https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 22 Apr 2026 17:33:16 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-720943 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:23:08 +0000 Arden 720943@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: Good question! </p> <p>In our situation, we're given a lot of freedom. We have to work a certain number of hours per week, but when we work those hours is quite flexible. DH and I don't have to work at the same time if we don't want to, and we can take V with us if we're doing something where that is possible - like when I'm teaching childbirth education classes. </p> <p>It's very independent work - our supervisor lives in England and we report to him weekly on what we've been doing, and he makes quarterly visits to our location. We're given a lot of freedom to decide how and when to do our work. We just discuss our thoughts with our supervisor and if he approves our work plan, that's that. </p> <p>When she gets a little older and we start homeschooling "officially", DH will likely work mornings while I teach her and then I'll work afternoons while he teaches her. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-720913 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:10:13 +0000 Foodnerd81 720913@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: Such a good introduction! I'm really interested to read about the placenta encapsulation, and if you decide to, the birth story. </p> <p>I don't fully understand how most aid worker situations work, but I'm curious how you will have time to do your aid work and home school? Is it usually just very flexible hours? Though, now that I think about it, home schooling is also very flexible on hours... so more the point, I guess, is, how will you care for the baby while doing your aid work, if that makes sense? </p> <p>My situation is very "normal" so I'm so interested in how it all works! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-720905 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:06:28 +0000 yerpie110 720905@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>love your story, and can't wait to hear more!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-720884 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:57:51 +0000 emg86 720884@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really enjoyed your intro as well! I'm so glad to hear that the placenta pills have helped so much. I plan to encapsulate mine as well, since my midwife &amp; doula recommended it. In fact, I've become way too interested in placentas, lol. I didn't realize that placentas could be so different and that they could tell many things about a mom or baby. I hope to read your birth story as well once you feel ready to share. I'm so sorry to hear you had such a traumatic experience, but I'm so glad that you and your precious girl are doing so well! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-720803 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:00:01 +0000 mrskc 720803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow! Love your intro post! I think you'd be a great blogger! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-720780 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:51:40 +0000 FarmWifeGina 720780@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Oh my word, Arden, you have the most fascinating life! Love, love your intro! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-720752 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 16:43:14 +0000 Arden 720752@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: Ok, I think I sort of get what you are saying. :)</p> <p>Both DH and I are what is called "third culture kids". Kids who grow up in a foreign culture end up creating their own "third culture" which is a blend of their "home" culture and "guest culture". This has both upsides and downsides. A big downside is that third culture kids or "TCK's" will never fully "fit in" to either culture, since they themselves are a blend of the two. An upside is that they are very flexible, make friends quickly, and will more easily adapt to any new culture for the rest of their lives. </p> <p>Since we are expected to be in Kosovo for 6-12 years, Kosovo will always be a big part of our daughter's life. However, it's quite likely that we'll be moving to a completely new country after that, so by the time she's an adult she will have a combination of at least three, maybe more countries in her cultural makeup. </p> <p>Because we will be homeschooling, one of her biggest influences will be our own family culture. </p> <p>I'm not worried about her becoming "oppressed" or feeling like she has less opportunities in the world. Even if she is living in a patriarchal society, her first example will be her parents and we hope to demonstrate equality and freedom to her.<br /> She'll have the option to attend university wherever she likes, whether that be the USA or somewhere else. That's one of the biggest "perks" of our aid organization - college tuition for our children is 90% covered. </p> <p>I hope to raise our children to appreciate and respect the differences in cultures, but also to be able to discern for themselves the strengths and weaknesses. Every culture has them, and hopefully by having a few cultures to draw from will encourage her to pick the best from all of them for her own personal culture. </p> <p>I certainly don't think her options will be limited, if anything they will be increased. How many children speak multiple languages, have had the chance to travel internationally, and have the option of any university in the world, for free, regardless of what she chooses to study? </p> <p>I do think living there will influence her view of the world, but by increasing the size of the window through which she sees her world. </p> <p>I know that growing up internationally myself is an experience I am incredibly thankful for, and I'm thrilled to be able to offer that same gift to our daughter. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-720448 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:52:19 +0000 MsLipGloss 720448@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: Hahaha - me neither! I guess I was wondering whether your LOs future options would be limited based on availability (with the culture being largely patriarchal)? And I don't mean limited in a negative sense (there are lots of limits for anyone's future) . . . but I guess whether the culture would impact her view on what a woman's role in society is? And the opposite, too . . . if exposure to a non-American culture will change her view of her role in the world (from say, what an American child of similar age would have)? </p> <p>I ask because I lived overseas as a child (England), and I think it really shaped my view of the world much differently than my peers. And that was in a society that is similar in feel and operation to America. Gah - I hope that makes sense! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-720410 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:43:49 +0000 illumina 720410@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: I'm sure you wouldn't, but I'm sure the Bees wouldn't mind... there seem to be lots of bloggers on rotation :) Your posts about your lives abroad will be a great read! Alternatively, wait until you're older and write a book... I'll buy it ;) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-720393 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:40:10 +0000 Arden 720393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@illumina: I'm not a hellobee blogger, but I'm considering it. I would love to blog, I'm just nervous about keeping up with it and I don't want to slack off and leave the Bees hanging! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-720382 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:38:27 +0000 Arden 720382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MsLipGloss: No that's fine! DH is American (Norwegian heritage), but he moved to Albania at age 7 and stayed until age 17 so he considers himself American-Albanian.<br /> Most Muslims in Albania are Bektashi, which is actually closer to Sufi Islam, and rather mystical and not very conservative. Kosovo has some of those, but it also has a lot more serious and conservative Sunni Muslims as well. </p> <p>We're not Muslim, not exactly anyway. DH jokingly calls us "Messianic Muslims", since we believe in Jesus but we share many beliefs with Islam.<br /> We don't identify with a specific religion, we just believe in what we've studied out and believe to be right regardless of whether it "fits" with any given religion. </p> <p>My husband has a very deep emotional connection to Kosovo. He was a child during the Kosovo crisis, and his family worked in the refugee camps. He saw a lot, and he feels very close to the Kosovar people now. That's why we jumped at the chance to work there - he already has that connection, and we already spoke the language (ish, it's another dialect of Albanian). </p> <p>Could you expound on your question of how we feel about the impact on our daughter? I have lots of feelings, but I'm not exactly sure what your question is - what part of the impact? :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-720296 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:19:22 +0000 MsLipGloss 720296@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: Out of curiosity (based on the languages mentioned), is your DH a (Sunni) Muslim Albanian? I was wondering how you feel about moving to Kosovo (given the history) and how the cultural environment may influence your daughter's role in society/ view of society? Cultural differences truly fascinate me! </p> <p>If it's too personal, just tell me to go jump in a lake! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-720292 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:17:57 +0000 illumina 720292@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Loved reading your intro, it sounds like you and your family have such unique and exciting lives! You should blog here, (or more if I've missed posts...) I find your threads and comments interesting on here and would love to read more :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-720287 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:16:50 +0000 Arden 720287@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Springtime: I think I'll submit a guest post of it when I get my photos back from the photographer, but no guarantees! I'm still processing the birth (it was traumatic) so I'm hoping writing and sharing the story will be therapeutic, but we'll see what happens once I sit down and actually try to write it out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-720282 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:15:06 +0000 Springtime 720282@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: I still want to hear all about your birth story!! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-720272 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:12:33 +0000 Arden 720272@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@swurlygurl: Hopefully she'll learn more (with us) when she's a little older, but I think starting her with two is good for her brain and gives her a foundation for learning languages later. She'll probably take Arabic lessons in a few years, and then we'll leave it up to her where to go from there. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-720263 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 14:10:29 +0000 Arden 720263@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: Really, there aren't places in NYC? That's so sad. I could ride here in FL, but by the time we got here I was pregnant, and now I have a newborn, so I don't really have time. When we get settled in Kosovo we're hoping to get some horses if we have enough land, hopefully some warmbloods from Germany. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-719397 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:11:50 +0000 pui 719397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks for sharing! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-719393 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:11:31 +0000 littlebittyhouse 719393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>thank you for sharing - such an interesting and lovely story! Would love to read ab post about placenta encapsulation! I am absolutely doing it for #2! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-719305 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:40:48 +0000 swurlygurl 719305@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>That's awesome that you're able to teach her two languages! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-719234 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 09:24:40 +0000 immabeetoo 719234@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@hilsy85: I'm on the opposite end of the spectrum, it's hard to find anything but western pleasure or cutting barns in podunk Iowa :/ I think a lot more people know at least vaguely what dressage is after the Ann Romney election highlight, haha! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-718857 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 07:35:56 +0000 hilsy85 718857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@scg00387: @Arden: I also did dressage competitively as a teen! I feel like it's so rare to find people who even know what dressage is, let alone riders who actually did it! I also miss riding so much, but it seems impossible to find a place to do it here in NYC :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-718667 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 03:38:22 +0000 blackbird 718667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Wow you've led such an interesting life! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-718652 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 02:54:45 +0000 immabeetoo 718652@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: so neat I love to hear about other riders! I was just getting into dressage crossing over from low level huntseat when I left for college and ended up selling my horse. I miss riding desperately and have tried a few lease scenarios but h e never found one that clicked. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-718621 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:37:25 +0000 BoogieBea 718621@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Love your intro! You and your husband are providing such an interesting childhood for your LO! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-718619 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:31:41 +0000 Arden 718619@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic: It wasn't too hard. Basically we just rinsed it, sliced it, popped it in the dehydrator overnight, ground it up in a coffee grinder, and then encapsulated it. It was pretty easy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-718618 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:28:16 +0000 shopaholic 718618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: that would be cool to hear how to do it yourself! I hink it was ~$400 to do it here! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-718605 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:10:34 +0000 runsyellowlites 718605@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: That'd be awesome to know how to do that! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-718603 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:08:29 +0000 Arden 718603@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic: We did it ourselves to save money (well, mostly my husband did it. I was still weak and in a lot of pain at that point). I felt incredible benefits - physically and emotionally.<br /> I lost all my bloating the first day I started taking them, had way more energy, and started doing way better emotionally. Before that I was really struggling, and after taking them I felt like myself again.</p> <p>I might be co-writing a blog post on it with Mrs. Twine and Farmwifegina. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/a-belated-introduction#post-718599 Tue, 16 Apr 2013 00:03:28 +0000 Freckles 718599@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Mr. Bee was right -- your intro was very interesting!</p> <p>I knew you were a doula, but had no idea but the other things. Love! :) </p>