u/tvoutfitz

Today I took my two kids, both of whom are under 5, to a museum for four hours with no fights or drama, and with everyone successfully peeing in the family restroom. The two-year-old feel asleep on the ride home, and I successfully transferred him to his crib, still asleep. After nap, we crammed in a quick, sample-heavy Costco run before making it to swim class where the older one puked in the pool, necessitating all dozen or two kids there to clear out mid-session. I got them both home and showered, and had a reasonably healthy slow-cooker dinner waiting, all before my wife got home from work.

Anyway, just needed to mildly boast about this olympian day of dadhood.

Where did you move from? Why?

No shade or anything, genuinely just curious. I moved here 12 years ago so am not exactly a lifer myself. Anecdotally it seems like there have been a lot of folks moving into Logan from Lincoln Park and Lakeview. Plus, the seeming influx of out of state plates on every block.

As fast-casual, weeknight-type places go, I think Kfire is top tier. Nice to see them get a write-up like this. I was surprised it's only two locations.

I recently started seeing a new therapist after about a year of not seeing anyone. The new therapist is more psychoanalytic as I understand it whereas most work I’ve done previously been more cbt or other similar modalities (I am very far from an expert on these distinctions but that’s my understanding).

I have had two sessions with this therapist so far, and he’s been very strongly urging me against using insurance even though he is in network. He has explained it in terms of “we don’t want to have a third party involved in this work” and some vague sorts of things about needing to make certain diagnoses. On top of that he’s strongly pushing us meeting twice a week. I finally had to be like “I need to be firm here in saying that once a week really works better for me” he pushed back by asking “what are you afraid of that is making you resistant to the treatment plan I’m recommending” as if not wanting to come to his office twice a week and pay double is somehow a symptom of my mental health challenges. I mean maybe it is but also just him being so demanding is giving me awful vibes and not exactly building trust.

I’m very open to the fact that he’s the professional and is making these recommendations for a reason. But also, the most cynical part of me worries something else is going on here. Part of the reason that I’m seeking therapy right now is I’m recently retired and financially independent, and am having trouble finding a new sense of identity in this life transition. So based on what I’ve already described in sessions he knows that I can afford to pay out of pocket for 8 sessions a month. I’ve also expressed strong feelings of guilt and uncertainty about being in therapy altogether based on how kush my lifestyle is, and that too he’s kind of thrown back at me as an excuse for not taking the work more seriously.

Ultimately I’m just trying to decide if I should move forward here or just end things now. On the one hand, the above things do feel like red flags to me and as mentioned, the trust is definitely not there yet. On the other hand, I do sort of appreciate being confronted to some extent and feel like real growth requires some discomfort so maybe he’s the right fit on that level.

Thanks in advance for any insight!

Apologies in advance if this is too specific to my situation and against this subs rules….

I recently started seeing a new therapist after about a year of not seeing anyone. The new therapist is more psychoanalytic as I understand it whereas most work I’ve done previously been more cbt or other similar modalities (I am very far from an expert on these distinctions but that’s my understanding).

I have had two sessions with this therapist so far, and he’s been very strongly urging me against using insurance even though he is in network. He has explained it in terms of “we don’t want to have a third party involved in this work” and some vague sorts of things about needing to make certain diagnoses. On top of that he’s strongly pushing us meeting twice a week. I finally had to be like “I need to be firm here in saying that once a week really works better for me” he pushed back by asking “what are you afraid of that is making you resistant to the treatment plan I’m recommending” as if not wanting to come to his office twice a week and pay double is somehow a symptom of my mental health challenges. I mean maybe it is but also just him being so demanding is giving me awful vibes and not exactly building trust.

I’m very open to the fact that he’s the professional and is making these recommendations for a reason. But also, the most cynical part of me worries something else is going on here. Part of the reason that I’m seeking therapy right now is I’m recently retired and financially independent, and am having trouble finding a new sense of identity in this life transition. So based on what I’ve already described in sessions he knows that I can afford to pay out of pocket for 8 sessions a month. I’ve also expressed strong feelings of guilt and uncertainty about being in therapy altogether based on how kush my lifestyle is, and that too he’s kind of thrown back at me as an excuse for not taking the work more seriously.

Ultimately I’m just trying to decide if I should move forward here or just end things now. On the one hand, the above things do feel like red flags to me and as mentioned, the trust is definitely not there yet. On the other hand, I do sort of appreciate being confronted to some extent and feel like real growth requires some discomfort so maybe he’s the right fit on that level.

Thanks in advance for any insight!

My wife and I have two little kids and do not get out to cool restaurants very often anymore. But recently, due to an amazing fluke in childcare and work schedules, we have the freedom to go out together on Mondays during the day. Yesterday we went to Creepies, which was excellent. A couple weeks ago we did a late lunch/early dinner at Boeufhaus (don't sleep on their happy hour sandwiches).

Of course, many of the higher-end spots on my hit list don't do lunch, and some that do are closed on Mondays. What other places should we check out?