The 90's were a frustrating, gas-lit time for me. I’m enjoying the birds coming home to roost.

So that’s what that smell is.

Actually it is an OK Cupid screening question. “How often do you brush your teeth?” I thought it was a strange question but I get it now.

Damn I wish I could un-learn that there is a match-making website for murderers :/

I’d rather change a small pair of underwear than my sheets. I could also free flow my period onto a towel or sheets, but prefer thinx underwear as it’s much less laundry. 

Because secretions don’t stop. Not after you wipe and certainly not while you are sleeping. For those of us with vaginas seeping while sleeping, underwear is preferable.

Always my first thought.  What about the poop?!

Of course! That’s also a very good point thank you for making it! It was in reference to Holocaust survivors. I read that, overwhelmingly, when asked if they could change anything in their life, they would say no. So I decided that if they could accept their past, then so can I. However, in lieu of Anthony Bourdain…

I get my back up any time anyone paints teens or youth with a dismissive wide brush. Who are you trying to shut down and what are your vested interests in belittling them?

Would you have preferred a more sheltered life? I often wonder who I would be if I didn’t have a head start on independence. It became 2nd nature to for me to plan in advance and to always be prepared. I often wonder if I would change any of it if I were given a magic wish and usually decide no.

That’s how I measure awesome. Kindness and being punctual. Low bar maybe but it works.

You’re too kind. My adult self is a very patient supporter of teens, no matter how crazy they may seem.

Holy shit you make a good point. Back then, I could find a shitty basement suite and a shitty druggie room mate and still make it on welfare. Barely. In this day and age, if I had to make it on welfare, it most certainly would not cover rent, never mind the rest of it.

Oh man, did you take notes during your teen years on what you weren’t going to do when you were a parent? I tell my kids that our jobs as parents is to improve upon the job our parents did before us. Sounds like you are right on track :) Great job being that ear for your extended circle of friends and family. As a…

I too was lucky enough to have college paid for until 21, then I aged out. Then the government cut the program for decades. Now, in Canada anyways, the government is back on track to support foster kids in secondary education. Seems like a no-brainer.

Verklempt! Now that’s the spirit, right? I try to be that adult to young people.

That depends if his parents are actually in a cult as rumours suggest lol!

Also good point about feeling successful. I read somewhere (can’t find the link) that we judge ourselves in relation to how successful our same-gendered parent was. Not hard to be awesome at life when your parent failed miserably.

Shit dude, sorry about lonely holidays. I’m trying to see all holidays as some kind of fucked up nonsense. Valentines Day? Really? Not a thing. The hardest one to ignore for me is Christmas. Christmas used to be my favourite day to do all my laundry! Washing machines are always free.

Totally not the same as Jaden. But I do think some of us, for whatever reason, can be independent earlier than modern society would expect. I wish I didn’t make mistakes at that age, but I learned more by 20 than some of my peers. I’m sure you are able to support and understand teenagers better than someone who might…