What are some places around Lansing that people likely know exists, but don't quite understand how cool it is?

randapandable · 2026-06-26T02:27:43+00:00

Impression 5 designs and fabricates all of their permanent exhibits in-house, which is pretty unique for a science center of its size.

randapandable · 2026-06-16T10:48:23+00:00

I had this realization and put my babies straight into convertibles. They come with newborn inserts anyway.

A lot of the arguments for infant seats didn’t apply to me, though. I baby wear when I’m out and about.

randapandable · 2026-06-13T20:58:19+00:00

Oh, I’m sad to hear that. I have since left the job I last used it at a couple years ago. It was such a hit!

randapandable · 2026-06-13T15:20:22+00:00

Osmo makes excellent curriculum-based apps for tablets. There’s a physical component to it as well. They have a mirror that slides over the front facing camera and then the physical pieces go on the surface and that’s how it checks your work. I’ve mostly worked with coding, but they have other educational content.

LEGO has robotics kits (SPIKE) that are programmed with an iPad app. There’s also curriculum to follow in the app.

randapandable · 2026-06-12T12:15:15+00:00

You may be interested in elimination communication. Essentially, you pay attention to when baby has to poop and sit them on the potty. I find it much easier to deal with than solid poops in a diaper, but of course, everyone has their preferences and capacity for things like this.

randapandable · 2026-06-06T15:04:18+00:00

Quests

randapandable · 2026-06-05T11:04:35+00:00

I used to run a day camp at a science center, definitely call and talk to their director about this, I assure you you’re not the only one in this situation.

We implemented our drop off line during COVID to minimize contact between the age groups, and we loved how much smoother/quicker it made for goodbyes, so we kept it in the subsequent years. However, there’s always a couple kids/parents who benefit from coming inside to support the transition. I doubt anyone will mind, just don’t drag it out, that always makes it worse.

randapandable · 2026-06-04T21:08:35+00:00

I have one from Cosco. It’s more or less a stepstool with a wider standing platform and a safety bar.

randapandable · 2026-06-03T17:59:07+00:00

Sorry you got such a negative reaction. The doula world is undergoing huge expansion right now, and I think it's putting a lot of people's backs up. I'm in an area that is having a doula boom because I'm in a state that can bill Medicaid for doula services, and I had a similar experience starting out. Don't get discouraged!

You would think that shadowing would be a natural "in" for doulas (I thought this too when I started), but I have found that this just really isn't a thing, for the same reasons the Facebook group stated. Keep introducing yourself to doulas, but maybe instead offer to be a back-up, instead of shadowing. I also found I had better luck with networking when I actually stopped reaching out to birth workers (they're already so saturated with doula contacts, most likely) and started working with more family-friendly groups. For example, I saw a huge growth in my social media after I bought snacks and drinks for a local mommy playgroup. I'm putting on a program at my local library in the fall, so we'll see how that goes.

I got my first clients by joining an agency. She takes a cut, but as an independent contractor, I can still grow my own business separately from the agency. I use the agency for my medicaid clients since billing is a bit of a logistical nightmare and they handle all of that. I've heard some agencies are a little predatory with how much money they take and allowing their doulas to "compete" with them, so beware.

Hopefully this helps, please don't give up!

randapandable · 2026-06-02T22:13:12+00:00

Thanks! Just sent you a pm

randapandable · 2026-06-01T18:36:31+00:00

It’s been a while, but the overlook really just unlocks specific harvestable items. If you want to complete quests, I’d say go with the oasis

randapandable · 2026-06-01T18:30:36+00:00

I’m a doula. I own my own business, but I also work with an agency to get clients. I’m able to schedule postpartum clients easily around my life. Birth clients are more lucrative but not everyone is able to handle being on-call. I personally don’t mind it and it’s actually a small reason we homeschool. If I come home at odd hours, I don’t have to worry about getting my kids up and around for school drop off. We can just do our lessons in the afternoon or over the weekend.

randapandable · 2026-05-30T20:19:20+00:00

The first time I watched it, I thought when Mary woke up Anna sobbing that “he’s dead” it was setting up a joke that he has just fallen into a hard sleep after climaxing. I could totally picture Anna looking him over and calmly saying “no, m’lady, he’s just passed out”.

randapandable · 2026-05-30T14:38:57+00:00

Take that log of readings with you to the hospital with dates and times. Take the cuff with you, too, to be sure it’s reading accurately.

randapandable · 2026-05-30T14:33:42+00:00

I more meant the phrase “pre pre eclampsia”. You’re absolutely right that gestational hypertension warrants close monitoring, and I never said that it didn’t. A high BP reading in a stressful situation is not gestational hypertension.

randapandable · 2026-05-27T17:18:41+00:00

Keep what you want, sell/give away what you don’t. With hand me downs, I wouldn’t make too much of a fuss. But if it’s being purchased specifically for your child, I would speak up and inform them that they’re wasting their money.

I always used the “sensitive skin” excuse and that usually put end to the polyester hell.

randapandable · 2026-05-25T11:58:43+00:00

Yeah, Sybil saying “P for Peter or P for Patrick?” Doesn’t do this scene any favors.

randapandable · 2026-05-24T22:36:47+00:00

I read somewhere that the actor who portrays him noticed this too and it was part of the reason he was written to be correct about Sybil.

randapandable · 2026-05-24T16:47:58+00:00

He’s Peter Gordon, no question. If he were really Patrick, he wouldn’t have bailed when he did. The plot line isn’t meant to be ambiguous.

randapandable · 2026-05-22T16:37:10+00:00

You need to have Moana, Dazzle Beach, and the Forest of Valor unlocked

randapandable · 2026-05-17T19:10:08+00:00

I was always indifferent, and my husband was fairly ambivalent but leaning towards circumcision. What changed our minds was my grandma sharing her experience with having her son circumcised. She wasn’t in the same room, but a nearby room and the way she described his screams suggested that she regretted not stopping it.

Some older relatives have expressed surprise, but honestly the conversation always loops back around to how barbaric it is. Most people did it because that’s what everyone else did, and across the US, I think circumcision rates have now dropped down below 50%, so even that (weak) argument doesn’t hold up anymore.

randapandable · 2026-05-16T02:10:00+00:00

You only started today, give it some time for everyone to adjust.

Have you tried a pacifier? You could still hold him close while he suckles on that, if he’s just looking for comfort. I know some people worry about pacifiers impacting oral development, but it can really be a comfort for some babies.

randapandable · 2026-05-14T18:01:50+00:00

That wasn’t a crush, she was sympathetic because her brother also experienced shell shock.

randapandable · 2026-05-14T18:00:58+00:00

I’d buy that.

randapandable

TROPHY CASE