u/BorkBork97

Disclaimer: everything is 110% my fault I just need to know what to do going forward. Please don’t be mean to me because I’m not feeling really great.

just started as an RBT at a new ABA clinic. I’m with a very behavioral child. Probably the most behavioral I’ve seen. I’ve not even been here for a month and everything is falling apart. Dog needs X-rays. Finals. Dad gets sick, I think he’s gonna be ok, he dies. I work 2 jobs and I’m not sleeping. Needless to say I am not doing my best at all.

Long story short, I get an email from my boss today saying she’s observed me multiple times not engaging with my client and on my phone. I’ve made it very clear to her that I am doing data and doing my notes on my phone. She explicitly said “if you have all your data done you can even put it into rethink” and if you see the child is occupied do your note. They have iPads, but she also said that I could use the desktop version or the app, which is what I did at my job that I left for this job. Admittedly with the loss of my father I have been taking over funeral preparations, trying to be there for my mother, so there have been times where I have been texting. That is totally and completely my fault. I’ve been trying to hold everything together as best as I can.

I feel like the simple answer here is “get off your phone”. Yes, obviously that’s what I intend to do. I just feel awful that I’ve given this impression. She knows these things and I don’t want to reiterate them as excuses. I feel like I’m going to be sick over this, like I’ve already given such an awful impress such as this that I should be looking for a new job as dramatic as that sounds.

Another issue though that I am worried about is how she and this other BCBA here are viewing my competency. The one BCBA that observes me twice a week said something along the lines of the first ceo/founders/co-creators (I don’t even know) of the BACB was her mentor at Rutgers. When running an oral imitation program in my first week I was nervous and just doing what I had learned from my old clinic, so I ended up running the program with the SDs (do this/open). She corrected me that the SD for an imitation program is “do this” and that “open” is a simple direction program. I thanked her and said that there is a lot of new things I am learning from leaving my old center and that I suppose the BCBAs who had trained us were very lax with the SDs, and that I would do that moving forward.

She then acts like she’s going to get her water and then asks my new boss if there are any continuing education programs for RBTs because “she didn’t even know the SD for an imitation program” and I was shocked. I know every BCBA does things differently. I always ask questions to make sure I am running programs to their specifications. It was a very simple mistake but to go and do that made me very uncomfortable.

The last thing is the other day, my client had a very intense and prolonged behavior. At my old clinic we were expected to handle these along with our BCBAs—provided physical support, get anything they needed, de-escalate, provide the crash pad, etc. my boss took the client to his room and I was trying along with her to block him hitting her, engaging in property destruction, moving the crash pad, and trying my best to put my hand behind his head at all times so he didn’t hurt himself. The next day when it happened again she blocked me and was like “I’m just going to do it” and I was like “oh…okay. Im out here if you need a break or anything”. Same thing with the BCBA. Later she said it was to minimize the attention to the behaviors and she talked about having an open hand when de-escalating. This is the second time she’s said this to me about the hands and she mentioned not gripping at the joints (?) so I asked her “have you seen me do that?” And she said no.

At my old program the BCBAS would act in a similar manner when you f’ed up and then *not* tell you what they actually thought.

Is it me? I feel horrible. I feel like a horrible, incompetent RBT. And I feel like I can’t handle anything in my life right now and I have already messed up this job in a million different ways I didn’t even know possible. Is there anything I can do to fix this? I’m questioning even pursuing being a BCBA anymore.

But I also feel really weak and lame for feeling like I am drowning.

I am in school full time online. I work full time at a clinic with 2-5 year olds (or at least I did—I still do but I just started at a new clinic farther away for more money. I’ve been here for about a month.)

When I was at my old clinic I was barely getting by. I got a second job with a home case. It’s a pretty

I have a pretty sweet deal because I get paid 32/hr, and it’s only 9 hours a week, and the family I have is *lovely*. It’s my first home case. I truly love it there. That being said, 3 days out of the week I am leaving my house at 8am and getting home at 8pm.

I was taking a language class I paid for after work on Mondays and it became too much, I stopped going. When I started this second job I dropped the ball and am about to finish my semester with an F in one of my classes. I was so tired and any scrap of organization I had fell to the wayside.

When I started this new job, everything got worse. I’ve been a mess. My house is a mess. My car is a mess. I’m staying up late because I either can’t sleep, have homework, or I just need some time to myself. And then I’m tired.

And then I have family, friends. Weekends I can’t do anything but vegetate. I am starting Pilates instructor training like every other weekend for about a month and it’s 16hrs over the weekend a ways away in another town near Philadelphia (I live in South Jersey. This place is about an hour away). I actually just rescheduled modules for the fall because it was gonna be every weekend and I’ll crack. We’re also getting a puppy and we have a dog.

My husband is an RBT too. He’s also finishing school but he’s only part time right now.

I would absolutely quit except for 2 things: I feel like I need the extra 500 or so every 2 weeks. And the min is such a sweet person and she really needs help. The child is awesome and so smart and he’s improving.
I would feel so guilty bailing. Like so, so guilty. Horrible.

Another new factor besides the much longer drive to my main job before this second job (I went from a 20 minute drive to work and then literally a 5 minute drive home to my second job, to now a 45 minute drive to my main job, where I am literally running out the door at 3:30pm just to get to my home client a couple minutes late racing there, and then a 20-30 minute drive home.

I feel like I have no time. I know I don’t have any time. I don’t exercise anymore, everything is dirty, I already had terrible sleep now it’s worse, and I can’t possibly stand doing anything over the weekend except playing video games and scrolling. What do I do? My husband is saying quit because the income is only supplement. And like I am not the best RBT I’m sure my home case would faire even better with someone else. And the home case company I work for literally had me come home IN TEARS yesterday—they use CentralReach and they keep telling me my data tables aren’t in EVEN THOUGH I AM PUTTING THEM IN. Like harassing me day in and day out. It’s driving me insane. Trying to have me attend trainings on Saturdays in the morning. I feel like if I don’t quit I’ll get fired. But I’m doing my job as an RBT with the child.

Another factor is at this new job my kid who I have all day is gigantic and is the most physical and behavioral child I have ever had. Like wrestling him all day. It’s horrible. I’ve already had to get surgery from being an RBT due to an injury, I’m praying it doesn’t happen again. I didn’t walk for 2 months last time

I feel like I’m being such a huge baby right now. 50 hours isn’t even that bad. My grandparents came over here from a third world country with no education. My grandpa was a fry cook 7 days a week. Like I can’t even work 49 hours? Am I wrong ir am I justified in feeling beat

This is really hard, coming from a life of overconsumption. I started buying things from EarthHero (household goods/hygenics, etc). I gotta try to find refillable dry food stations (where you bring your mason jars and fill them with nuts, beans, etc).

I am currently trying to gather the necessary materials to create a bee garden to help pollinations, but also to begin to learn how to compost to reduce my waste.

I’m not sure what else I can do! I’m car dependent, what sucks is that ordering goods online take quite a while to arrive. In general I’m not sure really what to do about food and food packaging. I obviously can go to thrift stores if I feel like I need clothing, only wear cotton and linen, I’m already vegan. I just got reusable paper towel replacements, and unfortunately (I’m not sure if this is a good thing or a bad thing) we dont own a washer and dryer, so we get our laundry done once a week, which I think saves water? Is there anything I’m missing? How long does it take to really get into the swing of zero waste?

Newbie! Give me some tips!

Hello gardening community!

I have not gardened before. I used to enjoy caring for many indoor plants. But I would really like to have a bee garden, and I would also like to learn how to compost to feed the garden.

I would need to plant these plants in a raised bed because I live in a rental property. I am planning to plant 4 natives to my state that the bees like; Wild Geranium, White Wood Astor, Blue Wood Astor, and Summersweet.

According to my research, the plan and materials are:

\-Piling some newspaper and cardboard on the spot, wetting it, and then putting my planter on top. I was looking at a Silver 48 in. L x 24 in. W x 12 in. H Raised Garden Bed Kit Metal Planter Box.

\-Putting a mix of raised bed/potting mix in. This would be 70% soil (thinking Miracle-Gro, 5-6 bags of 1.5cu) and 30% compost (Back to Roots Organic Compost, 3 bags of 1cu.)

\-Mix it up, water it, and then plant the Summersweet in the back/center, both the Astors on either side, and the Geranium in front.

Part of the reason I chose these is because unfortunately, the only spot I can plant in is pretty shaded and I read the do well in the shade.

I am planning on getting potted plants and transplanting them in.

\-put down mulch on top of soil but not touching root or leaves of the plant. It was recommended to use 1 bag (2cu) and use a cedar blend.

I’m not sure if this sounds like I’m going in the right direction? The last thing I want to do is get everything and then immediately make a mistake and kill all the plants lol. I really want to make something to help local pollinators and helps to reduce waste by composting!

Give me some Cuyahoga tips!

Husband and myself and our corgi and I are going to CVNP in the beginning of June. These are my thoughts for trails right now:

\~Brandywine Falls

\~Blue Hen Falls

\~Ledges

\~Towpath Trail

We’ll be arriving in June 1st and leaving the 4th.

Are these ok for dogs? We both favor moderate hikes. Any tips? I have bear spray (DONT make fun of me) but like, I’m thinking probably getting bug spray too. We have everything we need basically. But we’ve never been before! So any advice is welcome.

Husband and myself and our corgi and I are going to CVNP in the beginning of June. These are my thoughts for trails right now:

~Brandywine Falls

~Blue Hen Falls

~Ledges

~Towpath Trail

We’ll be arriving in June 1st and leaving the 4th.

Are these ok for dogs? We both favor moderate hikes. Any tips? I have bear spray (DONT make fun of me) but like, I’m thinking probably getting bug spray too. We have everything we need basically. But we’ve never been before! So any advice is welcome.

I’ve gotten reoccurring AWFUL sores as long as I can remember. It’ll be due to trauma, stress, sickness, etc. Usually when one happens, more appear. They are irregular in shape and size. The pain will always radiate into my teeth and it becomes too much to drink water or eat. My lymph nodes under my jaw swell and become tender. They last for about 10 days.

I’ve find so much research. I’ve gotten blood work. I never can find an answer. I don’t believe I have any other symptoms that would indicate an autoimmune issue.

Right now I have 2 and I am just…in incredible pain. As per usual. I wish I could just figure out why. I’m so tired of dealing with this.

Also…I’m seeing things about something called magic mouthwash? Are there things that actually help with the pain of these? I’ve always just dealt with it.