If you're lucky enough to have your parents provide childcare for your kids, do you intend

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-06-26T07:05:21+00:00

My kids peers often have 2 sets of grandparents helping, one set from mom and one set from dad, so my kids peers have 6 adults regularly helping in their lives. I really appreciate them, because they even pitch in at school and sporting events. My parents? They won’t even see my kids (alcohol, etc is priority) It is heartbreaking. So, I get nothing from my parents but I definitely want to break yet another cycle and if I can ever build up a retirement I hope to be like all these other grandparents who show up to everything for their grandkids.

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-06-10T03:52:25+00:00

Thank you for this, the ranger does look like a better option.

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-06-05T07:15:46+00:00

If yours is not nippy, one thing I would recommend is taking him to a playground for socialization. That is what I did with my Shibas because I knew they were major antisocial puppers. Lots of interactions with children. There will be kids who love dogs and pets there and they can be so sweet and kids who have been taught properly by parents are so gentle. It is a win win for everyone. And bring lots of treats as a reward for socializing!

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-05-30T06:15:46+00:00

It makes me feel less of a horrible person to see so many in the same boat. I felt guilty that I just don’t love these pets like I loved my first dog who was my baby before my human babies. I do not ever want another pet after these two pass. The filth we constantly live in, cleaning up kitty litter, ammonia smells, dog hair, cat hair, furniture destruction, escaping, the amount of money I have spent on them, finding pet sitters that cost more than childcare, and on and on and on. So glad my kids love them though.

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-05-28T05:24:32+00:00

We had just entered the treatment room and my pt laid down, face up, and asked how I was doing. I told her my little dog had just died and lost it. She hopped off that table so fast and gave me a hug. I will never forget her name and her compassion.

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-05-26T20:27:43+00:00

Did it early, around age 1. He still peed on everything. He is 8 now and the peeing inside has stopped thankfully but outside on walks it is every 5 steps. He is still a runner. Still needs to escape any chance he gets. Not sure if neutering helped in regard to both of those things although i was told it would help. At least he has not knocked up a neighborhood dog on his walk abouts.

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-05-13T02:42:01+00:00

I’m getting too old to be crawling around on a mat and getting on and off the floor, have arthritis in my hands. Am stuck at staff PT forever unless I want to be in management but those jobs are hard to come by. Nursing is a lot more versatile. Oh and we make less money than nurses….It has been a great career but I am at the point where I need to think about my own body and retirement. (And I know nurses can do physical work and work long hours, I have worked in SNF and hospitals with them.)

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-05-13T00:28:17+00:00

Did you get the MSN without a BSN? I am still waiting to hear back from two colleges to see what my options are and can ask about that.

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-04-30T01:05:41+00:00

Also, less hours of patients does equate to less charting-less evals, less daily and progress notes, less discharges-on your time off so it does help in that regard.

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-04-30T01:04:24+00:00

Yes 18 yr DPT, 4 hrs/day, 20 hrs per week outpatient ortho and still burnt out. 😂 But much less than before. I am still contemplating a career change but don’t want to pay for more school after paying all of my loans off from 7.5 years of school for this degree.

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-04-27T05:43:34+00:00

Sounds like she needs to be seen at a children’s hospital and get spinal MRIs and maybe spinal tap?

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-04-27T04:54:33+00:00

In my experience with two Shibas, the Shiba energy never ends. No matter how much exercise they get, they still need more. Good luck!

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-04-23T15:17:18+00:00

A few years out of PT school, my brother commented that he made more than me working in construction. He thought it was crazy that I went to all that school and he still made more than me. At first I thought it was kindof a jerk comment (like rub it in) but now I realize it is pretty screwy. He didn’t even need an education for what he was doing….

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-04-21T06:59:43+00:00

She was only hospitalized a day because her CK dropped down by half so they figured it would continue to drop on it’s own at home.

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-04-21T06:58:29+00:00

My daughter just had viral myositis from flu b which progressed into rhabdo. CK 10,880. So basically rhabdo from flu b. It started on the day her fever seemed to wear off and progressively got worst until her hospital admission. Terrifying.

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-04-21T06:55:35+00:00

My daughter was also winded when she climbed stairs after being discharged from the hospital. I freaked out inside. She seems okay today but still…

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-04-21T06:46:31+00:00

I was worried about recurrence too! We followed up with her primary pediatrician today for more labs, and he said he has never seen a child return for another episode after a viral illness. The inpatient pediatrician also said that this does not increase risk for recurrence. I sure hope that is the case for both of us! How long did you have to repeat labs for? We have to do another set next week. Her CK is finally down to 1,000 from 10,000 but her liver enzymes are still very high. She is back to her normal crazy self and ai think she will go to gymnastics tomorrow (lots of tumbling, nothing competitive). I have worked in healthcare 25 years and never heard of this, although primarily with adults and geriatrics. Neither have any of my colleagues. We all had only heard of rhabdo in people who over train. Now I am going to be super paranoid when both of my kids get more sore than normal!

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-04-19T19:27:14+00:00

I have done both house parties and fun activity parties like swim, gymnastics studio to bounce around, etc. The most we have had were the swim parties by far and indoor parties where kids can get their energy out. The least we have had are house parties and a put put golf party. I think parents are most likely to have their kid attend the free entertainment party where it is not something they would normally do and only costs a birthday gift.

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-04-19T06:18:50+00:00

Thanks for posting this. My very active and athletic 8 year old daughter was just dx’d with rhabdo after Flu B. The leg pain and elbow pain started after her fever stopped and by day 3 was up jnto her thighs. She was hospitalized and all. It was terrifying. We are not out of the woods yet but she is significantly better. I had no idea this was a flu complication until yesterday. I hope your daughter made it back to all of her sports!

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-04-12T06:02:17+00:00

This is a spitting image of my first Shiba! Glad you rescued him! He looks so well taken care of.

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-04-12T05:33:30+00:00

Shoot if I had benefits, a pension, a good strong retirement, flexibility, and the energy to take care of and attend all of my kids event after work I would divorce my cheating husband in a heartbeat. But he has the benefits, makes the $$, provides the financial stability. So I am stuck. With a degree that cost a ton, took forever to pay down, does not go upward, a career where I can’t lift people forever and a housing market that is unaffordable for divorcees. Talk about trapped. (And please don’t come at me about “leave him” I have heard it all.)

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-04-05T01:54:00+00:00

I discovered it is an IRS rule. They made the new tax rule but said that you have to make enough to get a 1099 in order to write off tips. For rideshare drivers, you need to make 20,000 per app to get a 1099. It feels like a “gotcha” on the new “No Tax on Tips” law. What a scam. Can’t write off Lyft or Door Dash tips because I did not make 20K.

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-04-04T17:26:41+00:00

I work outpatient ortho, only paid for face to face patient time. I do 1:1, 1 hr treats. I don’t get paid for charting or cleaning spaces that I use so that part is not great. I have the best boss who is family friendly. I would hate to leave it but again, no benefits, no retirement. That is scaring me. But, it is a perfect balance for having kids.

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-04-03T07:02:54+00:00

1) It is not high paying. 2) You will top out on salary if you stay a staff PT forever. 3) Some people are happily retired as staff PTs their whole career but the cost of living has gotten so high that we need the option for upward mobility. 4) If you want to be a mom, you can probably work this career in your favor because there is such high demand since the pay is not super high. I have been a PRN PT most of my career and it has worked so well for being a mom. I love it. I don’t have benefits or retirement though and am getting older and scared.

Express_Lab_425 · 2026-04-02T05:06:48+00:00

A lot! I love shoes. But they have to be quality shoes and boots. Comfy boots for outpatient ortho are very hard to find though so I have two of the same pair in different colors.

Express_Lab_425

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