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My aunt is aging rapidly, seems to be getting dementia, and recently was hospitalized with COVID, I have no way to reach her it seems, and my cousin who I think is my only connection to her isn't answering my inquiries. [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:51 AM - 6 answers

What differences have you noticed between heterosexual dating norms, expectations, assumptions and practices and those in LGBTQ+ dating? Where do you think one does better than the another, and what would you like to see cross-pollinate between them? [more inside]
posted by d288478 at 10:45 AM - 13 answers

Our five year old daughter has, over the past month or so, been experiencing increasingly strong separation anxiety and we're not sure how best to help her. She's in general a very observant, very smart, somewhat shy and home-oriented (quiet out in the world, loud at home) child, but in the last few weeks is clearly deeply stressed out, which is manifesting as a very strong attachment to her mother and an aversion to doing much OTHER THAN hanging on her mother. [more inside]
posted by twigatwig at 7:41 AM - 16 answers

I’m a guy in my mid thirties who has never dated before. I’ve never been on a date or had a girlfriend. My only sexual experiences with women have been with escorts. It’s how I lost my virginity and even got my first kiss. [more inside]
posted by OriginalCaptainPrice at 5:33 AM - 25 answers

I went to pick up my car and my mechanic's helper decided this was the day to give me a hard time about my mask. [more inside]
posted by intrepid_simpleton at 8:59 PM - 50 answers

My adult child is pulling away from me. Maybe that's good, as he grows closer to his fiancee and grows up and all that. Maybe that's less good, because he is perhaps depressed as he has been in the past. But even if he is depressed, maybe I no longer can expect my support would be helpful or desired, because his fiancee would naturally take the primary role there. In any case, worrying doesn't help him or me and I definitely should not feel personally rejected/hurt. But yes, I am crying again. [more inside]
posted by pH Indicating Socks at 8:11 PM - 36 answers

At odds with my co-parent over inviting family over for my son's first birthday. [more inside]
posted by CosmicSeeker42 at 8:47 PM - 22 answers

The manager that I work with is giving me the cold shoulder. Every time I try to talk to him, he pretends that I'm not there. If I need help finding something, he'll just sit there and says he doesn't know. He's only acting like this around me- he talks to everyone else in our department. Snowflakes inside... [more inside]
posted by lawgirl at 6:06 PM - 8 answers

My 9-year old has a big needle phobia and so can't get the COVID vaccine (or any vaccine). So I've been looking into getting a therapist for her, which is all kinds of fun (/s). [more inside]
posted by foxjacket at 3:44 PM - 16 answers

Please help me navigate the dynamics with my family and unprocessed grief from my childhood. Logically I keep concluding that I should cut ties with my family, but emotionally I can't bring myself to do it. [more inside]
posted by PercussivePaul at 2:32 PM - 20 answers

I think all the time about having some kind of organizer or assistant to help with tasks that I find really difficult (as a person with a cognitively demanding job and ADHD). But I also have a paralysis of choice and struggle to take even small steps towards this. I want to spend money to save time and improve my life. Can you help me, with clear and simple steps, figure out how to get this to happen? [more inside]
posted by lookoutbelow at 11:27 AM - 7 answers

Can anyone identify an old episode of TAL with the theme of 'learning from mistakes'? I have searched their website, and googled, using terms like 'regrets' or 'mistakes,' but this episode was more nuanced - how making a big mistake and living with recognition of it can shape someone's life for the better over time. One part featured a kid who had betrayed a friend?
posted by mmiddle at 6:20 AM - 4 answers

I'm 32, and I've had health issues since I was 21. I'm running out of steam. How can I stay hopeful and not give up when I have nothing left. [more inside]
posted by ygmiaa at 3:22 PM - 15 answers

I'm 36 and because of various reasons [economy, covid, climate change, take your pick], it seems increasingly unlikely I will have children, no matter how much I desire them. I'm interested in hearing how other people conquered their own feelings of longing? [more inside]
posted by anonymous at 2:10 PM - 16 answers

I did post a question before but I have since gathered my thoughts and want to post one more question. We are in our late twenties and got engaged in December, I wasn’t expecting him to propose at all. Since the proposal, for the first week I was thrilled, but since have been having doubts and concerned, however I always have a lot of anxiety in relationships. Does it seem like we continue with the engagement in marriage? [more inside]
posted by anon1129 at 8:16 AM - 54 answers

How do I find a therapist who will take my (42F) sensory and social overwhelm seriously? I don't care if they're an "autism specialist" (the word seems accurate to me, but I'm not diagnosed, I hear getting diagnosed is hard, and I don't need a diagnosis or label). But I do want them to believe me even though I look normal. [more inside]
posted by flexible-footwear figurine at 7:18 AM - 11 answers

My partner and I are planning on moving, but we want to move to different places. Not sure how to solve this! [more inside]
posted by buttonedup at 6:14 AM - 12 answers

My 5yo son's class has to quarantine. He's never had a PCR test. He is vaccinated (x2) and the school isn't requiring a PCR test for him to return after 5 days of quarantine, but a time will come when my child needs the PCR test. He is very resistant. What are my options besides the use of force/restraint, other than what I've already tried? [more inside]
posted by crunchy potato at 2:15 PM - 28 answers

So, a relative of mine had an accident and was injured badly enough to go to the ER. They ended up in the hospital for a few days, due to age and complications. I was unable to go help (screw you, omicron), but the relative who was there to help talks about how great the nursing staff was. We are thinking of getting them something -- probably chocolate or cookies. [more inside]
posted by GenjiandProust at 2:06 PM - 8 answers

I've flown off the handle with this a few times already, it has caused to do hurtful things to people I like. I don't want to keep doing this and I don't want my personal flaws to get out of control and damage other people. [more inside]
posted by Tarsonis10 at 9:47 AM - 26 answers