I hate that there’s a need for this, but HELL YES to these women. I want to look up each and every one of their businesses and find ways to support them.

It’s not even just a work thing, there are also hobbies and free time.

You want a “more natural” orca show? Book your plane ticket to Seattle and watch the whales in their natural habitat. While you’re here, you can donate to local conservation efforts to help the Puget Sound region continue to thrive.

That’s something I mentioned yesterday in a discussion about parents who don’t have lives outside of their kids. Most parents want to be role models to their kids, but most kids aren’t gonna look up to their parents if they never really see them doing anything outside of chores.

My ex has a sister 20 years young than him. I however will be on birth control until I die, because hell no.

I guess it depends on your definition of “playdate.” The thing where the (mostly) moms sit around chatting and (I hear) drinking while the kids play is somewhat of a “middle class affectation.” Dropping your kid off at their friend’s house because it’s too far away for them to walk by themselves doesn’t seem like much…

Doctor’s appointments are the worst aren’t they? Ultimate luxury would be just going to the dentist without having to beg someone to watch the children.

The grasping, clawing, “fuck you, I got mine” ambition is the worst. People look at me like I have three heads because I took eight years to get an English degree and I’m single and childless and white and male. I don’t feel any sort of particular need to Get Ahead, or go out there and “make something of myself”…

I think it is your business to call out dangerous bullshit. If you want to be self centered and only worry about your own ass, that’s your choice.

There is a ton of keeping up with the jones for sure. I still don’t understand why kids can’t just occupy themselves with the neighbors or, you know, sticks like I did as a kid in the 80s.

I can only speak for myself but we had to move out of state to be able to afford to have kids and cannot move near family, leaving us a minimum of an hour from help. We CAN NOT afford help. it’s insane. and exhausting. and if one more helpful idiot tells me to “just put the kids in daycare once a week” I will kick…

Keep on keepin’ on, mama! We’re 6 months from digging out of a $75K debt for the last 5 years. Bring on on the (cheap, paid-for-in-cash) champagne. You’re crushing it and you’ll get through this!

Just don’t buy into the current culture. My kids are vastly less scheduled than other kids we know. It can be socially difficult, my guys sometimes have trouble scheduling “play dates” with friends, who mostly socialize with their teams or whatever.

In fairness, my zoo membership also functions as my gym membership (lots of walking) and my “dear God, let me out of the house to see some sunlight” pass.

Everyone’s different. We *look* like we’re “having it all” from the outside, with our suburban house and nice cars and high paychecks, but the facts are these: my husband and I were idiots who focused a lot of energy keeping up with the Joneses in a very high cost of living area (DC suburbs). Then we had two babies…

I will speak only for myself.

Oh my god the birthday parties. The Birthday Parties. I could die of all the exhaustion just watching some of these other parents.

You hit the nail on the head with the “lifestyle childhood” bullshit that goes on. I really had to swim against the tide in order not to get caught up in it when my kids were little. Obviously when the kids are tiny and constantly trying to kill themselves, it’s hard to relax and have free time because you do have to…

This is actually one of the main reasons for it to stay put.

It sounds like the diamond might be inherently evil.