I finally got to see my shrink on Monday.
Ever since I started this job I have been mentally telling her about everything that has been going on. It was good to finally be able to ACTUALLY tell her – for some reason it had a tattling quality. I felt like I was running to the teacher and pointing a finger:
“THEY’RE making me ANXIOUS!”
But then I felt a bit let-down after the session. Because, really, other than tut, look appropriately shocked in the right places, and assure me that yes, that sort of thing really IS out of line and no, I shouldn’t just put up with that… what can she really do?
Was I hoping that she’d write me some kind of doctor’s note saying “Carol is too anxious to work here, so please let her stay home and write and play with her baby”?
Actually, the session was more upbeat than it would have been a couple of weeks ago. Partially because I am coming to realize that while this job has certainly sent my anxiety sky rocketing, my mood is holding fairly stable: I’m not depressed. I’m not hopeless. I’m not miserable.
I’m tired. I’m stressed. I’m UNHAPPY. I want to stay home in my safe little hamster cage, and I want to have time to blog again, and I want to catch up on the HUNDREDS of items in my Google Reader. I miss writing, and the internet in general. I don’t feel like we have any more money than we did before I started working, which makes me feel like I am putting myself through this for no point – why am I suffering through all this and yet we still can’t afford a new car seat for Owl? (But actually, it’s just that PH is trying to clear the backlog of non-saving, non-debt paying from my year on mat leave, and we WILL buy a new car seat as soon as we find a good deal on one that doesn’t look like it will crumple the second someone bumps it).
But… I am not depressed. I have hope that things will get better. And actually, on Saturday I was told that the Cranky Vet is leaving (and I’m vaguely worried that he quit because he was so sick of putting up with my idiocy/incompetence). So I only have another month of him. Hurray!
So that took a bit of the wind out of my sails when whining to my shrink about this guy. Ultimately, she couldn’t do much other than urge me to increase my Wellbutrin if I felt I needed to, and book another appointment for me for December.
“I was thinking today would be our last appointment,” she said, “you were so sure you’d found a nice vet and a nearby job and I thought you’d have settled in and be doing fine… but now I think I want to see you again, to make sure this work stuff gets sorted out.”
I get the feeling that I’m a novella she is reading, and she was hoping for a happy ending, only to end on another cliff hanger…
Ohh, he’s leaving!! That’s brilliant news! 😀 Perhaps then your work will make you feel a lot better than it has been so far. Fingers crossed! You seem to enjoy doing the work itself, if not in that particular setting, and that’s always a good starting point. I wish you good luck anyway. 🙂
I’m currently working my notice (given end of last week) and will then move onto pastures new for a variety of reasons. The most positive being that it’s to focus on propagating our own business, hubby & I. And if my new boss pushes me around, I can always threaten him with a sex strike. 😉
Yay for you!
He’s leaving! Praise be!! Let’s see if that makes a difference. It won’t fix your scheduling issues but at least you won’t be tormented the whole time you’re at work. That can only be good.
I had the hardest time keeping a dead pan face when I was told that he was leaving…
He’s leaving? That’s fantastic!! I hope he’s replaced with someone much, much nicer. 🙂
Unsolicited car seat advice: if you haven’t already, I’d suggest first heading to a Babies ‘R Us and trying some models in your car to see what fits. The most important factor in car seat safety is a seat that fits well in the car. Check some reviews and see what the best recommended seats are these days. (They changed some laws and regulations at the beginning of this year, so I’m not up on them at the moment to give you specific recommendations, but I would definitely look for something that will rear-face as long as possible.) And as for paying for it, perhaps the grandparents can help contribute as a Christmas present? Just a thought. We do that a lot with big-ticket items. (Or we do when they bother to ASK what we want for birthdays and Christmas… Grrr. Sorry, sorry. Just still trying to afford Jonah’s bed that I hoped people would contribute towards instead of sending random junk in the mail. We got the junk instead.)
Glad you’re not depressed!!
Yes, with our little Echo, fit is an issue. It’s a shame about safety standards because they have some wicked deals in the states, but the safety laws are different there.
I did a dirty pile of car seat research recently because I needed a way to fit five (!) car seats in one minivan. What I had to find was a narrow but safe seat that can accommodate children of varying ages.
The best one available in Canada is the Radian line – there is a sale going on at Snugglebugz RIGHT NOW – http://www.snugglebugz.ca/
I bought one (I’m saving up for two more) and they are without a doubt the nicest, most well-designed car seat I’ve ever seen. They fold for storage or travel… they have such a narrow base you can fit three across in any car… and they convert from rear-facing to front-facing easily. Highly recommend.
Love, love, LOVE my Radian! That’s what Liam’s in, and like you, I’m saving up for another someday. They are the BEST seat for air travel, too! (Pricey, though. But worth it, in my opinion. Liam will be in that seat until we move him to a booster, probably long before he would outgrow the strap height.)
Kerry, is a Radian what your kids were in when the car accident happened? Because if so, that’s proof of safety!
Nope. Liam was in an Evenflo Triumph Advance (which was, of course, left with the totalled car in Random Town, Quebec) and Jonah was safely in utero. 😉 (And despite landing upside-down, hanging from the seatbelt right across my hips, he was totally unharmed. Liam didn’t have a single mark on him. He was rear-facing and the straps were tight as they are supposed to be. Yup, I’m a believer in car seat safety for sure!
Jonah is now in an Evenflo Triumph himself and we still really like that seat as a good one after the infant bucket one. It’s very “cushy” and looks so comfortable. But it’s pretty huge and, when rear-facing in a small Toyota, the seat in front needs to be up pretty much all the way. Though you’re probably going to find that happens with pretty much any seat rear-facing in your Echo, unfortunately.
I’m just gonna throw in my endorcement for the Evenflo Triumph, as well. It has a good quality (highish) vs cost (lowish) ratio. It is rather big for backward facing, but it’s not as unwieldy as some other combination seats I’ve seen. And we’re short, so the seat pulled forward thing doesn’t bother us. Adjusting it is really easy, so you’re more likely to have it as tight as it needs to be.
I saw narrow car seats offered on sale at TJ Kiddies while shopping for high chairs a few weeks ago- I got all excited that you could fit them three across in the back seat of a car and the Hubby turned white as a sheet 😛 (I was thinking that we could have a nice narrow car seat and still be able to seat adults in the back with little RuRu, he was thinking he doesn’t want three children!)
At any rate, perhaps you should check that out.
Those are most likely the same seats we were talking about, the Sunshine Kids Radian line. 🙂 (I’d be willing to bet money on it, and I’m not a risk-taker. :P)
Yes! I forgot to mention the ease of adjusting the straps! Both tightness, and height. It’s very convenient, especially this time of year when one day the baby is in a shirt and pants and the next day, he’s in a coat.
The Radians are also easy to adjust tightness-wise, but the strap height has to be adjusted from the back, so when the seat is removed from the car.
Whatever you do, please avoid those “3-in-1” seats (made by multiple companies but one manufacturer). Yes, they’re cheaper in the short-term. But they are a pain to adjust, and kids will almost always outgrow them before they can be used as boosters. Not worth it. (Trust me, that’s what we had Liam in first. We’ve been through a few car seats. :P)
Unfortunately, pretty much all the car seats in our price range are Dorel group. *Sigh*
That’s too bad. HOWEVER, keep in mind that any seat sold in a legitimate place will meet safety standards, and that is the most important thing. (But, on the other hand, keep in mind that this is a product he could potentially use for years, on a daily basis. It may be worth paying a little more, if you possibly can, to get the seat that will alst you the longest. Look for sales. Babies R Us has the new Evenflo Triumph 65 on sale this week, and I’ve seen First Year True Fits and Safety First Air Completes on sale frequently too. I think those are all good seats, and all under $200. I think. Still not up on the very latest info., so forgive me if I’m mistaking something. 😉 )
Yes, Zellers has the True Fits/Air/Enspira seats on sale this week, and we were eyeing them. However, I’m aware that True Fits is only rear facing to 22 lbs (I want more than that), reviews suggest that the Air will never fit in my car, so that may leave the Safety 1st Enspira 😦
I would love a Radian but while I am willing to sacrifice cost for looks/convenience, PH is not!
Well, crap on the True Fit. I’ve heard good things about them. They must rear-face longer in the States, or something. You may want to try a Complete Air in your car, just to be sure…
Oh, and I found this, which would save you another $10: http://forums.redflagdeals.com/zellers-car-seats-true-fit-complete-air-90-weekend-only-1098058/
Good luck, my dear!
Oooo! And the link on that thread about the True Fit says they DO RF to 35 lbs!! You just have to add a headrest (which is included.) 🙂
(That being said, you’d need to see if the seat with the headrest would fit in your car… I seem to be remembering now that I looked into that myself when I was researching seats, and it might not… Damn. And THAT being said, a Radian wouldn’t RF likely either, ’cause it’s a super tall seat. Maybe you need a new car! Kidding, kidding.)
Weird, because it says right on the Zellers flyer “RF to 22 lbs”. Maybe they have it wrong? will have to see in person which one fits/sucks the least!
http://hbc.ca.flyerservices.com/cached_banner_pages/publication.aspx?BannerName=ZELL
Sweet, thanks!
Heh, on the “random junk in the mail.”
It truly is! This time we got a pack of 8 Hot Wheels, two Smurf figurines (probably from Frenchys), two McDonalds Happy Meal toys, a baggie of Tootsie Rolls and saltwater taffy, another baggie with chocolate coins, and then a wrapped Hallmark recordable book (the third one in a year) and a card. And it all smelled like cigarette smoke. (I bet you might be able to guess where that came from… :/)
Wow. That is crap, that is.
That’s not even worth the postage to send it.
(I guessed at “random junk” actually) 😉
Exactly. I’d much rather if she had sent a cheque for the $12 she spent on postage in a card and called it done. That way, it could have gone towards the bed. *sigh*
Did I mention we also didn’t get calls on his birthday and the packages from both sides of that family arrived late?
Yeah…
Yes, but if you get junk, it *seems* like more money is spent! Right? (Not fooling ANYONE).
Exactly. *sigh*
Oh, thank goodness that creep is leaving. That can only improve the work environment, if not the hours. At least the hours you’re there will be more pleasant! Let’s hope that’s the first positive step of many. (And no, you didn’t drive him away. I’d be wondering if word finally got back to someone in control how awful he was, and he was given the choice of quitting or being fired. In your shoes, that’s what I’d choose to believe!)
Ha ha, no. You have to remember that the “somebody” is just the boss who is his old family friend. I did wonder briefly if he had been fired, but I’m gathering now that he basically just announced that he couldn’t handle working here any more…
Maybe that’s why he’s so cranky! Because he hated working there as much as you did!
Just echoing the “hopefully you’re work environment will improve now” sentiment.
*your, damnit!
It’s funny because we both hate working there because of each other…
I don’t think you had anything to do with him leaving. He doesn’t sound like a very happy person – maybe he didn’t like his schedule anymore than you did.
We were lucky to get a car seat as a handmedown from my careful, cautious cousin. It fits well in our car but expires in a couple of years – we’ll need to get a booster then.
By the way, if you need 12mos or 18mos winter clothes for Owl, send me an email. We live in Vancouver and I just packed up Toddler’s 18mos stuff. (Yes, it took me months).
Yes, that’s how we got our infant seat!
Thanks for the support, and I may take you up on that offer!
Glad mean vet is leaving: that should make things a bit more bearable.
Hope your shrink gets her happy ending.
Me too!