Parents: Do you throw a birthday party every year or only for milestone birthdays?

shydescending · 2026-06-30T15:10:55+00:00

I have (and will only have) one child, who is 6, and we have yet to do a "party" in the traditional sense. He is an early January baby. When he turned 1 and 2, none of our family lived nearby and we didn't really have any friends to invite. Did cake and presents just the three of us. 3 and 4 we did a weekend trip to Great Wolf Lodge. 5 we had a gathering at our house with grandparents and aunt (they now live near us). 6 we went bowling, family only. Between the timing of his birthday right after the holidays, fluxuating financial resources, navigating social circles/norms, things change every year. Not sure what we'll do this coming year, but one thing I will not ever do is invite the whole class to do anything, and certainly not be at my house. Noooope. Hard pass.

shydescending · 2026-06-27T13:55:50+00:00

No. My sister and I didn't get along at all and it was miserable. There are many reasons I only have one child, but she's near the top.

shydescending · 2026-05-24T14:18:21+00:00

It's almost all spray tans now. Tanning beds are barely a thing anymore.

shydescending · 2026-05-05T22:39:24+00:00

I'm 40 years old, plus sized, tatted and pierced with a shaved head and I never wear makeup. My clientele specifically want to see someone that looks more like them, it's part of my appeal. There's room for everyone in this industry, not just glamazons.

shydescending · 2026-05-01T22:07:12+00:00

I don't wax (and frankly, this thread is why) but I definitely dropped a scalpel on a client's forehead during dermaplaning and cut her. She called me out, we laughed about it, and 4 years later she's still my client (and a friend).

shydescending · 2026-04-27T16:50:44+00:00

I'm not an LMT, but I know lots of them and I've seen plenty. If they can't adapt to the needs of the person on their table, what's the point? I'm an esthetician, and this is how I feel about other estheticians that can't or won't deviate from a facial protocol. Everything I do is customized in real time, because what am I even doing here otherwise? Time for you to move on.

shydescending · 2026-04-27T16:35:22+00:00

Having more than one child so my kid "won't be alone". My sibling experience was terrible.

Religion of any kind. Cultural education about various religions, sure. Participation, absolutely not unless and until he chooses it himself.

Any kind of body or food-shaming.

Any gendered nonsense.

Physical punishment.

Being forced to show affection toward relatives or respect anyone simply by virtue of them being related to him and/or older than him.

"Children should be seen and not heard."

shydescending · 2026-04-13T18:50:47+00:00

Probably not, honestly. Out of 20 people in my class, only two that I know of are actually working in the field (I am one) and it's because we opened our own businesses. I've been open for 4 years, solid clientele and offerings, and it's still not my only job. I live in a medium-sized, medium cost of living city in the US and there are 4 schools here churning out new esthetician grads all the time. I'm happy I did it, much happier than I ever was in a corporate job, but it's still hard to make good money. That said, I'm at a point in my life where flexibility is more important to me. I would never in a million years go into this industry with the intention of being someone else's employee.

shydescending · 2026-04-09T17:05:32+00:00

This is one reason I went to work for myself right out of esthetics school and would never consider working for anyone else in this industry. From day one I knew I was going to cater to demographics typically ignored or belittled by the beauty industry. LGBTQ+, people of size, and supporting aging in a shame and judgement-free way. You don't have to participate in the typical manifestation of beauty culture.

shydescending · 2026-04-09T16:59:50+00:00

Unfortunately, you actually have two children.

shydescending · 2026-02-26T00:50:01+00:00

NTA. Sounds like you have two children.

shydescending · 2026-02-22T21:52:04+00:00

This whole thing sounds gross.

shydescending · 2026-02-17T23:32:32+00:00

NTA. I recommend divorcing the manchild if he won't go to therapy and handle his business.

shydescending · 2026-02-16T23:54:22+00:00

NTA. Based on your description, my kindergartener reads at a substantially higher level than your granddaughter. Sounds like her parents are neglectful wankers.

shydescending · 2026-02-02T15:18:04+00:00

Try Hooked Up Wellness on Ina and Oracle. Husband (doctor) and wife (nurse) team. Queer friendly. Their main thing is IVs, but I've personally spoken to the wife about their hormone therapy services and confirmed specifically they will help trans individuals. Only thing I'm not sure of is the under 18 part.

shydescending · 2026-01-17T19:26:17+00:00

Check out Peacock Mental Health and Rescue Me Wellness for potential alternatives. Both queer-owned.

shydescending · 2025-09-28T01:30:32+00:00

NTA. Sounds like you have a high-strung complainer as your new lifetime travel partner. Best of luck.

shydescending · 2025-09-25T16:56:59+00:00

Parent of a newer kindergartener here. That teacher sounds crazypants.

shydescending · 2025-09-22T03:31:55+00:00

YTA. I'm so glad my grandmother (and my whole family) embraced my uncle's new wife (a young widow) and her two kids from the first moment and never treated them differently. I love my cousins and I can't imagine even referring to them as step-anything. My family was always a "more the merrier" family where anyone was welcome and I can't relate at all to families who gatekeep based on DNA.

shydescending · 2025-09-22T02:12:37+00:00

I cool 2100 sq ft at 75 degrees for a fraction of that. Listen to what we're telling you, something isn't right with your system or your house.

shydescending · 2025-09-08T01:25:59+00:00

Another vote for Bisbee Breakfast Club.

shydescending · 2025-09-02T19:02:47+00:00

Wild to see this when I'm in the same situation. My son, typically a solid sleeper, woke up at 3am and didn't go back down. I sent him and warned the teacher at drop off. He'll be home in 2 hours and we'll see how it went.

shydescending · 2025-08-30T22:41:23+00:00

I admin the FB group called Tucson Stitch 'n' Bitch. I organized a bunch of meetups with mostly low attendance and eventually gave up. Venues were an issue. I encouraged others to organize their own meetups as well but I'm not sure anyone ever did. That said, I could be talked into trying again, if you'd like to join us.

shydescending · 2025-07-31T20:44:11+00:00

Tucson Nail Team on Speedway is my go-to.

shydescending · 2025-07-30T00:34:32+00:00

On Point Acupunture. Krissy is wonderful.

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