This shingles thing sounds pretty stubborn. I broke down and took Advil, right or wrong. I cannot even imagine a child having to deal with this. How awful!

Thank you all! So far I have had two doses of the antiviral. I was not prescribed a pain pill, but it seems the OTC ones might not be the best to go with the antiviral. I am trying to tough it out today, but it has been hard.

Thanks! I hope it’s not too late… I was in denial it could be this. I hope it helps clear it from my body!

I was able to do a tele health appointment! I sent pictures. It’s shingles. DH is going to pick up my prescription.

Everything I’ve read points to shingles. Our medical system and hospital completely shut down in this area and a new one took over and is starting to re-open but our urgent care is somewhat short on hours. Hopefully I’ll be able to go tomorrow. Thank you all for your thoughts and help 42. Seems young for this but I do live a life of stress. I also read a sunburn could have triggered it in for the first time in 20 years. I had one of those this year.

Thank you —-it is on the back of my neck and into my lower scalp. I really don’t want it to go into my eye. My right arm is sore. Maybe this is shingles. And thank you everyone!

Thanks everyone! No mangoes, and the rash is one-sided, so I think I will consider going. But it started last Friday. Is it too late for any interventions other than what I've been doing with creams? It doesn't seem to be rapidly spreading.

I'm having some issues this week. I have a rash on my neck and into my hair, my chest, arm, shoulder, etc. I have no idea what caused it. I don't typically have allergic reactions. I suppose chiggers, but they didn't craw up me? I am not very outdoorsy, but I do sit out front while my daughter practices her sport. If I got into poison, it would be off my sons' clothing, but they never had rashes. Shingles? I am 42, and the rash isn't in the typical pattern. It itches and burns. But... for the longest time, I have pain in my arm, too. I can touch the spot where I had my last Covid vaccine, and I am embarrassed to say I didn't get one last year. So it is from 2021. Sometimes my arm is numb, achy. Oh my head has been achy, but I also have my period. Hmmm JAWM but thoughts welcome!

No, but I knew a divorced couple a long time ago who both remarried, and they would all spend holidays together under the same roof. It seemed to work out great for them. I think that takes a lot of maturity and a certain set of circumstances.

Thank you all so much! So we have basically just continued reading, lol. I find it hard sometimes to squeeze it in everyday, but we are trying our best. I may try some of those drills, though, and the memorization lists.

Yes, the purpose of narration with the Charlotte Mason approach is to make children be attentive and be responsible for their own education. They are only allowed to listen or read it once, then they must narrate. They may not look back in the book (which was encouraged in my son's AAR sequence). If they narrate poorly, they are reminded they can try harder and do better next time. From what I have researched, it was not about narrative language development. But even when it comes to the Charlotte Mason approach to spelling, there has been some recent discovery that perhaps children were also able to do spelling in the more traditional way---so I wonder about this whole narration thing! I do sense that the psychologist was wrong in telling me he couldn't help me. But he also works inside public schools. Ironically, we are not using public schools because our local one is more of a hindrance. I

I have a 6th grader, and I understand… writing is the hardest subject for me to teach, so I’m thinking of outsourcing our feedback. I am looking at Write at Home for an 8 week class or Outschool. I’ve been worried we are not doing enough on our end. I have three other learners, and it’s just hard to be everything to everyone. I do think having someone else handle writing feedback will help. Maybe this is an option for you? 45 minutes of geography research does seem like a lot as does your school day. Doing two languages could be tricky?

Yes, this is clearly a problem regardless of political affiliation. I do wonder about all the people around them. I wonder if they are encouraged to keep going because let's face it...nobody leaves politics poorer anymore.

I don't enjoy listening to people's stories about their dreams, so I do not tell them very often, lol.

This is why I am so skeptical about this office. The lady who is in charge of finances has the personality of Mrs. Duggar. There is no depth. I don't know if it is a defense mechanism against all the questioning parents, lol.

We live in a ranch style home built in the early 2000s. The other windows we have facing the front are the kids' bedrooms, and I do not like that. We also have a useless door in our living room to the backyard; we typically just use the one in our kitchen to the backyard. I hate that our mudroom is off the garage but that we must still walk through our living room to the kitchen to put away groceries. There is no pantry, so we use a piece of furniture. I do not like that. I'm not smart enough to get too deep into directionals, lol.

Thank you for sharing this. Very interesting. This is why I am skeptical about our orthodontist. I was told two phases was easier on the child, but I think we're just going to get it all done in one full swoop. Nobody appears to be in pain.

No, but that is very interesting! I am glad you get to avoid this process. It looks crazier than anything I ever had cemented into my mouth, and that was pretty crazy in itself, lol.

Thank you all for sharing your experiences! I am feeling better. He definitely has a crossbite, so I am not surprised orthodontia work was recommended. I started to read on various site about these expanders being overprescribed, which made me feel uneasy because this office is like an assembly line. My orthodontist's office was cozy and private. It all feels so strange. We also waited two years because of Covid. Originally, this was all to be done in two phases. I was quoted $8000. Well, now is it around $6k+ because it is one phase. My next in line was recommended to go through two phases, but we are going to wait until he is in the 6th grade. He also had a tooth removed. Hopefully this is the right thing to do for him!

I don’t think it’s good to have someone slipping due to age, but I’m also skeptical of the youngsters! On both sides.

I have read these orthodontic expanders are overprescribed and may even result in bone loss. My son has a cross bite, and my next in line is supposed to undergo the same process. We had a heck of a time turning the key today. It wasn’t fully aligned; yesterday I never even saw the orthodontist, just the assistant. The office is so busy, and I’ve been skeptical. But it’s the only office, and I ruled out going elsewhere in case emergencies arise. I’m sure he will get used to it, but I’m not sure it was the right decision. I wish he could’ve gone right into braces instead. Sigh. He’s not been eating much. Yogurts and broth.

It’s sad for me to see so many elderly people in office, from our President on downward. It’s not party-based for me. I wonder why they’d want to endure such stress in their golden years. However, we read stories about more ordinary people continuing to work sometimes because they are simply passionate. We could take age away and just make more limits— long enough to get good, short enough to bring in new life.

I’m a SAHM and I think the working moms in my extended family think I have nothing to do, to the extent I’m not to be asked of my availability. I also feel talked down to by one of them at times, despite being well-educated. I’m not sure if that’s misogyny, but it is stereotyping. In real life, I feel like I am better respected by men. I had to get an oil change today and discuss a trans flush, and I felt like an equal. I know, though, that some things are still very unfair for women.

Thanks both! I tried to google it a bit. I will contact them tomorrow and ask about the wax. I assume that’s safe, but I feel bad for him!

My 11 year old got an expander today, and I can see red marks on his tongue. Does this go away with time, or should we call the orthodontist? Should we use wax or gauze?