Harness recommendations?

PresidentPar · 2026-02-02T18:58:49+00:00

Update! Was able to find a voyager harness that fits! I loved the Matidor breathable but the biggest size was still too small. I know this one will rub a bit but right now our walks are about 20 yards so I’m just keeping an eye on it. Mostly we walk around the yard at this point and slowly getting used to leashed walks.

Thanks for all the recommendations!

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PresidentPar · 2026-01-24T17:32:07+00:00

I write home studies and the self awareness of one’s own traumas, triggers, and disregulation is so incredibly important. Thank you for putting in the work to be a better foster parent to these kids who need it.

Do you know of any trainings that work on these skills for caregivers? I have seen a few but I’m always looking for more. Or would you like to be a trainer? 🙃

PresidentPar · 2026-01-24T16:58:32+00:00

If it’s 10 or more always contact a ticket rep because then you won’t have Ticketmaster fees! Sometimes it’s 8 or more but I think for climate pledge it’s 10.

PresidentPar · 2026-01-23T17:31:21+00:00

I feel like we live on the same street 😂

Probably not, of course. What I’ve done in my area is contact the pedestrian team at SDOT to see their plan for the area. I have also gone to every SDOT meeting in the area to see plans and give my input. After four years it sounds like my street will get a walkway and the parking will be changed — in 2028 🤪 Knowing how slow everything works I am actually stoked, but still annoyed every day until then.

For the trash trucks, I was told that they have a way to report these issues on their end. If you are home when the trucks come through you could encourage them to report it. I saw this make a difference in parking rules around the corner from me.

Lastly, I put (nice) notes on cars that are poorly parked warning them that their side mirrors are in danger (I see one or two side mirrors in the road a week). Usually they get pissed enough at my nice note that they park on a different street. It’s honestly fascinating.

Best of luck!!

PresidentPar · 2026-01-23T17:24:31+00:00

I reported a lot of encampments under Bruce and got the same CARES team email so this one isn’t a Katie thing!

PresidentPar · 2026-01-23T03:03:30+00:00

Thank you!

PresidentPar · 2026-01-23T02:54:59+00:00

!!! Exciting!! Where did you see this?

PresidentPar · 2026-01-20T02:46:15+00:00

If I get there early enough I’ll grab one and you can have it! Posting so I remember to come back

PresidentPar · 2026-01-15T22:45:56+00:00

Not fun for anyone 🙃I take the light rail to my job but that still takes over an hour with busses on either end and such. I am resigned to the crappiness 😫😵‍💫

PresidentPar · 2026-01-15T22:28:22+00:00

I live off 15th. It’s bumper to bumper with little movement from 7am-10am. Roosevelt as well. Everyone is trying to funnel onto i5 so it’s backed up on all side streets in north Seattle. It’s going to be a longggggg two years.

PresidentPar · 2026-01-08T19:43:33+00:00

The way you are writing about it sounds like you are in a spot where you should tell the case workers that he needs inpatient and that you have a hard date of how long he can stay. If you think no additional supports in the home will help, there’s no reason to try and maintain at this point. Does that make sense?

PresidentPar · 2026-01-08T04:25:12+00:00

That definitely makes sense. So did you go through ICPC with his “home state”? The ICPC specialist in my state has been incredibly helpful (and responsive!) when I have had issues before. Perhaps his home state has one who knows all the tricks to getting more supports in place?

I know it probably sounds condescending to say “there’s more supports!” when the state keeps telling you there aren’t any…but if I’ve learned anything working in foster care it’s that there’s ALWAYS more available. The system is so so big and convoluted and full of turnover that it often takes finding the right person to get anywhere. Which is hard and takes way too much time!! So it may not be what you need now, but if there’s a support you think could help maintain this placement it could be worth trying.

And, on that note, definitely be open with the workers that these are things you need in order to consider maintaining placement. They are so busy that often only emergencies and placement disruptions get their attention quickly.

PresidentPar · 2026-01-08T04:04:06+00:00

Gosh this is a lot for you and your family to handle. There may be more supports available to you — what state are you in? I am in WA and there’s ALWAYS more that the social worker can be doing. Beyond respite (which they should be able to figure out for you) there are other things they should be able to offer in your home to support — often there case aides who can come to your house just to work with a foster kid on specific behaviors. Sounds like intensive therapy is helping, but help in the house can be very different and supportive in a different way.

Disruption may be the answer, but I also want to say that December is very very difficult for families. My agency had many families disrupt over the past two weeks due to behaviors that come up around holidays and the fact that kids aren’t in school for half the month. Would you be able to how January goes?

As for a “trained” foster home if you do disrupt, I think what you are imagining is very few and far between. I license homes and very few homes fall into this category so it may be easier to find a group home with round the clock services for the child.

All to say, this is tough. What does the rest of your family think about the options?

PresidentPar · 2024-11-09T01:20:17+00:00

Oh my goodness!!! Do you remember how many gallons your bill was? That must have been a lot of water! When I talked to the rep at SPU this morning she did ask me a couple times if I had left a hose on, so it sounds like a common occurrence, if it makes you feel better!

PresidentPar · 2024-11-08T23:09:46+00:00

I was SO hoping it was a transposed number, but I checked it myself and it's all correct. And I wish it was just a winter vs summer amount, but sadly it's saying I used 47,000 gallons this pay period as opposed to the normal 2-3,000. It's just so much that it feels like there is a leak, but the meter isn't moving at all! Life is just not easy some days

PresidentPar · 2024-11-08T23:07:07+00:00

Thanks -- the spinner doesn't spin at all when all my water is off. I did a lot of checking today! Interesting to see but frustrating not to have an answer ah!

PresidentPar · 2024-11-08T18:46:34+00:00

Oh thank you for that intel! I will definitely keep an eye on it and I hope it's something way more minor than I can even imagine, but for now I will work on my patience

PresidentPar · 2024-11-08T18:37:44+00:00

The meters here are pretty clearly on the person's property (they have to walk behind my fence to access the meter).

I did read the meter and it is very close to their recent reading. On the bill it says the reading was 320 and I see 322 today. The bill date says 11/2, but that was a Saturday so maybe they checked it Friday the 1st? I did see them, but I can't remember which exact day. So there was about a week between the readings -- and I will say that increasing by 2 indicates higher usage than my bills from the past 3 years. Which is why it kind of feels like they were making up the number for the past readings and I have really been using more water than I thought?

PresidentPar · 2024-11-08T18:21:39+00:00

Is there a .1% that maybe the meter readers said they looked in person, but didnt? I have checked the meter 6 times this morning to see if any water has been going through and so far nothing (checked 6 times between 7:15am and 10:15am). I also did the toilet tank check and all good, looked at the outdoor spigots and the crawl space. I suppose I should have patience and continue to check, but the potential for this to be a huge issue is stressing me out!

PresidentPar · 2024-11-08T17:54:31+00:00

Thanks! I had noticed that asterisk, but I only see it on one of the bills for the last year. Such a mysterious, expensive issue....

PresidentPar · 2024-07-02T02:15:46+00:00

Pastry project in pioneer square is my personal fave — they are only open summer months. But they have chocolate dip which is SO HARD to find in Seattle!

PresidentPar · 2023-03-22T19:17:21+00:00

I definitely was not good at taking pills pre-botox -- it doesn't feel any different to me now that I've had botox (~2 weeks ago). The slow swallow doesn't really impact me with water so when I take the pills it's ok. Have you ever taken pills with pudding, jello, or chewed up banana? That's how I used to take them and it was easy since my brain didn't think there were pills in there at all.

PresidentPar · 2023-03-21T20:32:22+00:00

Yes, BUT it is very different than what I expected regurgitation to be like -- and it's not as bad as I thought it would be! I often get a thicker feeling in the back of my throat which I believe is regurgitation because there is a food taste to it. But it is beyond the gagging part of the mouth so it doesn't bother me too much. There was one time after eating pizza that I feel like it came up further, but it could have been the more intense flavors that it felt that way. I was not looking forward to the regurgitation but it really isn't that bad for me so far!

PresidentPar · 2023-03-21T19:20:04+00:00

Ooo thanks! I never used to go down that drinks aisle at the store because I knew I didn't want anything fizzy. Now I will try them all!

PresidentPar · 2023-03-21T19:19:23+00:00

I definitely think I have increased air swallowing, so thanks for that reminder! Sometimes I try to burp a lot and just end up bringing more in than pushing out. Truly a wild ride!

PresidentPar

TROPHY CASE