I usually shower every day because its a nice break from the kids. I'm a single mom of three, it's the only time I'm sure to have any privacy. But because of my curly hair, I only wash my hair once or twice a week unless I had dance class or went for a run and my hair got really sweaty. Because you're right, otherwise…

It's not just self-esteem either. I have a very public job. My bosses are an elected board. And I deal with the public every day. I work in a fairly conservative, high Roman Catholic Central Illinois small town. I am out as an atheist to close friends and family. At least one of the monks at the local abbey/Catholic…

Not all rescues are BS(although the one in this article really is). In my rural downstate Illinois county, there are no pounds or government run shelters. The only animal shelters are rescues. And they do a wonderful job. The one closest to me frequently has people pledge to cover an older pet's adoption fee so a low-…

Norman Reedus as Darryl Dixon. Nuff said.

Oh, I know my friend is an exception, and I can't ever remember using my "mommy tone" on any of my other friends except once(and only once) with my other best friend who is younger than me and more like my baby sister when she started seriously dating because her parents were not very open about safe sex, etc.

Ask about getting it through interlibrary loan. It's when a library orders it for you from another library and has it sent to your home library for you to pick up and check out. I'm a librarian if you couldn't guess :)

Go to the library and ask the nice librarian to help you find the Jello cookbook. They exist.

There are exceptions to this. My best friend acts like a toddler when she's really sick, hurt, or angry. Sometimes the only way I can get through to her is by going into "mommy mode" on her. I don't do it to be condescending, I do it because I've learned through trial and error that sometimes its the only thing that…

Do you have the lemon ones, with the powdered sugar that remind me of the lemon cooler cookies I used to get as a kid. None of my councils around here have those :(

This exactly!! I was a former gifted kid(with undiagnosed ADHD). I never learned how to study, or take notes, or manage my time effectively because I didn't have to. I made it through my undergraduate degree just fine(the work still wasn't difficult for me). I worked for a few years at a daycare center and was…

This!! This exactly!! When my dad was diagnosed with cancer at the age of 57 and died about a year later, my FIL was diagnosed with a different kind of cancer, had surgery and has been in remission ever since. My FIL is a mean, homophobic, racist, abusive person. My dad was an awesome father, uncle, Papa, teacher,…

The same thing has a tendency to happen when a woman from a very functional loving family background marries someone who abuses her verbally and emotionally. That happened to me. I had no frame of reference for that kind of abuse and it took me 10 years(and 3 kids) to finally see his abuse for what it was. And even…

Mine all had sex with the New Kids on the Block Dolls.

I think the rates in Illinois are a combination of rich suburban anti-vaxers, and downstate rural poor who have a lack of access to affordable/free vaccinations. I live in North Central Illinois, and most of the unvaccinated(or kids who are partially vaccinated but behind schedule) are due to lack of access/funds, or…

I think the rates in Illinois are a combination of rich suburban anti-vaxers, and downstate rural poor who have a lack of access to affordable/free vaccinations. I live in North Central Illinois, and most of the unvaccinated(or kids who are partially vaccinated but behind schedule) are due to lack of access/funds, or…

It kinda does, unless you make them into Rice Krispy treats.

They actually taste just fine when made into Rice Krispy treats if you don't want to waste the box. I'm not gluten-free, but my mom has Celiac's and my kids and I don't notice much difference between the Rice Krispy treats.

I'm the exact opposite, but my best friend is like you. I've learned to distract her. I've also learned that when she hits her breaking point, she'll reach out, if I'm close enough. I don't badger her to talk about what's bothering her, but I don't let her pull away too much either. I make sure to at least text her…

Are you me? Actually are you me a little over a year ago? I was mired in an abusive marriage(verbal and emotional, not physical) with 2 kids and a mortgage and a severely underemployed husband. A couple of years prior, I had been brutally dumped by someone whom I had considered a best friend and had reached out to for…

I'm like you, and my best friend is more like the OP. It took us a little while, but we've figured it out now. We've both kind of had a hellish year, although for very different reasons, emotionally. She still will try to get me laughing when I'm upset, because that's who she is, but now, if that doesn't work fairly…