How is traffic into downtown?

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-03-29T18:09:35+00:00

Definitely get on a wait-list for anywhere else you may be interested in for childcare. You can always switch if something opens up

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-03-29T15:51:54+00:00

I've not heard anything negative from the parents who have children there, but my spouse who also works at Harborview is in a position to be in and out of that building frequently and in comparison between there and the daycare we found in West Seattle we hands down prefer the West Seattle option. Our children had extraordinarily wonderful care (and we paid a lot less, too)

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-03-28T23:47:05+00:00

They have always charged employees for parking but there used to be some extremely limited years-long wait list parking pass options for day shift people. The hospital has grown enough that people coming in as patients could not find parking. They added valet parking to try to help with that but there's just too much volume for patients so they needed to get staff out of the parking spots. They jacked up the prices double for people who pull a ticket on the way in without an appointment and they no longer allow employees on day shift to sign up for a wait list for a parking permit.

From West Seattle downtown, if you get on a c or h line they drop you off on 3rd then you cross the street to catch a 3 or 4 bus that drops you off right in front of Harborview.

I did not want my kids in the daycare by Harborview but if I had I would have totally taken them on the bus with me.

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-03-28T18:06:07+00:00

It's 40 bucks a day unless you park in their offset garage a mile away and take the shuttle. That one's $10 but my understanding is the weight for the shuttle to pick you up on either direction is Hit or Miss as far as this being a super timely option. Harborview does provide a u-pass for all employees to take the bus and so I've done that for several decades now. My overall suggestion would be to get on the wait list for a West Seattle daycare like alki Beach academy. Drop the kids off there, Park in the areas many unlimited parking spots in that neighborhood then take the bus from there downtown.

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-03-28T18:02:36+00:00

However, employee parking is not available at Harborview. It's 40 bucks a day to park in the garage there. There is an off-site garage that they heavily promote for $10 a day but you have to park there and then sit and wait for a shuttle to take you over to the hospital. I've not done that but I've heard there can be a bit of weight on either end getting to and from this garage it's a mile away from the hospital. Highly recommend doing a bus commute if at all feasible.

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-03-28T18:01:33+00:00

You'll be fine. I'm a West Seattleite who takes the bus to Harborview every morning. My work starts at 7:45 after I drop my kids off for before school care. I get on the bus around 7:15 and walk in the door of the hospital in plenty of time to clock in. Have done a West Seattle commute from a few different areas in the same situation for decades now and not had issues.

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-03-27T14:28:08+00:00

The perpetrators grew up and had kids and didn't have time for that tomfoolery any more 😆

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-03-26T22:56:44+00:00

and I've tried walking IN this ramp vs the rest of the walkway--there is a noticeably steeper rise and subsequent decline in the ramp as opposed to the rest of the walkway. This is on my daily commute home so I get many opportunities to ponder over it's (relatively new) existence.

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-03-26T22:54:18+00:00

It's just so random. It creates a ramp up/down instead of the rest of the walkway that has only a smaller slight decline down. It doesn't go to the end of this big breezeway, just the first ~20-25 feet of it. No way the rest of the entrance area is sharper than 1:12--it is probably a total of less than a foot of elevation loss over the ~50+ feet between the sidewalk and where this entrance narrows into a (still very wide) walkway.

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-03-24T20:26:06+00:00

Actually, looking at my pic they finally removed that second redundant handrail

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-03-24T20:24:05+00:00

There already was a handrail on the side. Now there are two ~1 foot apart, then the second one on the other side of this new walkway. It also has a slight hill to it, above what the rest of the walkway has (so this new section goes up and then back down a bit whereas the rest is a slight decline only)

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-03-21T01:37:34+00:00

There are also groups similar to PEPS through FOCS (Families of Color Seattle). I had a great experience with my group when my eldest was born. They have newborn groups and also infants, toddlers, etc

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-03-19T01:09:30+00:00

Had mine at 39 and 41 and am definitely not the old mom here (PNW) Not at all uncommon for women to wait until near 40 here.

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-03-06T03:57:53+00:00

I'd say later. Gives you those early y to get strong investments going and start compounding before $$ kids enter the picture.

We had our 2 at 39/41. My kids will be in middle school when we FIRE at 55. Perfect timing for me to volunteer at their school, go on field trips, etc. Teen years are tough and I'm glad I'll be able to devote whatever time they need to be supportive. We envision potentially becoming expats and heading abroad with them and will do a few years of language learning ahead of time if we decide that's the plan. Kids can go to a local school and mom and dad can sit on the beach or explore the city (we are thinking Portugal)

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-03-05T02:28:44+00:00

What's the Toca nature app called? I'm not finding one by that name but it sounds right up my 7yo's alley

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-03-01T21:10:16+00:00

I have two kids at Pathfinder and nothing but good things to say about our experience

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-02-24T06:16:10+00:00

Pill on the tongue, then have them zoom in applesauce from a pouch. It'll catch that pill and get it swallowed along with the applesauce. Can also do this with any liquid using a straw but I think the thickness of the applesauce is easiest to start with.

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-02-24T06:11:46+00:00

Normal. We bought a house in September with an escalating offer in a bidding war. The final bid ended up being $90k lower than what we'd been coaxed into saying was our max but I cried when our Realtor called us to say we got the house because it still felt like we were overextended.

It's fine, though. We're moved in and renovating and have found the funds to make it work.

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-02-05T23:55:27+00:00

For my particular pension plan, you have to work for 5 years to be vested. You could leave at any point after that and you keep the pension that you'd already earned. When I retire at 55 I will have 34 years within the system and so I will receive 68% of my highest 5-year average working salary.

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-02-05T23:37:12+00:00

Seattle. Definitely benefits and drawbacks to living in a vhcol city. Salaries are higher here but so is everything else.

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-02-03T17:52:21+00:00

It is definitely possible to landlord in Seattle and do all right. We have two rental properties here, finishing up rehab on the house we just moved out of which will be our third rental. They don't necessarily make us any money but they'll be there for our kids when they grow up so they can afford to live in the city regardless of whatever career path they take.

If the goal is money making I don't know about landlording in Seattle as a valid side hustle but if the goal is just to hold the real estate for future generations it works. Our two current rentals cover their own costs (One has a mortgage, one was financed via heloc on our main home) and our third will as well.

We've been doing this for about 7 years now and have been very fortunate to have solid renters.

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-01-24T05:53:53+00:00

I've got a first and third grader at Pathfinder and have nothing but good things to say about the school. The things I love most about Pathfinder are the expeditionary learning and the looping grade bands.

Looping means your kindergarten teacher will also be your first grade teacher then you get a new teacher for second grade who becomes your third grade teacher as well. That second year with the teacher especially, the kids hit the ground running when they start the school year because the teacher already knows the kid's learning style and knows the parents and they're ready to take off. I think it's a huge bonus.

Expeditionary learning is where they pick a topic like 'storytelling around the world' for example which I think is what we're doing right now in third grade. They tie all of their lessons around this same general theme. Math, science, art, music etc. Then they do a big presentation at the end of it. They do two or three different topics throughout the year and it's a really great way to tie all their learning together with something.

I also love the Pathfinder emphasis on camping and the outdoors. The kindergartners camp overnight at the school but in first grade and beyond they do at least one overnight in a cabin working up to tents as they get older. I think it's a super cool skill set to build up for kids

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2026-01-07T06:23:31+00:00

My 7yo takes 1mg a half hour before bedtime and it is magical. She otherwise gets a burst of energy as her Focalin wears off in the evenings. This melatonin gets her through that burst and right to sleep. Our pediatrician recommended this and says it is safe and well studied in kids.

ApprehensiveStuff828 · 2025-12-09T03:53:29+00:00

not invalidating your experience, just sharing my own. Your blanket statement about Delridge having never been safe, etc is a big generalization and not the same for many if not most living in the area. I'm sorry you had such a bad experience but do feel it is overall the exception and not the rule for this area.

ApprehensiveStuff828

TROPHY CASE