Mom of 3 entertaining boys & 2 weird cats, wife of a philosophizing lawyer, residential designer, small business owner, transit enthusiast, lifelong Seattleite
Help me twitter. My 9yo is a voracious reader of fantasy. He inhales entire series quickly. He's loved for example LoTR+Silmarillion, Fablehaven, Riddlemaster of Hed, Chronicles of Prydain. I didn't read much fantasy as a kid (or adult) so help me figure out what to get him next.
So let’s talk about the kindness of strangers for a second. I’m sitting here at the mall w/a flat tire. I got the car jacked up, the bolt covers off, spare out, etc. the lug nuts were on too tight for me to get them off. My husband was about to come help when a guy pulled off 1/
He got out google translate to ask if he could go fill it up for me. I said sure (not like I could do it). He drove off w/it, came back, finished putting it on, all with a smile. I’m so touched.
#tinykindness
3/3
The main road into the parking lot, didn’t speak a word of English, but motioned to ask if he could help. He got the lug nuts off in no time, pulled the wheel off, then realized my spare didn’t have enough air in it. 2/
My oldest turns 16 tomorrow. He’s been feeling v sentimental ahead of this birthday. He asked for a cake of his oldest favorite stuffy. This duck has seen a lot. It has accompanied him to all his hospitalizations, it’s his favorite pillow. So, I present Duckalatticus the cake.
@TaisonBell
She was responding to my post abt my teens being relieved to be vaxxed, accused me of telling my kids they’d die of covid. My oldest very nearly died of a serious respiratory illness at 4 & 7. He knows what it’s like to almost die. He’s been on a vent. Of course he’s relieved.
@AjvictoryMD
Tragic. My 4yo was intubated w/a bad case of croup 10 yrs ago & I’m still living w/that ptsd. So is my son. It sucks. I wish ppl could understand the devastating aftermath of an illness like this even if the child survives.
Wow. This went a little nuts. I have nothing to promote, but think everyone should read this wonderful post about ADHD and parenting. Maybe you can guess why. 😉
A message I want to share with adults who work with
#ADHD
kids is: pushing them the way that you push neurotypical kids harms them for life.
Here’s what I mean.
When I start working clinically with an adult who has ADHD, one of the first things we do /1
@IGoBySteve
Yep, but my dad would always refuse to have me screened because he thought it was a scam. I found out when receiving an epidural as an adult that I do indeed have scoliosis (causing it to take over an hour to insert). Good times.
Just learned that if prospective missionaries refuse vaccination, they are assigned (or reassigned) to stateside missions. Our ward missionaries are not vaxxed & refuse to do so. They’re eating in members’ homes w/out sharing vaccine status.
@Ch_JesusChrist
This is not okay.
Another church post: I’ve found that almost every catching-up convo I’ve had w/40-something female friends (esp. moms of teens) over the past year inevitably end up at “I’m having a faith crisis, are you? You are? I’m not alone? Whew.” The moms are over it, y’all. Big. Time.
@KimIversenShow
@DrCJohns
You’re talking to the wrong mom. My 14yo almost died of respiratory illnesses 3x in his young life. I’ve seen him on a ventilator. His brother had to wonder if he would die. So yes I’m going to do everything I can to prevent them from future respiratory trauma.
@KimIversenShow
@DrCJohns
I wouldn’t wish seeing your young child stop breathing, turn blue, calling 911, doing cpr, being intubated in an ambulance, having to ask the medic if your kid is going to die, being in an icu on a ventilator, on anyone. Kids w/comorbidities deserve life/safety too.
I’m at a large movie theater in downtown Seattle that has completely gender neutral bathrooms simply labeled “toilets & urinals” & “just toilets” & it’s fine. Nobody cares. People of all kinds just go in, use the bathroom, & leave. Nothing happening. This should be normal.
@oldenoughtosay
The depths of how badly women have been F’d over in the healthcare industry (I consider this part of that) just continues down, down, down. It feels so incredibly hopeless sometimes. I wouldn’t be surprised if this was a team of men who chose saline all those years. 🤦🏼♀️😭
@DrCJohns
I have two 12-15yo aged boys. One fully vaxxed, one half-way there. Neither had any symptoms at all. Both are enjoying the peace of mind that comes with knowing they won't end up dying from this vile virus. 10/10 would vaccinate again. Flu shots up next.
@clhubes
When our oldest was 2 + we had a newborn, we taught our 2yo how to work the tv. 😅 It was survival. He’d get up & turn on a show.
The other thing they don’t tell you is a toddler + baby is the most insane sleep deprivation you can imagine bc the older one expects you to function.
@TheBalloonatic1
I really wanted to do it myself but those darn lug nuts wouldn’t budge. I’m usually a do-it-yourself kind of person, so I’m having to learn to say yes to help & that’s a thing all in and of itself.
@moinqueens
@Mimirocah1
It probably has to do with people not actually being tested even when it's obvious they have it, so when they die, they weren't officially diagnosed, so don't count in the numbers. Same is true in Seattle. Lots of people dying of "acute respiratory illnesses."
Was talking to a child therapist today who told me she & her colleagues have been observing a 2-3 yr delay in social/emotional growth since covid so a 7th grader has the SE skills of a 4th or 5th grader which is yikes all the way around when you think about high schoolers too.
I’ve officially been labeled as in a faith crisis by ward leadership (on internal communications) and I didn’t realize how much the word “crisis” would bother me…
My art shows that when President Trump and Taylor Swift join forces, the young folks will come together to make sure we forever remain an America First country.
#SwiftersForTrump
@KHandozo
SO much truth here. I once saw a parent group convo that was "does anyone else have an autistic kid that just goes to sleep when they don't get what they want?" I was like UHM. That's a shutdown, and it's traumatic, and "not getting what they want" is not at all what's going on.
@DanDotLewis
Elizabeth Warren. I took my kids to a campaign function and she was so good with my then 10yo who basically lectured her about global warming. Then she gave me a big mom-hug and told me it was going to be okay. She was wonderful.
@Nicole_Cliffe
I am a cycle-breaker and it is the biggest triumph of my life. Very hard-fought. Grateful everyday for the peace that my husband and I have created for our kids.
My 9th grader & 4th grader figured out how to communicate w/each other at school over google docs. This warmed my heart & amused me probably way more than it should have.
A hill I will absolutely & gladly die on is that parents should not have to pay extra to sit next to their children on flights.
People don’t want to sit next to random kids anyway. How on earth did this become a standard practice??
Convo after school today, 5th grade gettin’ messy:
10: A kid was being mean to my friend, so I told her “you need to calm down.”
Then she said, “what did you say to me?”
And I said, “you need to calm down.”
She said, “say that one more time.”
@taylorswift13
1/
Am I weird that part of my deconstruction is having ZERO interest in spirituality? I keep thinking there must be something wrong with me. Why don’t I need that story? Am I too much of a realist? Too pragmatic? Boring? Not a deep enough thinker? Will I have regrets? Anyone relate?
@ChrisCarrollMD
Yep. I watched my husband desperately perform CPR on our 4yo in our entryway (bad bad croup). He survived and is a healthy 15yo now, but that trauma lives in all 3 of us forever. It’s way different to witness it in real life than in a TV show or something.
10: everyone laughed.
Me: So Taylor Swift diffused the situation?
10: Yep! And my friend thought it was really cool that I stuck up for him, AND did it with a Taylor Swift song.
Me: What skill! You are the coolest.
@taylorswift13
3/3
@jrbrownme
@Nicole_Cliffe
Thanks! Yes, I have 3 kids so my body has done a lot. It's taken YEARS to come to terms with my stomach, mostly because of the above, & there's nothing I can do about it. We need to talk more about how bearing children affects womens' bodies differently and be okay with it.
@gtconway3d
Washington's governor has been an excellent example of being thoughtful, articulate, listening to experts, and taking this seriously. Thank you
@GovInslee
@calvinjburke
Interesting how in wards like ours where there really isn't a dress code (want to pass the sacrament? we're so happy you're willing to help!), people wear masks voluntarily with no fuss.
@Nicole_Cliffe
My skin apparently doesn't stretch, so my stomach is a permanent shriveled raisin, legs tiger-striped. My mom was so grossed out, she wanted to show it to my sisters (much younger) to let them see the CONSEQUENCES OF PREGNANCY. It's been years and I'm still mortified by that.
@dremilyportermd
It’s a huge pet peeve of mine, but having friends, a husband, and a kid w/ADHD & time blindness has given me a different perspective and more compassion.
I need some hopeful stories about ppl w/ADHD finding their place in this world. I worry so much about my brilliant but very distracted son. Help me out, Twitter. He’s going to be okay, right?
When I got out of my car this afternoon after being gone all day, my 14yo came outside. I asked if he came to help me carry stuff in & he said, “no, I came to talk to you because I like you” and folks: that’s it right there - my cup overflows. Teenagers are awesome. I love them.
@jmicrobe9
@KimIversenShow
@DrCJohns
Exactly. My biggest issue w/COVID is that it's fairly random as to who gets a serious case.
Also, death is not the only tragedy here. My son had serious respiratory illnesses as a young child that have caused him/our whole family a lot of trauma. I wouldn't wish it on anyone.
@jonfavs
I just adore her. I’m so glad I took the time to stand in a selfie line and meet her. She is so kind and genuine and even took my 10yo’s concerns seriously. Just one minute with her made me feel so valued, which honestly surprised me. She is for real.
We had to call a cable repairman to come fix our cable at the new place and thanks to
@laurenthehough
I offered him a cold beverage and let him use the bathroom. I love learning little lessons like this that hopefully make other peoples’ days better.
My 13yo is home w/his 3rd 5+ day illness since school started. The reply to my “out sick” email from the attendance said she’s been with the district for 29 years & has never seen this much illness this early in the school year. She said most sick kids are out a week+. 👎
@bsw5020
My BIL died of ALS in 2014, left behind 4 kids, the youngest not even 2. He made it 9mo. His death left a hole in our family. Thank you for fighting so hard for an ALS cure. It's terrible that we still know so little about the brain. Wishing you health and strength in your fight.
Francis Scott Key bridge was built in 1977. This chart shows the size of container ships then vs now.
You can see that the discourse of “shouldn’t bridges be designed to handle this” is ridiculous.
Ships are so big we can’t manage them.
@ASlavitt
This guy (and my other kids too). He’s a miracle & {expensive} medical mystery. I want him to always have access to affordable healthcare so he can have the bright future he imagines. He can tell you about all the elements, loves exoplanets & wants to go to Berkeley.
@DrJenGunter
Had the same experience with my then-4yo son & croup. So much PTSD. He was intubated in the back of an ambulance outside our home. His O2 was 40 on the way to the hospital.
Somehow he’s a healthy 14yo now, but we don’t mess around w/respiratory viruses or make light of them.
@RosemaryCard
Pretty sure I'd use a pocket knife more than my husband. I think his ideal Christmas gift would be season tickets to the opera. These gift lists are so cliche.
@dremilyportermd
Yeah. I volunteer at my kid’s school & knowing just a tiny bit about what a few of those kids are going thru, I always come home thinking “how on earth are those kids supposed to learn?” How can anyone praise the neglect and starvation of children?? It is horrifying to me.
@amicamy
@yashar
It's not TMI. The fact that people don't immediately think of this means we should probably be talking about it more openly. Half the population between the ages of about 12 and 50 do this. It shouldn't be some dirty secret.
This needs to be shouted from the rooftops. Big Grocery screwed us all & blamed it on inflation. I’m so angry about this. We need legislation to curb this but guess which party voted that down? Remind me why the GOP is so good at the economy?? Who does price gouging benefit?
A new report from the Federal Trade Commission suggests grocery giants used inflation and supply chain disruptions during the pandemic to drive their profits and keep raising prices.
My son said they told their son there wasn’t really anything they could do. (Not sure why they feel this way.) So my son set up an appointment w/the school counselor & volunteered to go w/this friend to talk about what’s going on. I’m so so proud of him for being that friend. 3/3
@shesbonky
I’m so sorry you witnessed that & she didn’t get help.
TW: ED
I had a roommate at BYU who was anorexic. When she went home at Christmas skeletal, her parents sent her on an internship to Disneyworld bc she’d eat out a lot & gain weight. And snap out of it. No help either.
For all the “this seems unsafe” folks: this was neighbor kids, no babies or toddlers, he was close to home, and the parents actually specifically asked for him to watch their kids because he’s a really nice kid and they trusted him. Nothing happened, this was very low-stakes.
@ashleynicoo
That blows my mind. In Seattle it’s just expected that nannies get at least $25/hr, and a lot of them get PTO and benefits. Heck, teen sitters get $10-$15 usually. The way Utah undervalues childcare and teaching is so insane.
Had my first convo w/a TBM (a v good friend from childhood) since what’s been labeled as my “faith crisis” and huh…I forgot what it’s like to be a TBM. It’s been a v long time for me. It all felt exhausting. I just … can’t find the right emoji for how I feel right now.