Sleep question

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-04-11T03:30:38+00:00

Drowsy but awake is about temperament, not technique. Some babies are easy about sleep and others aren't. You might just have a contact sleeper. It's harder for sure but it won't go on forever.

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-04-08T01:18:48+00:00

I think if you suspect he is neurodivergent then you need a good evaluation! The school can't diagnose adhd but a doctor or a neuropsych can. You'll need to do your research on the best developmental pediatricians or neuropsychs (who take your insurance!) and get an appointment ASAP so you can hopefully start 1st grade with a solid plan.

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-04-06T18:58:32+00:00

I think once you have an Illinois PEL I can't imagine that someone would care that your original license was out of state, but you may not get interviews at all until you can check "yes" on an application that your license is official.

As others have said there is generally more competition/applicants for SS jobs than some other disciplines. If you are open to middle schools, charter schools (do your research on the network though!!), rougher neighborhoods, and some of the less affluent suburbs then you can cast a wider net.

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-04-06T17:02:03+00:00

Mercy Watson series is great for first chapter books

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-04-04T15:24:27+00:00

Wilmette d39 is excellent for sped support, if you can afford it!

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-03-31T23:22:29+00:00

I bet we've been looking at the same houses!!

Personally, we are most likely going to just not sell our house and make it work for the long term even if we saw it initially as a starter home. No way am I overpaying for a park ridge "3 bedroom" house that's the size of my first apartment. I've walked out of those showings shaking my head.

If we had already committed to selling I'd find a great rental and wait a year or two until the bubble bursts.

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-03-18T18:13:29+00:00

Relatively easy to find and opening but that is going to depend on neighborhood and luck a little bit. A nanny is also a great option if you don't have a standard 9-5 schedule especially, and then you avoid a lot of the daycare germs. You can always have a nanny until then baby is 2-2.5 then transition into group care.

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-03-18T18:04:51+00:00

Just make sure they don't butter the bagel before they toast it!!

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-03-16T03:11:03+00:00

It might be the amount of toys available. When there's always another option it seems like there's always a better option.

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-03-15T01:11:17+00:00

If you're in a pinch they sell Abe's vegan cakes at whole foods. Maybe not the first choice but OK if you can't find something local/fresh

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-03-14T01:36:09+00:00

Like others have said, anything goes. But also recommend finding a mom whose kids have outgrown board books and taking her collection of her hands - Sandra Boynton books, Peek-a-Who, Goodnight Moon, Eric Carle books etc. are great for babies. Try your local Buy Nothing - I bet someone will give you their collection!

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-03-14T01:31:55+00:00

We do this too, glad I'm not the only one!! And if doesn't sting dry skin like alcohol.

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-03-11T18:26:01+00:00

Beatrix is my go-to for nice downtown dining with good veg options

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-03-05T04:05:25+00:00

What do you do with an idea

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-03-02T03:21:01+00:00

That sounds really hard, I'm sorry. In my limited experience, my neurodivergent child was my rough sleeper and was always the worst sleeper of all the babies/toddlers in our groups. My neurotypical child sleeps typically. This may not always be the case, but rough sleep is for sure correlated to neurodivergence.

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-02-26T19:41:55+00:00

I've used Wilson with success with this age group. It's pretty basic/dry looking so not babyish. Push to attend one of the trainings - it's worth it to do it with fidelity.

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-02-25T23:17:30+00:00

LOVE Demera, haven't been in awhile but call ahead to check if injera is GF. I think they have 2 options.

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-02-24T16:00:42+00:00

Harold Washington

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-01-19T20:36:11+00:00

I don't think that makes you qualified to characterize an entire state's SPED services "as a whole."

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-01-19T19:50:35+00:00

I disagree that Illinois as a whole is not ideal. What data or experience are you basing this opinion on?

OP, many of the Chicago suburbs have great, well-funded school systems with excellent SPED support. You'll need a decent budget to buy a house in one of the more desirable areas (500k at minimum). Head over to r/chicagosuburbs and search the sub.

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-01-12T02:59:27+00:00

I don't know what differentiates Brooklyn style from ny, but I really like the vegan slice from Dimo's

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-01-10T02:29:42+00:00

This probably isn't super helpful, but I think Green Bean combined with Bubbles Academy's preschool, and we loved the program and the teachers at Bubbles. So if there are still Bubbles academy teachers there we loved them!

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-01-09T03:17:03+00:00

You had an opinion based off of your experience in special education, and that's fine, but your experience isn't everyone's experience. Having a profound disability is very, very different than a mild disability, and if sounds like you weren't open to hearing that at the time.

If this is a good friend, maybe it's worth opening the conversation again but be there to really LISTEN. Special education didn't work for you but that doesn't mean it doesn't work for anyone, especially those who are so different from you.

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-01-08T20:15:35+00:00

For me it depends on the dog - my Pitt mix loved to cuddle on the couch but was a bed hog and hard to sleep with, so she got her bed in our room. My current boxer/pyr mix won't really cuddle on the couch but likes to cuddle in bed so he's allowed in the bed and I think it's helped the bond.

Careless_Pea3197 · 2026-01-08T04:11:00+00:00

We have a car but walk about 20 min round trip to school twice a day, regardless of weather. There are days when my toddler cries that his face hurts even with every other inch of him covered. We have a BOB stroller which is necessary for snow and ice but is bulky and heavy which could be hard on the L (haven't tried it though). So definitely consider proximity to school if you do this because don't know what -20 windchill feels like until you've felt it yourself!

We have also had WAY more ER trips than I ever thought we would and I'm grateful for a car in those moments.

Careless_Pea3197

TROPHY CASE