I mean, i guess there are plenty of reasons to think teens are the worst, lol-

Although it's, yes, developmentally appropriate, they can be self-centered, impulsive, be know-it-alls, and so on.

Being the parent of one is probably hard/scary i imagine. You can raise your kid as best as you can, but they still can very well turn out to be a total a**hole to you in their adolescence, and/or do stuff behind your back, like take drugs, join gangs, or etc. And who knows what they could be doing/consuming on social media.

Okay so iv been dating this girl for over three months now things are going well despite the long distance of an hour we make it work and we see each other in person when we can. Iv met her mom multiple times and her mom likes me and completely supports our relationship.

Keep in mind she’s not the first girl Iv dated or my first relationship but it’s the strongest and so far she’s treated me the best and Iv never been happier. ( she’s very respectful with the way she talks to me and with her hands. She checks on me , makes sure I’m comfortable, she worry’s when my body starts to shake Iv got bad nerves, she pulls out chairs opens doors , follows the side walk rule ect the full nine yards type stuff or at least what people our age can do .)

Three months ago before I asked her to be my girlfriend I came out to my dad and told him I was pan and or no label I just like who I like right. He had to smoke a bit and take a few shots but he got over it. He said god made Adam and Eve but he can’t tell me how to live my life so it’s whatever.

(Mind you he had me before marriage and my parents split up right after I was born but let’s not talk about sining right.)

Okay so my girlfriend and my best-friend spent spring break with me for three days which I was surprised that he said yes to. I never ask for anyone to stay over let alone someone that I like.

Anyhow I need to drive an hour away for business purposes I’m 17 (I’ll be 18 in august) and have my own business but I don’t have a car so he has to drive me( my business is still slow so I’m looking for a part time job when I get one I can get a car), I asked him if I could spend the weekend at my girlfriends house since I need to get something from her anyways. Her mom will be there the entire time and her mom is always checking in on her and her mom is taking us out places and she will be sleeping in her mom’s room across the apartment while I take her bed. ( she and her mom won’t let me sleep on the couch.)

He said no. Without even considering it. But I know him so I went over the basics. Iv got all A’s and B’s, my entire room is clean, the dishes will be done and put up and the living room will be good. ( but also remember I asked! When he was my age he lied, snuck out, smoked and drank,went to clubs and drove his parents car without permission and crashed it. I’m a homebody and the complete opposite of him)

He said he’s trying to see where this being gay comes from that’s the only reason why he said know because he isn’t thrilled about me liking another woman. I think he feels like my girlfriend is influencing me but I can assure you she isn’t. I also still like guys me and my girlfriend both dated guys before we dated each other. No one is influencing me I like women for the same reasons that he does well not really cause he’s a man but you get my point.

She’s pretty and smart and treats me well. She knows what she wants and has her future planned out she keeps me on track,why wouldn’t I date her?

I also think he thinks something bad happened to me which is why I’m not dating a guy but the last guy I talked to started dating some girl. When I stopped talking to him for 2 weeks because I was grieving my great grandmother. I had gotten over it just to find out he had still liked me while having a whole girlfriend and was willing to end things with her to get with me because she wasn’t treating him right which is why I stopped texting him. Iv been done dirty too many times to trust a guy.

(Mind you my dad also said the guy that I liked looked like a sissy…. Mind you he was a respectable young man who treated me right for the most part. He kept his hair braided and always had a haircut . Had a job and a car and dressed respectfully he didn’t sag his pants. But if I were to like a yn or someone who acted like my dad when he was my age my dad would loose his mind.)

All of my family knows that I have a girlfriend. Well aunts and cousins and nun of them care they are very supportive and they all like my girlfriend the only people who don’t know are my grandma and dad. My grandma has met my girlfriend and she likes her the only problem is that my grandma knows her as my friend not my girlfriend.My dad knows we like each other but not that we are dating for this exact reason. He always says I never tell him anything but when I finally open up this is how he acts.

Then again it took him 17 years to realize that I was a “tomboy” I wear guys clothes and I only dress like a girly girl when my hair and nails are done. And even then I wear tight fitted clothes when it comes to dresses ( it’s rare so he doesn’t complain about me wearing stuff like bodysuits or sum). Aside from that it’s sweatpants, hoodies and sneakers. I play guys sports I love building stuff. I honestly don’t see how he is the only person who hasn’t noticed that I like women he’s usually to self obsessed or busy focused on his fiancée

I also made the point that I don’t need money from him this weekend iv got my own and I’m making more money which is why I need him to take me up to where she stays anyways.

What he gets out of this is that the house will be clean, I fold everyone’s clothes because I wash them, he doesn’t have to deal with me for three days. He doesn’t have to buy me food( he doesn’t even cook my grandma does) and I’m giving him half of the money I’m making from my business which is around 250 bucks. He gets 125 dollars that pays for his gas there and back when he can make that hour drive 30 minutes and it’s less than 20 dollars off gas he will still have 100 bucks worth of spending money or money for a bill idk.

What do you think? Do you think he is over reacting for no reason it’s not a no yet he said he will think about it but if my girlfriends mom is just as protective as he is he has nothing to worry about and nothings going to happen between me and my girlfriend. My dad didn’t even check on us when she was here ( to be fair he never checks up on me unless I’m sick or he hears a loud noise like me falling or tripping) and in my room to make sure we weren’t doing nothing we weren’t supposed to nor did he make sure she was sleeping on the blow up mattress on the floor. ( she did but on there last night the three of us squished into my queen sized bed)

So I’m pretty young am a teen I’m an Adoptie myself and I’ve always had these thoughts and feelings but kept them to myself because Idk who to talk to about this or if people really would understand where I come from and I want your guy’s thoughts opinions and experiences or stories if you’d like to share I’m open to hearing different perspectives and this is also because I want to be heard too. So I guess I’d get a little mad or disappointed when people would want to have their own kids because most of the people that want their own kids these are the only reasons I’ve heard from them “I want to pass down my legacy!” “I want a kid that’s ACTUALLY mine” or “I want a biological child” etc those are things I’d hear from most people who rather have their own kids and get pregnant. I guess me being an Adoptie makes me have these views because i think about the children in Orphanages or foster care systems children that actually need a home children that age out of the foster care system and have no one and i can’t imagine that at all if it weren’t for my parents I’d be in the foster system and my thoughts are like this why? Just why do you want to have a child that’s your own?! When there are millions of children out there who need homes and loving parents the foster care system is messed up And Orphanages I don’t think are any better at all and the abuse the neglect ect that’s all I think about and I sympathize with those children they matter a lot as they should. I guess me being adopted myself made me have these views because I could have very well been one of those children in the foster system and I’m very grateful for the Adoptive parents that I have because they are my REAL Parents. This is just my view and yes I want to point out that Adoption itself is extremely difficult and expensive in itself too. So the question is Parents that did adopt or foster children why? What’s your reason? And parents that didn’t adopt or foster and had biological children why and what’s your reason?

EDIT 1-please I hope you parents understand where I’m coming from and at least help me understand and not be judgmental about this I’ve always had thoughts about this and it would make me emotional and sad so yeah.

EDIT 2- (don’t have to read either) I also do really care about Children in Orphanages And foster care systems and i genuinely really do care about them a lot so that too is also why I made the post.

EDIT 3- the adoption and fostering question is not just for infertile people the question is also for people who can have children too as well that’s why I put that

NOTE: please read the whole post so you can actually understand as to why I’m saying this please?! I feel like the parents that are adopted themselves kinda understand me more no offense and also to CLARIFY I DIDN’T MAKE THIS POST FOR JUST INFERTILE PEOPLE HENCE WHY I ADDED PARENTS THAT ADOPTED OR FOSTERED AND PARENTS THAT HAD BIOLOGICAL CHILDREN ! This post is simply just to see different perspectives views, thoughts, and opinions so if anyone is offended by the post that is my apologies as I don’t mean to come that way but I’d at least hope that some of you including parents that are adopted themselves would understand my mindset at least!

I (17FTM) have thought about this a lot and it’s something im genuinely curious about.

I don’t personally see a future with my mother, she has a personality.. it’s very hard to talk to her about anything that isn’t surrounded around her or something to do with her. Which is fine, it’s completely understandable but I don’t want to give up an entire relationship with my mother, she’s not my biological she stepped into that responsibility and raised me and my sister as her own. I am a child as far as im concerned but I don’t think I’ll be able to talk to her for awhile after I move out. It’s not something I want to put on my mental health because I can’t talk to her.

Im afriad I won’t be able to talk to her when im older because of the way she is, and I don’t want her to change because that’s just who she is. But when did you become friends with your parents in your adulthood?

I want a relationship with her, I want to be able to talk to her about my life and my future plans, etc, but she’s an egotistical narcissist.

(Context, my father is in the picture, they are married, no issues there, I have two siblings, one younger (17) and one older (18. I don’t have any issues with my father, hes gotten sober after 17 years which im proud of him for taking the right step, Im a lot closer with him)

Im not sure if this makes sense or if I got my point across, please ask questions if you have any!

I need some help understanding what is normal for a 12 month old transitioning to daycare. We are only on day 2 and when my child gets home, she is not her happy self. She whines and cries until bedtime. Bedtime is at 7 and both nights she has cried hysterically until about 845. Daycare naps are 30 minutes at 1130 and then 1 hour at 330. We don't have any control over that. We didn't realize this was the case when we had originally agreed to go there.

We want to change daycare providers so we can have a nap around 12/1230, but I just want to make sure that I'm not overreacting by pulling her out after 2 days. Is that nap schedule actually ok? (I'm not ok with it.) What should I be expecting of transitioning from being home with Grandma to an inhome daycare or daycare center?

So this may be a long story but please stay to offer advice. My daughter started holding in her stools around 17m. At 18m I took her to a GI and they started her on Miralax. I was able to hide it in her chocolate milk. It was going good but she was still holding in her stools. She is an extremely picky eater- I think she may have ARFID ( Avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder ) but I’m not sure. The only thing she will drink anymore is water. So she won’t take her Miralax anymore because she can taste it. Her diet is extremely limited. They told me that it wouldn’t take too long to get her back on track but because I can’t giver her Miralax , she is still having issues. When going to the dr. They suggested that maybe it was a mental thing as well as a physical. So we put her in therapy to help her work out her issues with the toilet. fast forward and she is 6 (7 in June) and we are still having issues. Her therapist told me that she should get tested for ADHD and Sensory processing disorder. Well we did that and she got officially diagnosed last year. She still holds in her stools and the doctors have officially diagnosed her with encopresis. “A condition in which a child resists having bowel movements, causing impacted stool to collect in the colon and rectum and lead to leakage.” Simple way- she poops her pants- a lot. We haha her in pull-ups but she was regressing with peeing in her pull-up so we went back to underwear. Well I don’t want to be cleaning poop out of underwear all day so we throw them away. We have to buy her new underwear almost weekly. Her GI just keeps telling us the same thing. “We have to get her on a consistent schedule with Miralax and pooping. Because her colon is stretched out, once it’s not stretched out she will be fine to start pooping normally.” HOW CAN I DO THAT WHEN I CANT GET HER TO TAKE THE MEDICATION??? Okay. That is something that I need help with but the major issue is… she is terrified of her vagina. Like absolutely terrified. She says that it is scary looking. Since she poops in her underwear, she sometimes gets poop in her V and she will not let me help her clean it and she will not clean it herself. She just screams and screams. She says it hurt and I bet it does but what can I do for her? I’ve talked to her to see if anyone has touched her down there and she always says no. When I ask why she is scared she just says idk. I’m at a loss what to do. I don’t want her to keep getting UTIs because of the poop but she just won’t let anyone, including herself clean down there. Please help me!!!

My son 2.5 is fully daytime potty trained no accidents still learning how to wipe properly tho

When can we start ditching overnight diapers?

Im sorry to bother every parent here with this question but I’m doing a project where we’re investigating family planning, I have to investigate how much baby formula is used from birth to a year of having a baby so I’m wondering if anyone can help, at the moment I just need the quantity so I can look up the monthly expenses. I really wanted to ask an actual parent because I don’t really know much about babies, can anyone help?

I just turned 36, found out a few days ago that SURPRISE I'm pregnant. I thought I was going into perimenopause or menopause but instead I'm pregnant. Sorry still in a bit of shock. My only child is 10, will be 11. Honestly not sure how to handle this.

I'm worried about what this would do to my child. Will they be resentful, they already have anxiety and worry constantly about everyone and everything, because they're just headed into puberty will is affect their mental health horribly, will the children ever even know each other or even want to be a part of each other's lives? How hard will it be starting over from scratch with an 11 year old and a newborn? I could really use some advice. Anyone who has had children with huge age gaps, how did you handle it?

This was a complete surprise and I'm struggling with what to do. I'm terrified of doing the wrong thing especially for my 10 yr old. They are my priority. How do I handle this, is this even possible to do without causing a ton of stress and even more anxiety on my 10 year old?

Before I became a dad, I was kind of a mess—chubby, didn’t really care how I dressed, had piercings, and just sort of floated through life. Since my son was born, I’ve started losing weight, thinking about removing my piercings, even bought a collared shirt for once. It’s not like I’m trying to become a different person, but I just feel this pull to “clean up” and be someone he can look up to.

Is this something other dads have gone through? Did becoming a father make you change your style, your habits, your mindset? Just wondering how common this is.

I am looking for concrete examples of rules, boundaries with your young adult child with depression.

The standard is support, and patience. And to keep encouraging. My question is what do you do when they refuse therapy , refuse to practice self care, etc

You cant just kick a person with depression out on the street. But the frustration from the absolute refusal to help themselves. I know it's the depression but how do you help them without enabling.

Can you have a requirement of going to therapy. If they don't then what do you do ?

We have encouraged, offered listening without judgement. But continually are met with. I don't want to , it won't help, or my favorite is I am trying. When they haven't left there bed.

I am 21, and my brother is 13. I currently live at home, as it is pretty much impossible to afford living on my own at this moment and living with a friend or having a roommate is not an option either. My brother has always been a pretty wild kid. He actually finally got diagnosed with ADHD a few months ago, and the medication has done wonders for him. He does really good in school, and is super talented and smart and is overall a good kid. However, he absolutely has behavioral issues that my parents just have not addressed or attempted to fix in a real way. This has been an ongoing issue for many years, but as he has gotten older it has just gotten so much worse. He has a habit of getting incredibly angry at his video games, and ends up yelling at the game or anyone around him and even breaking electronics. Despite this, he has literally never been grounded, not once. My parents will blow up at him and there will be a whole screaming match for a while, but after he cools down they just hand him everything back until it happens again. He can be rough with his laptops when playing, and on average goes through a computer a year. If I could give numbers I’d say he’s gone through 4 laptops and 5 kindle tablets since he was like 6, always getting a new one within weeks to days. He has been given unlimited electronic access since he could basically talk and this definitely has not helped a bit either. But I’m getting so incredibly fed up with this constant cycle of him being out of control and nothing ever being done about it. He’s started to get physical too which is really starting to worry me. Just this morning I woke up to him and my mom going at it because he was refusing to get up for school and was playing on his computer instead. My mom closed the laptop turning off whatever he was doing, and in response he started kicking and punching her, and calling her things like “you stupid fat f-ing b-ch” and “c-nt”. That second one is a huge nono for her, and finally after it was uttered she threatened to take his phone. This made him even angrier and he started running around kicking and throwing things, saying over and over “what did I do?” “I didn’t do anything” (this is really common for him to do after acting out) But still throughout this whole thing, he still has his phone, and her just threatening to take it but not actually falling through. This has been going on for years, but the physical stuff is pretty new. He’s even threatened to stab himself or someone else, I had to run and beat him to the kitchen drawer once because he was going for a knife and hold him back and try to calm him down. I feel like the most simple resolution to this is to take away electronic privileges even for like a week and lay down actual punishments for out of control behavior, but whenever I try bringing this up my parents just say he won’t listen and it won’t work because he’ll just make life a living hell for us until he gets what he wants. I really don’t get why they let him get away with so much. When I was way younger than him, I faced actual punishments and I really wouldn’t even do much to receive them. Tablets taken away for weeks or my phone being thrown out of the second story window for a C minus or lying about doing my homework type stuff. If I acted the way he did I think I would have actually been beaten. And in no way do I think that’s what they should do, I’m just at a loss of what I can do or say to bring about actual change for his behavior. I don’t make enough money to move out, and none of my friends are looking to room together. I live in a super rural area too so finding roommates I don’t know would be incredibly tough. I feel really stuck, and want to help him but I also really need to just get out of this house too. I don’t even have my own car so I can’t leave when things get intense, just hide out in my room. Every time I try intervening I’m told I’m not his parent and to stay out of it. I think he needs therapy bad too but it took me getting hospitalized in my teens for my parents to finally take my mental health seriously. I am just at such a loss on how to go about this.

Newborn is almost 3 weeks old. He is a good sleeper during the day for the most part. He sleeps in a bassinet in the livingroom during the day, so he is exposed to all kinds of light and noise and chaos from the family life around. Sleeps like a rock, sometimes we have to wake him to feed him.

As soon as mom wants to sleep, the bassinet in our room is not chaotic enough. We have a fan going, tried leaving a lamp and radio on, but he just won't sleep in there. The kid just needs actual house noise. But, husband and I just cannot sleep at the level of base chaos this kid apparently craves. I need tips.

Looking for opinions of people unrelated to my situation, as their likely to be less biased... My son is 4 and has been with me since he was 8 months old. I found out I had a son because his mother is an addict and he ended up in foster care. So they called me, did DNA tests and I got him out of there .

Once his mother got clean and completed programs we did supervised visits, then she started taking him weekends. After some time I had a good suspicion she was using again, and then found out for certain. Immediately I stoped him from going over and was allowing her to have supervised visits. At this point she was seeing him once a week, even tho I told her I was happy with her seeing him more, as long as it was supervised. That never happened, she just grew angry with me saying I was keeping him from her.

I always received CCB, after babysitting costs I was splitting it with her, about 75$ each. This was before I found out she was using. When she got angry with me she decided to file her taxes as shared custody... Forcing me to provide documents, which I'm struggling to provide the CRA... They ask specific letters from select people and it's really hard... But I'm working on it. Otherwise I'll owe them 5k. Since then I haven't received a ccb cheque. It's been about 5 months.

Anyways fast forward, her and her boyfriend got raided and busted for selling a lot of fentanyl, meth, prescription pills and 6 firearms, amongst other things... This was happening while she was "wanting him to go to her house"

She's in jail now, still not sentenced. It's been almost two months, and my son hasn't asked about her once. Now she's in jail convincing her family to talk to me to let her talk to him... But everyone I know says I shouldn't. So that's why I'm here, I feel like everyone I talk to will have some sort of bias on the situation .

There's been no change in my son's behavior, he's the happiest, fun and smart little boy as I've always known him. He still goes over to his mom's sister's to play with his cousin and to his grandmother's, both where she would of had her supervised visits, and he hasn't mentioned her to them either.

I want to make the best choice for my son, and I'm willing to set aside emotions to do so. But I honestly feel like I should keep on this path, as it hasn't seemed to affect him. I feel like if he talks to her and we start sugar coating what really went on, questions will start getting asked and I feel like that would have a negative effect.. Obviously only I can make this decision, but I r ally need to hear other people's experiences, or taughts on the matter... Appreciate it, thanks.

Genuine question which i already know i will get backlash for thinking it and willing to do it but its the very convenient part having me rethink it. My partner gets up at 4 and leaves for work now instead of going in at nights like he use to and its before my oldest goes to school so i cant leave my 3 other kids home now while i take him but his school is literally in my neighborhood like 2 mins down the road so would it be wrong to leave my 4 and 2 yr old home asleep real quick since i also just had a newborn and it would be such a hassle to get all 4 kids who are half asleep cranky in the car to drive down the road and back..we have cameras inside the house and outside. either way i feel terrible thinking about it cuz i worry and if yall truly think i shouldnt be doing that than i wont and obviously i will take all of them its just a lot lol and no my oldest cannot ride the buss as we live too close to the school.

Do you have any advice for moving with a 4 year old? My family is going to be moving to a new state in about a month. It's going to be at least 16 hours of driving. My 4 year old niece doesn't like to sit for long periods of time. We'll have her tablet, but most of her toys and books will be packed away. I know she will get bored of her tablet after an hour or two. Also, how can I get her more excited for the move? We've read books about moving and we have talk about how much better the new house will be compared to our small apartment. She's still a little scared of the big move.

Hi all,

My friend and her fiancé are relatively new parents. Their kid is 16 months now. I had the idea of making a care package for them, especially for my friend as I know post-partum has been a tough experience for her. I'd love some ideas on things I can put in the care package for her and her man. I think parenting seems hard and I just want to do something thoughtful to let them know I'm in their corner and don't forget about them just cuz they're parents and I'm not. Here are some ideas I have so far (open to additions and feedback, please!):

• Certificate for deep cleaning service
• Certificate for couples massage
• Book/journal for maternal mental health
• Quality hand creams, lip balms
• Dunkin gift card
• Hand written note
• DoorDash/UberEats gift card

Note: last time I visited them (we're in diff states), I got gifts for their kid and some cupcakes + coffee mugs for them. Thank you all.

I (17F) am currently in my junior year of high school! My freshman year I joined a step team, which is a form of dance consists of stomping, clapping, etc to create rhythm. It was really fun and I enjoyed it a lot. However, after inviting my parents to my schools step show, they have disliked it. They made me quit and I haven't done it for two years now. My dad is the one who really hates it, but refuses to tell the reason why because I'm too young to understand. I suspect that it has to do with racism as step is mostly dominated by black people. My mom once said that she doesn't want me doing it because it doesn't match our family's image (whatever that means). It makes even more confusing as we are African American ourselves.

As I mentioned, my dad is the one who hates step. Every time I mention it, he gets really angry and stops talking to me. I fear bringing it up because when my dad gets angry, the whole family's mood gets ruined.

Anyways, as next year I'm going to be a senior and really want to step. Could y'all give me some advice on how I should go about this?

I am LIVID. Bare with me because the story is long. There is so much back story here but I’ll spare that for now… we were at my in-laws yesterday with my kids for my FIL birthday. When we were there, my MIL decided to go outside on the porch with only one of my kids and didn’t let the other one go with them , and the other kid came to us and told us, and when we asked her why she said “because that kid is the nice one” that already set me off. You don’t do that or talk about kids that way. Anyways, then after that we told her to not be mean, we addressed it lightly and just asked her to be nice to both. My child that didn’t go outside went up to her and said that she’s mean and she responded by hitting him on the back of his head/neck. He obviously said that because we told her to not be mean, but it was all light hearted and he wasn’t throwing a fit or anything when he said it. I was in the next room getting everything ready as I was decorating for FIL birthday since nobody (including MIL) cared to celebrate his birthday, which I felt terrible about. Anyways, I quickly came around and asked what happened and she just like gave me a hand gesture as if she was “shooing” off what I asked. And my son was SCREAMING, so I went straight to him and asked what happened. He was so upset he couldn’t barely tell me but he said “she hit me really hard on the back of my head.” I carried him with me and approached her and asked if she hit my son and she just clicked her tongue and said “noooo” with the same stupid hand gesture. My son said “yea she did!” And I flipped and said “are you kidding me!? That is unacceptable, you don’t do that!!!’” and I took him outside for a walk for both of us to calm down. While I was outside my son finally calmed down and then was asking me why she is always mean to him, and why she lies too becasue when I asked if she hit him she said no, but she did. I was so worked up I was just listening and trying to calm down. I am so pissed. We don’t even spank in our home and our family knows that, but it wasn’t even in a disciplinary response regardless. She got mad, and hit a child! I told my husband I had to leave and I’m bringing the kids. I can’t be there, and she’s never watching the kids again. It’s not the first time there has been something my son said, but in the past he had told us “she kicked me, hit me,” and when we approached it we were told they were playing, and we still told her to never do that and addressed it straight on. So now I’m pissed because now I don’t know how many times she actually may have done something like that to my kids. Though she truly rarely watches them, and the little comments prior to this are part of that, because I didn’t have full trust. Anyways when this all happened my husband talked to her and told her that it’s unacceptable but she was just trying to justify her actions. No sympathy or care. She didn’t apologize or acknowledge anything. So I ended up leaving, but my husband wanted to stay for a little bit to see some of the family that was visiting and to talk to his dad for a little. So I left with the kids and honestly that ticked me too. He was raised that way so I’m not sure he even sees it the same way I do.. but he respected my response. I also told him I think it’s terrible if the whole family was raised that way and nobody ever protected them as kids. It’s a shame, but it’s stopping with us. My kids will not be treated that way! He just doesn’t seem to see it the same way I do. Anyways I went back to pick him up shortly after and then we left together. His mom hasn’t even apologized or acknowledged anything. My son keeps making comments about getting hit and how hard it was and I am SO PISSED. I don’t even know what to do. We addressed it head on and the consequence of her actions was the grandkids and us leaving. I’m really struggling because I’m not sure my husband truly sees it the same way I do.. and that makes it hard too. As a child with his mom she has smacked him, thrown stuff at him, including glasses, so she’s known to be toxic and awful but he thinks it’s normal. 😑 Did I overreact? The only thing I feel bad about is that my FIL didn’t get to have his grandkids at his bday because of it all, but that’s the consequences of his wife’s actions. 🤷‍♀️

is reporting it overreacting? She is only a temporary resident, which is a whole separate issue. She also only saw me as her chance to get a green card and I didn’t do that for her so she hates me now. My concern is if I reported she may get deported or something. Idk. I kind want it in record but if I can control it and not have her around at all then I am not sure if reporting is necessary?

should I send a text and communicate what happened and what this means going forward? Or should I leave it alone. I guarantee she will not reach out. I feel we addressed it clearly yesterday but not what it really means. Is it too much to go back and address again? Especially since she thinks she did nothing wrong?

I’m 20 and have been in a serious long-term relationship with a guy since we were both 15. He has two step brothers, one of which is married with kids. I’ve known my boyfriend for close to 10 years and we’ve been dating for nearly 5 years. We weren’t dating when his niece was born. He and I were actually on a family trip when his nephew was born lol. I’m excited to tell my nephew that story when he’s older lol.

But I will be 100% honest, I have never liked kids, which is ironic since I am a toy maker lol. Last year, I decided to get involved with my “niece & nephew”, which I surprisingly enjoy. I am treated like an aunt by them and their parents. Although, I don’t think we’re taken as seriously by them since my boyfriend and I are unmarried and are step family. The kids are my boyfriend’s step dad’s bio grandkids.

About 2 weeks ago, we found out through my boyfriend’s mom (aka the kids’ step-grandma) that Emma (place holder name) is 4 months pregnant.

I already bought a pack of farm themed onesies (parents are pseudo farmers) in 6 months size and a farm themed sleeper two pack in 9 month size. My “future MIL” asked me to sew two cats for the current kids and I want to make a surprise 3rd one for the new baby. Right now, I have a keepsake box with the clothes in it and I’ll have the third kitty in there too. I’m also debating on typing up a letter for the baby to read in 10 years or so, but I think that’d be kind of weird for some reason lol idk.

What are some other things I can get my “SIL” and future niece/nephew? I don’t want to get a lot of clothes since they probably have a lot of hand-me downs from the previous 2 kids.

Anything handmade is good since I am a seamstress somewhat professionally and as a hobbyist. I’d to make something meaningful and useful for Emma and the baby.

I do not know the gender or any potential names.

TLDR: Already have a few ideas, looking for meaningful non-clothing gifts for future SIL and third baby.

Like the title states, I am interested in changing my career plan but don't know how to bring it up with my parents. Let me give you some facts because a back story is necessary.

- currently, I'm 19 pursuing a medical laboratory science, pre-med degree.

- I told my parents a long time ago that I thought being a doctor would be fun. i did well in high school. Always got straight A's, and took the hardest classes. I did a dual credit program and ended up graduating high school with 2 associate's degrees. I was in like every club, president of two of them, the last part of my senior year I was working full time. This kid right here was miserable. She hated her life. Honestly didn't see herself making it to an age where she would even accomplish being a doctor so what was the empty claim?

- My mother is quite controlling. Everything is always her way or the highway. She feels she knows what's best. You can't have adult conversations with her. You can't change her mind. She wants to tell you what to do every step of the way but when it fails, she'll claim it was your choice. She has quite a bit of emotional trauma from childhood. Grew up poor. Didn't get to pursue the life she wanted to. She got married when she was 18 and divorced 11 years later. Had me when she was 42, and claimed she never wanted children. She has several different degrees and credits she doesn't use and has had 4 different jobs in the past 10 years. My dad is easygoing but quiet. He graduated with a biochemistry degree and has worked in the same company since he was 20-something.

-With being an over achieving student, I went into medical laboratory science (she chose this degree) with a pre-med concentration. My mom chose my degree and where i went to school. I have quite a few credits to my name but am debating my career options. The girl who wanted to be a doctor didn't know the stress that it would bring on. I am miserable. I make good grades but it takes a lot of effort to do so. I currently have endless anxiety, panic attacks, and difficulty with rumination, my periods are late every single month, and I'm losing weight and I'm not trying to do so. I can't sit still, think straight, or enjoy a simple day without the looming fear of an exam, what's to come, or the wrath of my mother. If I don't make a good grade on something, the first thing I am worried about is her, not my future.

- About a month ago, I brought up the idea with a PowerPoint of me becoming a PA. A slightly different route with less schooling, a little less stressful with a career plan I thought I would enjoy. She lost her ever-loving mind. She told me I was grasping at straws, I was lazy, and that I didn't know what I wanted to do. I had left the house the next evening and received some rather filthy text messages of her deciding she wanted to

-cut off my phone and car insurance (empty claims but still hurt nonetheless),

-She was no longer going to talk to me,

-I didn't want to work anymore and was lazy

-Everyone was going to enjoy watching me fail

- She was no longer going to support me as I was making a stupid mistake. She has handed everything to me and I'm throwing it away. She didn't get this life and I am spoiled.

This was over the possibility of changing. I hadn't changed anything, just brought up the idea.

During her screaming fit, she had brought up the plan of becoming a nurse practitioner. This would involve an ADN, BSN, to NP pathway through a community college and then branching program. I liked this idea, expressed that.

Now we're a month later, and she has completely flipped a 180. Won't mention her fit. Never provided an apology. Just acts all nice as if nothing happened. But she is still carrying on a conversation as if I am continuing my career plan but I still need to discuss, since we never came to a consensus, that I am no longer happy in what I am doing and cannot live this way. Any help?

How do you all vet your online educators before having them tutor or teach classes to your kids?

I’m a runaway with nowhere to go. Can’t go back home because my mom would actually kill me. Not hyperbole!! I what should I do? I’m in this sub because I think that parents would know, I’m sorry.

My 9yo is a compulsive nail biter. At this point her nails are almost non existent. We tried to raise awareness, implement a reward system and used a bad tasting nail polish, give her bite-toys. We talked about a punishment/consequence but decided it is not for us. I do not believe punishing her for a bad habit is going to help her in any way and in the end could even hurt her psych-wise. But.... We are out of ideas and looking for tips.

Hi, for context, I'm a teenager at the stage where I constantly fight with my parents over many different things, and while I do feel bad, I never apologise. Recently, while I did not have a fight with my father, some of my actions showed that I was upset and it made me look very ungrateful for a gift that he got me. I couldn't talk to him f2f so I typed out a 542 word explanation (I did not expect it to be this long) as to why I acted the way I did in hopes that he would understand my actions and that I was really not trying to be ungrateful. As a parent, how would you feel if you received this LONG explanation? Should I send it to him? I really cannot have a conversation to him f2f as I feel like it might either end in an argument or just me breaking down.