One of my biggest nitpicks in fiction concerns the feeding of babies. Mothers dying during/shortly after childbirth or the baby being separated form the mother shortly after birth is pretty common in fiction. It is/was also common enough in real life, which is why I think a lot of writers/readers don't think too hard about this. however. Historically, the only reason the vast majority of babies survived being separated from their mother was because there was at least one other woman around to breastfeed them. Before modern formula, yes, people did use other substitutes, but they were rarely, if ever, nutritionally sufficient.
Newborns can't eat adult food. They can't really survive on animal milk. If your story takes place in a world before/without formula, a baby separated from its mother is going to either be nursed by someone else, or starve.
It doesn't have to be a huge plot point, but idk at least don't explicitly describe the situation as excluding the possibility of a wetnurse. "The father or the great grandmother or the neighbor man or the older sibling took and raised the baby completely alone in a cave for a year." Nope. That baby is dead I'm sorry. "The baby was kidnapped shortly after birth by a wizard and hidden away in a secret tower" um quick question was the wizard lactating? "The mother refused to see or touch her child after birth so the baby was left to the care of the ailing grandfather" the grandfather who made the necessary arrangements with women in the neighborhood, right? right? OR THAT GREAT OFFENDER "A newborn baby was left on the doorstep and they brought it in and took care of it no issues" What Are You Going to Feed That Baby. Hello?
Like. It's not impossible, but arrangements are going to have to be made. There are some logistics.
TY FOR THE MOTIVATION <3
Not my IA (though I will do those over the summer ugh), just an introductory lab report (tis our first one for bio)
SOMEONE MOTIVATE ME TO FINISH MY BIO COURSEWORK SO THAT I CAN STUDY FOR MY TRIAL EXAMS, PLEASE AND THANK YOU
Day 9/14, 8th September, 2023 – Friday
Today wasn't as productive as I wanted it to be. I had a test in my tuition class, so I studied my botany chapter for that because that was the only subject I really had the time/motivation to do. I don't really know how it went, but my physics class before the test had gone well! I finally understood some of the motion problems the teacher was teaching, and I think I got one of those kinds right on the test (which is improvement, baby steps, ok?). Either way, even though it wasn't the most productive day, I still think it went well.
FOOD
Find your nearest food bank or mission, for food
grocery stores with free samples, bakeries + stores with day-old bread
different fast food outlets have cheaper food and will generally let you hang out for a while.
some dollar stores carry food like cans of beans or fruit
SHELTER
Sleeping at beaches during the day is a good way to avoid suspicion and harassment
sleep with your bag strapped to you, so someone can’t steal it
Some churches offer short term residence
Find your nearest homeless shelter
Look for places that are open to the public
A large dumpster near a wall can often be moved so that flipping up the lids creates an angled shelter to stay dry
HYGIENE
A membership to the YMCA is usually only 10$, which has a shower, and sometimes laundry machines and lockers.
Public libraries have bathrooms you can use
Dollar stores carry low-end soaps and deodorant etc.
Wet wipes are all purpose and a life saver
Local beaches, go for a quick swim
Some truck stops have showers you can pay for
Staying clean is the best way to prevent disease, and potentially get a job to get back on your feet
Pack 7 pairs of socks/undies, 2 outfits, and one hooded rain jacket
OTHER
first aid kit
sunscreen
a travel alarm clock or watch
mylar emergency blanket
a backpack is a must
downgrade your cellphone to a pay as you go with top-up cards
sleeping bag
travel kit of toothbrush, hair brush/comb, mirror
swiss army knife
can opener
A Productivity Challenge
The reason I've decided to redo my previous one is because I'd been super drained and burnt out the last three days, and hence unable to accomplish as much as I wanted to. So, in order to start September off right, I'm going to begin a two week long challenge for myself starting today, the 31st of August. I plan on updating every night or every morning, depending on when I feel like it.
For reference; this is my schedule currently:
Well, I'll see you tonight. To anyone reading this, please wish me luck; and good luck to you in your own endeavours as well!
Day 12/14, 11th September, 2023 – Monday
I had both, my maths and chemistry tests on Monday. As I mentioned in my previous post (since I'm mass-posting once again), I didn't do all that well. However, since I had my physics test the next day, though I felt very tired and a tad sick, I tried my level best to practice.
Look! A photo of my desk in the middle of the night from last year when I was trying to finish my design documentation:
it's not that hard tbh- I just have no motivation whatsoever because of various reasons- but tyyy
ALSO I TAKE PHYSICS TOO- I TAKE ALL THREE SCIENCES HL SO- gl with your IA btw!!!
(also help my cw is now overdue)
SOMEONE MOTIVATE ME TO FINISH MY BIO COURSEWORK SO THAT I CAN STUDY FOR MY TRIAL EXAMS, PLEASE AND THANK YOU
never wanted to do anything other than the sciences- plus I might go into medicine, so-
A quick summary of the last 16 months
very proud of you!! well done!
guys!!!!!
i finished my science hw and lessons!!
u may be thinking “ok who cares that’s like hardly anything”
I SPENT 4 HOURS STRAIGHT CATCHING UP BECAUSE MY TEACHER MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE AND I CANT FOCUS IN CLASS AND I PROCRASTINATED FOUR LESSONS AND WORKSHEETS.
there’s a test tmr and i was like oh shit so i’ve done four four hour long lessons and homework sheets and i’ve filled six pages of notes.
please be proud of me strangers because no one else is 🙏
i did a rebrand :0 (still gotta love bildad the shuhite tho
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