slow regression Experience Required (Ch. 5 3/12/2021): Another Job Offer?

[dprfam]

[Author’s note: This is a story from a different perspective, and set in the near future. I got the idea of having stories in the same ‘universe’ from other stories, although I’m not quite sure yet how it fits with my other stories. Medical themes and regression are involved in this story. As always, feedback welcome, so let me know what ya'll think]

Chapter 1: Experience required
After my birthday, and turning 20, I thought I had everything planned out. Most of my childhood health issues had been resolved, and I had my own small apartment. Not to brag, but I was top of my class at nursing school, but had trouble finding work. Hospitals wanted someone with a 4 year degree, or it was basically as a  nursing assistant, with much less pay, not a position for a qualified nurse. I had a scholarship, but also earned money tutoring. Tutoring younger kids actually paid better than older kids. It was looking like I was going to have to finish my BSN degree before I’d take her seriously.

One of my interviews was at a small children’s hospital. They said I didn’t have enough experience. I spent half my childhood in hospitals, but they didn’t care. I’m quite petite and still only 5’3” so they think of me as a kid, not a fully qualified nurse. Did they really notice that I wore a pull-up under my pants.

I dread interviews for jobs, because of peoples weird reaction to my past, assuming they know, since I legally changed my name at 17. I was a medical miracle according to some, but others though they might catch some virus from me. I’ve survived a gymnastics fall that sent me to the hospital, a car accident that put me in a coma, catching the flu every year as a child, and more.

Daycare experience:
I’ve worked at daycare centers, preschools, and a summer camp. For some reason, I haven’t been able to find a job I actually enjoy. Well, the summer camp work was good while it lasted.

Tutoring grade school students pays well, and doesn’t come with the stress of babysitting kids. Unlike most babysitters, I’m quite experienced at changing older kids’ diapers, and changed my cousins many times growing up.

Working at a daycare, the thing that frustrated me most, was how many parents, and teachers, bought into the whole ‘potty trained by 2’ nonsense. Kids do have accidents, kids do regress in their potty training. Medical conditions can cause temporary or or short term incontinence. At one one daycare I worked at part-time, the nurse was an idiot, and reassured parents that their little angel is happy, and their temper tantrums, anxiety and other behavior isn’t the parents fault. I quit after 2 weeks, even though they begged me to stay.

At one daycare I applied for a job, then changed my mind, the director actually said she was trying to prepare 5 year olds for Harvard or MIT. Do they want their little darlings to need a lifetime of therapy? Then again, My aunt wanted me to work on schoolwork, the day after I woke up in ICU. I wasn’t really awake and could barely get a sentence out.

Normal is overrated:
Much to my mom’s annoyance, I loved watching House on TV. I still wear my House t-shirts sometimes. Even though I cringe at the inaccuracies, as I had been in hospital enough to notice, I loved the show.

When parents insist their kid is normal, and somehow it’s the teachers fault, I want to scream. Kids learn in different ways, at their own pace. If the parents work too much, hire a tutor to help your kids learn the subjects. One phrase I really hate is “mastering their skills”, such as making sure they can do everything expected of a child in kindergarten. If the child is non-verbal, still in diapers, but seems to be able to read, and use a tablet or laptop, then teach them basic math and English.

Last year, I tutored a young girl, turning 10, who was still in diapers due to her inability to stay consistently dry. Her mom was surprised that I was well aware some children find being babied by their mommy comforting, and changing diapers is often necessary. I was aware because that used to be me, I was in and out of diapers growing up.

After the car accident, with my mom driving, she wanted things to go back to normal, but that couldn’t happen while I had to wear diapers due to a weak bladder. A second car accident, again with mom driving, was more than my mom could handle. When I woke up from the coma, my aunt was there, my dad was there, but no mommy, and I had a complete breakdown. Eventually, another of my aunts, Charlie, who happens to be a nurse, let me stay with her at the farm that was an hour out of the city, until I got better, and the was able to live with dad again, before going back to Aunt Charlie's farm. The reason I didn't stay with Aunt Charlie longer is that eventually word of my past leaked out, probably from staff at the hospital. Maybe they found one of the published medical journal papers, of one of the studies, that I was a part of.

Surviving the pandemic:
Part of the reason I hide the details my past as much as possible, is that my story was on national news, for reasons that are complicated.

When coronavirus pandemic first hit, I tested negative, when people around me caught the virus. Specialized testing confirmed I didn’t have coronavirus, until a later strain hit me like a freight train.

The hospital kept me isolated from other patients, including other teens with coronavirus. It was almost like I was a celebrity, well I was, kind of. Anyway, after a month in hospital, I had survived and my aunt Charlie and uncle Jack, took me to their farm about an hour out of the city. We stayed on the farm, although Charlie worked at a senior center as a nurse, part time.

That was three years ago, and now I’m living on my own in the city, changed my name and appearance, and nobody knows my past. I’m just a normal young woman, although I still wear a mask, and gloves. Most people still wear masks, in the city.

Tutoring Makela:
I had been tutoring a 11 year old girl, mainly on biology. She had a concussion and spinal injury, when she came off her bike, due to a crack in the road. She still had a lot of questions, about how her recovery would be, and how the other girls at school, even her so-called friends avoid her since she returned to school, just before thanksgiving. She is surprised how knowledgeable I am on spinal injuries compared to most of the doctors she has seen.

She had a tough day, as she had anxiety, and needed to lay down for a few hours, after getting her diaper changed by the nurse. School rules require her to change her diaper in the nurses office bathroom, or by the nurse. There was a different nurse at school today, who was surprised that Makela asked her to change her.

During our tutoring session, Makela messed her diaper a bit, along with wetting it, and that upset her. Her parents are okay with me changing her, while I’m there, and so I changed her. A few weeks ago, her mom was surprised when she asked me to change her, as her mom was busy. I changed her without too much fuss, although since it was in the evening, Makela asked if I could put her night diaper on her, which was thicker than her normal day ones.

Makela and her parents know I wear pull-ups, but assumed it’s because of my pandemic-related germophobia. Since the pandemic, more and more women are wearing a diaper or pull-up when going out, as it'si one way to avoid unhygienic public restrooms. It’s clear Makela realizes that I don’t find being in diapers a weird thing, and I’m supportive of her need for diapers.

[AdultInnocence]

This is completely different then your other stories. I like how it is starting and wonder what the plot or conflict might be in future chapters.

[dprfam]

Chapter 2: With Friends Like that
One of the complications of the pandemic, for Makela and a lot of other students, is maintaining friendships with other students in her classes. Even after the coronvirus restrictions were largely ended, a lot of students didn’t really resume their social life with in person activities. When her friend had a birthday party recently, out of 15 girls who said they’d be there, only Makela and one other girl attended the party.

Makela’s mom called and asked if I was interested in tutoring Makela again. She was still in diapers, and having issues with a few subjects at school. If I had to guess, she was lonely, and still having issues making friends. They had various babysitters and tutors for Makela, but she seemed to want me. I don’t really have time to babysit during the school year.

When her mother tries to set up social activities for Makela, it usually doesn’t result in a friendship that lasts. There is another girl who wears diapers at school, well sometimes, as she misses a lot of school, and is a year older than Makela, but refuses to socialize at all with Makela. I briefly met this girl and her mother, when I visited the school with Makela and her mother. It was slightly ironic, when I had to ask my professor, the one who is a stickler for attendance, for permission to be absent, so I could attend a parent-teacher meeting at another school.

And then there is the mean girls, from Makela’s class, including one girl, Gisele, who was injured in a car accident two years ago, wore diapers to school for a while, then swapped to pull-ups, not sure after. She made some of the meanest jokes about Makela’s diapers, and they were not friends before the accident, and definitely not friends when she returned to school. I had heard a rumor that Gisele settled down a bit, when her mother threatened to send her to a daycare program for older kids with special needs.

Why Daycare For Makela:
Before I met her, and she was still recovering from her bike accident, her parents sent her to that same daycare for special needs kids, because they had to work in the office and she couldn’t take care of herself, even for a few hours after school. The daycare they selected had no issue with her diapers, her crying and immaturity, and babied her a bit, and she didn’t mind. Letting her spend a few hours after school, being a treated like a little girl, if not toddler, seemed to help her adjust. The thing that surprised her parents was that the daycare staff actually helped her with her homework.

Makela tried to make friends while in daycare, but that didn’t really work out either. She got along with the other girls in her daycare group, but their parents were too busy for their kids to go somewhere to visit their friends. Parents who have busy work schedules is the reason why they go to daycare.

Why I’m So Busy:
When I’m not studying in college, working on my degree in healthcare management. If I did more some more classroom training, and a hospital rotation, I could probably be a nurse, but I don’t really want to spend all day actually in a hospital, at least not in the patient care areas.

The last year or so, I’ve been getting more work writing whitepapers for various corporate clients. It actually pays pretty well, but it’s boring work, although I don’t have to leave my apartment. Tutoring kids is more interesting, and I get more requests for tutoring kids, than I can handle. Some want online tutoring, even though they are close by, and some want me to tutor in person.  

Healthcare has changed a lot, and not always for the better. My normal doctor does do house calls, but obviously that requires precautions, and isn’t cheap. Doctor Jack is a concierge physician, but really dislikes being referred to as a concierge physician. He actually does know my full medical history, and was shocked when I gave him verified medical records. I avoid office visits, to minimize the people who see me.

Before I started with some in-person classes at my college, and tutoring, I stayed inside for days, or when it’s cold, even for weeks without leaving my apartment. Why anyone would go outside for hours when it’s so cold, and without a pull-up or diaper on, confuses me. A lot of public restrooms are not clean enough, especially for women and girls who have to sit down to use the bathroom.

One of my funniest experiences visiting a specialist doctor, with Dr Jack coming along. Because I dress well, borrowed a decent car, with a completely covered my face when I was stepping out of the car. I had another friend come with me, so that was the limit of my entourage. Somehow, somebody got a photo of me, and then told the paper it was some really famous celebrity. When I read the article online, I literally wet my diaper laughing. Dr Jack assures me that I’m his most famous patient, even though nobody around here except for Dr Jack, knows my history.

Makela’s friends:
After tutoring Makela again, her parents said she was doing better in school. One cold day, I got a call from Makela’s mom, asking if I could pick her up from school, as she wasn’t having a good day, and quite upset. I asked if she was sick, as I have to be careful. They said she wasn’t sick, but somebody had bullied her.

I went at picked her up from school, from the nurses office, along with her friend Callie, who was helpfully keeping her company, while she waited. I sensed something was off, and said I couldn’t take Callie with me, as I’m only listed for Makela.

Once in the car, Makela broke down in tears. Her ‘friend’ Callie, wasn’t really her friend. Callie was the teacher’s pet, who gets away with being a brat because the teachers like her. What happened earlier was one girl needed to go to the bathroom, but their teacher told her to wait, until another girl returned who left class to go to the bathroom. The second girl wet herself while she was waiting. Callie, not as quietly as she pretended she was, asked if Makela could lend her a diaper or pull-up. Half the class laughed at her mean joke. The girl who wet herself left for the nurses office. Callie told her friends to stop laughing, so she could pretend to be teacher’s pet.

What really upset Makela was a comment that designer clothes are not meant for little babies wearing diapers, which ironically wasn’t entirely accurate. Callie didn’t notice that my jacket and pants were from Versace, and I had a diaper on, although it wasn't noticeably bulky or showing. A lot of snobby young girls, aren’t actually familiar with higher end designer labels. I considered taking Makela shopping for designer clothes, after she’s been fed and changed. It would be worth buying her a designer outfit even from stores that sell used designer clothes, just to see the look on her friends face.

One thing I discovered is when I wore an expensive outfit, people seem to be more respectful. I’d rather think I’m a secretive rich girl, than the truth about my past. As strange as it sounds, I usually purchased my designer clothes online, and didn’t need to go to the stores. I used a service that sends me designer clothes my size, usually returns from upmarket stores, and I can keep them if I want, or send them right back, without feeling like I cheated the store.

I’m not really a rich young women, but I do okay. I was hesitant to accept the scholarship, but it came from a different state fund so I wasn’t taking the place of a more deserving student. And yes, I do in fact deduct my clothing expenses on my taxes.

McDonald's Time:
The school nurse had already changed Makela, so we decided to head straight to McDonald's for a treat. I bought her a Happy meal, although she wanted a Dr Pepper, and both a Junior Burger and chicken nuggets. I had a Big Mac meal. I got a few funny looks, as I ordered from my phone, then picked up the meal when it was ready. I guess they hadn’t seen someone dressed so classy. She cheered up a bit, and told me some of what  happened at school, as I hadn’t seen her since last week.

Makela was a little surprised that I was dressed the way I was, as I had an earlier meeting with a corporate client. In person meetings are few and far between with my clients, because most meetings are video meetings since the coronavirus pandemic.

I normally don’t eat in my car, but sometimes I do when it’s cold. After we finished our meals, she told me more details of school. Her history teacher can be really mean about letting students go to the bathroom, and lets the ‘good’ students to go to the bathroom, and if other students ask, she tells them they should have gone before class, or threatened them with detention. I’m wasn’t sure what Makela’s parents will think, but I doubt they’d be happy, especially considering the teacher sent a girl who had just humiliated her in class, and wasn’t her friend, to go with her to the nurses office. She also told me that at least one girl in her class wears a pull-up to school, because of some teachers restrictive bathroom rules. Makela isn’t likely to stop wearing diapers anytime soon, and rarely wears pull-ups.

Makela’s school would probably make all the kids wear pull-ups if they could, and apparently it was considered, because younger kids had accidents a lot. When schools reopened after the worst of the pandemic was over, a lot of girls resisted using the bathroom outside their home.

I was in a restaurant about a year ago, and some lady was yelling at the manager about the restroom being closed. As tempting as it was to respond with a comment about diapers, I just smiled and said “I go to therapy for germophobia, It really does help” and the manager smiled back, then handed me my food, and I headed home.

[AdultInnocence]

Interested to see where this leads

[dprfam]

Chapter 3: Differing Requests
[Author’s note: This chapter deals with future plans and character development. Planning for more medical themes and regression, but balancing the feelings of the characters. As always, feedback welcome, so let me know what ya'll think]
One of my babysitting clients called me with an unusual request. Her daughter had started wetting the bed again, and the mother thinks she’s either being lazy or did it deliberately. She also wet her panties during a temper tantrum.

Olivia, or Liv, is 8 and has issues with understanding what her parents and teachers are saying, if they don’t slow down for her. She also doesn’t do well in a noisy classroom. Another issue is she has trouble understanding what she’s reading, especially fiction books. When she reads textbooks, or science information online, she’s okay. Her anxiety doesn’t help things at school. She wore pull-ups to school, but her mom didn’t want her getting lazy at home, after the restrictions started.

I tried to help her with her reading books, but she also needed some help with math and science schoolwork. Her parents assumed she had a reading issue, not a comprehension issue, and so the tutors frustrated her. She sometimes burst into tears out of frustration. With younger kids, I can usually tutor most subjects.

Because Liv often had homework questions, she’d message me and if I had time to respond, I would. If I was busy, I’d try and get back to her the same day. Her mother isn’t always able to answer her math and science questions. The young lady who would tutor her, had some sort of flu that turned into pneumonia, and wasn’t available. Her mom, Maryanne, asked me to tutor her again, although mainly online.

Not A Toddler:
Because I work with younger children as a tutor, and sometimes babysitter, I get to see how they behave, and how they interact with their parents. Last time I visited their home, they had her cousin, Gemma, who was 3 1/2 at the time and still in diapers, staying with them for a few weeks. It seemed like Liv was not getting enough attention, and was acting out a bit. Her mom did put her in pull-ups after a few accidents. Her bedwetting and need for diapers varied depending on her mood.

Her mom took her to the doctors a few weeks ago, wearing a diaper, because like more than a few girls since the pandemic, she doesn’t like using public bathrooms, and often throws tantrums, or wets herself. It was a cold day, and when asked if she wanted to use the potty before they left home, she said she didn’t need to. Her mom changed her into a diaper just in case, because her pull-up might not be enough and leak, if she has a full bladder.

One thing I noticed about putting kids in a diaper, when they see the doctor for bedwetting or day accidents, the doctor takes it more seriously. My mom did this for some of my doctor visits, even before the various injuries, and was frustrated by my bedwetting and a few day accidents.. The doctor examined me, including my girl parts, and put a catheter in for a urine sample. Of course, The doctor wanted to give me some shots, because I had to get them before going to gymnastics meets. After all the fuss about my wetting issues, and gymnastics meets, the funny part was half the girls wore pull-ups on the 1 1/2 hour bus ride. Even older girls wear a pad under their gymnastics leotards, because leaking pee is somewhat common.

Liv’s pediatrician probably poked and probed her little girl parts, including a catheter and at least one shot, because the last flu strain was bad, and this year’s flu seems just as bad. Since the pandemic, a lot of parents make sure their kids are up-to-date on their vaccinations. It seems Liv wasn’t happy about her visit to the doctors office, and spent a few days sulking. The doctor wasn’t sure what was causing her issues, as everything came back normal.

Mom’s Dilemma:
After Liv's experience with the doctors, and her wetting accidents continuing, her mother, Maryanne, had a question I wasn’t expecting. Do some kids regress, and how to handle it? Apparently, Liv was put in diapers for a few days after her doctor visit, and except for her not wanting to poop in her her diaper, she didn't seem to fuss too much about being diapered, or wetting her diaper. Her mother was somewhat confused because when she wanted Liv in pull-ups again, Liv seemed surprised.

When dealing with behavioral issues in kids, especially involving regression and diapers, It shouldn’t be considered as a punishment, but something that the kid finds comforting. This is especially since regression treatments can be quite uncomfortable at times.

During my hospital stays, the nurses babied me because I had injuries that required me to stay in my bed, and often have everything done for me. Even though I had a lot of diaper changes, when the doctors and nurses examined my girl parts, I found it embarrassing, uncomfortable and upsetting.

Maryanne doesn’t really know that much about my past, only that I wear a pull-up or sometimes a diaper, that I’m a qualified nurse, and come highly recommended as a tutor and babysitter. I’m also an expert diaper changer and Liv has asked her mom to ask me to diaper her after ‘accidents’, and I have a few times.

I was surprised that Maryanne wanted her daughter to be treated like a baby, and more importantly. feel like a baby. It’s an open secret that doctors and nurses know a few ways to encourage a young kid to use their diapers, and even regress to become a big toddler, and not as a kid their age. Maryanne wanted her to become diaper dependent if possible, only she was not sure how long it would take Liv to forget about her potty training, even if not actually incontinent. My response was that I’d want to see how Liv feels about being babied, because I don’t think its right to force baby treatment on her. It’s almost a given that Liv wont enjoy receiving all the treatments to help her become a babygirl, but I want her to choose and accept the overall babying. The other big concern is that I don’t want Liv to hate me, because it would hurt her schoolwork, as she needs tutoring.

Diaper Plans:
Liv knows I’m a qualified nurse, but her mom made a deal with Liv, and I was okay with this plan. If Liv wanted me to come over for tutoring and babysit her until her mom got home, she had to wear a diaper during the session. She was confused, but strangely embarrassed by her mom’s offer. She couldn’t understand why her mom wanted her back in diapers for tutoring. Even for my previous tutoring, she sometimes got distracted by a sudden need to go potty, after saying she didn’t need to go 10 minutes earlier. She reluctantly agreed to her mom’s request. I was scheduled to come over on Thursday afternoon, as her mom had to leave for a client meeting later in the afternoon.

After Maryanne made her babying plans for Liv, and partly in response to her seemingly not wanting to go potty shortly before some accidents, her mom stopped limiting her liquids in the afternoon and at dinner. If she wet her pull-up during the day, her mom would ask if she wanted a diaper, especially later in the afternoon. It was strange that she’d be embarrassed when her mom diapered her and upset at accidents, but expect a diaper after a wet pull-up. Also stopping the rule of limiting her afternoon drinks, resulted in a few more wet diapers. It is true that dehydration during the day can make bedwetting worse, and its recommended to give more fluids to a diapered child, as some will avoid drinking so they won’t wet their diapers as much.

My Tutoring And Work Schedule:
Considering my Thursday plans with Liv in my calendar, and Mikela needing tutoring as well, I was a very busy young lady. I’m thankful my corporate clients for whitepapers are on a flexible schedule. On top of that I’m still studying nursing and healthcare management.

The thing was that recently, when discussing my career goals with one of my professors, she suggested I take classes on teaching methods. I didn’t want to give her a snarky answer like ‘be good at changing diapers of older kids’ but I honestly did wonder if my career was headed towards teaching. Being an elementary or middle school teacher is challenging, and it isn’t easy to stay ahead on all the subjects they are required to teach. With tutoring, I can focus on the subjects I’m knowledgeable on, and avoid things I’m not so good at.

Being a preschool teacher is a different set of challenges. Often parents want their preschooler to do extra studies, because they are ‘gifted’ and convincing them that pushing preschoolers to study hard, doesn’t achieve results.

Daycare Experience:
There was one girl at a daycare I worked at part-time last year, before flu stopped me, who was 6 at the time and had a pushy mother. After this young girl, Bella, had a few accidents, and after more discussions, the teaching staff and I came up with a plan. If her mom want her to focus on her studies, and limit her potty breaks, although we didn’t actually limit her potty breaks, but her mom did at home, then we would put her in a diaper for study time. Surprisingly, Her mother agreed with this, even though Bella wore pull-ups to school, and after school tutoring, when she wasn’t at daycare. Bella didn’t mind wearing a diaper at this daycare, as she wasn’t the only 6 year old girl still wearing diapers. I didn’t know if I should laugh or be concerned when her mom said she has started violin lessons again, and Bella asked her mom if she should wear a diaper to the lessons, as well as study time. Her regular school doesn’t like kindergarten kids to wear diapers, but allows pull-ups. In first grade, there isn’t a teaching assistant to change diapers, and the nurse does in her office. Her mother called me for tutoring, but since her primary subject was learning languages, I referred them to someone more suitable.

After leaving that daycare job due to my bad flu keeping me out, I kept in touch. I later heard the daycare adopted my suggestion of putting kids back in diapers for longer study times, or for all of daycare and nights. It made a lot of parents reconsider being so pushy with kids to study too much at a young age. The director called me recently, and asked if I could come in part-time, but I really didn’t have time. They offered a reasonable pay, as they preferred someone with healthcare experience.

The pandemic made a lot of schools and daycare providers reconsider keeping actual nurses and healthcare workers on staff. Before the pandemic, most school nurses either had a first air certificate, or were nursing assistants. After the pandemic, when schools reopened, the nurses were usually RNs or sometimes BS-N and MS-N educated nurses. I’ll probably just get the Healthcare Admin degree, although I still consider if I should go for enough credits for a BS-N degree.

Another daycare I used to work at, asked me to return so I could teach staff about hygiene and proper procedure for changing diapers. This might seem obvious, but  after the pandemic, daycare providers were more careful on how they change diapers, and other hygiene considerations. On top of that, a lot more kids became germophobic. I really do have therapy for germophobia, mainly over video these days.

Some type of preschools try different methods of teaching, as in through discovery, not being forced to follow a preset lesson plan. That in itself isn’t a bad thing, but the way they handle potty training can be a problem. I’m not opposed to having kids who have accidents, to go to their cubby hole, find their spare clothes and panties, pull-up or diaper, then walk over to the nurse to get cleaned up and changed. If the preschool encourages kids to choose and discover, as a teaching method, then they should be able to choose diapers.

If an elementary or middle school asked me to explain my teaching methods for tutoring and inspiring young girls, I’m not sure I could get away with calling it the ‘diaper method’ even though in some cases it seems that way, truthfully. Since I started working with kids, my approach has always been to meet them where they are at, and not push them to learn or perform at a level they are not comfortable with.

[AdultInnocence]

Liking this one as well. Would like to see some more progression with her and Liv. There seems to be a good start there and her mom could offer her a decent amount to focus on Liv long term where she would only have to help Makela, Liv, and focus on her studies/white papers. I wonder if she will end up taking her own advice and giving up on pull-ups altogether since she stays busy all the time.

Liv may be a little reluctant to regress, so her tutor would probably have to play some tricks to make Liv think it is her idea instead of the tutors. The tutor did say that it would have to be something Liv wanted, but didn't say she couldn't trick her into thinking it is what she wanted.

Depending on your plans for the story, I could see the Tutor moving in with Maryanne and Liv to save money from having to rent the small apartment, but still get some pay for helping Liv.

Did we ever get the tutor's name? I scanned back through but may have missed it.

[dprfam]

Chapter 4: Planning And Tutoring
The idea of arranging a playdate for Mikela and her friends, seemed weird at first, but her parents seemed to think it was a good idea. I made some calls to my nurse friend, who works at a daycare for kids with head injuries. Head injuries often result in issues with specific difficulties, like remembering names of shapes, or something like that.

When I asked Mikela about inviting a new friend for a playdate. I suspect Mikela wouldn’t want me actually calling it a playdate. I thought of Liv, but her schedule didn’t seem to match up. A different pediatric nurse, that used to work with Dr. Jack, called me to offer me another girl to tutor, Sadie who is 11 and has brain injuries and spinal injuries. She quite comfortable with needing to wear diapers, and was also a bedwetter until around 6 years old. Apparently the pandemic, and actually having CoVid-19, disrupted her rehabilitation. Biology is her favorite subject. One minor detail about Sadie, is she sometimes asks her parents to give her toddler treatment, other times is more like an 11 year old still in diapers. For some girls, they have good days, and bad days, and often are not able to tell their moms how they feel.

A lot of parents expect their kids to get back to ‘normal’ after traumatic injuries, or major illness, but that is not possible, both because of physical limitations, or they are traumatized by the accident itself, or the hospital experience itself. When kids regress when they’ve been in hospital for days or weeks, It’s often hard for the parents to understand why their kid has the emotionally maturity of a toddler.

Ironic Request:
One family a few blocks over, wanted me to tutor their kid, but I quickly refused as their 11 year old daughter, and 12 year old son, both seemed entitled and snotty. I can usually tell when somebody asks how good I am at writing essays and completing assignments, they are basically asking if I can do the homework for their kid. What made it funny was the way they asked what my rates are, and then commented that being rich means they can afford the best for their kids. Considering the clothing labels I buy and then go unnoticed, makes it pretty obvious they are not really a part of high society. Uninvolved parents annoy me, doubly so if they brag how rich they are.

Another of the strange request was a family who’s dad works as an executive at a healthcare company. Through a twist of fate, I worked with their CEO at a smaller company, writing whitepapers on contract for them. This family put up all the warning signs of not really caring about their kids education, because they are so rich. If they want a full-time nanny, go hire one to parent their kids for them.

I’m financially secure enough, that even through the unemployment crisis post-pandemic, I didn’t actually have to work, but tried not tell people. I’ve been offered jobs as a full-time nanny, and I politely refuse.

Sadie’s Fears:
After Sadie spent a month in hospital, recovering from CoVid-19 and trying to learn to walk properly, she developed a strong interest in learning about biology related topics, especially viruses, and also has severe anxiety and germophobia. Sadie prefers her mom or school nurse to change her, and often asks her mom to bath her, due to her germophobia. At least I can usually answer her questions. One issue for her is that she sometimes won’t submit her homework if its not perfect.

Another issue is that Sadie doesn’t like leaving her room, and doesn’t like leaving her house. Sadie rarely goes to school for classroom lessons, although her middle-school conducts classes and homework study online. Even before she was injured, she didn’t like going to school and her anxiety at school created challenges. After hit by a car crossing the road and critically injured made her not want to leave her house at all, and I can’t really blame her. Worse still, she was only home for a few weeks before she caught the CoVid-19 virus and back to the hospital.

Sadie’s parents said she could host a playdate at her house. They would prefer that I were available to help supervise, and maybe help tutor them with their homework.

I agreed to tutor Sadie and met her mom at a cafe near her house. After tutoring Sadie online a few times, she asked if I could tutor her at her house. Part of the reason was their normal babysitter was on vacation, and her mom had an in-person office meeting scheduled and errands to complete. I reluctantly agreed, because I don’t like leaving my apartment either. They did ask if I was comfortable changing Sadie if necessary, which wasn’t a problem.

More Tutoring For Liv:
Thursday came around for my planned tutoring session with Liv. I put on my designer pantsuit, my face cover, and my usual bags. My everyday backpack with my laptop and a few books, a few spare diapers and things like that. I have a second carry bag, which is more business style, that I put my tablet, and any papers I’ll need. It’s big enough to fit my laptop as well.

I drove over to Liv’s house. I’m amazed how many cars have such advanced technology they can drive themselves. Most days, after pulling out of the parking garage, I let the car do the driving for me. I really don’t like city driving, but I have a car, and it’s spotlessly clean.

When I arrived at her house, her mom opened the door for me, and then Liv soon appeared from her room and was soon in front of me. She wanted to give me a hug, but paused for a moment, before I nodded, and I hugged her. Since the pandemic, It’s kind of customary not to hug even close friends, or family, unless the person nods, or wants a hug. Even young kids usually do this.

Liv had diaper on that was quite thick, as her mom wanted her diapered for her study session. I didn’t ask if she was wet, or check her diaper myself.

We started going over her geography homework, and it was clear she didn’t didn’t understand the textbook. I think she has trouble following her teacher, when her teacher is explaining whats in the textbook. If I let her read, wait a moment, then explain things, It’s easier for her to understand.

When we took a break after almost an hour, and went to the kitchen, Liv drank some of the orange juice her mom had prepared. I had brought a few cans of coke, although her mother doesn’t want her drinking coke in the afternoon or evening. I also found a cookie for Liv, and I had a cookie too.

I resisted the temptation to check her diaper, and instead waited for her to ask. Seeing her in a diaper, presumably wet, made me smile. A lot of parents get upset when kids wet themselves, which usually makes things worse. Liv still seemed embarrassed about wearing a diaper around others.

Liv and I spent more time working through math problems, she often had trouble understanding what the teacher was saying, and needed it explained several times. After another 45 minutes, she seemed hungry, but it wasn’t time for dinner yet. Her mother had prepared several sandwiches for us, and she seemed to enjoy  eating them.

Changing Liv:
Another half hour of math homework, that consisted of re-checking her homework from last week. She seemed like she was getting anxious, and ready to settle down and have dinner. She hadn’t mentioned her diaper being wet.
    “Liv, do you me to check something?” I asked, without saying diaper.
    “Umm.. Kay” and seemed like she lay down, while I changed gloves. One reason why I wear actual surgical gloves, not the cheap ones, is they work better with touch screens. Liv wasn’t surprised I wore gloves most of the time. She often wears gloves, even around the house.

I noticed a pack of disposable underpads, so I placed one on the bed, and she laid down, so I could check her diaper. She was definitely wet enough to be uncomfortable, and I found a pack of thick night diapers.
    “Do you want these ones?” I asked, trying to avoid embarrassing her. She nodded, and I proceeded to change her. I was trying to avoid taking too long, but wanted to be thorough cleaning her. She did get flustered, but stayed reasonably still. I applied a little powder, then taped on the fresh diaper.

After I cleaned my hands with sanitizer, and new gloves, she smiled slightly, and gave me a hug. I think she was glad I was nice about changing her diaper.
    “Umm… Mommy doesn’t understand me” She said, seeming a little sad.
    “You’d be surprised. A lot of things changed the last few years. Did you feel okay with not taking potty breaks so much, doing homework?” I asked, trying to see how Liv felt about putting on a diaper for tutoring sessions.
    “I’m supposed to try to go potty with a pull-up on, but when I focus on something like homework, I forget to go potty.” She replied, still seeming upset.
    “What would you prefer?” I asked, leaving Liv a choice.
    “I don’t want to wear diapers all the time. I want to have the choice, but It’s too embarrassing to just put a diaper on, or ask mommy to diaper me. Why does mommy want me to be ‘normal’?” She asked, while trying to explain her feelings.
    “Well, I don’t think she wants you to be ‘normal’. I sometimes wear a T-Shirt which says ‘Normal is overrated’ for a reason. Don’t feel like you have to be someone different” I replied, comforting and reassuring her. It seems like Liv isn’t quite ready to give up being a big girl.

I excused myself to the bathroom, and noticed my pull-up was wet, so after using the toilet, I changed into a fresh one.

Dinner Time:
For dinner, I heated up a couple of microwave dinners, for both Liv and I, which see seemed to enjoy. I had a large serving of German chocolate cake from the bakery near my house, which I share with Liv, along with some icecream. Loading the dishwasher didn’t take very long. I did notice that she was drinking juice during dinner, but I didn’t say anything.

While watching a show on Discovery channel, some reality TV show that was not really that interesting, but helped Liv relax. I noticed she suddenly seemed awkward and anxious.
    “Liv, do you need something?” I asked, concerned.
    “Umm… I feel weird, but…” Liv replied, barely getting the words out.
    “Something you need help with?” I asked, trying to figure it out.
    “I need to go potty soon,  but I’d need a new diaper. Mommy would be mad if I got changed after dinner, without a bath… but ..” Liv replied.
    “Your mom told me that you can use as many diapers as you need, as long as they are soaked, or really wet, or messy. You don’t have to bath now.” I responded, still a little confused, then I remembered her mom baths her.
    “Umm.. Kay.. Can you use the wet wipes, and put me in my pajamas?” She asked, still not settling down.

Bath Time:
    “Are you comfortable with me bathing you?” I asked, suspecting her anxiety and germophobia might be a factor.
    “I’d like that, but only if you want to bath me. I feel like a baby when I need to be bathed, but I hate germs and stuff. I don’t want to get sick again.” She replied, and I nodded, and directed her to the bathroom. I put a plastic apron on for bathing her. It didn’t take me long to organize the bath supplies, remove her diaper, and start filling the bath.

I quickly cleaned her, before she sat on the toilet, and I left the bathroom. She wore gloves when she sat on the toilet. She seemed okay for about 10 minutes, then I heard crying, and came back to the bathroom.
    “Liv.. It’s okay. I can help get you cleaned up” I reassured her.
    “I just feel so weird.. I can’t do anything.. I’m a big baby” She cried.
    “I can help you. Lets get you cleaned up, and in the bath” I responded, before helping her onto the changing pad, so I could clean her bottom.

She did seem rather embarrassed when I took off her top, and then even more so when I cleaned her little girl parts. After her bath, I dried her and followed her to her room. Once in her room, the first step was to put a top on her, then place a disposable pad the bed, and have her lay down. I made sure her little girl parts were dry, before applying rash cream, changing my gloves, and a fresh night diaper. She stood up so I could put her pajamas on.

Night Time:
Liv usually had warm milk before bed, along with her night meds. She fell asleep soon after, and I went outside to the couch and waited for Maryanne to return. After she returned, she checked her daughter and in just over an hour of sleep, Liv had already wet her diaper.

It seems like Liv would like to regress and be treated like baby, but is too embarrassed and too confused to actually tell her mom how she feels.

[dprfam]

Chapter 5: Another Job Offer?
I really enjoy my quiet lifestyle. Nobody knows who I am, or what I do for work, or what type of undergarment I have on. Getting unsolicited job offers is normal, in this post-pandemic world. The seemingly contrary problem of high unemployment, and not enough skilled employees for jobs that remain, is perplexing.

In an ironic job offer, one of the hospitals I was a nursing student at, wanted me to write whitepapers on medical technology. What I know is that executives don’t really want to know all the features of a system or other medical device, they want to know the business benefit. Doctors are way too easily influenced by supplier lunches and events. I would think the pandemic related restrictions would have permanently reduced most of this type of thing, at least in person, but no. I guess there is such a thing as a free lunch.

The only reason why I even considered writing whitepapers for this hospital, was because I wanted to show the supervisors and managers I used to work for, that I’m not someone who doesn’t know how anything about hospitals. My classroom was at a hospital for longer than I care to admit. I didn’t tell the hospital of my past, but some of my instructors in nursing classes knew I was not just another student, without them knowing my past.

Another Call From Mikela’s Mom:
My day of writing whitepapers and preparing for tutoring Mikela on biology tonight. I can’t figure out why they make younger students learn subjects, at a level more suited for high school students, and some teachers knowledge at that level is limited to the textbook. I know teaching is hard, but even in middle school, the teacher don’t always get the time or the additional material to actually understand the topic well. Middle school, at least for Mikela’s school, is like a mix of teachers who only teach one subject, like high school, with homeroom classes like in elementary school. The usual science teacher is on leave, and her current science teacher isn’t very good with biology.

The school nurse called her parents, and said Mikela wasn’t feeling well, and needed to be picked up, and taken to the ER. I’ve met this ‘school nurse’ before and she is actually not a nurse. She worked as a cafeteria supervisor, teaching assistant, and then school nurse. Apparently all is required is a first aid certificate.

I agreed to pick her up from school, and partly to be get my point across, I put my EMT safety jacket on, and drove to school. I had the jacket since I was a volunteer EMT for short time, when I was on my uncles farm. I drove to school and arrived there reasonably quickly, then grabbed my EMT kit from my car, and walked in.

Mikela knew me well enough to know I wasn’t upset with her, but the school nurse was surprised to see me. I don’t think the school nurse knew I was an EMT. I coolly   looked at the school nurse.
    “I got a phone call that Mikela needed transportation to the hospital. What is the medical emergency?” I asked, sounding very serious and professional.
    “She complained of a headache, and seemed to have difficulty breathing. She also doesn’t her have inhaler with her. I had her lay down and called her parents” the nurse explained, in a smug tone.
    “What her vitals when she came in?” I asked, again sounding professional.
    “I didn’t check her vitals. As a nurse here, I don’t normally do that” the nurse replied, still sounding smug.
    “Why do you call yourself a nurse? You are neither licensed nor certified!” I retorted. I’m not usually that blunt, but I was well aware of Mikela’s parents frustration and difficulties in Mikela’s education during her recovery.
    “I am certified, as required by the school district” She replied, annoyed.
    “Mikela seems stable enough to walk to my car. Do you need me to stop by the front office to sign her out?” I asked, avoiding showing my disgust at her lack of professionalism.
    “Yes, I’ll walk you there” She replied. I put Mikela’s backpack on my back, and headed to the front office. Signing out Mikela went without incident.

Once we got in my car, Mikela had a puzzled look on her face.
    “What happened at school?” I asked, still a little worried.
    “Umm… I have a headache, and my anxiety was pretty bad at school. Are you upset that I made you pick me up from school?” She asked, sounding scared.
    “Not at all. I’m not upset. School can be stressful place. It wasn’t that long ago, I can still remember high school” I replied, calming her down.
    “Umm...Miss Macey isn’t used to be people calling her out like that” Mikela said, genuinely surprised I spoke to her like that.
    “She failed to follow the 504 plan. And it’s illegal to pass yourself off as a nurse, If you don’t have a license. Technically CNAs can’t call themselves nurses. If she can’t tell the difference between anxiety and breathing difficulty, then she shouldn’t be in the job.” I explained to Mikela. She managed a smile.
    “Are you sure my parents aren’t going to be mad, when they find out what you said to Miss Macey?” Mikela asked, genuinely worried about their reaction.
    “Nope. Who do you think told me about her lack of nursing qualifications? Your mom told me. She’s even more irritated, because she’s had to take time off to meet with the school principal or other supposedly experts on special needs education” I explained to Mikela.

A short time later, we were near the local Wendy’s, and Mikela had settled down, so I purchased two chicken sandwiches, nuggets, fries, and chocolate milkshakes. I wondered if Mikela eats enough, because she does skip meals when she’s upset. This time she enjoyed the fries during her ride home. I resist the temptation to eat meals while driving, even though the car drives itself most of the time. I don’t like eating in my car, or allow others to eat in my car. Mikela is usually pretty careful about eating in my car, and if she’s had a bad day, I’ll make an exception.

Mikela’s Home:
Once we arrived home, Mikela and I finished our Wendy’s meal, then she laid down on her bed, and settled down. I took a look at the subjects she was currently studying, ready for tutoring and homework.

Maybe half an hour later, Mikela walked over to me with a strange, but cute, look on her face, seemingly confused.
    “Mikela, Did you have a good nap?” I asked.
    “Umm…  I might need to go potty soon…  and need help taking off my… ummm… uh... diaper” She said with all the shyness of a preschooler.

I went into the bathroom, and put her on the changing pad. She was messy, so after removing her diaper,  I cleaned her bottom and girl parts, then helped her of the changing pad. She went to use toilet, and I left the room, to give her a little privacy.

It seems strange to some, giving girls like Mikela privacy when they use the toilet even though I’ve changed her diapers, even her messy diapers, often enough. It still makes a lot of diaper dependent kids uncomfortable to have somebody watch them use the toilet, including me as a young girl. A short time later, she called out and I returned and put her back on the changing pad, cleaned her a bit, and out her in a fresh diaper. Naturally, we both washed our hands.

I went to the kitchen to prepare snacks and milkshakes for both of us, after washing my hands, yet again. Mikela had her tablet, laptop and books on the table, as we both finished the snacks and milkshakes.

After Mikela settled down, It was time to focus on tutoring Mikela. Her parents aren’t super strict on the tutoring vs babysitting part, considering that babysitters used to charge more than tutors usually do. As things opened up more and more, and not everyone worked-from home, good babysitters were still hard to find and rates increased.

We focused on math and chemistry homework, for an hour or so, before Mikela seemed like she needed a break. This time, Mikela had a can of diet coke. Since she doesn’t get hyper, and has little bladder control, trying to restrict her soda consumption doesn’t make a difference.

After another half hour of homework and tutoring, Mikela seemed tired. I wasn’t expecting what she asked for next.
    “Umm…  ummm….  Uh…  Can I have nap time?” She asked, very hesitantly.
    “Are you feeling okay, Miky?” I asked, using her nickname from when she was little. She nodded and it seemed like a good time to take her to her room, and change her.

Changing her wet diaper went as expected. Afterwards, she laid down in her bed and went to sleep. I think it’s a confusing time, because sometimes she doesn’t feel like a typical 11 year old.