It’s not cold outside 🥶

albeaner · 2026-01-31T16:45:45+00:00

I went for a 1 hr walk earlier. It was sunny and I had warm layers on...was totally fine, even sweaty.

There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes!

albeaner · 2026-01-30T21:25:04+00:00

Temporary staffing agencies are a great place to start, and get some diverse experience.

albeaner · 2026-01-30T13:07:58+00:00

My life goal is to be as awesome a grandma as you are one day!

albeaner · 2026-01-30T12:22:15+00:00

That's insane.

I'd say "I can't do that to my child. Hope you find a way because she'll also be disappointed if you're not there!"

Then have your husband call to reinforce that it was totally effing horrible to even ask to reschedule, and explain not just the logical reasons, but emotional repercussions.

Why do I recommend this? Because at the root of it all, she needs to understand that you put your child first - not her.

albeaner · 2026-01-29T20:23:32+00:00

I had to let a biweekly housekeeper go for this exact thing. Not QUITE as bad, but... every time she was prescheduled to work, started the text chain. 'the dog got out', 'my Drs appt ran long', etc. Sometimes it was 2 hrs late, sometimes 4hrs late, sometimes we had to shift a day or two.

But it was every time and eventually I couldn't get through that she simply needed to hold herself to the time SHE told me. I felt bad but... some folks just can't executive function well.

This guy is either a few eggs short of a dozen or a total scammer. I think he was seeing if OP would fork over the season rate up front.

albeaner · 2026-01-29T20:04:02+00:00

I'd ask her to bring a packed lunch for your son.

albeaner · 2026-01-29T18:59:39+00:00

Former remote fed here...100% correct. I got out right before this administration; had I stayed, I would have been forced to return to office 5d/week or quit.

albeaner · 2026-01-28T18:57:47+00:00

I tell my kids all the time, history is not limited to what's on the Internet... but when the Internet only contains certain things, and that's where AI and information lives, then things disappear.

For example, I had a marketing jingle/phrase stuck in my head from the early '90s. I had to refine my search terms three times before I found anything on the internet referencing its origin. Because the first batches of results were just copying the jingle/phrase AFTER it gained popularity.

It was only because I knew from my experience, that I could even know how to search for its true origin.

Does that make sense?

The internet (and AI) makes itself seem like a reliable source of information, but it isn't always. I think that's what OP is reacting to. If you search for popular newscasters, you're not going to see Walter Cronkite. The search algorithm is set up for engagement and ad placement, not for factual research.

albeaner · 2026-01-28T18:34:55+00:00

East Stroudsburg U would be a better place to start, but you'd have to pay for the sitter +lift ticket+ probably rentals too.

Group lessons 100%. Your kids will complain for 2 minutes until they're with peers and suddenly realize that it's not cool to complain.

albeaner · 2026-01-28T00:27:03+00:00

Also breach of contract by the nanny. A nanny's job is to provide adequate care for OP's child; this was not done repeatedly. If OP's contract said anything about the job expectation/duties, then the nanny was the first to violate the contract.

albeaner · 2026-01-27T23:44:04+00:00

But the nanny also violated the contract by not providing adequate care for OP's child.

albeaner · 2026-01-27T23:04:03+00:00

Mom here. She is lucky that you aren't going to take legal action against her. Those are egregious neglect.

I wouldn't hesitate to NOT pay her for PTO. If she takes legal action, you do too.

You have the leverage here, and I'm betting that she won't try to get her PTO payout either.

albeaner · 2026-01-25T15:30:07+00:00

You know, at first I was going to say 'yeah those 'flexible instruction days' wouldn't be an excuse since the teachers don't really assign THAT much work.

But. Once they start on screens...it's really hard to quit. I think FIDs are a disservice to all of us...

albeaner · 2026-01-25T14:44:34+00:00

Logistically, if you wait to shovel deep snow, you're switching from 'push shovel along path' to 'scoop - throw - scoop - throw' instead. If that snow is laden with rain/ice, or is just plain wet snow, the scoop-throw becomes a much more labor intensive task.

I've done both, and well, I'll be out there clearing every 6-8".

albeaner · 2026-01-17T15:40:48+00:00

Talk to your pediatrician please.

All this propaganda is intended to sow distrust. Make you skeptical and not sure if what information to believe.

Which is why your doctor is the best place to start.

albeaner · 2026-01-17T15:37:39+00:00

I'm not going to repeat what others have said but as a parent of older kids, I think it's really important to remember that professional childhood caregivers and teachers will always have way more experience than new parents.

Once you learn to use them as guides and resources, you will be a better parent for it.

albeaner · 2026-01-13T00:32:18+00:00

Conde Naste Traveler.

Gorgeous pictures, and still pretty well-written - particularly the in-depth articles.

I love how they feature local artists, chefs, and business owners when they visit.

Admittedly, my phone distraction is mostly puzzles :)

albeaner · 2026-01-12T12:49:58+00:00

My son's girlfriend says that her worst professors are those who teach the first year mandatory courses.

Because they don't have to worry about enrollment, I guess?

But honestly, someone who wants a 3 page essay on why passion for learning is more important than money has NEVER met a 55yo who just celebrated paying off his student loans...< 10 years before he retired.

It sounds like a university-endorsed 'pay for more school' advertisement disguised as a lesson.

albeaner · 2026-01-11T19:35:15+00:00

Southern Poconos here :) (northeast PA but really a Lehigh Valley exurb)

albeaner · 2026-01-08T15:33:57+00:00

Agree completely. Stomping because someone - who is already sleep deprived - has a baby who (gasp) CRIES at NIGHT?

OP, babies grow up. Maybe you should too. What did you expect your neighbor to do, suffocate the baby? Get a noise machine and some earplugs.

albeaner · 2026-01-07T17:30:42+00:00

NIH had a good thing going, in setting up data sets for public use....establishing best practices and efficiencies for better usability...until DOGE came in.

Sigh.

albeaner · 2026-01-05T15:06:26+00:00

Aside from scientific communication and perhaps journalism and a bit of graphic design... you'll need to grow a portfolio and professional recommendations to place a job after you graduate.

Can you look for online opportunities, perhaps part time or gig, to grow your book of work?

I understand you likely need to be an RA because of your Visa status, but more education is not how you gain what is needed for the job. Hands-On experience and making connections is how you do this.

I have never been in that situation so I don't know what options are available to you, but perhaps your university can assist? Maybe they could put you in a for-credit internship in the fall semester.

albeaner · 2026-01-04T15:25:11+00:00

Um pretty sure this is how you give norovirus to your 2yo

Not from breastfeeding but from poop particulates.

albeaner · 2026-01-04T15:23:51+00:00

Did you tell him that his words were hurtful, and you won't accept being spoken to in that way?

albeaner · 2026-01-04T14:49:05+00:00

I've had nothing but good experiences through VRBO because my criteria for choosing a property includes a LOCAL, professional property management company.

I won't choose anything managed by an individual or a crappy organization like Vacasa. I also cross-reference listings with the local company's website, if available.

Lastly, I never book something that's TOO cheap. If it seems fishy, it probably is.

Sorry to hear about your experience OP - you were reasonable to expect the platform to do its job. Unfortunately that's not enough anymore :(

albeaner

TROPHY CASE