We don’t have kids, but my husband still gets acolades for random stuff.

Ugh. I feel so awful for your MIL.

I think the reason it’s dubius is more of a short-term vs long-term thing.

Yep...my MIL got out of the workforce when she had kids. FIL made a bunch of money, and she kept up things at home so they fit in with the wealthy, nicely decorated home, great dinner parties, PTA volunteer group.

I still don’t understand it from anyone over the age of say...8? I mean, I should expect it now, but I always think that adults should be beyond the “that looks funny!” phase.

Totally agree. I think he’s an asshole. I’m pissed that he’s getting special treatment already (people booked in this county usually have to wear a towel around their next, but a judge order that he didn’t have to, presumably to show him respect).

Of note, when regular Joe’s are booked in this county, they wear a white towel around their neck to cover up their clothing. Looks like he got to take his without the towel. Wouldn’t want to make him feel ashamed or anything.

Somebody needed to start walking back along the security line saying “If you have one of those big books in your bag, please remove it from your bag and place it in a bin.” Problem solved.

Yes, I got to her and was like, “oh boy, what kind of nonsense do we have today?”

However, saying that consent can be “taken away at any point” is problematic because that means that if I engage in actions that are consensual at the time, that consent can be revoked after the fact and now I’m in trouble despite “behaving well” in all my sexual encounters.

I don’t understand the snark. Like, I get that this wasn’t like a New York Times headline calling her a liar, but I’m not OK with the idea that people have to just accept it when someone says something not true about them.

I think saying the pledge varies a lot based on state/school district. I graduated in 2003, and I don’t remember saying it past 5th grade. However, I was a high school teacher from 2007-2012 in a state across the country from where I grew up, and we said it every day.

Yes, if you view this one party in an absolute vacuum, that is what this story is about.

I think is especially important at the beginning. I don’t necessarily think they need to keep up these brunches for the next 15 years, but right when the divorce happens, it would be reassuring to know that parents can spend time together civilly.

I get what you are saying about the tension, and it might not be the greatest thing to force on a weekly basis, but I have to disagree with your point.

Being amicable doesn’t have to be about “fooling” the kid though. Obviously in most cases the parents aren’t going to be bffs, and there’s no reason to pretend they are.

I’m sorry your family situation had to dictate your wedding! Elopements are great...if that’s what the bride and groom truly want.

Glad you are able to have a amicable divorce...it’s hard because in almost all divorces, there are hurt feelings and I feel for people who want to take care of their own mental well-being, but in all but the most extreme cases I wish more parents could do what you are doing.

Glad your parents were able to do it in a friendly way. Don’t feel too bad for me...after the initial 3-4 years of dysfunction (which unfortunately fell during my last couple years of HS/beginning of college) they managed to get over it. By the time I graduated college, they were able to be in a room together, and by…

I totally agree with you. I’ve rolled my eyes at stuff she’s said in the past, and think she can be super out of touch, but this is good advice.