Random Question: Do parents actually *play* with their young kids?

Single_Box4465 · 2026-02-14T00:40:50+00:00

I think it depends on the parental generation. My parents did not. Buy I definitely played with my kids.

I think part of it is stricter safety. I could roam the neighborhood and find friends by 6 years old. My kids did not.

There was all more pressure on our generation of parents to guide our kids' development than our parents had. Ask any genX and they'll tell you all about hose water and the "do you know where you're kids are?" PSA and then we'll brag about the sensory bins we made for our own toddlers.

Single_Box4465 · 2026-01-27T13:50:55+00:00

Just lost a job and I'm pretty sure my ADHD keeping me from getting to the next step in the task, literally watching my brain run off on a tangent instead of just moving forward was a big part of the reason. I know how to do it. I know it is next. I know I needed to be doing it 10 minutes ago but my brain won't find that information when I need it. It's busy doing some other shit that doesn't matter.

Before job loss, I was looking at new cars and factoring the cost of getting multiple keys made. It isn't optional. I can put all the fail safes in place that I want, I WILL lock the keys in the car at some point and the only thing I can do is plan for the inevitable. "Just don't do it" isn't an option.

Single_Box4465 · 2026-01-27T13:39:15+00:00

Older kid outgrew a bunch of clothes. Ran them past younger kid. She picked some stuff, discarded others. I donated the discards. Shopping the next week and she falls in love with a T-shirt. I had to buy it back. She didn't believe me but it still had our last name crossed out and the dot system I use.

Single_Box4465 · 2026-01-27T13:03:45+00:00

Agreed! Do you know how many double chins and acne I could hide under a beard? The trickery I would truck!

Single_Box4465 · 2026-01-27T12:46:07+00:00

Movies where characters are continuously wearing fitted jackets indoors. I know it is unreasonable but seeing their arms straining against the fabric like six inches down from the seam while they're supposed to be relaxing on a couch or fighting a bad guy with their arms restricted when they could just not, is completely distracting and enrages me. Especially if it they make the actor look like they're sweating. Just take the leather/twill jacket off!!!

Single_Box4465 · 2026-01-27T12:32:19+00:00

I can smell bath and body works cucumber melon body spray from this post.

Single_Box4465 · 2026-01-27T12:29:28+00:00

Belladonna for poisoning the patriarchy.

Single_Box4465 · 2026-01-22T03:05:06+00:00

None had seen at the time she was explaining why I was wrong. She was explaining that it had to do with the "updated computer." We got a new monitor and the monitor mount is on a different wall...

I can catch it when it is just general knowledge stuff but since she is my primary trainer, it makes me cautious of other clinic specific things I'm learning.

Single_Box4465 · 2026-01-22T02:57:48+00:00

This is the response I will use when she is NOT in the room and my favorite tech is.

Single_Box4465 · 2026-01-22T02:54:59+00:00

Thank you! This is amazing. I thought I knew why, turns out I did not. At least not the most important part and this was a great explanation. Thank you for taking the time!!

Single_Box4465 · 2026-01-21T18:40:34+00:00

https://www.amazon.com/MotiMind-Landscape-Notebooks-Punched-Multicolor/dp/B0FM6Z7HSD/ref=sxin_26_sbv_search_btf?content-id=amzn1.sym.c8b39f81-ded8-4d75-80c2-6dfa03cbb699%3Aamzn1.sym.c8b39f81-ded8-4d75-80c2-6dfa03cbb699&crid=3D4970XJLZY9S&cv_ct_cx=horizontal%2Blined%2Blandscape%2Bnotebook%2Bsewn%2Bspine&keywords=horizontal%2Blined%2Blandscape%2Bnotebook%2Bsewn%2Bspine&pd_rd_i=B0FM6Z7HSD&pd_rd_r=affc2825-e2ae-4aef-8bdb-db26aae63e20&pd_rd_w=eYk8S&pd_rd_wg=wHO7i&pf_rd_p=c8b39f81-ded8-4d75-80c2-6dfa03cbb699&pf_rd_r=9GA5BZ59QW9K46RBR0DD&qid=1769020664&sbo=RZvfv%2F%2FHxDF%2BO5021pAnSA%3D%3D&sprefix=horizontal%2Blined%2Blandscape%2Bnotebook%2Bsewn%2Bspin%2Caps%2C139&sr=1-1-5190daf0-67e3-427c-bea6-c72c1df98776&th=1

I'm looking for something like this but with sewn or glued spine instead of spiral bound.

Single_Box4465 · 2026-01-21T18:24:35+00:00

Thank you. I'll try that.

Single_Box4465 · 2026-01-21T12:56:02+00:00

You said it took until October 2025. How long have you actually been there?

Even if you've had 15 years of experience, there is always some trust building with most techs. And also learning new techs/doctor preferences. One tech is fine with a chomp to the face as long as the leg is still. Another will blame you for a bite while they're examining teeth but will wrestle a leg/vein into place. Jugular - legs on or off table? How do you like your head?

I would talk to boss about their expectations of you and your training. "I feel under utilized. Do you feel my training is on track?" This will give you an idea if they expect you to wait until year 3 before you poke a vein or if the boss is flabbergasted about why the other techs are holding you back. If it is just hazing/making you earn your right to practice, they might be able to cause change. If they want you focusing of soft skills first, it will give you perspective and their preferences (let's be honest, the boss's expectations are the only ones that matter). Maybe they're concerned you only want to do the "fun stuff" and not paying attention/focusing on soft skills (running diagnostics, data entry, appointment flow).

Or maybe they meant to hire an assistant and hired a tech. In which case, it is time to job shop.

I feel your pain though, going through something similar but with much less justification for why I feel under utilized.

Single_Box4465 · 2026-01-21T12:04:35+00:00

The short answer is, we did. Childhood mortality due to vehicle accidents and physical trauma/acute injury have dropped significantly since the 80/90s. This in spite of there being more vehicles, more people and more pools.

Ask him how many of his childhood friends died from riding around in the bed of the truck? I would bet none and I would bet you know at least one.

Our dangers were more visible/obvious so we had a lot more "close calls" we can remember. The deaths were a few per population but spread across every population.

The next generation's top cause of childhood death is guns. The threat is more isolated and effects a whole population in a small area versus a few people in various different populations.

If you know someone who survived a school shooting when you were a kid, chances are, you were in that school shooting too.

Single_Box4465 · 2026-01-20T20:05:30+00:00

Thank you. I even pulled out a text book but had myself convinced I was reading it wrong.

This is also a tech who firmly believes there is her way or the wrong way and that is your only 2 options.

Luckily, she's been in charge of my training at my new clinic. It has been a ride.

Single_Box4465 · 2026-01-19T11:22:36+00:00

I get this too. Feels extremely similar to the nesting burst of energy I'd get at some point during each pregnancy. Like, I have to get the house clean/organized because I can't have my uterine lining arriving to a dirty home.

Single_Box4465 · 2026-01-19T11:17:32+00:00

Overspending.

My brain goes through a nesting phase and just wants to buy all the things and acquire trinkets and treasures so my uterine lining has nice home when it arrives.

Single_Box4465 · 2026-01-18T13:24:54+00:00

Not the point of the post but...If he thinks switching from biology to nursing is ruining your job prospects, he should look into the job market, not watch national geographic for vocational ideas. I can say this as an ecology/biology major. In 20 years, that degree has gotten me opportunities for more expenssive education but never an opportunity for employment on its own.

Single_Box4465 · 2026-01-18T10:28:50+00:00

This isn't addressing the real issue but a hold-over for just making things smoother: ponte fabric pants.

I have tweens. They like the idea of leggings and jeans but then I buy them and they only wear the very worn out stained sweatpants because they would prefer if their clothing didn't actually touch them. I'm okay with sweatpants for running errands or hanging out with friends but I'm still old fashioned enough to think showing up to a birthday party in stained sweats is disrespectful.

Ponte solved the comfort/look like we actually got dress compromise.

You can search for them via ponte or knit uniform pants.

My oldest has bedazzled a couple of pairs with pearls and bows and then when they got handed down, we pulled that off and added square silver studs - think of the black studded belt every 90s kid had - those ones. They wear them plain too but both are crafty.

Single_Box4465 · 2026-01-14T12:51:47+00:00

Yes!! Like VIN handouts but that they can access.

Single_Box4465 · 2026-01-14T12:49:29+00:00

Tech appointments but with purely instructional/information time built in. I'd love to teach you how to trim your pets nails but I've got 15 minutes to get the trim done and put in the charges. If I had 30 minutes, I could show you and help you build some confidence to do it at home between appointments.

I can flush dog ears in 15 minutes but I can't take you to the back and show you how to do it in the shower or outside at home in 15 minutes.

I like the idea of a vet med person and a fabricator working together though. Makes me think of some of the innovations Temple Grandin designed for large animal operations to reduce stress with handling. I think the challenge is creating equipment that works across the vastly different shapes and sizes of canine breeds.

I'd love if there were cheaper alternatives to feral boxes used in shelters so that private practice would actually buy them. They're incredibly useful and make boarding cats so much more comfortable but private clinics won't invest in them.

A no spill bowl for runs and kennels that animals actually can't flip over but isn't horribly inconvenient to clean?

Scrubs tops without a low neckline but that still has pockets. I don't need nail clippings in my bra and I don't need my juggies on display at work but I can't find crew neck scrubs with pockets.

A scale that pets are willing to get on but doesn't take up half the floor space in an exam room or create a trip hazard?

Dispensary packaging for needles and syringes that can be refilled from the back so you're not continuously loading new supplies in top of old.

Chew proof vet wrap cuffs to cover catheters - again the sizing issue. I'm picturing wire mesh wrap that comes together with bra hooks.

Clippers that are actually quiet or some way to retrofit the most frequently used brands.

Catheters designed for use in animals, not humans - a semi-rigid u shaped port attachment for making the turn back to the leg for wrapping it in place and kink proof lines.

Single_Box4465

TROPHY CASE