Anonymous
10/01/2014 15:14
Subject: Niece called me hysterical. Teen pregnancy, brother kicked her out
OP, you and your husband are amazing. That little baby owes you a lot, and so does your niece. Please keep us posted. It's funny that there's a big DCUM community out here rooting for you all and for that baby. 
Anonymous
10/01/2014 15:00
Subject: Niece called me hysterical. Teen pregnancy, brother kicked her out
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Any update, op?
OP here: The baby was born last week. It's a girl. Poor DH - even the dog is female. Now he lives in a house with six females. I give Niece a lot of credit - once we got her set up with online school, she finished out last year and over the summer cranked out this semester with high grades. Our kids are super excited and the baby is not a huge crier. Turns out I am not capable of sleeping through a newborn crying and wake up each time I hear the baby, though DH and I don't get up in the middle of the night for her. Niece is a little crazy right now but we think (hope?) it's hormones going crazy.
May be sleep deprivation too. Anything you can do to help her get a healthy amount of sleep (without taking on her responsibility obviously) may go a long way towards making her a good housemate and mom.
I have a 15 week old, this was true for me. Could not have done it without extra naps from my mom and DH helping.
+1.
Anyway, I'm glad the baby is here. OP, I hope your niece didn't have too hard a time giving birth. Is she able to breastfeed? Fingers crossed that she is.
She is nursing, but not willing to do it in public, and after I explained how pumping worked she was totally grossed out and doesn't want to do that. So nursing may not last - we'll see. We also had an incident where she was nursing and DH walked into the kitchen and she screamed at him to get out. He left and when she finished he tried to explain that when a man sees breasts in the context of nursing it's not sexual, but she refused to hear him. I reiterated it, but she didn't change her position. So she has a couple of lightweight blankets and has been instructed it's on HER to leave the room where DH is if she wants privacy to nurse. She can't kick him out of a room he's already in, which she sighs and rolls her eyes about.
Teenagers are dramatic.
Anonymous
10/01/2014 14:56
Subject: Re:Niece called me hysterical. Teen pregnancy, brother kicked her out
Your husband reminds me of mine - family is family to him. He's never been faced with as big a challenge as your husband, but I imagine he would do the same. My husband has taught me a lot.
Good luck to you all!
Good luck to you all!
Anonymous
10/01/2014 14:47
Subject: Niece called me hysterical. Teen pregnancy, brother kicked her out
Thank you for the update OP. I wish you and your niece the best in life, you deserve it.
Keep up the good work, everybody!
(Karma will get your brother.)
Anonymous
10/01/2014 14:44
Subject: Niece called me hysterical. Teen pregnancy, brother kicked her out
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Any update, op?
OP here: The baby was born last week. It's a girl. Poor DH - even the dog is female. Now he lives in a house with six females. I give Niece a lot of credit - once we got her set up with online school, she finished out last year and over the summer cranked out this semester with high grades. Our kids are super excited and the baby is not a huge crier. Turns out I am not capable of sleeping through a newborn crying and wake up each time I hear the baby, though DH and I don't get up in the middle of the night for her. Niece is a little crazy right now but we think (hope?) it's hormones going crazy.
May be sleep deprivation too. Anything you can do to help her get a healthy amount of sleep (without taking on her responsibility obviously) may go a long way towards making her a good housemate and mom.
I have a 15 week old, this was true for me. Could not have done it without extra naps from my mom and DH helping.
+1.
Anyway, I'm glad the baby is here. OP, I hope your niece didn't have too hard a time giving birth. Is she able to breastfeed? Fingers crossed that she is.
Anonymous
10/01/2014 14:38
Subject: Re:Niece called me hysterical. Teen pregnancy, brother kicked her out
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the udpate, OP. What is the long term plan? Have her parents come around? What about the baby's father - ever find out who it was?
The father space was left blank on the birth certificate.
My brother hung up on me when I called to say the baby was born, saying "I don't want to hear about it." We were able to get her on Facetime with her little sister while at a friend's house and although they both cried it was really sweet. My younger niece must have said three times, "I'll be a really involved and helpful aunt after I graduate high school, I promise!"
Our long term plan is that she is staying here. We've told her we will help with the baby between the hours of 7am and 10pm, but that means "help" and not "take over." We are trying to make her take full responsibility for the baby in terms of making sure she has all the baby supplies she needs and taking care of herself to keep nursing. She is really embarrassed to go out in public with the baby, which is something she'll need to find a way to get over.
OP you and your spouse are amazing people. I cannot believe your brother is acting this despicable. Poor example for his daughter anyway, she's better off with you.
Anonymous
10/01/2014 14:37
Subject: Re:Niece called me hysterical. Teen pregnancy, brother kicked her out
Anonymous wrote:Thanks for the udpate, OP. What is the long term plan? Have her parents come around? What about the baby's father - ever find out who it was?
The father space was left blank on the birth certificate.
My brother hung up on me when I called to say the baby was born, saying "I don't want to hear about it." We were able to get her on Facetime with her little sister while at a friend's house and although they both cried it was really sweet. My younger niece must have said three times, "I'll be a really involved and helpful aunt after I graduate high school, I promise!"
Our long term plan is that she is staying here. We've told her we will help with the baby between the hours of 7am and 10pm, but that means "help" and not "take over." We are trying to make her take full responsibility for the baby in terms of making sure she has all the baby supplies she needs and taking care of herself to keep nursing. She is really embarrassed to go out in public with the baby, which is something she'll need to find a way to get over.
Anonymous
10/01/2014 12:40
Subject: Niece called me hysterical. Teen pregnancy, brother kicked her out
OP you and your husband are amazing people. I wish you all the best in life, really.
Anonymous
10/01/2014 12:09
Subject: Re:Niece called me hysterical. Teen pregnancy, brother kicked her out
Heart warming story OP! Good luck with everything!
Anonymous
10/01/2014 12:00
Subject: Niece called me hysterical. Teen pregnancy, brother kicked her out
Congrats to new mom and the family : ) good job OP
Anonymous
10/01/2014 11:02
Subject: Niece called me hysterical. Teen pregnancy, brother kicked her out
OP, really glad to read this. Congrats to all. I'd worry about anyone with a week-old baby who WASN'T crazy.
Anonymous
09/30/2014 18:58
Subject: Re:Niece called me hysterical. Teen pregnancy, brother kicked her out
Thanks for the udpate, OP. What is the long term plan? Have her parents come around? What about the baby's father - ever find out who it was?
Anonymous
09/30/2014 14:35
Subject: Niece called me hysterical. Teen pregnancy, brother kicked her out
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Any update, op?
OP here: The baby was born last week. It's a girl. Poor DH - even the dog is female. Now he lives in a house with six females. I give Niece a lot of credit - once we got her set up with online school, she finished out last year and over the summer cranked out this semester with high grades. Our kids are super excited and the baby is not a huge crier. Turns out I am not capable of sleeping through a newborn crying and wake up each time I hear the baby, though DH and I don't get up in the middle of the night for her. Niece is a little crazy right now but we think (hope?) it's hormones going crazy.
May be sleep deprivation too. Anything you can do to help her get a healthy amount of sleep (without taking on her responsibility obviously) may go a long way towards making her a good housemate and mom.
I have a 15 week old, this was true for me. Could not have done it without extra naps from my mom and DH helping.
Anonymous
09/30/2014 14:32
Subject: Niece called me hysterical. Teen pregnancy, brother kicked her out
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Any update, op?
OP here: The baby was born last week. It's a girl. Poor DH - even the dog is female. Now he lives in a house with six females. I give Niece a lot of credit - once we got her set up with online school, she finished out last year and over the summer cranked out this semester with high grades. Our kids are super excited and the baby is not a huge crier. Turns out I am not capable of sleeping through a newborn crying and wake up each time I hear the baby, though DH and I don't get up in the middle of the night for her. Niece is a little crazy right now but we think (hope?) it's hormones going crazy.
Wow! Happy update. I am glad it all seems to be working out for everyone. Try earplugs for you at night!
What is her long term plan?
Anonymous
09/30/2014 14:28
Subject: Niece called me hysterical. Teen pregnancy, brother kicked her out
Anonymous wrote:Any update, op?
OP here: The baby was born last week. It's a girl. Poor DH - even the dog is female. Now he lives in a house with six females. I give Niece a lot of credit - once we got her set up with online school, she finished out last year and over the summer cranked out this semester with high grades. Our kids are super excited and the baby is not a huge crier. Turns out I am not capable of sleeping through a newborn crying and wake up each time I hear the baby, though DH and I don't get up in the middle of the night for her. Niece is a little crazy right now but we think (hope?) it's hormones going crazy.