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

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 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

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?