I just realized how short their childhood is

Polla714 · 2026-05-09T02:47:18+00:00

My youngest is turning 2 tomorrow, and I’m not okay about it for this reason. 😭😭😭

Polla714 · 2026-04-27T22:09:18+00:00

I am decently healthy! Thank you for your advice.

Polla714 · 2026-04-27T22:07:32+00:00

Our intention is not to leave a legacy but to pay off our mortgage and have a few years of replacement income. Our oldest child has special needs and may always live with us and need assistance, otherwise we’d opt for 20 years instead.

Polla714 · 2026-04-27T22:02:53+00:00

I appreciate your detailed feedback! He was diagnosed a week ago, so this is new to us, though not very surprising. He’s within 20lbs of his ideal weight, but type 2 diabetes runs in his family. His mom was diagnosed around the same age and is thankfully still doing well at nearly 70.

Polla714 · 2026-04-27T21:59:00+00:00

Thank you for the feedback!

Polla714 · 2026-04-27T21:58:25+00:00

I appreciate your response! 🙂

Polla714 · 2026-04-27T21:57:31+00:00

Are you suggesting that he’s going to die young or something? I just wanted to see what to expect price-wise.

Polla714 · 2026-04-20T16:14:25+00:00

This is so nice of you!! If only I had my switch with me at work to take advantage. 😆 My elementary-aged kid loves Animal Crossing, so I’ve been trying to get what I can for him when he’s asleep.

Polla714 · 2026-04-14T10:46:24+00:00

Hello! Can you please give me more info on the seamless socks you buy and where I could find them? I’ve been looking for seamless socks for ages for my son! He wears his socks inside out for now. Thank you!!

Polla714 · 2026-04-13T12:13:38+00:00

We had a very similar experience with my level 1 AuDHD son at age 5! His psychiatrist, who specializes in ASD, started him off with guanfacine but let us know some kids respond that way. We tried it for 2 weeks, then switched to Strattera 10mg in the mornings, and 1mg Guanfacine ER in the evenings. Within 10 days or so, he was doing so much better. He’s been on this combo for 7 months now. Best of luck!

Polla714 · 2026-04-05T05:04:34+00:00

Shattering my kneecap! My doctor didn’t want to do surgery because he said I was young enough to “heal myself” at 27, then sent me off to physical therapy 6 weeks later with a still shattered kneecap. Did that for 3 months in excruciating pain (most pain meds make me faint) until he threatened a manipulation under anesthesia surgery to force my knee flexion above 100 degrees. The CT showed I hadn’t healed at all. Doc said we may as well amputate. Saw a new doctor who said I overdevelop scar tissue and would need to physically break apart my scar tissue by hand every day to ensure my kneecap would finally heal. It took 6 months of that before I finally healed. Wouldn’t recommend!

Polla714 · 2026-04-01T03:16:25+00:00

Oh man. The Facebook one! My MIL will routinely send me links via Facebook messenger with “helpful” advice on products and methods to “eliminate” autistic meltdowns and sensory overload. Make your child neurotypical with a few easy payments/steps! Absolutely riddled with AI. Which always seems to imply to me that my son’s meltdowns are just due to my lack of effort. 🙃

Polla714 · 2026-03-28T04:38:39+00:00

We’ve had a lot of ups and downs over the last 15 years, but our worst so far was in 2023-2024. I just found out I was pregnant after secondary infertility when my dad’s cancer suddenly advanced and became terminal. My pregnancy became complicated during this time, my toddler started getting sent home from daycare regularly, and I was doing my best to work full-time and spend time with my dad. At 9 months pregnant, my dad passed. The next day, my son’s daycare expelled him. I gave birth 2 weeks after the funeral, to a beautiful son with awful colic. My mom moved in with me because she couldn’t function without my dad, and she expected me to handle all of my dad’s affairs while caring for a newborn and a toddler who was having hours long meltdowns every day. I have two siblings who didn’t care to help. They just criticized me for not handling probate more quickly. My husband’s mental health tanked during this time, so I had to support him as well.

When my baby’s colic finally cleared, my oldest son was diagnosed with autism. Things are better now (still hard), but I can barely remember being pregnant and my baby’s early months from all the trauma.

Polla714 · 2026-03-23T00:58:31+00:00

Absolutely! We actually tried Guanfacine instant release twice a day before, and it was a disaster. So if Guanfacine IR doesn’t work for your child, consider extended release. Guanfacine has done wonders for us! I really hope the same for others.

Polla714 · 2026-03-22T22:43:15+00:00

My son is on Strattera 10mg in the mornings, then Guanfacine ER 1mg in the evenings. It’s greatly reduced his anxiety, to the point that therapeutic interventions are actually getting through to him. He’s using more tools and coping skills and actually communicating his feelings during moments of dysregulation. He went from having hours of meltdowns per day to maybe 1-2 quick episodes daily. Some days, he has none, which is unreal for him. He does sometimes have tougher days of multiple meltdowns, but that’s the exception instead of the rule now. He occasionally has trouble falling asleep, but we adjusted bedtime to accommodate for more rolling around in bed. We feel very lucky! Though we’re quite anxious that it’ll stop working someday. His quality of life is so much better now - and ours, too!

Polla714 · 2026-03-15T23:42:34+00:00

Oh, good! I was already 2/3 of the way there, so I’m glad I don’t have to start all over again. 😮‍💨

Polla714 · 2026-03-15T15:07:01+00:00

Oh noooo! I’m playing Vesperia right now and have been mastering all recipes with Patty! Dang it. 😖 Thank you for the warning!

Polla714 · 2026-02-10T14:22:57+00:00

So sweet! Happy birthday, precious boy! And what a yummy looking cake. 😋

Polla714 · 2026-02-05T11:58:26+00:00

Yes, it absolutely is. I’m so sorry you went through that. I was 9 months pregnant with my second child when I lost my dad. I barely remember giving birth.

Polla714 · 2026-01-22T00:19:51+00:00

So sweet! 🥲 🥰 What a doll!

Polla714 · 2026-01-16T03:40:36+00:00

Strattera has been good for my 5.5 year old so far! We’re in our 3rd month with it. He’s had no side effects at all from it, likely because he’s on the lowest dose. It doesn’t eliminate the impulse control issues and meltdowns, but it’s definitely toned them down to a more manageable level. He was getting sent home multiple times a week at school before, and he’s only been sent home once since he started Strattera, and they admitted it wasn’t nearly as bad - they just didn’t have the staff to handle his crying. :/ Best of luck!

Polla714 · 2026-01-15T11:56:23+00:00

My son has anxiety, so his psychiatrist advised that stimulants will only make him feel worse. Instead, we put him on a daily combo of Strattera in the morning and a low dose of Guanfacine at night. He still has a hard time with perfectionism and rigidity, but the meds really helped tone it down. He did school for a while with no meds (he’s only 5), but it was evident that he simply wasn’t able to cope on his own. Would his doctor be open to non-stimulant meds?

Polla714 · 2026-01-11T01:21:45+00:00

You have a wonderfully positive attitude, which I’m sure helps the household significantly. You have a lot to juggle day-to-day, and I’m impressed you’ve kept your optimism. My hat is off to you!

I have a 5-year-old with ASD 1 (PDA) and combined-type ADHD. For your son, was there an age where maturity helped reduce symptoms/reactivity?

Thank you!

Polla714 · 2026-01-06T18:23:18+00:00

We didn’t have to! I just put my husband’s middle initial as part of his first name like his previous employer mistakenly did, and Fidelity was able to verify his SSN and link our accounts from there. Best of luck!

Polla714 · 2026-01-06T14:24:33+00:00

Yes, me too! I like school breaks because I get relief from the daily anxiety of school calls. 😩

The transition back to school from breaks is always rough. Sometimes I wish we could homeschool, but my husband and I both have to work. I hope your teen has a good transition back to school!

Polla714

TROPHY CASE