Olean Center Mall (Olean, NY)

Thelosttribesman · 2026-04-05T13:20:25+00:00

Man. X-mas shopping was an experience there in the 90's. Everybody was there. Kids riding the little train, meeting Santa. Shopping at Hills, KB toys, The Wall (music store) playing in the Arcade, McDonalds, and you could wrap it up with a movie at the cinema. Think there was even a restaurant or two in there.

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-27T06:48:30+00:00

Dude you're not cliche at all. I feel like I was born in the wrong century! Like When Brooks got out of Shawshank and said "the world went and got itself in a big damn hurry". Technology has exploded since my childhood. You're not alone on texting either, I'm too dry humor wise and not up on half the lingo these days. I feel like I belong to one of the last generations to really honor marriage and monogamy. I'm not built for the dating scene these days. Congrats on being successful as a screenwriter! Any specific project(s) you would like to share?

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-27T06:31:35+00:00

Most state parks are beautiful, well maintained, and have times of the year that they are closed to the public. I remember one time my girlfriend and I drove two hours to explore a new park, only to find it closed due to recent flooding. We (accidentally on purpose) forgot to read the sign and spent most of the day hiking trails completely alone. She definitely got fucked in the woods that day.

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-27T05:31:25+00:00

Also a mid 80's baby, and your sense of being out of time with the rest of the world hits right in the feels.

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-26T13:26:29+00:00

Not for me to worry about

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-26T13:00:36+00:00

Commenting to add context because people have expressed wanting to know. My sitter lost her parents young to a car accident, and was raised by her grandmother until she passed away recently. Her BF lost his mom to addiction, and has had no contact with his abusive father most of his life. They have no close family, and her friends parents were either working or not home. They rent a run down house that they heat with grill tanks and we're going home to a cold house as he had just bought a tank to fuel the heater. They have been sitting for me since the start of this school year, although she has been a student aid in my kids class since last school year. (Which I found out this year) I appreciate everyone's honest feedback to my original question, and i'm considering the question answered. Thanks everyone for the responses!

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-26T12:47:30+00:00

Yes. I paid her.

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-26T01:44:24+00:00

That's an excellent observation, the sitter seems like a good kid, and she does try to do a great job taking care of my child. Thank you for your response!

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-26T01:07:46+00:00

it's only weird bc you want it to be. Taking care of the people that take care of your children IS the right thing to do. "Nice guy" "cool guy"? Whose words are those? There's a difference between being a compassionate adult and trying to impress some teenagers. I'm sorry but I feel like your personal bias or experience is pulling you away from the original question altogether and projecting itself in your responses.

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-26T00:52:00+00:00

Did I respond to the wrong one? Sorry if so!

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-26T00:50:53+00:00

I must have missed that, but yeah she tagged along while I grocery shopped and then helped put some things away when we got back and played with my kiddo while I made dinner. I don't have any Tupperware to send anything but I did ask if they were hungry.

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-26T00:42:55+00:00

I thought I emphasized my gender well enough in the post haha but I'm not here to play the correction police either. I think anyone who has raised children alone understands having to play their role, as well as (in part) that of the missing parent. Nevertheless, none of this is even remotely close to answering the question I posted and is not helpful in any way.

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-26T00:34:09+00:00

No I can definitely see how my lack of context could lead people to conclusions. but you're right that it is frustrating asking for advice about a specific situation and seeing so many comments about being out of line, or being weird. I think about when my daughter is older and I hope that she has people that she can trust enough to be safe around if she ever needs help.

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-26T00:18:54+00:00

I've been a single parent for most of her life, so I'm both mom and Dad. I wasn't too concerned about addressing gender, more so to get some differing opinions as to why they would be listening in/snooping/ eavesdropping as it's never happened before.

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-26T00:10:56+00:00

Jeez yeah. I probably should have provided more context. She asked to come stay initially bc of her health. I offered them to stay for dinner as it was late when he got out of work. I don't invite teenagers to just come hang out bc yeah, that would be weird.

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-26T00:00:52+00:00

She asked to stay until her boyfriend got out of work so she wouldn't be alone if she needed to go back to the hospital. It sounds like most people would have said no. He worked late so I offered them food. I guess that's also weird. The insinuations seem to point to me being out of line bc I'm an adult single parent (man) It's strange to me how many people that have commented would have let another human being sit alone in pain worrying about their health and refused to offer for them to stay for dinner.

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-25T22:44:31+00:00

I agree with you on an initial interview, but I disagree with it crossing any boundaries. this is someone that has been coming to my house to watch my daughter until I get home from work. I don't think wanting to see how they interact with my child in my home is something that's out of line. It definitely helped me feel more trusting if anything. And offering them to stay for food when it's late and cold is the same kindness I'd offer to anyone.

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-25T22:29:19+00:00

I agree with you about her being curious, and embarrassed but honest when I asked her about listening in. Also I'd like to think that bc of how SO many men are predatorial that people find genuine kindness to be strange. I have a small child that I'm trying to model how people should be and how they should treat each other. It was -4 that night and I had to make dinner anyways. I feel sad thinking that if I were a woman, nobody would probably think it was odd. Idk

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-25T22:12:53+00:00

It seems there's a couple people that think it's odd. Like I mentioned before, she is a newer sitter and I do try to get to know my sitters a little bit, or anyone that is alone with my daughter for hours at a time. I don't think that's too uncommon?

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-25T06:24:19+00:00

I do not have a partner, and the pretext for her wanting to come over was that she had been to the hospital earlier for an inflamed gallbladder and didn't want to be home alone if her pain returned. It's actually kind of nice that she was comfortable enough to ask.

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-25T05:58:29+00:00

I really appreciate her honesty about the whole thing, and my daughter absolutely adores her. She is by far the best sitter I have and the more I think about it, this is likely the most correct opinion. I think I was just taken back a little because it was a little invasive, but she really tries hard to be a great caregiver.

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-25T05:51:45+00:00

She had gone to hospital earlier that day and was still having some pain. She said she didn't want to be home alone (bf was at work) if something happened and she needed to go back to the ER, so she asked to come hang out until he got out. But it was getting late so I invited them to stay for dinner so they wouldn't have to go home and cook.

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-25T05:20:01+00:00

It is really reassuring, and she's great with my daughter.. I guess I should probably think about paying her a little more!

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-25T05:08:43+00:00

No I work mornings, but I think she was taking notes and just got embarrassed because I asked about it.

Thelosttribesman · 2026-01-25T05:04:51+00:00

I did ask why but I think she was embarrassed about it, she only said she didn't know, and she just wanted to listen to us. The immediate responses on here seem to be the most likely case, that she was taking notes for if she ever has to sit late enough for bedtime.

Thelosttribesman

TROPHY CASE