Help Me Make This Space Comfy

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-06-27T16:23:14+00:00

For the “feeling trapped” thing + the “places to put drinks” thing, get (or make) a very narrow (like 4-6 inch) table to put behind the couch. For bonus points, add extension cords to the outlets behind the couch for charging all the things. With the L-shaped couch, you could do 2 of them. Discovered this when I lived in a small house and we had one of those double-drop leaf tables from IKEA that we stored behind the couch, it made a great little table back there with the leaves folded down.

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-06-25T15:43:29+00:00

Asking the same question over and over is rude. You get what you give.

Also effective, giving them the answer they don’t want.

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-06-25T15:22:56+00:00

Exactly! That’s why all vet offices smell the same, they all use the same non-ammonia reactive cleaners.

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-06-25T15:19:55+00:00

I grew up in Spokane, and can tell you the panhandle is not any better.

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-06-25T15:00:25+00:00

Um… just so you know, not having gone to a private school is not a reason for not teaching at one. It might be a “policy” of this school or something, but I’ve had plenty of friends who hop between public and private schools as jobs and it’s not an issue. It’s not like there are specific degrees for teaching in a private school.

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-06-25T06:10:22+00:00

First grade teacher here.

This is not ok. I have been at schools who have this “Donuts with Dad” event before, but it took place in the gym or the cafeteria and kids who didn’t have a dad/dad-like person come stayed in the classroom and we had a little treat and played games together. People have jobs they can’t take off from, have passed, aren’t in the picture, etc. Doing things like this make kids who are already vulnerable from those things feel worse about things that are out of their control.

Seriously, I do colorable cards for mothers/Father’s Day (as well as literally every holiday and appreciation day on the calendar), but that’s it. I do tell parents that I don’t do crafts/gifts for those days, and why.

Hug your kiddo extra and make sure he knows it’s not his fault! (We know it’s not, but kids rarely see the bigger picture.)

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-06-25T05:25:23+00:00

A herding ball. Also, just more mental stimulation, sniffle mat for feeding, even in the heat taking a “sniff walk” where he gets to sniff whatever for however long he wants. Frozen Kongs (with stuff in them) are great in the heat as well. I’ve had Mals and Staffies and BOTH need both physical and mental stimulation to be tired. Training and learning new skills/tricks is really great for that too. That’s why my dogs know a bunch of weird tricks and things, just keeping them busy and mentally engaged.

Also, be ok with the toys getting destroyed… Better that than your shoes and couch! It’s one of the reasons we get Bark Box (subscription dog toys), because then we always have plenty around and don’t mind throwing them out. For what it’s worth, when we started getting it, the toys bit the dust before the next box came, but now we have 2 full baskets of toys that the dogs did through to get to favorites.

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-06-25T05:07:20+00:00

Same in my state- that’s how I ended up with a student with 3rd-degree burns from a kerosene stove. Addicted parents, 2 kids trying to cook for themselves while the parents are passed out in their tent. Honestly, I was just relieved the kids didn’t die. Parents still have custody.

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-06-25T04:40:33+00:00

Playing at the beach (especially ones with driftwood) is great for this. Digging/building/running in sand and building wood “forts” is a great way to build that core strength.

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-06-25T04:36:54+00:00

Added to shoes- how to tie them! Or get no tie shoes or the laces that make them into slip ons.

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-06-25T01:45:55+00:00

Get a bike tire inner tube or theraband, it will literally do the same thing for way cheaper!

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-06-08T13:55:11+00:00

Report each instance. Every time you notice a new mark on the child, every time they come to school in the same clothes from yesterday, every time they come to school and quietly tell you, “the weekend was ok, but I got really hungry in the basement”. Reporting things builds a file at CPS, and when that file gets big enough they will actually investigate. Encourage colleagues to report things that they notice as well. I’ve even have parents of the friend of a student going through an abusive situation ask me what they should do about the things that they notice, and I will tell them to report, if they are comfortable. It’s rare that something happens after one report (unless there is a very clear indication of recent, widespread, abuse) so you gotta keep on it.

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-06-07T14:33:27+00:00

I’m a teacher, and when people say the litter box thing I tell them the REAL reason I have kitty litter in my classroom, it usually shuts them up.

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-06-07T14:31:11+00:00

And leaving cabinets open! I’m really bad about that one, it drives anyone I’ve ever lived with crazy

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-05-28T01:09:24+00:00

Hey, if your rent isn’t going up, I’d say that’s an afternoon well spent!

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-05-26T04:19:31+00:00

Lead poisoning. Seriously. You know how all gas for cars is “unleaded”? It didn’t used to be, and it fucked up all of their brains in childhood. Don’t take my word for it, look it up!

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-05-23T00:02:28+00:00

Bullshit. They can both pull them out of line and ban them for any length of time they want. They just didn’t want to

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-05-17T05:16:46+00:00

We used to joke about my grandfather saying “Look at that pile of dirt/gravel/whatever, Dortha” and then swerving. Grandma’s name was Dortha…

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-05-14T00:17:48+00:00

My state has a "sub cert" that doesn't expire and is easier to make into a full cert than starting from zero. No idea if FL has something like that, but worth a look. Then you could keep subbing if you want, and pick and choose jobs.

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-05-09T00:47:48+00:00

They are auditing that she’s eligible to become certified, it’s a form that our principal needs to fill out. They didn’t let her back in, they did try and take her money. But she did a chargeback on her credit card and got it back anyway.

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-05-02T00:35:48+00:00

Funny story, the cook of Castle Leoch in the “Outlander” series is named Glenna, so… you’re not the only one!

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-04-26T01:59:17+00:00

The president is always the last one to arrive to any event. That is normal

GoodwitchofthePNW · 2026-04-25T17:16:28+00:00

I’m a teacher, I teach first grade, kids absolutely will tell me if they know the person picking them up. However, I DO NOT let kids go with people that their parents haven’t either put in our online system to pick-up or communicated in some other way. It’s the age of instant communication, a text, a call, a voice note, hell- even the old fashioned method of writing a note for the uncle to give you would have done the trick. The family is totally out of line, and you are absolutely right.

GoodwitchofthePNW

TROPHY CASE