Or just be cool if they don’t want respond favorably. That’s the other option.

I think we’re on similar pages here...nowhere did I say I’d freak out if someone with depression needed to cancel plans, or did I equate “disappointment” with “clinical depression.” I have also been on the “depressed individual needing to take some time for self care” end of the cancelling - as I mentioned - so I get…

OMG do these kids not have parents with any sense? If I told my mom I was planning to wear my prom dress to a wake I’d be treated to a nice lecture and etiquette lesson with a healthy dose of, “Are you kidding me?”

And what happened to just spreading rumors about a girl who won’t go out with you, like the guy who told our entire class I blew him behind the gym after I wouldn’t go to winter formal with him? It’s like chivalry isn’t even a thing anymore.

Yeah, that was my question, too? Like, do kids think that’s what you wear to a funeral or wake?

Yeah, as hard as it is (especially with new friends) I’ve found that being honest is the way to go. I mean, as someone who has these issues and then feels shittier when cancelled on for vague reasons/double-booking, I appreciate when people are honest with me...

As someone who kind of feels the author, I agree with you. I mean, shit happens obviously and I don’t cut people out of my life for cancelling plans, but I also usually feel disappointment when I don’t get to see people I truly enjoy. And I also try to cancel only if it’s a group thing so I don’t leave someone…

OMG I would freak out if they moved here!!

Yeah, I mean I love my friends’ kids but love is in direct proportion to how I feel about my friends. And I let my friends vent about their kids without any judgement or “Well, I would do...XYZ.” It’s interesting how people choose to see differences in current life situations!

Hmm, not really. And maybe when I was young and single I saw it as an opportunity to bust my ass and get ahead so it didn’t bother me then. Now I have some awesome managers who are in a similar boat (married, no kids, have lives outside the office) and most of my team is like that (or singletons). I have noticed,…

Maybe. Or at least their vacation is being delayed, and it’s hard to let go of that feeling of (relative) freedom.

Yeah, what the fuck was THAT comment? That’s so fucked up. I can’t imagine the balls on these kids. Like, did she burn his family’s house down? Run over his dog?

Yeesh. Yeah, I have no idea since I can’t predict the future, I have no idea how old you are and all that, but I know in my case there has been some rediscovery of the friendships now as a wave of babies grows up a bit. Kids have sleepovers and go to camps so now the parents have energy and time to hang out. And I’ve…

I am so sorry you’re going through this. My BFF is in a similar boat: been together 15-ish years, two kids they adore and parent well, but they aren’t really partners and he is bringing her down in various ways (financially and emotionally). Her perspective is that she’s still a young woman (37) and has a lot of life…

When I was 26 and dating-but-not-married a 23 year old engaged coworker asked me - not unkindly and quite earnestly - if my parents were sad I wasn’t married yet. Uh, not that I was aware of? WTF?

Yes, because being single at 29 would be so awful! Yikes. I’m glad they have you in their corner because that pressure to “lock it down” is so real for some kids.

Honey, is that you? Because this is my life with my husband right now!

I never thought I’d get married because a.) a lot of the married people around me - who seemed perfectly happy - had marriages I wasn’t interested in and b.) each time I imagined being married to anyone I was seriously dating I’d basically have a full-blown panic attack.

Same here. Now that I am married, but we don’t have (and are not planning to have) kids I get a new level of condescension from some about how precious their time is because they have FAMILIES.

The short sleeve-tie combo only works at 1960s Mission Control.