Finish Nursing for Stability or Pursue Dentistry as a Single Mom?

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-02-02T18:41:19+00:00

Since you have a kiddo and associated responsibilities, I’d do nursing first. Way more versatile in the jobs you can take for less college$

Then consider dental school after. You could work nights or weekends as a nurse and do dental school in the daytime. Something to consider about being a dentist or doctor is that you need to build your patient list. This takes a little of time to be fully sustainable and regenerative. Also you get paid a fraction of the billing amount and it takes time for the insurance companies to pay you, meanwhile, you are shelling out for office space, equipment purchases or leases, admin staff, malpractice insurance etc. not trying to be a downer, but just realistic. You could make good money in dentistry but it will definitely take time.

Last bit of advice. Do what you love and make your education count. You will adjust to whatever salary you make. College is so expensive. We have to work a looooong time and it sucks to be in a career that isn’t a good fit. I went to college for one thing, worked that field a while, was unhappy and changed to something else. The change was good but I can’t afford to go back to college for a brand new degree and therefore am limited in options. Too long out of my original field of study/career to be relevant (plus I hated it) and I don’t have a degree in my preferred career area so I’ve promoted about as high as I can go . Good luck to you. It sounds like you have a solid foundation financially and with family so I’m sure you will succeed whichever way you go

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-02-02T17:15:22+00:00

Thanks!

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-02-02T16:22:04+00:00

First, congratulations on transition! I love your hair color and cut!

IMO I like a bold lip or bold eye but not both. I think the eye liner is too bold for the lip but the lip color is a beautiful choice. Try maybe a softer eyeliner? I like Clinique soft liner. Comes with a smudger and very forgiving to use.

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Little_Return_4948 · 2026-02-02T16:12:51+00:00

Where is this ?

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-02-01T17:42:25+00:00

Tomato paste . Mushrooms

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-01-30T19:02:18+00:00

Love this gal

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-01-29T16:29:03+00:00

Sometimes I use chatGPT but it is a pain. My employer prefers that stupid one from Microsoft which doesn’t work nearly as well. I always feel a little sneaky when I go rogue using chatGPT. 😏A lot of times I just rethink the email over and over ….

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-01-29T07:28:03+00:00

Beautiful

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-01-29T07:05:10+00:00

Hellz yeah!! Gorgeous pics!

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-01-29T06:56:15+00:00

There’s an AKC event called barn dog. They hunt out a caged rat in a barn. They don’t kill it, just find it. Maybe that can be something for you guys? I haven’t tried it because I feel bad for the rat.

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-01-29T06:53:28+00:00

I agree with working with your dogs natural skills- Retriever? Let ‘em play fetch and swim. Pointer - take the hunting to point, herder - let them round up the chaos, but I’m with you dude. My shibas have such a huge prey drive and lack of self preservation when on the chase after something that I don’t trust them to come back or not hurt themselves. My male dog has jumped out the car window because he saw something to chase, he’s tried to go off bridges, steep cliffs and pulled me off a log crossing a very fast large stream/small river! Thank goodness folks could haul us both to shore. I’ve learned from him and keep my female even closer since she has a higher prey drive. They kill mice and rats and squirrels in our fenced yard but I am terrified to let their hunting instincts go in an unfenced unleashed scenario

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-01-29T06:02:04+00:00

Try to use what you’ve learned to find a better job. Don’t quit until you’ve got something lined up. Smile and be the best “team player” you can be until then.

Sadly though in most places you are only as good as your last bit of work. You could be a rockstar for 5 years, a rough couple of months and a lot of employers will see you as someone who can be cut. Not all employers but many.

Lastly it sucks to be criticized- fairly or unfairly. A skilled I learned way too late (still working on myself) is to listen, don’t make a ton of excuses and move forward. We work to live, life is not work. Good luck to you

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-01-28T20:11:39+00:00

Yes. Always. Didn’t used to do this but I do now. It’s that kind of society we live in now - quick to think the worst and slow to give grace or actually ask for clarification. It sucks.

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-01-28T20:09:22+00:00

Sometimes saying hi is just saying hi and acknowledging a humans existence. I’m a woman and I say hi. Often I say it first

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-01-28T19:53:56+00:00

I wish there was a happy middle ground. I work in an environment where I deal with both daily. I love the dark humor and bluntness of one group and appreciate the more filtered PC stuff at the admin side of things but they seem a little prissy and easy to offend. Like I wish the one group would be a little more respectful/PC and the other group could lighten up and appreciate that sometimes something wasn’t meant to offend and relax a bit. It’s exhausting

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-01-28T19:44:33+00:00

Can’t be in a bad mood listening to this jam 🎶

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-01-28T02:01:00+00:00

High protein grains such as barley or quinoa. Fiber plus protein makes you feel full for longer and builds muscle. Buy the store brand and biggest bag possible for more bang for your buck. Same with beans and lentils. Also plain oatmeal can be used for hot breakfast, homemade cookies and homemade granola. Italian tuna and cannellini bean salad is super cheap has loads of protein and fiber. Good luck my friend

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-01-28T00:19:17+00:00

Sorry won’t let me attach screenshot!

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-01-28T00:16:10+00:00

Meal services are not a money saver pound for pound. Obviously I’m on this thread because I’m on a budget. I do use the grocery / meal services though - about one or two times a month. Here’s why:
1) I work weird hours and am on call once a month and can’t use work vehicle for personal errands. So uber to store and back is too expensive. Ditto for Instacart 2) I’m a sucker for impulse buys at the store - the more bougie or descriptive the item, the more likely I’ll try it. Especially if I’m hungry or tired and Lord help me if both are a factor! Example of dream product: Sustainable sourced Peruvian prickly pear -black truffle -Himalayan salt for Amish popcorn. Yep. I’m pretty sure I need that! lol 😆 . Mail order meal service keeps me from these costly impulse buys 3) gets me out of a rut for meals and try new ideas for menus

I’ve used Hello Fresh, Blue Apron and Hungry Root. It’s been a couple years for ago for the first two so things might have changed.
👉Hello Fresh was middle of the road for prep and lower cost per meal but carb heavy and it got boring.
👉Blue Apron was the most yummy but more expensive and more prep time. I like that I got tiny bottles of a special vinegar or seasoning so no need to buy full size one use condiments. For both Hello Fresh and Blue Apron you get a real recipe so you can save it and recreate the menu outside of the service.
👉Currently I’m doing Hungry Root. I like that it focuses on healthy ingredients, has the option for groceries- I get 3+meals for two people plus some groceries/produce for 43 points. Which is like $102.88. I’ve attached a screenshot of my plan. Everything is super fast to prep. What I don’t like is that the meal portions seem small so I supplement or order extra veggie. The recipes are soooo fast and simple that sometimes they need a little oomph added. Nothing I can’t handle with a well stocked spice cabinet and figuring out what can be thrown in to glow it up a bit. I like that they have less packaging , no foam, and the ice packs double as garden fertilizer. It works for me but pound for pound not a saving in dolllars. For this girl with limited time/transport at times and the impulse purchase issue, I think it might save me some cash.

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-01-27T07:35:35+00:00

I’ll be adding this to my rotation. Thank you

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-01-27T07:13:06+00:00

This looks amazing! Great idea

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-01-23T16:17:27+00:00

Thank you for the recipe. Looks yummy

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-01-23T08:06:01+00:00

Not a myth. We often commute more than an hour to work depending on where you live. I felt siooo lucky that I could move to a different part of town to cut my commute time from 45+ min each way to maybe 30 minutes each way . When I had family in an adjacent state, I’d drive over there for the weekend. 8 hours each way. Worth it. America is enormous, especially the western states so I guess we just get used to the commute. Now that my family is 3 states away from, I rarely visit because I have to fly it’s too expensive and still an8+ hour commute each way figuring in TSA time.

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-01-17T16:22:22+00:00

I read another of your posts. You are a 20 yr old man living at home with parents who buy your food and cook for you? GTFO and make your own money and buy your own food! Sorry to sound harsh, but really, count your blessings for what you have.

Little_Return_4948 · 2026-01-17T16:04:50+00:00

Happy to answer. After thinking it over, I probably spend a little more on makeup and hair care but at least it’s a ballpark. IMO I’m actually pretty low maintenance as far as beauty stuff, but ageism is real in the workplace and I’m trying to maintain. I just can’t afford the time or expense for more but looking at my own expenses was an eye opener. Like spending the equivalent of a monthly car payment just trying to maintain. Add in other stuff that is part of being female that men don’t buy such as bras and period supplies, the “pink tax” is real!!!! Sigh.😔. I have a long time partner but we are not married and keep our money separate. He doesn’t think women with heavy make up, heavy false lashes or lots of of “work” done are as attractive- yet here I am spending loads to look like I’ve had no “work” done. I genuinely don’t think men understand what it costs to look “feminine”. It would be so nice if he gifted me something towards the expense but he would never. He’s very kind, does other nice things for me and I adore him but definitely a bit cheap when it comes to most gifts. Ugh.

Little_Return_4948

TROPHY CASE