Would be pretty stoked about this, but fearful they would fuck it up...

No way... kids are not an excuse to act like a complete asshole. A little short? Sure. Bit frazzled? Absolutely. But completely freaking out at someone just doing their job? Nope.

And I ought to know, I've got 4 of the little buggers. And they are only assholes for a significant part of the day, not 24/7.

Yeah, I have 4 kids, they were all born vaginally with no meds- they were all very red! But I think the redness kind of changes throughout the day. When they were very calmly sleeping they weren't all that red, but if they got startled/ hungry/ were pooping/ basically doing anything they were red within like a half…

Yes! I don't have a thing for royalty in general, and think it's ridiculous that it exists at all anymore, but I just like William and Kate. I think it is fairly amazing that William had the childhood that he did, and somehow they seem more normal and well adjusted than anyone in their situation should be. I read that…

Threeradishes, thank you, that was really interesting to read. I wouldn't be at all surprised if one or both of my daughters end up being similar to you in respect to what you discussed. My older daughter gives me the impression that she mostly just enjoys what I call "social mileage" from being more "boyish". As in,…

Yep, I really try to praise them for being kind, working hard in school, being enthusiastic about whatever...

That is really sad. I just don't understand people sometimes.

Yeah, I think my mom being so insecure really turned me off all that stuff. My girls just show no interest in any of it, and are kind of horrified that their classmates are starting to wear makeup. I have never made a big deal of it either way so I don't know why they are so weirded out by it!

Thanks, Ten Earth Imps. I will check out those resources. We celebrate Pride and have talked a lot about sexual orientation, and I've explained the term LGBT and what each letter stands for, so they are aware, but haven't shown any specific interest in the trans part. I do want to be prepared for whatever is in store…

Thanks, colorisnteverything! It can be so nerve racking being a parent and just not knowing if you are screwing your kids up for life.

I am really conscious of the whole body image thing... I grew up with a mom who had bathroom cabinets just full of beauty products, and a much used bathroom scale, and who permed her…

"I was finally rewarded for being girly."

I've had 4 kids and while pregnancy SUCKS so bad, I think childbirth is pretty much the most awesome experience I have ever had. I am done having kids and I would never want to be pregnant again (just because it is uncomfortable and tiring, nothing traumatic or anything), I am kind of sad that I won't ever give birth…

I think the other comments have hit it on the head as far as answering your question, but as the mother of two gender nonconforming girls, I wish there was more out there so I know what to expect in the next few years. My girls are 12 and 10.5 and entering 7th and 6th grade, respectively. They dress pretty exclusively…

I think there are probably situations in which it is not a big deal, like if both partners naturally have low sex drives and are intimate in other ways. I think for most people sex is a pretty big deal so if one person isn't into it that can really impact a relationship. I can't comment really on how common it is to…

I haven't worn makeup (except for Halloween) since I was 15, which was 17 years ago. I think the stuff feels weird, smells worse, takes an unreasonable amount of time to apply, and often looks silly. That being said, people can certainly do whatever they want to their faces, and I don't have a problem with people…

I have one cat (out of 6- don't judge) that really really loves me. He is much sweeter with me than everyone else and is downright terrified of strangers. He's good with my kiddos and husband but it's pretty obvious that I'm his favorite person. And I don't even feed him, my kids do! He was feral until he was about…

Guilty as well! Many valid excuses here for this reprehensible pastime, but I'll go ahead and add that I love to read about all the fucked up things happening in a first-world privileged country that isn't the USA. Britain has some spectacularly, rivetingly, grotesquely horrible news and I eat it up!

Black bears in California do this regularly. I've seen it up in Yosemite. Personally, I think this whole opening-the-door-properly thing is a big boon for bear-human relations.

Also, they will rip the wall off a house to get in and eat your trash. Black bears did that to my parent's cabin in Mammoth Lakes.

My daughter's name is Freja! The only thing I don't like about it is that a lot of people think it's pronounced "Freesia" which totally didn't occur to me as a pronunciation. I saw it and thought of "Katja" and "Nadja" and "Bjorn", etc. But all in all I really love the name and I still think Freja looks a little…

How much of this can be attributed to all of us growing up in a society that still believed men should take care of women financially, that a good catch should be financially successful and in a respected position? Isn't it likely that it will just take some time for those things to fade? On the other hand, I'd like…