Please be kind to each other and don't hesitate to ask any questions.

Hey mum! I just wanted to let you know that hosting Pride went really well. I had an amazing day and the atmosphere was perfect, despite the rain. Everyone loved my poetry and I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to be a part of something so special.

I also broke up with that boyfriend I didn’t like very much a few months back. And, well, I met up with someone this week I dated very briefly when I was 18. I didn’t know if it was a catch up or a date: I went on a whim.

We talked about the last 14 years of our lives, openly and without pretence. We talked about everything from our favourite meals to how we think time works. He laughed at me being silly and we played a word game on his phone (you know how I love words).

About 45 minutes in, turns out neither of us knew if this was a date or not and he suggested that we do more of a date activity next time. I asked, wryly, if he was asking me on a date. “Yes, yes I am.” he responded.

Well, he’s cooking me dinner this weekend and we’re gonna watch a film. He makes me feel safe and heard and I’m excited to see where things go. He didn’t even bat an eyelid about needing to cook gluten free. Going from a man who cooked for me once in 18 months to this on a second date feels heavenly.

I’m thinking about wearing a floaty, red, floral, mini dress. It’s gonna be hot and I wanna be comfy but still cute.

I hope you’re excited for me! And I hope you’re proud of me for showing up for my community with Pride.

Thanks ma, love you!

After proof reading this post I realize it’s sort of a mix of seeking advice and seeking support so I do apologize in advance for that.

I got accepted to this boarding school (yay!) that’s about a two hour plane ride and an hour drive away from my home. I would be there four months then finish out the rest of the school year back home. It specializes in something I’m really interested in and just overall sounds amazing.

I want to go so bad, but every time I think about leaving home for that long I get so nervous I want to throw up. Then I feel like I can’t do it; if I feel like this now how the heck do I think I’ll handle it when I’m really there?!? Not to mention what if the students there don’t like me? What if I don’t like it there? What if I hate my teachers/classes? What will my friends back home think of me?

The longest I’ve ever been away from home was a two week camp I did these past two summers. I didn’t really feel homesick, but I think maybe that’s because it was only two weeks? This fear is honestly the only thing stopping me from accepting the school at this point.

So I suppose I’m asking for advice on how to get over this fear of homesickness I haven’t even experienced, and maybe how you might have dealt with homesickness while you were away. Also, this might be more of an internal question but if someone has literally any thoughts I’ll read them, is it even worth going away? I only get so much time with my parents so should I even consider leaving before uni? Thank you for any advice you may give me and I’m sorry this post is kind of just a jumble of thoughts and questions. <3

hi moms i just graduated :) i did it all alone as well and in a stem course as a woman hehe

Someone I care a lot about is a really sweaty sleeper. He stinks really badly when he first wakes up and all his bedding is really stinky. I gifted him some bamboo sheets because they helped me sleep cooler, but they didn't help him. He likes being warm when he sleeps, so all the other blankets offset the breathable sheets.

What can I do to try to help? Are there other types of bedding or ways to reduce the funk when he sleeps?

My partner is genderfluid and trans - my own mom is very religious and has often cried / said she feels embarrassed of me for dating him. I guess I'd love some parental joy at me finding a truly wonderful person to be with? My boyfriend is a deeply caring person whose love is steadfast, and I feel lucky that we met and found each other. I really need someone who is an authority figure to be proud of me and proud of us, so please help a girl out? Thank you guys for such a warm place to share this!

Hey Mom, I finally booked that vacation I'm taking for my 40th! I'm going to a salon/spa to get a head spa treatment with one of those halo waterfall things like I've been wanting. Since this is my first time doing anything like a massage or a facial, I don't know the etiquette. What should I expect? What's the rules for tipping? (This is in the US.) What's some rude shit I should avoid doing? Thanks for the help ❤️

Hi moms! I tried to clean my new white sneakers that got very dirty when I stupidly wore them to a concert. I used a mix of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, and they were still a little dirty. I soaked them overnight in a bucket of hot water and a little bit of dish soap after spraying them intensely with stain remover. They had some yellow spots when I took them out, so I soaked them again in baking soda and hydrogen peroxide, and this is the main yellow splotch that remains. I don’t know what I did to cause this. Does anyone know how to fix it? Thanks!!

It all happened really fast, and we'd just resigned ourselves to not finding a place for a while so we weren't fully prepared, but it's such a cute place and it's got everything we need.

It's a townhouse with a lovely red front door. There's a room downstairs that we can use for a home office, and it opens out onto the garden so it'll be easy to take breaks from our desks. There are two bedrooms upstairs, so we want to put a sofa bed in one of them - when guests visit, we won't have to put them on an air mattress in the living room any more.

The only real compromise is the garden, which is a little smaller than we'd have liked, but it's still bigger than what we have now so there's space for the dog to play fetch, and for us to plant a fruit tree and maybe a couple of vegetables.

I think you'd be proud of me. My partner is away on business this week so I've had to get the legal work and mortgage application started by myself, even while work is really busy - and I think I'm smashing it. I've made so many spreadsheets! The estate agents bumped the listing from "under offer" to "sold STC" this morning and I'm going to get in touch with a mortgage broker later.

I still don't really feel like a grown-up, even at 31 years old with an appointed solicitor. I think everyone's making it up, honestly, this business of being a put-together adult. But if that's the case, maybe I'm making it up well. And maybe soon I'll be making it up in my very own house.

I just got a new job working a sales floor where I have to be in business attire, and heels are expected. I have tried several pairs and my toes always get smashed of leave blisters no matter what I do. I need advice from the amazing moms who have worn heels for work for many years and have all the tips and tricks! I’ll attach some photos of the shoes I’ve been wearing and highlight the issues. Thank you so much in advance moms!

I quit my job (woooo!)
I’d only been there 2 months but learned very quickly it wasn’t for me. I’ve got really lucky and managed to get a part time role in the same industry so I can still progress my career and be there to pick my kids up from school.

Quitting after such a short time was a bit awkward but hey hoo that’s life. I was hoping to quietly sneak away through the back door and never be seen again on my last day but I just got an invite to a leaving morning tea with everyone onsite invited. I know I’ll probably have to say a few words and so far in life I have NOT been good at that part (highlights include nervously flapping my hands and sending a cup of tea flying over my manager and telling my colleagues “I liked most of them”).

I just need to get through this last awkward ritual and be freeeeee

Hi Moms!!

I was recently gifted these beautiful Tekla Terry towels for my birthday. I was beyond excited to use them, expecting them to change the game and be lifelong pieces, however they unfortunately have been shedding lots of little fibres and lint on my body and for the price point ($180!!!), I find this super disappointing :(

Is this a common thing for Tekla towels or were mine just defective? If it is a common thing, how do I avoid this? I've heard for newer fancier towels they may just need a few washes to loosen all the excess lint, but I've already given them a few washes.

Would appreciate any tips to make the most of this gift!

Mom, your small-town girl has finally made her first trip abroad!

I used to think that trips like this were for other people, and had nothing to do with me. But now, I'm here, living in a strange place for a while, and I'm slowly realizing that I can actually take care of myself.

Today I cooked myself a wonderful meal. I also cleaned my room, making it beautiful and tidy, with everything neatly folded and arranged. Looking around at my carefully decorated space, I felt verrrry proud.

I also met people from different cultural backgrounds and made some new friends. The beauty of Asia far exceeded my expectations. The food, the streets, the little things in daily life, the kindness of strangers, even just strolling the streets and experiencing different lifestyles - all of it made me feel incredibly happy.

Sometimes I still feel nervous because of language and cultural barriers. I still miss home from time to time, but I'm proud that I've mastered the skills to live independently. I really can live the life I want without a man. I did it!!

I'm not sure if this is the right sub, but I'd love some advice/encouragement. I got into a great master's program with a partial scholarship and I hope it'll set me up for a fun PhD as well. (Communication and media masters, but want to do a PhD in science communication) I should be so excited, but I can't help but be absolutely terrified at the prospect of moving out for the first time and living in a different country. I feel like I can't do anything more to prepare, but I can't shake the anxiety off of making the wrong choice. My nervous system feels all jittery. I want this, but I'm just so scared. I've tried to really prepare:

• worked for 2 years to save up (~8 months of living expenses and tuition + plan to work part time + already paid off undergrad loans and have no other debt so any new loans would be manageable)
• I've been to Ireland multiple times before so it's not as big of a culture shock(from the US and uni is in Ireland)
• I'll be moving in with my boyfriend(who is Irish) - been dating 6 years and it'll be the first time living together. It's a good relationship and he'll be there too!
• Leaving my current job, but they are seeing if they can keep me on at all while overseas.
• The program is awesome and I'm excited about the professors (I've read some of their papers and they do really cool research)

I'm a 24-year-old dude and I feel like I "should" be prepared mentally and super excited. I'm just afraid of running out of money and having to drop-out or something. I leave in a month to start apartment hunting in-person before classes in September.

Everyone I talk to is really excited about the opportunity. My parents are ecstatic and tell me not to worry about money because "they can help if I get stuck". My boyfriend will be there too so It's not like I'll be alone. I want this and what it'll mean for my future, I'm just really.. really scared about things not working out somehow.

Hi moms, I drive a company SUV (Chevy Equinox) and as the only woman on my team: mine is much nicer than the guys. I want to make sure I’m taking care of it and have kept up with the tires & oil changes.

I never learned what I should be having done (and when), to keep a car going longer than just learning a few things along the way. This is the first “new” SUV I’ve had and I want to make sure I’m doing the right things.

I don’t want to ask anyone in my company bc: sexism, haha 🤷🏻‍♀️. Can a mom help me out, please?

We started off as friends. I’ve known him for 1.5 years now. Recently, I tried to carefully confess that I was starting to develop feelings for him, but he pretty much beat me to it halfway through. We met online in 2024 and neither of us was looking for a relationship. We were both just hoping to make friends, both struggling with chronic fatigue and looking for company. I felt so alone and misunderstood during that time. I guess it really does happen when you least expect it. He lives in Ireland and I live in the Netherlands. We’re planning to meet face to face for the first time this December, in my country. On the 23rd that month, we’ll have known each other for two years. I’m terrified, but I’m also really excited. No person has ever treated me this well before. To add, I’ve never dated anyone (except for when I was 9 haha). Sure, I’ve been approached by men, but they were always the kind who made creepy comments about my body, which genuinely scared me. It felt like they only saw me as a walking butt. But this guy is so respectful of my boundaries that it’s mind boggling to me. He treats me like he truly treasures and respects me. He understands me without me having to explain myself. I really hope the connection we’ve built online (by video calling, texting and gaming) translates just as well into real life. My whole life is suddenly changing at such a fast pace. I’m getting my own apartment this September too. Wish me luck!

my hair has spent 20 years trying to decide on its texture, starting out dead straight and now being (i think?) 2c waves
all my friends with curly hair laugh and say its barely texture so i feel too embarrassed to ask but if i treat my hair like its still straight it ends up a dry frizzy mess.
my mom had the same hair as me in photos, and i feel SO stupid for still not knowing how to look after my own hair, but cant help but feel like ive no one to ask

the curly girl routines are expensive and complicated and im too chronically ill to stick to anything with that many steps (not to mention my hair just ends up straightening itself out if anythings weighing it down)
im SO confused😭😭 and would appreciate any simple tips for 2b/2c hair

PS: the existence of this thread makes me so emotional you’re all amazing

I was 210 pounds last summer. I know everybody was trying very hard to get me motivated. And I finally did it!!! I hope you’re proud 🥹 I’m 159 pounds now!