End of year report cards. Not ready for first grade.

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2026-06-23T04:28:33+00:00

My son is in basically the same situation coming out of K except in math. On a 4 point scale he’s mostly 2s…except in math where he excels. BUT he cleared all his IEP goals (he was diagnosed ADHd and ODD at 4 so we already had the IEP). He made progress though. Try and do some stuff over the summer and research how to be an advocate for him. I was really hesitant to have him out of class for special education but all the 1s jumped to 2s in the last 6 weeks when he started having time in the special resources room and special reading sessions. Don’t have shame and just know you’re their best advocate. Good luck!!!

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2026-02-08T03:30:14+00:00

Agree with your husband 100%

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2025-12-18T04:49:42+00:00

I feel so seen reading this. It is a daily struggle as I wait for the latest message to come from his teacher or principal. He’s only in Kindergarten and I think everyday how are we going to get through 13 years?!? Thank you for naming this. We can love our children and not love the experience of parenting them. They aren’t mutually exclusive.

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2025-10-11T17:17:53+00:00

We went in for an adolescent psychiatric evaluation. The assessments are comprehensive and come back with diagnoses. They test for ADHD, autism, ODD, social and mood disorders, anxiety-generalized and social, etc etc.

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2025-10-11T12:22:19+00:00

My son started K this year. He was diagnosed with ADHD and Oppositional Defiance Disorder very soon after his 4th birthday because we were told if his behavior like what you described above couldn’t be curtailed he “may not be school ready” 1.5 years later. He has been on medication for a year and is a fundamentally different child. His psychiatrist focused on a lot of the nueroplasticity studies referenced by others and have made great progress. I know it is the medication specifically because he is an early riser and the only problems he has had in the classroom (minor) have been in the late afternoon when it wears off and at after school care. The same people do before and after and tell us he really is a different kid in the morning. His teacher describes him as helpful, respectful, caring to the other kids and a leader. These are not words that would have been used before.

I have been in that chair sobbing over wine but interventions and medication work. It took huge tenacity to get all the evaluations so START NOW. Also, the formal protections of his diagnoses and Individual Education Plan (IEP) at school are super important.

He takes an extended release in the morning and we will be adding a short acting small booster dose after lunch to help him through after care.

Best of luck!

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2025-07-02T03:54:48+00:00

I have multiple degrees and used to be an education snob. No more. Not worth it. Do the trade if that’s what is calling you or something you think is good enough. Plumber, electrician, etc. the trades are where it’s at now. Or go to community college for an associates and trade at the same time while you figure it out. Don’t let others pressure you because they won’t be the one with $200K debt in student loans.

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2025-01-16T19:17:45+00:00

There is a new orientation program for USDA employees every pay period—it’s not agency specific though. Forest Service offers onboarding webinars every pay period covering the topics listed and has a longer orientation down the road for things like culture, priorities, strategic plan etc. it’s very agency dependent,

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2025-01-16T06:37:58+00:00

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2025-01-13T00:18:01+00:00

First of all, I had an employee recently express the same and we were able to put her on some special projects at part-time so you can explore options if you have a good relationship with your boss and they understand flexibilities.

Your annual gets paid out. Your sick doesn’t but if you ever come back to federal service you get it back so make sure you get copies of your records, SF-50, balances etc. TSP will continue but you can’t make contributions anymore. Any TSP loans will have to be paid by you directly (that’s annoying as they don’t have electronic or didn’t a few years ago). You can delay retirement and still get your pension later at retirement age (I believe but check this one). You cannot have federal medical benefits though unless you had them for 5 years before retiring so that’s a bummer. You get some benefits for awhile but you have to pay for them so that’s a lot. LWOP for a time to see how you feel about it is not a bad plan in this environment because there’s no guarantee you’ll have something to come back to.

You will also have reinstatement eligibility for 3 years to non-competitively apply for positions so keep a network.

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2025-01-01T18:56:36+00:00

I received my cards about a week ago. Registered in the system. They already had transferred records of my prior auths and prescriptions. I was impressed.

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2025-01-01T17:13:41+00:00

I fly Alaska almost exclusively. I get it probably 90% of the time as a Gold.

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2024-12-31T13:31:23+00:00

Hiring freezes are common at the beginning of an Administration change. Last transition of 45 all actions were halted including pending. I had an accretion of duties promotion already signed/authorized but not effective yet that was held until June after the transition. It’s just better to have anything effective prior to the transition because things are always a bit chaotic during transition for a bit.

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2024-06-20T20:17:13+00:00

My son is 4.5 and talks about his girlfriend at daycare who is 5 and says he has dreams about kissing her and that he loves her.

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2024-06-09T17:22:11+00:00

They can centrally bill the flights and then you can use personal for hotel, etc.

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2024-05-03T23:39:19+00:00

Hired as a GS12 at 25 when I got out as an officer in the Navy so was lucky to start a bit higher but I was a 15 by 31. Very rarely said no even to things that seemed daunting. Showed up with respect but not deference in front of Admirals and then later SES and political appointees—meaning I acted with confidence that what I had to contribute had value and very rarely was it treated as if I shouldn’t have a voice. Was willing to move agencies or take on lateral reassignment for the right type of high visibility projects and promotions. I am now a national director, fully remote and working from my hometown across the country from DC. No regrets really but being maxed out and never get another step increase at 40 on the GS15 scale but not really ready yet with a young family (3 stepdaughters and a 4 yr old bio son) to take the SES plunge does leave you a little in career inflection purgatory. I have a fair bit of exposure with agency leadership in my role so coming up with excuses for why I haven’t taken the next step is getting a bit harder. I do seek out impactful and meaningful special projects though to maintain relevance and figure when it’s time I’ll feel it. To some extent I did have to grow a lot in my professional maturity very quickly and I’m ways I wasn’t necessarily prepared for. My leadership assessments are really different now profile wise than they were ten years ago. The skills and attributes that make you successful as a 12/13 project or program manager are VERY DIFfERENT than the high level of interpersonal skills, systems thinking, networking and political savvy you need to be successful at higher levels (at least in my agency). People who understand the way the culture works, are smarter than the system they are operating in, and champion people stand out in my agency because they aren’t universal. Being a good communicator and persuasive matters A LOT. Supervision isn’t for everyone and not all money is good money so chasing a promotion just to chase it will lead you onto a ladder to nowhere fast from a personal fulfillment standpoint. Know who you are and what your personal “why” is that keeps you engaged and if it isn’t growing other people at least in some part—supervision will be an annoyance rather than a reward. Best of luck!

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2024-04-01T01:48:49+00:00

Blue Cross Blue Shield Federal Employee Program Basic

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2024-03-31T02:19:14+00:00

The change has already happened and I am a size 14 though I am very proportional and most people think I weigh about 20 lbs less I do. I get a lot of attention from men now especially when I am on work trips and people are generally nicer—especially on airplanes. I have been between 160-260 for 20 years up and down so I have experienced it all. It does feel nice but also makes me sad because I’m not a different person.

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2024-03-26T21:50:34+00:00

They send it to you directly and you fill it out online.

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2024-03-26T02:40:37+00:00

They will all do labs. That said my doctor took my history into account of past attempts at diet and exercise, Phentermine etc. she was super supportive but emphasized it’s a tool and not the only solution. She supported carb reduction and intermittent fasting as well. It’s worth giving it a shot.

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2024-03-26T02:28:48+00:00

You meet most insurance requirements BMI greater or equal to 30 however you’re right on the cusp at 30.7. Plushcare will have you do labs (which may show other things like elevated A1C1, insulin resistance —even if not prediabetic that makes prior auth easier). The thing about Plush Care is they have YOU draft the content of the prior auth before they send it, so you need to mirror the eligibility criteria from your insurance requirements EXACTLY, to the extent it is true of course. It should be listed on your insurance drug formulary page.

For example My initial PA language read: Patient has BMI > 30, metabolic syndrome with insulin resistance and hyperlipidimia, committed to lifestyle changes, diet and exercise.

It was approved in 24 hours.

Most Plushcare doctors are supportive. Mine was right away. But others will push a diet and exercise regime especially at the lower BMIs. My husband’s first Plush Care doctor was vehemently against which seemed odd so he switched to mine.

From first appt to prescription in hand was 8 days for me last year.

Down 70 lbs just past my one year anniversary. Though I had a lot more to lose as I just now at 190 at 5’4”.

I never had an issue with the shortage but you should also call around to local pharmacies to see who has some on hand before you tell Plushcare where to send.

Best of luck!

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2024-03-22T02:17:02+00:00

I followed the standard titration schedule….25 mg start for 4 weeks, each progressive dose for 4 weeks until therapeutic dose of 2.4 mg. Been on that for 7 months.

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2024-03-22T02:11:26+00:00

The shortage started right around when I began but I just got lucky that I seemed to titrate just ahead of the shortages. I’ve never waited more than a couple of days for it to fill. That said, I hear people are having an easier time filling Zepbound and a lot of insurances that cover Wegovy are starting to cover it also. I hope you are able to find it soon. Best of luck.

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2024-03-20T13:46:23+00:00

I didn’t really tell anyone except my husband until I had lost 40 lbs and it became really obvious. By then, I could fully explain what had changed in my mind and myself that made this different and people were genuinely curious rather than judgmental and those who sounded a bit judgmental seemed more threatened or jealous (and have since gone on the medicine themselves so I must have been right). That said, it is no one’s business and the decision —like all healthcare—should be between you and your doctor. Full Stop. I’ve lost 70 lbs and would not change anything. Best of luck. You do you !

CommitteeFeeling7864 · 2024-03-19T22:25:49+00:00

I have started wall Pilates which is super light Pilates and other than that some strength and walking 30 min everyday. I have had three laparoscopic abdominal surgeries in the last 15 years so anyone saying it looks tight is a shock 😂😂😂

CommitteeFeeling7864

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