Forum Changes under Consideration

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I think an Adult/Explicit forum--at least named as such-- is a bad idea--would attract lots of non-parent types. Maybe with a more benign name--e.g. Sex and Relationship Issues? Other than that, wouldn't mix preschools and daycare--very different.

I like that idea. That satisfies the request for a relationship forum as well.

Yes, I was the poster on the relationship forum. I don't particularly want one for my own sake. But I think we should have a place where the sex stuff from the Dad's forum and the marital discussions in the General Forum have a home - away from the straight parenting discussions. I thought it would be better than adult/explicit because you (Jeff) may want to reserve the right to limit some "adult" discussions. That would be hard if you have an adult/explicit forum. I had hoped that a Dads forum would get some traction, but it got kind of nasty in there and not much ended up being about Fatherhood.

You may also want to review what Craigslist did. They struggled with the whole "adult" forum thing for some time and recently made some changes.

[Anonymous]

"On combining preschool & daycare -- UGH, UGH, UGH.

Those really aren't the same things. If you are trying to consolidate -- it would really make more sense just to fold "preschool" back into private/independent schools. Then the daycare would be daycare discussion as well as daycare search."

Um . . I have a child in daycare (yes, I know, horrible) and have two close friends with kids the same age in preschool (full day). It actually is the exact same thing, barring small difference between the programs. We encounter the same issues, deal with the same things . . .

[Anonymous]

Please keep the adoption forum. There are listserves for every country you adopted from, but nothing but this formu for everybody.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:"On combining preschool & daycare -- UGH, UGH, UGH.

Those really aren't the same things. If you are trying to consolidate -- it would really make more sense just to fold "preschool" back into private/independent schools. Then the daycare would be daycare discussion as well as daycare search."

Um . . I have a child in daycare (yes, I know, horrible) and have two close friends with kids the same age in preschool (full day). It actually is the exact same thing, barring small difference between the programs. We encounter the same issues, deal with the same things . . .

I am the "ugh" poster - that was not a reaction to daycare. It was a reaction to the combo forum idea. I don't think there is anything wrong with daycare, and regret it if my post implied anything like that.

Perhaps it is a regional issue (meaning DC vs MD/VA) as one poster suggested. Many of the posts in the preschool forum relate to applying to competitive preschools, what that entails, and the different styles, etc - as opposed to trying to identify childcare options. (To be clear, as a working mom, I am all about having a wide variety of childcare options!) In contrast, the daycare forum really seems focused on childcare - and the similar posts seem to relate to people looking for options for younger children (e.g. 2 y.o.). So there you see many posts about in-home daycare options. I fully acknowledge that I probably focus on the posts that tend to relate to my issues at a particular point in time, so that likely slants my view.

In any event, as someone who is embarking on the application merry-go-round for preschools, if the preschool and daycare fora were combined, I would likely just post my questions in the private/independent school forum (which is why I made the alternative suggestion).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:On combining preschool & daycare -- UGH, UGH, UGH.

Those really aren't the same things. If you are trying to consolidate -- it would really make more sense just to fold "preschool" back into private/independent schools. Then the daycare would be daycare discussion as well as daycare search.

New poster here. I agree 100% with this. They are not the same, and if anything, fold Preschool in with Private/Independent Schools if you want to eliminate it. As a SAHM, I have no interest in daycares or the daycare forum; by combining the two forums, it will just make it harder for readers who are looking for one or the other. They are not interchangeable.

[Anonymous]

I understand if you want to get rid of it, but I have really enjoyed the LGBT parenting forum. Although quiet, I know it is a go-to place for my particular concerns regarding being a lesbian mom. I mostly post in the "regular" forums for our day-to-day issues, as being gay isn't really a part of "how can i get my kid to potty train" etc.

[Anonymous]

I would first just like to say THANK YOU!! because you do such a wonderful job with this site. It has been so incredibly helpful to me as a first-time mom, and I'm sure it will continue to be as DS grows older (and his problems become bigger!).

I tend to like fewer options so combining the forums sounds good to me. Combining Daycare and Pre-School would be fine. I understand that they're not the same thing, but people could just ignore the posts that don't apply.

And, it'd be great to have VA/MD public schools added in. Maybe just make it a general Public School Forum (versus being specific to DC)? I live in MD, but used to live in VA, and may move back, and I'm sure we're not the only family like that. I find it helpful to read about different areas, even if I don't live there currently.

[Anonymous]

Dad here. I hate to see the Dads forum go, but I agree it's become so overrun with moms that any dad posts get lost. Farewell Dads.

[Anonymous]

How about a New Parent Forum?

[Anonymous]

What about A JOB post PEOPLE posting JOB of his own work that maybe interesting others parents, you never know.

[Anonymous]

I think combining daycare and preschool together into a single forum makes a great deal of sense.

I also like the suggestion of creating MD and VA public schools forums (fora?)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wouldn't join daycare with preschools. They are very different. Other than that, no opinion.

Ditto. Day care and preschool are not the same thing -- at least in the early years.

[Anonymous]

I would appeciate it if you didn't label the new forum adult/explicit. Those kinds of words get flagged by IT at offices and nothing good comes of it. I'd suggest labeling it relationships or something like that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think combining daycare and preschool together into a single forum makes a great deal of sense.

I suggest relabeling such a new combined forum as early childhood education.

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:I am considering making the following changes to the DCUM Forums. I would appreciate feedback on the ideas.

1) Removing the DC Dads forum which has become a discussion between moms;
2) Creating an Adult/Explicit Discussion forum for topics that are not "child-safe" (e.g. most of the topics in the Dads forum);
3) Moving Expectant Moms higher on the menu since it is one of our most popular forums;
4) Adding a Food and Restaurant Discussion Forum;
5) Adding VA and MD public school forums;
6) Combining the Daycare and Pre-school forums into a single forum;
7) Expanding the Summer Camps forum to include classes for children and workshop for/about children

The Gay and Lesbian forum and the Adopted Children forum are not heavily used and I considered dropping them. However, for the time being I prefer to keep them and see if they develop further.

Please let me know your feelings about these ideas. Also, additional thoughts are welcome and appreciated.

As someone who advocated for the start of the Dad's forum, I think you should not end it so soon. Yes many of the topics have become more relationship oriented, but to me that only means you should try adding a relationship forum as suggested (and I agree that would be a good idea). The Dad's Forum did not get much of a chance before it took the direction that it did. Would you consider letting it continue for a few months after youy add the relationship forum? I think it is not only helpful for dad to dad discussions. There have also been questions from single mother raising boys who want a Dad's point of view and I think the forum helpd those women as well.

I do think the Single Moms forum should be re-named to the Single Parent forum. Single dad need help as well as single moms. WHile the GL forum and Adopted Children forums are not heavily used, I think they are a very helpful resource and encourage you to keep them. If you are looking to save space, would you consider removing the various Nanny and Housekeeper seach forums? They don't seem very active. It also seems like they could be combined into a single forum.

One forum I'd like to see, because I find posts on these topics very helpful, would be a forum on "Lessons learned about parenting --what I would and would not recommend." It would be nice to have such advice in one place.