tackle English assessments with ease and accuracy.

Why Choose Creative Learning?

Creative Learning is a trusted name for Primary English tuition in Singapore, known for our innovative teaching methods and personalised approach. All our programmes are designed to be progressive, fun, and effective. We believe that when students enjoy what they learn, they naturally excel — and our track record proves it.

Explore our full range of programmes for Lower Primary today and give your child the head start they deserve in mastering the English language.

[odnewsin]

Pre-school edu goes haywire in Mayurbhanj

Baripada: With the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 this academic year, significant changes have been introduced in the state’s education system to improve enrollment rates. The government has also launched ‘Khadi Chhuan’ programmes under ‘Sishu Vatika’ initiative to encourage early childhood education. However, in rural areas, preschool education continues to face…