Bluesky photos breaking shows another use case of ALT text.... If you have it I can still understand your post and if you don't your post is a big blank spot.

My mom's union made my parents last 15 years much better (good health insurance and pension). My dad's non union job did not (too small retirement account and nothing else).

Understandable.
(There are a lot of great co-ops but unfortunately our larger community is losing two this year!)

And there is a lot more to this story. :(

After more than 60 years of serving our community, Fort Hunt Preschool will be closing at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. Despite exploring many options to secure a stable and affordable location, we were unable to find a sustainable path forward. Our landlord ultimately did not approve our lease proposal, even with a significantly increased offer. We are deeply grateful to the generations of families, students, and staff who have made Fort Hunt Preschool so special. Thank you for being a part of our community.

We are so saddened about this outcome.

And.... It often happens that when someone has a negative interaction with another group, they call for them to be banned from x place. I have seen it in Alex skeets against children. (Who are actual people with rights we should not afford dogs)

I think that is bred from a frustration with the (way too large) segment of anti-social assholes who own dogs.
(Not all people are engaging in good faith with this discussion, but most others that I have seen are just frustrated with the behavior.)

I am not anti-dog. But I am anti-dog-owner-entitlement.
I have a kid who is terrified of dogs and working on it.
But, owners who allow their dog to invade personal space... Or allow their dogs off leash (very unsafe for the dog!)
Just like kids and friends, don't allow your dogs to be assholes.

Or even just missing a shift a work or being late could mean you lose your job. (They have another incentive to not wait and deal with police or get checked out.) So many in our community are close to the edge.

I drive on Seminary and the redesign has made it safer for me. Not to mention actually possible to turn onto or off of. (I am more comfortable driving along that stretch than I was before the changes.)

Generous George's.

I have heard of that org but haven't had the time to really figure out getting involved. (I would love to go to their convention but there always seems to be a conflict that matters.) I will look more into it. (If you have any tips, I am all ears.)

We had been planning to until my oldest wanted to go to Kindergarten after preschool. (My husband homeschooled.) But then during COVID they decided they wanted to be home. They did 6th at GW because they wanted to try it again. My other two only ever homeschooled (well, after preschool).

The wooden end of an hour glass inscribed Endlings Trivia Champion.

Thank you! This is beautiful!

We love Endlings and are happy to have supported it!

@bizarrebeastsshow.bsky.social @hankgreen.bsky.social

And we do homeschool. But haven't found our people yet. (Trying to stick to secular and not far away is proving to be difficult. Add in wanting child buy in....)
I am hoping to have more time in the fall to really throw myself into working on creating community if I can't find it already there.

We are really active in Girl Scouts (I am troop leader for the troops). But looking for other options.

There are a number of very good progressive Christian churches around here. But we aren't Christian. So, I prefer not to do that on a regular basis.

(And I wish they wanted to do choir. I have encouraged a number of similar activities but so far no real interest.)

I wish my kids were interested in choir! I think they would enjoy it. But so far none have.
We homeschool, but are involved heavily in Girl Scouts.
Just trying to figure out other types of activities we may not be thinking of.

Those of you that used to attend church regularly.... Where have you found community?
(Not Christian, but moving away from a toxic situation and there isn't a good church alternative within my belief system close enough for regular attendance with my family.)

Bizarre Beasts is great for lots of insect content. (Insects are bizarre.)

Yep... The one nearest me has no baskets because "theft" and they take forever to answer a bell to unlock the precious substances (like idk razors or deodorant?).

Ummm.... What?

I feel like I need to watch the Punky Brewster episode to help process it.

It depends on the audience. For us we can do coconut cake as in a cake with coconut covering it because the picky ones can scrape off the coconut. (I wish we could do carrot cake though because I prefer it.)

I grew up in where the official motto is "Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem" (By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty) and I am raising my kids where it is "Sic semper tyrannis" (thus always to tyrants).

When I did this, I logged in on my phone with their info. (Probably not how you are supposed to, but I had their permission and it was the easiest way. I also could log into their email to check on things as well.)

They all agree they are cute.

Of my kids 1 says corgi, 1 isn't sure, and the other says corgi if they were fatter and had shorter legs. Corgi-ish.

I love their live feeds!