He clearly entered the profession and specialty for his own aggrandizement, not to actually help anyone.

But that’s a cost-benefit analysis of where your resources are better deployed for the well being of a child.

Agreed. There was a shit-ton of mean-girl-ness in this article, especially in that paragraph you pointed out.

In fairness, Gen X is dwarfed by Boomers and Millenials. We had about, mm, five years of cultural ascendancy in the 90s before it was decided we weren’t worth much because of our low numbers.

Do you get short term disability? That’s what “maternity leave” is for most women who have “maternity leave”.

I wonder how much it costs to take out a full page ad in the local paper saying, “We support the victim, not the child rapist.”

People I am bigger, and thus more creative, than:

Narcissism. The answer, as always, is narcissism.

Are you a person who was once an infant? Then you either received or were denied the benefits of parental leave.

The message gets repeated over and over again that when women express needs that inconveniences a man, she’s a selfish harpy.

Don’t you know? Childless women and girls are inherently vapid. Soulless, some would say. /s

I agree with that, but that still qualifies as an ultimatum for a lot of people.

Just... tell him it’s time. It’s been seven years, you’re not going anywhere, and unless he’s planning on going somewhere, it’s time to do this thing that’s really important to you.

But where does a boundary end and a manipulative ultimatum begin?

As tends to happen with couples over the age of 30, my husband and I knew this was IT very quickly.

Reducing the desire for a public, legal and sometimes religious marriage to a party and a piece of jewelry is profoundly demeaning to the values and priorities of people who aren’t you.

Admit it, you do suffer from anxiety regular bouts of self-loathing. That’s why you need your children’s obedience to prop you up and give you very temporary relief. Don’t pass that on to your kids. Just, don’t.

I did embarass my parents! That’s because I don’t exist as an extension of them. They think I’m pretty great now that I’m not a teen living at home.

I understand that and I agree with all of it in general. It doesn’t apply to THIS particular situation.