Dr. is NOT going to change. Either deal with it or

so I am illiterate because I chose to change one letter... [2008-01-19]
from an O to a Y??? I didn't ask for your opinion but thanks for it anyway...

Yeah and when child becomes adult can change [2008-01-19]
x

Dr. is NOT going to change. Either deal with it or [2008-01-19]
x

Guess as adult, they could change name to Don [2008-01-18]
x

working from home is hard but I wouldn't change it for the world... [2007-10-12]
my daugther is 14 months old and in a few months I am going to put her in daycare 2-3 days a week, just to interact with other kids, but it sure will give me a break from time to time...I work now when the baby naps or before the kids get up in the morning but some days no one is quiet and I have no idea how I do it either...but you take the good with the bad right??? and I love being here for my children...it is nice knowing that there are other moms out there in the same boat!!!

Chelle [2008-11-30]
I am a single Mom too and homeschooling my too boys. I thought I was the only one! Especially as a single mom. My boys are 15 and 10. My oldest I have homeschooled through an umbrella program (Christian Academy parachoial school locally). They provide all the curriculum, teaching plans and record keep. He can take classes on site for the ones we cannot do at home (chemistry etc). It's our first year. There were safety issues in public schools by me. He is doing very well. Mostly independent. I come up at lunch time and answer questions and help with any issues he might have and check his work every evening/corrections. My youngest has a developmental delays. We use Time 4 Learning I work IC right now so have a 24-hour window. He needs more one-on-one help. I need insurance so looking to possibly change from IC to employee stauts and not quite sure how we will handle it. Right now my IC job doesn't have much work in the early morning while they sleep and this when I need it. But often I work at night when they are bed. It's definteily not easy. But I do see it's a great value to the kids. I am happy to chat with others. I am in Michigan

I did it - it is possible! [2008-11-05]
I started working from home when my son was just almost 2-1/2. Before that, I worked at a hospital and he was shifted from babysitter to grandma to daddy four days a week. I know you said you canmommy sitter. That's where a child (they say ideal is 8-12 years old) comes to play and entertain the children while mommy has something else she needs to get done in the house (or take a bubble bath!). It wouldn't cost much to pay a child so young and the child's parent would be reassured by your presence. Plus, a child that age with no younger sibling might truly enjoy playing with a 1-year-old. That might work until your husband comes home. Keep working at it. Sometimes it just takes a while to adjust and kids go thru periods of straining at the confines of a schedule. Work at figuring out a schedule until you find one that works. You CAN do it! And it's worth it!!

Working at home while caring for 1-year-old son. Can it really be done? [2008-10-21]
Seriously . . . Can it? I work second shift. Most the days I am starting once I lay my son down for his afternoon nap (around 12:30 p.m.) and then working until the end of my shift with a lunch in the middle. My husband doesn My son has recently decided he needs less sleep, which is understandable since he is getting older now. He has cut his naps down to about 1 hour a day. That means I have to try to work from about 1:30 p.m. until my husband gets home trying to take care of my son at the same time. He usually is pretty good about playing on his own or sitting on my lap watching me, but he is teething now and is very, very needy. He won I just switched jobs, so I can Any suggestions or help or tips would be greatly appreciated. I wish I didn I am just totally stressing about not making enough to pay the bills and trying to keep my son and husband happy all at the same time. Tips and suggestions would be very, very much appreciated. Thanks.

getting out [2008-09-11]
you certainly have gotten yourself into that gerbil cage and going no where. You did not say how long you have been on anti-depressants, but if longer than 6 weeks you need to try a different kind. Getting stated with making changes is the hardest thing to do but obviously you want a change otherwise you wouldn I think baby steps is the best approach and only you know where those baby steps can be. Someone said go get a haircut, but if you are not feeling good about yourself and can Baby steps would be like going for a walk outside. The trick about baby steps is not going backwards. One path has to lead to another. It does not make any difference how long you on that one path. You Maybe you can join weight watchers and that will be your outing or join WW on line and do something else that will take you down that path. I get caught up too in the in-the-house thing and it is not good. Is there any way you can change shifts? then you can join an adult ed class at night. Good luck. Diane

Hmmmm....best thing I can tell you... [2008-09-11]
is get out, while you can! Seriously, you mention nothing whatsoever of love, compassion, tenderness, or anything that is so important in a relationship! Nowaday, marriage is an inconvienence. I realize you just had a baby and have a toddler, I have children ranging in age from 2 to 16. You do not have to stay with someone just because you had children together!!! Obviously, you are in a very unhealthy relationship. I seriously doubt he will ever change. Feel free to email me. I myself ended an almost-20-year relationship and myself and my children could not be happier! I do not mean to sound so blunt, but you have some serious thinking to do! Do you really believe that is a healthy relationship? Honestly?

one-month-old-- have one too. [2008-09-08]
My daughter was born 08/08/08, and I also have a 15-year-old and a 3-year-old. I commend you for going back in one week!! I should be back already, but just can My normal shift is 5 a.m. to 1 p.m., and I have been laying back down with her after she gets up her once a night, until most days 8 a.m. at least. When we started giving my son cereal at night at 4 weeks, he slept longer. Put it in his bottle to start with a larger nipple, and then spoon fed also.Maybe try spoon feeding abit of cereal mixed with milk beforelaying her down for the night? Docs do not recommend it, but it sure helps them sleep longer/keeps their tummy fuller longer. It has worked for my first 2 sons!! I have never breast fed, so don Every baby is different, and you will probably have to adapt to her schedule, rather than she to yours. That is what is good about flexible schedules-- I go back to work this Wed. and have a VERY flexible schedule/boss. Good luck with this, I have it pretty easy, my daughter gets up only once a night, but it may be 2 a.m., it may be 4:30 a.m., than she goes back down and it is WAY too temptnig to lay back down with her, instead of getting into the groove of getting up by 5 a.m.!!! SHe also sleeps the largest part of the day, just waiting for that to change... Again, good luck!

working at home [2008-07-23]
I work at home also, but one of the private accounts I work on requires me to go to the office twice a week to pick up tapes. Maybe that is a good thing. During the summer my husband and daughter go with me and then we grab lunch out together and do whatever errands we have to do. It really is a change and I love it.

Good news and bad news [2008-06-22]
There are 2 on-line schools that are excellent and would prepare you for the real world: Andrews and M-Tec. The bad news is that from my reading, MDs have a goal of changing over to electronic check-off systems to control costs and take over control of quality. I read they wanted the change to happen within 2 years. I've changed careers already, and I really couldn't recommend anybody start down the path at this point. Just suspicions, of course.

first step [2008-06-14]
Brooke: I want to commend you on going to church and the strides you are making to show a good example. But that may not be quite enough. It sounds as if your husband has an inkling that he needs to make some changes . However, I do still think that the suggestion for martial counseling with your pastor is important. From some of you have said it does sound like there are a few more seriuos issues than him simply taking you for granted. You make it sound as if he is controlling all the fiances and your behavior and actions through that. Now I understand being frugal but you stated he can spend what he wants but you afraid to even ask for 20 dollars to joint a Momgood now. But remember, again you are to be viewed in terms of good or bad or imply you deserve certain treatment do to past mistakes. In the end you shoudl provide for your future. I think every woman does need a saftey plan for financial security. Working part-time would provide you money to buy some things for yourself and also to join group. You need social support. Right now you are essentially isolated other than your husband and family. What about joinign a MOPS group through church? I am not sure, but dont' think there is a charge. You need a group of supportive peole other than your husband. Keep going to church - maybe your husband might get into the men's minsitry. This could serve two-fold. He could see and model from Chrisian men how they interact aand also how they treat their wives. It would also give him a social outlet. The two of you going out without kids is also good. remember so a combinatin of things. One thing (such as date night or occasional church service) isn't going to work. Pray together. Have yourchurch family pray for you. I undersatnd divorce is not an option. I salute your committment to your marriage but your husband has to be as committed. It cannot just be about YOU making changes. So pray for his change of heart and try to actively involve him. YOu must communicate with him. Not yell, no walk on egg shells. If you are afraid to talke to him why? Has he been abusive/ Were you abused in the past by someone? AGain if this the case you need immediate intervention. Bottom line God asks men to love their wives but he did not say control their wives or belittle their wives. Women should suport and love their husbands as head of household but not be afraid of them or cower to them....

You're responding to him as if you are a child [2008-06-04]
This man is your husband, not your father. Either you were brought up to think you had to had a place for everything and everything in its place or you're trying to please him WAAAY to much. If he can't accept that you have enough to do with two children and the day to day housechores, then that's his problem. Why make it yours? If you keeping acting like his maid and servant, he will continue expecting it, so, I say to you, you need to change that behavior NOW. You will forever be treated like a child if you continue to act like one. You do not need his approval. Actions speak louder than words, so if he makes a comment about something being in the wrong place, etc., just say, Yea, I see that. My husband used to do this (been married over 27 years) without really thinking how he sounded. I put an end to that when my daughter was a baby. Did I want her to grow up to be someone servant? If he ask if a certain shirt had been ironed, I informed him he had many others in his closet and if that one was an emergency, he knew where the dry cleaners was located. Feeling guilty over failure to do dishes (too tired or exhausted)or leaving something cluttered is something you have to realize isn't an emergency, and he sees you constantly jumping around pleasing him, believe me, he will take advantage of that. You sound like you are trying to justify being a mom and staying at home. I have a daughter and a niece who before they were married, I certainly never left it a mystery as to my feelings on this matter. They both work hard jobs and neither husband EXPECTS everything to be spotless or at their beckon call. They know they can easily pitch in and do it themselves or they can shut up. The girls didnperfect little wives, whatever that is. You get over it and I guarantee, he will get over it, once he comes down off his high horse.

SAHM wanting to work. [2008-05-15]
I currently work prn as a Radiology Transcriptionist and would like to contribute more to the family income by working from home doing this. I have applied to several places and on here and don't hear anything back. Whats the deal, and what do I have to do to get hired?

I am going to urge you to get counseling soon. [2008-03-30]
Please don't take this the wrong way, but there are a number of things you have said in your posts that indicate you would benefit from speaking with a counselor. Especially, where you say that you have improved and then speak about not complaining ever and being very forgiving. You need to take care of yourself. There should be services that are either free or prorated in your area. Also, you cannot make any relationship better by being the only one willing to change, especially when those changes are superficial.

SAHM/WAHM and fairness, respect [2008-03-29]
I wouldn't call my position as a current SAHM terribly difficult. My toddler, while quite rowdy and misbehaved some days, is fairly content to entertain herself while I do housework. My newborn is a quiet one. My house is small and cleans rather quickly. There is a place for mostly everything, so there's not much clutter aside from my daughter's toys which migrate from her room to every other room in the house. I have to do laundry at my mother in law's because we don't have a washer/dryer, so my kids get to visit with their nana and papa while I wash the clothes. We have a fenced-in yard and there is a park two steps from my house so I don't have to pack the kids in the car to take them someplace to play. Some days I finish the housework so fast that I'm bored unless I'm creative and can find something for me and my toddler to do together (which is what I should be doing anyway). However, I do absolutely everything around my home, including on the weekends. My husband seems to think that because he works outside the home, he shouldnjust another bill. I take the girls to their wellness appointments. I change out the garbages. I keep up the garage and the yard. I check the mail. He puts our toddler to bed most nights because I'm nursing our newborn, but since he works late often I've been able to practice putting her to bed quickly enough so my newborn doesn't interrupt us by crying. He takes the garbage to the curb (most of the time). He's put the dishes away a handful of times. If I ask to go somewhere for some time alone, he'll watch our toddler for an hour or two (I don't ask for this often, but maybe I should?). He spends whatever he wants on computer games and fast food... I get nothing to spend on myself or the kids unless it's an absolute necessity. When I worked part time and was pregnant, I did everything. When I gave birth, he was forced to learn how to put our toddler to bed, so that's why he does that now. I try to sleep in but I can't with a toddler loose in the house and a hungry newborn. I'm feeling pretty run-down and lethargic lately, cooped up and lonely, insignificant and like I can't get anywhere. I'm about to start MT training and of course will still be expected to do everything around the house without any help and without any forgiveness should I miss something. I'm worried that even once I start working full time and the kids are in daycare, he's not going to lift a finger to help me out -- I'll have even less time after work to do all the chores on top of caring for the kids. I'm not looking forward to the arguments that will ensue if I fail to do the dishes one day or let the livingroom get a little cluttered. HeI better take care of that quick before he sees it as opposed to hey look there. one time when I was pregnant and started a valid argument with him about another topic, he resorted to pointing out my lack of housekeeping skills (which had nothing to do with the subject) in order to throw me off and upset me. I want to contribute to our household because we've been living off his income alone since January, but I feel that even working full time won't make him appreciate what I do for our children and our household. I am not ungrateful that he is our only income currently, but the only reason for this is because I just gave birth. Had I not done that, I would still be working right now, but there would still be an inequality in our relationship, and I don't know how much more I can take before I just shut down and shut him out completely. Any confrontation about how I feel leads to a shouting match and finger-pointing, so I just don't say anything at all. We just got married in October and I already see it going downhill if this continues. Any advice? How can I put it to him that I'm his wife and the mother of his children, not his 24-hour maid? That even though I'm not working, I still deserve respect and time to myself and a little money to spend on what I want? That when I am working, we need to split the chores because it's not just my house, it's his too? Or should I just repeat this whole last paragraph?

you definitely are not alone...sm [2008-01-22]
I have 3 children ages 9, 7, and 3. I still wonder everyday how am I going to get it all done. I have had to give up on keeping the house as neat as I would like it...usually it is a FAR cry from neat really :) So, you may have to just learn to deal with a bit of a mess for now. There is a difference between dirty and messy, s dont sweat the messy. Iagree with the other poster that working as an employee is probably making it more difficult. I am not a morning person AT ALL! I often will work after they all go to bed til 1-2 a.m. Maybe talk to your employer and see if they have any job positions that are more flexible? Wish I had something helpful to add, but just really wanted to encourage you that it is a common battle we fight and there is a way through. Good luck!

nick names [2008-01-18]
Try to keep in mind what the child will be called as a nickname. If you like Karygan, then know that people will call her Kary (carrie) - and if you Also research the name My daughter I too like different names. Inamed my son Kaleb (pronounced Kawlib- emphasis on first syllable)Antonio but then his father and I reconciled (I did ask his dad at birth if he wanted me to name him after him and he said no, so okay then),I had to change his name at 3 months of age to Robert(lastname here)IV, no middle name

Thank you for all of the responses. . .sm [2008-01-15]
I think the problem is really with my husband. If he has to watch the kids (we have a 7-year-old and a 2-year-old), he gets very angry and will interrupt me constantly to change diapers, make dinner, etc. We have a farm and he thinks that he should be outside working instead of baby sitting. I really tried to make my schedule work around his. He also is resentful because I gave up a decent job to stay home. Where we live, most people don't make the kind of money I use to make. I think he made it difficult for me on purpose so I would go back to my old job. He is a control freak and always wants to get his way. If not for the kids, I would be gone. Thank you very much for your advice. When my youngest is in school, I will try to find something part time and hopefully work up to full time.

Potty training woes... [2007-12-21]
My 2 1/2-year-old daughter will not potty train! She likes sitting on the potty, but she won I bring her in there when I go and show her what it We had a toddler potty that we started with, and she didn She asks to go on it, I put her on, she asks me to sit there and watch her, and she just talks to me about stuff...I say, go potty..., go poopy..., make water..., listen for the tinkle... etc. She will then get off the potty and pee on the rug. I have a sticker board with Dora stickers that she can put up everytime she goes...there are no stickers on it. Any suggestions as to what I can do? She is very big for her age, and I found size 7 diapers, but they are getting a little snug...I can It does not bother her to be in a poopy diaper, and she does not like it when I change her and use wipes...

I can relate sm [2007-12-21]
There are no easy answers. Toilet training takes a great deal of patience and for some kids, a very great deal of time too. There isnfully trained at 18 months. For one thing, children are not physically capable of holding urine until they are AT LEAST 28 months old. If you don't believe me, see the paragraph above. I have heard that they are not ready to train until they can ride a tricycle, going forward, on their own with some speed. I found this to be true of only one of my now grown kids. Take her out and get her some pretty big girl panties and let HER pick them out. DOn't get the sponge center training pants because they feel like a diaper. You want thin, regular panties because when they wet and the cold air hits their fanny it will shock them. Know that they will get stained and horrid, but it is in the name of progress. Don't make night time dryness an immediate goal. Strive for daytime potty training first and exclusively, diaper at night. Don't make a big deal of this. The child will tell you when they are ready to let that diaper go. Mine did and none of my 3 wore a night diaper much past age 3-1/2. Don't get into a power struggle. Stickers may not be enough. I had a pediatrician tell me to use M&Ms, 2 for a pee, 5 for a poo when my daughter was being stubborn. The advice is NO OTHER TREATS and make her work for the M&Ms or whatever very small sweet treat you use. I thought this was dead wrong, I didn't agree, but I was desperate because she was going to be 3 in less than a month with no progress. I needed M&Ms for only a couple of weeks because she got used to using the potty and got tired of the M&Ms. If you use a little potty seat, a good idea, take the little guard thingy off of it so it looks like a regular tiny toilet. Those guards are treacherous. And um, toss the seatbelt out too, they are just cruel. As for not minding a loaded diaper, some girls are like that. I finally gave up on my girl and let her sit in it until she asked to be changed. During the first week of this nastiness, her godmother came to visit. She walked in the door and had a fit over the smell, traced it to the kid and told her she smelled horrible, disgusting, awful and asked her how she could stand to be that way and furthermore, little girls who pooed their pants didn't go in HER car for Happy Meals. She never would sit in it again and shortly afterwards decided the best way to handle poos is on the potty seat. I am reminded of what I have heard several times. Your child WILL learn, she WILL get out of diapers because no kid wears diapers to school. This is not true, but once they get there someone will laugh and that is the end of the diaper.

Is this bad??? (long msg) [2007-10-16]
My daughter will be 2 1/2 in 2 months. She has always been a really awesome sleeper. Since she was 8 months old, she has been going down at 6:00 p.m. and sleeps until 5:30 or 6:00 the next morning. My 8-month-old daughter is following the same pattern. Nowmy 2-year-oldis getting to the point where she either will not take naps at all or not be tired when I used to put her down (11:00) but then gets very tired around 2:00. I really don I don She is a very good girl, but very demanding. She is going through her terrible two Not to mention I have my baby. Anyway, for the last 2 weeks or so, my oldest will go down at 6:00 if she does not take a nap, but by that time she is very tired. If she does take a nap, I only let her sleep for about an hour and then put her down at her regular time, and sometimes she will sit in her crib for an hour just talking... I feel so horrible about leaving her in there when she isn Not to mention, I feel like I Should I be fearful of that? I realize this board is for people towrite their opinions, but please refrain from being nasty...I already feel guilty enough.

s/m [2007-08-31]
Good afternoon everyone! I have been recently hired with an on-line company and I was wondering how everyone else with small children at home does it? I mean, do you wait until they nap? Do you bring them to daycare? Do you MT in the mornings before they wake up and/or at night after they go to bed? I need to set up a schedule for my company but I am not sure what is going to work. Do you think they will let me go by the fly of my pants the first week or so to see what schedule is going to work? Do I have to have a set schedule for them or just as long as I get my work done before midnight on the days that I am set to work. I told them that I will work Tuesday through Saturday but I need to change that because my oldest is heading to preschool on the September 10th (I just found out today), so I will have to change my set days to Sunday through Thrusday. Could someone please give me an example of their schedule with keeping kids at home so I could see what I am heading towards? TIA!

homeschooling and working [2007-08-13]
Dear Guilty Mom, I've been there. I just want to encourage you to spend time with the Lord in prayer and reading your bible. Let Jesus tell you how to deal with this situation. He knows your situation and He knows how you need to handle it. If you don't know Him, pray and ask Him into your heart and accept him as your Savior, give Him your life, your marriage, your job and your mothering. He understands and can help if you allow Him to. He guides me daily and speaks to me through His Word and prayer and sometimes other people. Let me know if I can pray with you for any help. God bless and I'll be praying the Lord guides and protects your family.

Your best bet is to get a job in a hospital or clinic, sm [2007-08-04]
where there will be someone to mentor you for a few years, the more, the better. That's how most of us oldtimers started out. We built our foundation BEFORE going out on our own. We had our tools (MT reference books) before we tackled this job on our own. At this point in your career, you haven't a clue as to how much you don't know. I always use this analogy when talking to newbies who think they can go out on their own. If a person takes 2 years of high school French and goes to France, that person is not going to be able to follow any conversations, read street signs, let alone speak French correctly or even read a simple menu! And that's with 2 years of formal education! (I know this as a fact because I lived in France for 3 years and then took high school French for 2 years. I couldn't make my way through France now without someone FLUENT in French helping me. MT is learning a language exactly like learning French or another language. You have slang and different accents to learn and deal with. However, for MT, and unlike French or Spanish, etc., there are terrible, terrible consequences to pay, for the patient, the physician, and hospital if the MT makes a serious mistake that goes unnoticed until it's too late. (And that can easily happen with newbies transcribing rad reports, MRIs, etc.--very, very scary!!) Even doctors out of medical school have to go through internship and residency programs for years while being supervised, and we, as MTs, are supposed to know what they're all talking about and how to spell it, too! This is a serious business. You must pay your dues. Another word of advice: Take time to read good literature to build up a good vocabulary. Like I said, MTs have to keep up with men and women with advanced degrees, using annabananafrom the get-go! I wish you the best of luck. I can tell you have what it takes to be a top-notch MT. Live--and LEARN!!!

My girls were the same way. [2007-05-28]
Both my girls were attached to their binkies. They were 3 and 4 when they decided to give it up. They are 7 and 5 now and they laugh when I tell them about their binky days, like it was ages ago. It will happen, just give it time. If itpurse to carry it in. Then, try just naptime and bedtime. My girls would want to take it wherever we went, so I told them they could only take it if they kept in in their purse or pocket. Eventually, try to encourage her to put it under her pillow or something like that. I did this with my daughters and it made life a little more bearable and not so traumatic for anyone. I just tried not making it such a big deal but made efforts to show them it was time to move on, and how proud I was that they were being a big girl. Good luck.

Should I go to school now?? [2007-05-06]
HI all. First I want to say what a wonderful support system you all have here. To be able to help each other with anything work or life related is better than any office job i've even had. And now for my dilemma... I have been wanting to feel more productive for a long time. Ihave beena military wife for 12 yrs and getting an education and keeping a job has been a challenge for me. Needless to say we move alot. A few weeks ago my husbands boss sent me an email about military spouses doing medical transcription. I have been researching day and night since he sent it. I haven't been this excited about a job opportunity in years. The only thing is I think it may have come at a bad time. I am currently 31wks pregnant and have an 18m/o daughter and I started homeschooling my 11-yr-old this year. I have been a medical secretary/customer service/patient rep you name it and I think MT'ing would be right up my alley. Should I wait to have the baby to start school? I'm just so excited about this I want to jump in and start now. It would give me a couple of months w/out another mouth to feed and diaper to change to get through as much of the school as I can. But what do you all think? I've already decided to go to M-Tec or Andrews.. My husband likes the looks of M-Tec but I noticed alot of people on boards lean toward Andrews. Any and all advice would be appreciated. Thanks!!!

New MT [2007-02-14]
I would not advise investing in the classes. As a new MT without experience, you will have a great deal of trouble getting hired to work at home and will have to work longer hours than you do now to earn half (or less) the income. Furthermore, it is a job that technological changes is making obsolete.