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My two children are sixteen months and three years old. They are with me from 2:45 PM daily until 5:45 the following morning, when I drop them off with their mother; I also have them around the clock every other weekend. [more inside]
posted by jwhite1979 at 6:25 AM - 1 answers

Looking for great reads about people I can look up to as I grow older. Maybe someone cool or creative or courageous or kind. Maybe someone bigger than life. Maybe a wise sage, or a hopeless romantic. Looking for character studies of people, real or imaginary, who have a few qualities that are both inspirational and aspirational.
posted by jasondigitized at 8:12 AM - 16 answers

Is this weird or not weird? Mother-in-law behavior. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 12:30 PM - 26 answers

I read this article recently about toddler tantrums. Can you recommend anything like this for an adult who has problems regulating their emotions? [more inside]
posted by kinddieserzeit at 3:43 PM - 14 answers

How many people would be happy at around 38 to leave their own roots and friends and life to move several hundred miles away for me? And would someone who was willing to do that actually be kind of psychologically unhealthy, or lacking in close ties? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:26 PM - 38 answers

Im thinking of not flying home for Christmas this year and spending the holidays mostly alone, which is a little sad but I'm not super depressed about it. How can I help my mom not worry about that? [more inside]
posted by mekily at 12:33 PM - 19 answers

I want to keep in contact with people, but when they don't text back I get hurt and offended, whether I should be or not. How do I feel better about this? [more inside]
posted by jenfullmoon at 6:28 PM - 36 answers

Recently realized how growing up in a home whose only two relationships skills were "give in" and "walk out of the room" left a huge deficit of those "middle skills" that involve clearly, respectfully, *productively* asking/negotiating for what one needs; addressing hurtful behavior; productively digging into deeper motives/wants needs. The books I've read to date talk about these skills, but give zero examples of the actual LANGUAGE to use. It's like being given a blueprint without the actual tools needed. Looking for recommendations on books or textbooks that specifically addresses how to say things. Social work/psychology textbooks are fine.
posted by Silvery Fish at 10:44 AM - 9 answers

My Partner believes a gracious dinner guest should accept the wine offered by the host. I have a strong distaste for red wine, and I always politely decline it when it's offered. Partner says I should force myself to drink more of it so I acquire a taste for it (as they've done). Doing so, they say, will make things "easier" for me at dinners. Is there some social norm I'm missing out on here? More details under the fold! [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 10:30 AM - 59 answers

A few months ago I asked whether I should take a "break" from working after my current position ends. Well, that scenario isn't going to happen as I have a new (sort of) position. How can I still slow-down and take a "break" while working and job searching? [more inside]
posted by VirginiaPlain at 9:23 AM - 4 answers

Our wedding photographer tried to pull out of our contract to shoot her cousin’s wedding instead. I was upset but prepared to make other plans and informed her that we would find someone else. She abruptly changed her mind without explanation and refused to speak to me about it any further. The second non-refundable deposit is due next week and I’m torn about what we should do. [more inside]
posted by keep it under cover at 11:05 PM - 26 answers

Where do you browse and order cool stuff for a D&D loving, coding, theater kid? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 6:40 AM - 5 answers

Last month I asked this question about facing someone who harassed me in the workplace. The situation is still eating at me and I'm truly starting to worry that this experience has wrecked my brief career. I'm wondering how my career can recover from this? How can I, personally, get over this? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 8:29 AM - 17 answers

A teen in my family is slowly and tentatively coming out as trans or non-binary. They are nervous about other family members' reactions. I'd like to help by educating of teen's grandparents, who are open-minded but not very well informed. I'm looking for resources (videos, short articles, podcasts) I can send the grandparents, to help them understand what their much loved grandchild is going through. [more inside]
posted by EllaEm at 7:25 AM - 12 answers

Someone I know has requested I review a document about benefits from a company that is an MLM. They did not ask me about the company specifically, just this particular document. I have very strong feelings about MLM's [more inside]
posted by mokeydraws at 12:56 PM - 10 answers

When people invite me to do things, I can get indignant --what is the psychology behind this? [more inside]
posted by loveandhappiness at 8:36 AM - 23 answers

Looking for recommendations! An immediate family I care about, one parent and four adult children, is interested in processing some family trauma and building a healthy relationship to each other as adults. One member suggested engaging a family therapist who could help as a sort of meeting chairperson and resource. Can you suggest a good one? Ideally North America based, and money, within reason, is not a limiting factor. Someone with a well-fleshed-out website is likely to be useful as the family member proposing this project will have something to read before making initial contact. LOTS of suggestions encouraged!
posted by The Last Sockpuppet at 11:55 AM - 7 answers

My husband leaves doors and windows wide open and forgets about them. in the middle of winter this is ESPECIALLY awful. Two nights ago he left the back door wide open (again) and luckily I realised it when I went down at midnight for a snack. He wants to exchange the air. That is his motivation. Is there a thermometer that will sound an alarm if it senses the temperature going below 21 celcius (for example)?
posted by flink at 9:15 AM - 8 answers

I went to an upscale mens shop for a specific boot in a hard-to-find size. They helped me try on a few pairs but didn't have the size they eventually thought I needed but offered to special order them. The thing is the "right" size they could order didn't have a key option that, during my subsequent research, I realized was critical to me (rubber sole). An online store does offer likely right size w/ rubber sole. I don't want to feel like I "used" the shop in any way (they were a little helpful in narrowing down likely size)--do I just buy something else (I may not really need) from the shop, or just let it go as 'part of doing business'?
posted by Jon44 at 3:50 AM - 16 answers

So I started a gofundme for my family and I last weekend. I didn't expect it to blow up but we just got many thousand dollars. This is a life changing amount of money to me. I'm trying to figure out a few things as this plays out and could use advice. [more inside]
posted by starlybri at 12:27 AM - 15 answers