Job Discussion Forums

Listener · Joined: 17 Jun 2005 Posts: 140 Location: Istanbul

When I had my baby, the nurse taught me the catchy little phrase:

"Back to sleep, tummy to play"

dumb but I still remember it after all these years...

Vixter · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 64

ı heard that the flat headed thing is due to babies being swaddled. if that's true, hopefully it's on the decline. it is very funny when you sit on the dolmus and observe all those flat heads.

there are an awful lot of people with birth defects. it's such a shame that education is so limited. A friend of a friend is blamed by her very well educated husband for producing a girl not another boy. For goodness sake, does he really not know that it's the sperm that decides the sex? what an a*se.

justme · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 1944 Location: Istanbul

My MIL gets on my case a bit for not swaddling Ender. I did sometimes when he was brand new because it helped him sleep better when he was restless and jumpy, but after about 2 months he didn't care for it. But now he's almost 4 months and strong, so if I tried to swaddle him, he'd squeal and struggle out before I even got the blanket all the way closed.

Still, it makes me a bad, bad Mommy... It's another one of those things she says he won't grow if I don't do it (along with daily baths, overdressing, and apparently I hold him WAY too much). I'm not sure how she reconciles this growing thing in her mind now that he's about as big as a 6 month baby...

Vixter · Joined: 10 Aug 2006 Posts: 64

sorry, how on earth does swaddling relate to growth? Is the ide that you take of the blanket and whoosh, sudden growth spurt due to blood being able to get to the restricted parts.

Crazy MILs.

Mine is lovely lovely lovely (but wants to see me too much)but I do fear that when ı have a child (hopefully next year) she will become far too involved, all in the name of helping.

Mind you, I've just come back from 12 days in the UK. I had forgotten how chavvy some people are. and here was me being snobby about some turks. At least most of the turks are nice (except for the hising and tutting men).

justme · Joined: 18 May 2004 Posts: 1944 Location: Istanbul

How do bathing and overdressing relate to growth?! How does nazar relate to anything?! Logic does not play a major role in these discussions.

I should count myself lucky, though-- my friend's sister in law's MIL told her that after you wash the baby, you should hang it upside down by the ankles and shake it to make it grow! According to her, it's why her sons are so tall. My friend asked why her daughter was so short and this woman changed the subject in the face of all that unpleasant logic. Then she got really angry at my friend for refusing to shake her baby upside down by the ankles...

phoebe caulfield · Joined: 25 Jun 2007 Posts: 31 Location: Bilkent, Ankara

Hi everyone! First I want to say that I think you (the "posters") are hilarious and that is why I've signed up - so that I can talk to you... oh yeah, I teach too!

So here is my beef:

I hate it when my Turkish grandmother stands/walks/sits behind me and pulls down on my t-shirt. CONSTANTLY. I have other older turkish ladies do this to me too, like co-workers. Even a few female students have tried pulling down my shirts. I don't even wear short shirts! Is it too much to ask to just let my poor, tired shirts have a rest?!? (insert a few frustrated bleeps here)

mthood · Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 73

comrade in arms · Joined: 01 May 2007 Posts: 61

teaching · Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 3

I think that it's true that being a foreigner long enough makes you a little racist. At least to the point where you're annoyed by your surroundings (what people say and act) more than you would be in your native land.

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

No one will ever annoy me so much as my fellow countrymen-particularly those still living there, and even more particularly those who've never traveled.

This from a US citizen who's lived outside the country for 10 years except when must visit family or travel a bit with spouse (who loves said country, but fortunately doesn't want to live there).

Diff'rent strokes...

'Course, I haven't (yet) lived in Turkey.

teaching · Joined: 01 Apr 2007 Posts: 3

spiral78 · Joined: 05 Apr 2004 Posts: 11534 Location: On a Short Leash

Czech Rep, Luxembourg, Nederlands, Canada

mthood · Joined: 03 Aug 2006 Posts: 73

MEDRACER · Joined: 28 May 2007 Posts: 57

Just curious, mthood: some of my students would like to know where your avatar comes from, and are you the big guy clapping his hands, or the chick in purple briefs?

My God, so thats JCVD! I saw that film years ago: Shrimp Boogaloo and his broomstick dance...or was that Breakin' 2?