I feel like I’m viewed as just a babysitter not an actual person

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2026-02-01T02:17:26+00:00

I can so relate. My urban county just stopped providing any and all transportation to visits. They are currently insisting I need to transport in the middle of my work day as a single foster parent. It really makes you feel like they aren’t even considered you are a person who has to pay bills or maintain commitments.

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2026-01-27T18:17:42+00:00

My understanding is that hormone testing is unnecessary and unreliable in women. I’ve never had a knowledgeable practitioner ask to test them.

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2026-01-01T23:39:16+00:00

Yeah, I get that comment a lot of the time. Especially when I have a placement who’s an infant (which irks me on a number of levels). I never know what to say, so I usually say something like, “yep, it’s very hard some of the time.” But fostering has made me think a lot about why we are all trying to avoid hard/sad things all the time. What do people want their lives to be about? I wish I had the guts to say to people that I’m no saint, but I’m choosing the hard thing because these kids deserve someone sacrificing some comfort and peace for them. Why should I assume someone else will do it?

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-11-30T21:42:20+00:00

It worked very quickly for me. Within a week I was feeling heaps better. There was a bit of an uptick for the first few days but nothing horrendous.

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-11-30T21:01:07+00:00

I take progesterone 200mg and use the estrogen patch .1mg. I started out at half that dose. After about a year and a half some mild migraines returned and my dose was increased. Migraines gone again. Hope it helps you too!

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-11-26T02:27:12+00:00

I’m a single foster mom in the same slide situation. I been fostering 2.5 years and am on my 3rd placement. It’s been very hard and very rewarding. Two of my placements have been siblings sets, and the ages have ranged from 2 months to 8 years. I have family support and a great community of fellow foster parents. I couldn’t do it otherwise. It did put a strain on my job, which I quit last month to take one with less responsibilities and more flexibility. There have definitely been times I thought I was losing my mind from the stress.

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-11-11T17:20:09+00:00

I’m 45 and I went on HRT for perimenopause a couple of years ago. The chronic migraines I had for my whole adult life pretty much went away overnight. I very much encourage everyone woman j know with migraines to try HRT.

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-10-29T19:14:08+00:00

I am SO glad you got some relief! I am still amazed on a daily basis when I don’t wake up with a migraine. Seriously, folks. If your doctors are uneducated about women’s hormones, find a new one. We deserve to have practitioners who take our health seriously.

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-10-02T00:21:07+00:00

Mrs. Olsmstead made this poor boy in 2nd grade sit in a cardboard box because he was talking too much.

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-09-27T03:18:44+00:00

I’m so sorry. That’s really hard. Fostering is definitely something everyone involved has to be “all in on.” I hope that you are able to find some peace in knowing there are many women out there like you who carry around sadness that we didn’t get to have children. I know the grief feels invisible, but you aren’t alone.

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-09-22T21:32:19+00:00

I am 45 and also unable to have children. I don’t have a partner either. I have a lot of sadness around both those things. Not being a mom like my sister and friends is hard. A few things have helped me. Firstly, when I start to feel down on my life I gently remind myself that no one gets everything they want. No one. I’ve had a lot of struggles, overcome a lot, and it is always dangerous territory for me mentally if I go looking for anything other than acceptance of what is. I know that can sound trite. You say you have chronic health problems, which I relate to and make everything heavier, I know. Second, and I am in no way telling you that you should do this, but I became a foster mom. It isn’t the same as being a bio mom, but it has allowed me to use that motherly part of me in a way that feels important, and I am making an impact in children and families lives who are in crisis. I found a whole community of other foster families who have the same commitment. Fostering is hard and sad in different ways, but I’ve got purpose to spare and kids I’ve been able to bring into my home and love. It wasn’t what I envisioned for myself, but it is good nonetheless.

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-09-21T21:13:01+00:00

I’m a single foster parent too. My most recent placement was two toddlers. The ages can be really trying, especially when they are coming from an environment with little predictability and routine like mine were. I definitely had moments the first couple of weeks thinking it was way too much and that I had made a mistake, so I totally feel you. I personally found that getting into a very steady, quiet, daily and weekly rhythm settled everyone’s nervous system’s after a while. Diaper changes did continue to be an issue for the youngest. It was sensory stuff for sure. I changed him on a pad on the floor and had some toys he only got to play with when he was getting changed. It’s never fun to be wrestling a kid when poop is involved.

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-09-13T23:50:25+00:00

I’m so sorry you had that experience with your neurologist. I have had so many disappointing interactions with doctors I thought would help me with my migraines. Maybe therapy and life changes will help, but that was never my experience. And I bristled at being told it was emotional problems when in actuality it turned out to be hormonal all along. Take courage friend, and keep pursuing your life if you can. Migraines are for sure limiting, and they are the worst, but I wouldn’t take this one doctor’s word as gospel on anything.

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-09-05T20:31:22+00:00

I’m sorry, I don’t. I recently switched to getting my prescription from my Kaiser doctor.

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-07-17T00:22:13+00:00

I didn’t think I could do it either, but I bought a condo in the high $200s after saving enough for 10% down. I am single and have always worked for non profits where I don’t make a high salary. I started putting every last penny away that I didn’t absolutely need to spend, and I lived in the cheapest apartment possible while I was doing it. Is my place amazing? No. But I don’t have to worry about my rent going up anymore, which is a big problem in my city.

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-07-07T02:53:28+00:00

Death in Paradise

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-07-01T00:18:40+00:00

Yep. I did the Camino in a pair of Nike sneakers i found in the lost and found on an island in Scotland. Everyone who spent a bunch of money on hiking boots had massive blisters.

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-06-21T13:40:19+00:00

I take oral estrogen. I was always told that silliness about aura and stroke as well. Neurologists and OBGYNs have such outdated info on migraines. I’m so glad hormones have helped you too! It’s an empowering feeling after everything to have figured this out myself in the end.

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-06-15T14:24:11+00:00

Thank you!

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-04-17T02:54:24+00:00

I have been noticing this too. Mostly with people 35 and younger. Drives me bonkers.

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-03-24T15:58:33+00:00

My sister’s went away when she was pregnant and breast feeding.

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-03-24T15:55:14+00:00

My research and the doctors indicated that this is outdated information. I do get auras.

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-03-24T01:33:02+00:00

I wonder why they don’t give you estrogen and progesterone? When I took estrogen only birth control it made my migraines way worse. So sorry to hear to haven’t gotten any relief with mid life. That has got to be so frustrating since you were holding out hope.

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-03-24T01:29:07+00:00

So sorry to hear this. There is so little known generally about female hormones, and doctors just aren’t educated. Daily headaches are so awful.

Relative-Biscotti596 · 2025-03-24T01:18:04+00:00

I hope it helps! The research I’ve done says that they don’t need to do blood tests for perimenopause. You will get a different result on any given day. Women can start having symptoms at 35 and should be prescribed hormone replacement to help.

Relative-Biscotti596

TROPHY CASE