def menunode_skill_input(caller, raw_string, **kwargs):
    player_input = raw_string
    logger.log_msg(f"player_input: {player_input}")
    text = ""
    skill = ""
    amt = ""
    n = 0
    change = 0
    failed = False

    if not player_input:
        failed = True
    else:
        if not " " in player_input:
            failed = True
        else:
            for n in player_input:
                logger.log_msg(f"n is: {n}")
                if n.isnumeric():
                    amt += n
                else:
                    skill += n

            logger.log_msg(f"Skills: {skill} | Amt: {amt}")
            if not skill or not amt:
                failed = True
            else:
                skill = skill.strip()
                amt = amt.strip()

        if failed:
            text += (f"You must include the skill name and amount to add.\nExample: |gAcrobatics 5|n.")

            options = {"key": "Continue",
                             "desc": "Add Points",
                             "goto": _menunode_skills }

            return text, options


# ........

def _menunode_skills(caller, raw_string, **kwargs):
#  etc, stuff here...

        options = ({"key": "_default",
                    "goto": (menunode_skill_input)},
                    {"key":"Back",
                    "desc":"Set Your stats",
                    "goto": "menunode_assign_stats"})

        return text, options

# below works fine... only difference with that node goto is it's in "" instead

def menunode_assign_skills(caller, raw_string, **kwargs):
# etc etc ...

    options = ( {"key": "Continue",
                     "desc": "Add Points",
                     "goto": ("menunode_skills") },
              {"key":"Back",
                        "desc":"Set Your Stats",
                        "goto": "menunode_assign_stats"})