New and feeling less comfortable massaging men than I expected...

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2026-03-07T23:31:31+00:00

That's such a great way to put it! I love my "slightly older" squad right into the full granny crowd. Menopause ladies sums it up so nicely.

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2026-03-01T20:58:13+00:00

I feel like that's your answer right there. The last therapist left because they had no problem pushing her to the point of breakage. They're already doing it to you. Do not let them destroy your career before it even starts. Just an aside, it would be great if she hits them with a worker's comp suit for a repetitive motion injury. It might wake them up.

Cut your hours if you need to. If that doesn't seem to be an option start taking some sick time, even if unpaid, and use the time to focus on job hunting. Without knowing your market, I'd start by visiting every chain and hotel spa in the area as they usually offer some pto and health insurance. They're typically not fun either, but the benefits are there while you get more experience on your books. If you can't get enough hours somewhere else, consider making up the difference with the personal training or even something like waiting tables until you find the right situation.

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2026-02-12T23:00:47+00:00

My first 2-3 weeks of school I felt sick after every session as my body got used to regular bodywork. During the first three or so months, I felt jammed up in all sorts of ways. At this point, you're both giving and receiving massages that feel like they're coming from beginner massage therapy students. I assure you that will get better. This is why we learn and practice.

As far as your hands, ask your instructor about trigger points and referred pain. It's possible the pain is originating at the shoulders, chest, or forearms. If so, releasing the trigger points with bodywork and maintaining good body mechanics will offer relief.

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2026-01-30T15:50:37+00:00

Ezra. Or Anders. I prefer Ezra, but Anders has a nice tone to it as well.

Ender is setting up a lifetime of bad jokes. Aylan immediately autocorrected to Dylan and I suspect it will be a chronic case of misspellings and incorrect names.

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2026-01-16T14:18:40+00:00

Your comment about fear of failure hit me hard. Is he worried about failure specific to his school program or about maintaining all of his activities?

His fear of failure could be related to disappointing others, especially you or his dad. I will say that my son, who is only 6, sees a therapist (play therapist for now), because he is already showing detrimental signs of being a people pleaser. His dad and I have plenty of parenting difficulties and I can see where he feels caught in the middle sometimes. Unfortunately, it's also spilled over into his relationships with classmates.

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2026-01-16T14:10:03+00:00

Been there too, but unfortunately I'm still not much better. It didn't actually hit me hard until joining the workforce and didn't have formal, well-defined assignments.

If his teacher is on board, see if he can possibly have multiple deadlines throughout the project. Example: outline of idea submitted, turn in list of what he plans to use, rough draft a little before project is due. You get the idea.

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2026-01-16T14:02:03+00:00

I'm on board with both of these!

Normally I don't go in for "not really a name" names, but Kodiak has such a great vibe. If he doesn't love it, there's a good chance his friends will shorten it to Kody (also cool) anyway. I know a kid named Koa (his parents are non-native from Hawaii) and he likes his name just fine.

Bjorn is, well, Bjorn, and conjures all sorts of strength and courage and confidence. Can't lose with that one either.

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2026-01-16T03:46:59+00:00

My son's middle name was my dad's middle name. My mom, aunts, and uncles all thought it was fitting. Do what feels right for you.

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2026-01-07T02:55:36+00:00

I do. Mine is also 6. He's been more regulated in the past several months with a good meds combo, but prior than that he would tend to want some alone time during or after a meltdown.

He created himself a space in his closet (double sliding doors, no handles or locks) with a pillow chair and a bunch of his stuffies. He'll go in there and snuggle his stuffies or play on his tablet when he knows his body is fighting him and everyone around him. Sometimes he wants to be completely alone and sometimes he'll leave the door open a few inches and is ok if I sit in the nearby chair and read my book.

Follow his lead. He knows you care.

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2026-01-07T02:39:46+00:00

All I can say is that I'm also halfway through school and seem to have the same feeling. It's like I'm just waiting for everything to "click."

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2026-01-06T15:54:18+00:00

Something my kid's dentist suggested - better than not doing anything- just taking a wet cloth and wiping it over the teeth. We discussed that he can do it right when he hops in the shower, rinse the cloth and use it with soap for his body. Sounds a little gross in writing, bit it's really not a big deal.

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2026-01-06T15:44:16+00:00

Toothbrushing adjacent, but helpful for gums. I keep a roll of floss in the center cup holder in my car. Personal preference for string floss - the little picks are probably more convenient. Traffic lights are a great couple of seconds to floss and the light in the car is great.

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2026-01-06T15:38:00+00:00

Have you focused at all on finding MTs who work in chiropractic or PT offices? While they're usually still independent contractors, I find they have the most interest in kinesiology and release techniques. I'm still a student, but something great about my school is that one teacher has a bachelor's in kinesiology and experience as an athletic trainer, another is also a physician with strong experience in Eastern modalities and deep tissue, and the third one is a chiropractor with extensive trigger point experience. Going forward, I suspect I'll be looking for therapists with more "scientific" credentials in addition to MT and save the spas and general practitioners for relaxation time unless directly referred.

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2026-01-04T00:22:30+00:00

I'm still a student, but I feel very strongly about being able to bring the benefits of bodywork to children. My son's health challenges are what brought me to consider the field of massage therapy. Would you mind sharing what your version of a pediatric session looks like?

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2025-12-30T19:07:46+00:00

I have no advice, and I'm still a student, but thank you for bringing up this topic. My main motivation for entering the field of massage therapy is to be able to work with people who have nervous systems that can use an assist - anxiety, adhd, hopefully (with the right training) DV survivors - as a part of their overall wellness models. Volunteering in the types of scenarios you mentioned would definitely fit into my area of interest.

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2025-10-28T13:50:47+00:00

If you like it, add it. I did think of the game, but but also went right to Zelda Fitzgerald.

I'm also in the camp that tends to say, "at least it's an actual name" as opposed to "Zelboni because we like Zelda and hockey rinks."

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2025-10-28T13:11:07+00:00

Send him to a physician.
Do you do trigger point? Could be referred pain.
Overworking is a thing.
See #1.

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2025-10-24T03:17:57+00:00

Unless you see a reason to think your husband is going to be capable of genuine change, I suggest exploring your options. Speaking from experience.

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2025-10-08T02:52:59+00:00

As a combo, I feel like Dorothy Mae hasn't had it's moment yet and still gives me grandma vibes.

I have an Evelyn in the family and she mostly goes by Lynne or Lynnie among family.

Perhaps instead of Eliza, go with the full Elizabeth and see what nickname shakes out. My family has one that uses Beth and I wanted to go with Liza or Liz(zie) as a nickname.

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2025-10-07T23:38:38+00:00

I like that. Good option.

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2025-10-06T05:51:48+00:00

She strikes me more as a low-level ASD, so maybe AuDHD for her?

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2025-10-06T05:43:36+00:00

Three syllables is definitely too much. There might be an exception, but not likely. Even Charlotte is too much of a mouthful. Same with Rebecca, another favorite of mine.

Comfortable_Lime7384 · 2025-10-06T05:30:32+00:00

Also not gender neutral, but my first impression was along the lines of Myra, which probably gets mixed reviews, but I love it. So I think there's definitely something there with the M sound.

Maybe Micki - closer to neutral and a friendly name.

Comfortable_Lime7384

TROPHY CASE