You're not alone. I always have how that she'll pull it together and start making movies again. I'm starting to lose that hope, though.

Exactly. Was she 13? Or 14?

I stock up on crayons and notebooks and glue sticks and whatever else I think my kids may need or want during the year during BTS sales. Last year I didn't buy enough crayons and literally cringed when we ran out and I had to pay full price early this summer. I even considered the noon-crayola brand.

I have 2 older sisters and my mom would buy or make us matching dresses for Christmas and Easter. I always had to wear my dress for the year or so that it fit, by then my next older sister's dress was the right size so I'd wear it for a while. And then, finally, my oldest sister's dress would fit and I'd have to wear…

Those are the ages I expect to get phones for my kids-12 for calling and text so she can do after school activities, leave her alone in the house, etc. 16 or so for everything else. My husband already wants to get tablets for the kids (ages 6 and 3), mostly to entertain them on long road trips, but I want to wait a…

"Is 'empowerment marketing' better or just more advertiser bull crap?"

i had more leaks with cloth than disposable. So with twins, that was a lot of extra laundry. Fortunately, the cloth were given to me so I didn't feel too horrible going back to disposable after a few months. The wet bag I bought has been great during potty training, though.

i think it's better that you moved. While the community there is great with many awesome and wonderful people, now you can explore and define yourself completely separately from Mormonism. In Utah, there's very much an us and them mentality.

It comes down to this statement in her letter, " I still think the idea of committing to someone for eternity is beautiful." According to Mormon belief, you can only be with your family in heaven if you are Mormon and follow all of their rules. Leaving the faith means rejecting your family, and, in her case, future…

I ended up leaving the Mormon church after looking for other members who thought like me about the role of women in the church (i.e. believing I had value even before becoming a wife and mother). This girl won't last much longer. Fortunately, there's a thriving, ever-growing ex-Mormon community in Provo and SLC.

She needs to transfer her credits STAT. BYU has a reputation for holding degrees hostage.

The problem is that it doesn't always feel complimentary. It feels predatory - especially coming from an older, (probably) bigger man. In this story the guy stood there, waiting, looking at her until she looked up and responded. And she just wanted some shallots. She didn't go to the grocery store to get picked up. I…

I really don't understand this woman's thinking. Bathroom floors are gross, but with a changing pad and paper towels the baby will be fine. I don't know how many diapers I've changed for my 3 kids that way. Or go to the van, but leave most of your crap at the table. You don't need to schlep it all out then in…

Consistent cycles make it easier to chart, but it's not required. I have PCOS with the irregular periods (cycles generally anywhere from 26 to 45 days). For someone like me, it's best to use condoms all of the time until you learn to recognize the getting-ready-to-ovulate signs. (Alternatively, start charting when you…

There are chapters in that book that should be required reading for teenage girls. At least in my opinion. I also think every woman should chart her cycles for a while because you start noticing a lot of patterns. In any case, my daughters will each receive their own copies at some point in the teenage years (maybe…

Have you read "Taking Charge of Your Fertility?" Cannot recommend it enough.

Drop off childcare is the dream, man. Come September my oldest will be in first grade and the twins will be in preschool 3 days per week. I don't know which appointment to make first. Dentist? Eye doctor? Hairdresser? Who are we kidding? It'll be the hairdresser. Mama nerds some highlights.

Yes! I don't consider myself a SAHM by choice. It's because full time daycare for 3 would have left us worse off financially. I have no idea how single mothers manage it. I know just how lucky I am that were can live on my husband's salary. In addition to subsidized childcare, I'd like to see a societal shift to more…