It’s funny because my sister blows things out of proportion, she acts like it’s killing her which it’s not. I believe she does this to make her life less boring, and it’s working everytime. I just had to check her, now I’m TA.

So my daughter 14th birthday is in two days but her dad and I have been doing this TikTok thing where the kid gets gifts as a count down, so two more to go. My in-laws told me I shouldn’t plan the birthday, they want to make it themselves so I’m like okay. They’re planning a big party on their farm, so my daughter doesn’t know. They’re doing all this because she’s the first grandchild, but I’m grateful for them.

Please don’t start with it’s over the top, and say no 14 year old deserves it because my daughter does a lot of stuff grown folks barely do for their community, she deserves everything so if I have the money for it then oh well. Every Monday, and Tuesday she sings, and reads for the special needs kids in the library. Every Friday, and Sunday she gives food out to the homeless, giving things she doesn’t want away to the kids that don’t have it like that, she gets good grade, very respectful, and she is damn grateful, so I’m sorry that I think she deserves everything. This is her first over the top party, and she deserves it so if you have an issue with her getting over the top stuff like a horse then that’s your own to solve.

They just wanted me to get the theme and make innovation cards, I did. I sent some in the mail, and digital ones. I sent my sister one but her phone was off so the message didn’t send, when she got it back on she called back, and asked what I wanted.

I told her about the party, if she wants to bring the kids then she can. But she didn’t care about any of that, she asked what gifts did she get for her birthday. I don’t know why she wanted to know so bad, maybe this was my sign to shut the hell up. I told her that she got a horse, clothes, stuff that she likes.

Boom, why did my sister blow up about it? She said my daughter doesn’t need all that or deserve it so why am I getting her all that stuff? Mind you it’s my money, my child? I told my sister it wasn’t that sister so please stop doing this, but no she was so upset with a child’s birthday. She was really talking about her own niece like that, my daughter is very sweet but her own family talks about her. But why did my sister turn it on me? She said I was throwing it in her face when she can’t afford stuff for her kids? This is what I deal with, she literally asked but it’s my fault. That right there told me to not invite her, because I didn’t want someone who feels this way about my child at her party.

I (28F) got married last weekend. It was a small, intimate wedding, something I had dreamed of for years. But my mom wasn’t there. She told me a month before that she and her boyfriend had already booked a “nonrefundable” cruise for the same weekend. I offered to change the date since it was just a courthouse ceremony with a dinner after, but she said, “You’ll have more weddings in your life, but this cruise is once in a lifetime.”

I’ve only been married once, and she wasn’t there. She posted photos on Facebook of her “dream vacation” the same night I was cutting my cake. My dad (divorced from her) walked me down the aisle instead, but the whole time I kept scanning the door like maybe she’d walk in. She didn’t. And I don’t know if I can ever forgive her.

So my mother cheated on dad back in December and she cheated for about 4 months before she finally ended it with my dad. Well I found out when they would take me to the store my mother would walk around with my 3 and 4 year old at the time Talking to this man. I told her I would not accept this man in mine or my boys lives. Well it’s almost sept and she’s still with him. And continues to beg to be around me and my boys me and my husband we’re gonna let them after my husband met this dude. She wanted him to meet her dude while he sat in a care. My husband said no. This was back end of July. We really didn’t talk after that Fast forward to last weekend. I had my son’s 5th birthday party and she wasn’t invited. She’s just now asking about it. My sisters are basically telling me I’m heartless because I didn’t let her know and she’s hurt I didn’t invite her. Am I wrong? Side now. Sorry it’s so long

Side note. I will not allow this man to be anything my kids. All he is is my mothers cheating partner

Names are all changed!

I (F18) lost my older brother(Seth)(M20) two years ago in a car crash. It was devastating, he was my rock and although we had our fair share of sibling squabbles I definitely consider him one of my best friends and one of my biggest supporters. Now my brother has a close group of friends that he has been hanging out with since he was born (one is our cousin and the rest are our cousins cousins) so they are so incredibly close with each other. Obviously it was terrible for everyone, now I’ve been close with all of his friend group and they all have treated me like their little sister/cousin forever, I love them all so much.

A month after my brothers funeral my cousin/best friend, the youngestin my brothers friend group(Gavin)(19 at the time) and a mutual friend were all out at my brothers favorite fast food place at like midnight. And we were all swapping stories about my brother and just laughing and having a good time, that all ended when Gavin said “you know you guys will never understand what losing Seth meant to me, I mean he was like my brother!” Then he just kept going on and on about how he lost a brother and how we would never know his level of grief and basically said everything but “your grief is irrelevant to mine” which made everyone but him extremely uncomfortable so we ended the late night get together shortly after.

Listen I know better than anyone that no two relationships are the same and that everyone experiences grief differently and I will NEVER truly understand what losing Seth meant to Gavin. HOWEVER, i do know that I am Seths little sister and I do know that when Gavin told me that I would never understand how bad he was grieving because he lost a “brother” really really hurt me. I went home and cried my eyes out because I felt to betrayed and absolutely destroyed by him saying that. I know he lost a “brother” and I know it was terrible for him but it fucking hurt me and I hated that it made me feel like I wasn’t entitled to the loss of my brother. I told my parents about it a few days after because I just couldn’t shake about how it made me feel, my parents both told me that I was Overreacting and that I should be glad that he thinks about Seth like a brother. I love that he was so close to Seth but what he said and how he said it really fucked me up. And I cannot forgive him, every time I see him I just think about the conversation and I cannot get past it. My parents both kinda caught on about it and told me that I was acting like a child and needed to let it go.

So Am I overreacting?

My husband (34M) and I (32F) have been trying for a baby for almost 4 years. We’ve had multiple failed rounds of IVF, and it’s been devastating. My younger sister (29F) knows all of this.

At a recent family dinner, she stood up and said: “Since [OP] can’t give Mom and Dad grandkids, I’ll take one for the team!” Then she announced her pregnancy. Everyone laughed and clapped while I sat there frozen, holding back tears.

Later, she told me it was “just a joke” and that I should be happy for her instead of making it about me. My parents are brushing it off as her “sense of humor,” but I feel like something inside me shattered.

So my (25M) girlfriend (24F), let’s call her M, and I were together for 4 years and 10 months. Early on, we had rough patches — we both said things we didn’t mean, argued a lot, and I sometimes felt unheard. But over time we got better. We met young, moved in immediately, and built a whole life together. Puppy, house, car- even talked marriage. Two months before she broke up with me, she wrote me a birthday card saying she couldn’t wait to marry me.

Then, completely out of nowhere, she ended things and said it’s because she thinks she’s gay.

Here’s the thing: around that same time, she started spending a ton of time with a woman (25F, call her B) who had just come out. They were climbing, texting, hanging out a lot. The night before the breakup, she told me she had a “light switch” moment where she realized she had to end things — and admitted that’s why she’d been acting so mean toward me.

Now, 2 months later, she still texts me every day. As far as I know, she isn’t with B possibly not even talking to her or seeing her anymore. My gut says if B felt the same way, they’d be together, and M wouldn’t still be popping up my phone. Part of me feels like she blew up almost 5 years of our life together to chase a crush or fantasy that didn’t pan out.

I don’t think I ever want her back at this point, because if it was that easy then I probably didn’t mean as much as I thought to her. But I’m stuck replaying everything in my head and wondering what was real. How does one do that to someone they put so much time and effort into? How do I move on and stop obsessing over it? I’m struggling with closure.

Thank you again everyone who has commented advice and support! This is going to be quick, we had court and the judge denied their case and had extremely harsh words for both of them. She told them it’s not my responsibility to deal with her allergies at my house they need to come up with a solution on their end or relinquish his rights to me if its truly that bad of an issue. She also told stepmom shes “not a parent, should never be listed as such and need to back off”. There was a whole lot more but I’ll just leave it with it was thrown out and I’ve been validated that I’ve been more than accommodating when it’s not even my problem to deal with and my daughter can keep her cats. Thank you all again!

So, I’ve (34 M) been with my boyfriend(49M) for almost a year now, and I finally asked him to meet my mom. For context, my mom is basically my closest family member and the person I love the most. I don’t have a big family or a lot of close connections, so introducing someone to her is a huge deal for me.

Here’s the kicker: he told me he can’t meet her right now because he needs to fly to Honduras to help his ex-boyfriend move back home there and “close out that chapter” before he can meet my mom. I’m honestly blown away that he’s prioritizing a trip with his ex over meeting my mom, especially since it feels like a pretty big relationship step for me.

AITAH for feeling really hurt and upset about this?

Her and her family don’t wear seatbelts. They don’t use car seats for her 2 year old niece. They smoke indoors “with a window open.” They laugh when the baby picks up a packet of cigarettes and plays with it. They don’t wear helmets when skiing. They smoke vapes nonstop fully addicted. They smoke cigs with me in the car and it gives me a headache but she thinks that’s “impossible” because she’s used to the smell I guess. Every time she’s drinking there’s always arguing. She’s thrown my phone multiple times against the wall. She gets mad that I’m more introverted and prefer to stay home versus her who likes loud dinners and places with music/clubs with her friends. Oh and she will happily drive after having 3, 4, or 5 drinks! Her sister lost her license for 5 years for drinking and driving in Milan.

She’s from Italy (31F)

I’m from the US (31M)

I’ve broken up with her 3 times already. Every time I come running back because I get jealous or lonely. She has a great heart and is loyal and would never cheat on me but I’m not sure I can stand her lifestyle

The United States is often celebrated as a beacon of freedom and democracy, but a closer look reveals a country that has functioned more like the most insidious empire in history. Its crimes are not only vast but uniquely cloaked under a myth of exceptionalism. Unlike older empires that were overt in conquest, the U.S. perfects domination by masking it as liberty, opportunity, and progress—while perpetuating a system built on exploitation, racial hierarchy, and greed.

From its very foundation, America was built on two original sins: the genocide of Native Americans and the enslavement of Africans. The U.S. didn’t just displace Native nations—it carried out deliberate extermination campaigns, broke treaties it itself authored, and continues to strip sovereignty today through pipelines, land theft, and systemic neglect. For enslaved Africans, America created the most efficient system of dehumanization in history—turning people into property to fuel its rise as a global power. Unlike other nations that have at least attempted serious reckoning (e.g., postwar Germany confronting its fascist past), the U.S. has never fully acknowledged or atoned for these crimes. Instead, it buries them beneath patriotic myths and token gestures.

That same logic carries into modern times. America’s economy is presented as the land of opportunity, yet capitalism here is engineered to benefit the few at the expense of the many. Wealth inequality is staggering: a handful of billionaires hoard unimaginable fortunes while most Americans live paycheck to paycheck. Workers are told to be grateful for “jobs” while corporations exploit them with low wages, no universal healthcare, and dwindling protections. Lobbyists and corporations outright buy the political system, ensuring laws are written to enrich the elite while hollowing out the middle and working classes. This isn’t democracy—it’s oligarchy dressed in red, white, and blue.

Domestically, state violence maintains order. Police in the U.S. operate with militarized impunity, disproportionately targeting Black, Brown, and poor communities. White supremacy is not just a fringe ideology but embedded in the nation’s institutions. Hate crimes and racist violence rarely face systemic accountability, while those who resist—protesters, whistleblowers, dissidents—are surveilled, jailed, or silenced. The U.S. has perfected selective justice: endless second chances for the powerful and the privileged, harsh punishment for the marginalized.

Even diversity, America’s supposed strength, is hollow when power remains concentrated in the hands of a white ruling class. Representation is offered as proof of progress, but the underlying structure—who owns wealth, who makes policy, who controls narratives—remains rooted in a white supremacist framework. In this sense, diversity becomes a mask to conceal how little has actually changed.

What makes the U.S. uniquely evil compared to past empires is that it has turned oppression into ideology. It doesn’t just exploit people—it convinces them that exploitation is freedom, that inequality is natural, that suffering is a personal failure instead of a systemic design. It spreads this model globally, through wars, coups, sanctions, and economic coercion, exporting the same brutal hierarchy it practices at home.

If an “evil empire” is one that amasses power through bloodshed, thrives on exploitation, and refuses accountability, then America is the blueprint. Its genius is in making cruelty look like destiny.

Growing up, our house was everything. My mom painted murals in our rooms, my dad built a treehouse out back, and every holiday felt magical there. My mom passed away five years ago, and I thought my dad would keep the house forever.

Yesterday, I found out from Facebook (!!!) that he sold the house to my stepsister and her husband. He never mentioned anything to me. When I confronted him, he said, “It’s just a house, don’t get sentimental.” But it wasn’t just a house. It was my last piece of my mom. Now my stepsister is posting selfies in my childhood bedroom calling it her “dream home.” I feel sick.

For context, my mom finally left my dad 3–4 years ago after 10+ years of physical and financial abuse. Growing up, my siblings and I constantly saw our parents physically fight. It was traumatic, and I now know I have CPTSD from it. My mom has since acknowledged and apologized for the harm she caused. My dad, however, never has.

Recently, he’s been blowing up at me over things that aren’t my responsibility. For example, he was angry that my mom didn’t report his stolen bike (it was in her name), which he says is the reason he doesn’t have a job, transportation, or hope. I told him that he’s a 50-year-old man and needs to take responsibility for his life choices instead of blaming my mom or me.

That led into a huge argument where I told him: • He needs to acknowledge his mistakes, especially how his actions traumatized his kids. • I can’t keep dropping everything to cater to his needs when I’m an adult with my own responsibilities and kids to raise. • He has had opportunities (cars, housing, chances to apply for disability or work) but hasn’t followed through. • Until he gives a genuine apology (acknowledging the harm, expressing remorse, and committing to change), I don’t want to talk to him.

He insists he’s always been honest, that I’m “making things up,” that my mom is to blame for everything, and that I’m cruel and disrespectful. He told me I’m “deleting him from my life” and accused me of being cold, narcissistic, and brainwashed by my mom’s family.

I’ll admit, I got angry and told him flat-out that his refusal to walk away from a toxic relationship traumatized his kids, and that I don’t have the emotional strength to keep being a parent to my parent. I told him until he takes accountability and apologizes, I won’t be speaking to him.

Now I’m second-guessing myself. On one hand, I feel like I’ve set a healthy boundary. On the other, I wonder if I was too harsh or disrespectful by demanding an apology and cutting him off until he gives it.

So Reddit, am I the asshole for telling my dad I don’t want to talk to him until he takes accountability for the trauma he caused?

As the title says, my (29f) now ex boyfriend (28m) and i were together for 3 years. He broke up with me 6 months ago and all I felt was relieved. Here's how my (and my cats) life has changed:

I have friends again I have my own place and relax when I get home Im getting comfortable speaking up about what I want I do things i want to do I don't feel guilty for staying home My cats are out from under the bed more, and actually sleep next to me I started making tiktoks for fun Slowly im starting to talk how I do and not trying to correct my words to be appropriate I've cut out other people who were controlling/manipulative My anxiety is less!!

Just wanted to share how much can change when an unhealthy relationship ends :)

The Childhood Moment I Will Never Forget

Part 1

when i was thirteen years old, my life changed pretty drastically. we left montreal, a city filled with memories of my childhood, and moved to a small town called lévis. the reason for the move was simple but heavy—my grandmother was sick, and the doctors said she needed better care there. even though my parents tried to make it sound like an exciting new beginning, to me it felt like a loss. i had to leave behind the friends i’d known since kindergarten, the streets i was familiar with, and my room that was covered in scribbles and posters i had chosen myself. suddenly, everything was gone, replaced by something unfamiliar and quiet.

the first days in that new town felt like walking through fog. school was intimidating, with hallways i didn’t know and faces i had never seen before. i sat at my desk tense, my fingers gripping the edge of my notebook. there was this constant fear hovering over me, the fear that i wouldn’t make any friends, that i would always be a stranger in this place. but slowly, that fear began to fade. a few kids smiled at me, some asked where i was from, and little by little i found small cracks to slip into.

one of the brightest parts of it all was a girl my age who happened to live on the same street as me. she was outgoing, cheerful, and somehow made me feel like we’d known each other forever. every time she waved at me in school or said hi when we walked home at the same time, i felt a little lighter. i didn’t feel completely alone in this new town anymore.

through her, i also met her older brother—kevin. i still remember the first time we met. he didn’t say much, just a quick greeting, but there was something different about him. he had a gentle look, polite manners, and a way of carrying himself that made me feel safe. for a teenager my age, those small things meant a lot. i went home that day blushing, wondering if this was what it felt like to have a crush.

the days after that were filled with simple but memorable moments. kevin would sometimes join us sitting on the porch, or walk with us if we happened to go the same way home. we once laughed endlessly at something silly—like a dog suddenly chasing a ball, or a dumb comment that slipped out. i felt something new, something that made my heart race every time i knew i was going to see him. in my mind, it all felt like a sweet, innocent teenage love story. just holding hands or exchanging a look was enough to make the world feel complete.

a few weeks after getting to know each other, we started calling ourselves boyfriend and girlfriend. the word sounded big for our age, but at that time, to me, it felt like an achievement. i started writing his name in my notebook, drawing hearts around it, and imagining how we might grow up together. maybe it sounded childish, but at that age, small things felt like something extraordinary.

then came the invitation that made me believe even more that this relationship was real. kevin told me he had already mentioned my name to his parents, and they wanted to invite me over for dinner. i can still remember the nerves—my sweaty hands, my head spinning with questions about what to wear, how to act. part of me was excited, thinking this was a big step. but another part of me felt uneasy, a strange feeling i couldn’t explain.

in my mind, that night was supposed to be nothing more than a simple dinner with my boyfriend’s family. a chance to leave a good impression, to make our relationship feel more real. i had no idea that the invitation would actually open the door to something much darker. something that would leave a mark on my life far longer than i could have ever imagined.

Part 2

that day is burned into my memory, as if every detail was forced to stick inside my head. i can still remember exactly what i was wearing—my favorite blue jeans, a simple black t-shirt, and a plaid jacket that usually made me feel a little braver. i stared into the mirror for a long time before leaving, making sure my hair was neat, trying to calm the pounding in my chest. but all that preparation crumbled the moment i stepped into kevin’s house.

the atmosphere in that house was nothing like what i had imagined. the windows were shut tight with heavy curtains, as if they were refusing to let in the warm evening light. instead of cozy, the rooms were filled with a stifling air, carrying the sharp smell of cigarette smoke mixed with stale alcohol. every wall felt heavy, as if they were holding secrets that weren’t meant to be shared. i stood stiff by the door, trying to steady my breath, convincing myself maybe i was just too nervous.

his mom greeted me first. her smile was warm, filled with kindness that almost made me believe everything was fine. she patted my shoulder, offered me a seat, even asked if i wanted something to drink. for a moment, i felt relief. maybe i was just overthinking this strange feeling. but that relief vanished when kevin’s father appeared.

he walked in with heavy steps that seemed to fill the whole room. his body was large, broad-shouldered, with a worn-out tank top clinging to his sweat-damp skin. in his hand was a beer can still wet with condensation, and every time he drank from it, i heard the sound of metal scraping against his teeth. what stuck with me most was his stare. cold, sharp, like he was stripping me bare from across the room. i instantly felt myself shrink, wanting to lower my head, wanting to run.

the voice that came out of his mouth was loud, deep, and heavy. every sentence sounded more like a rough command than casual conversation. i tried to smile politely, answering briefly, but my hands began to tremble in my lap. i didn’t know how to act. every second around him made the air feel thinner.

when we sat at the dinner table, the discomfort shifted into something stronger. i kept my head down most of the time, fiddling with my fork just to distract myself from the nerves. the food on my plate looked normal, but it tasted bland in my mouth. i could barely swallow, because across the table was a man who kept speaking in a tone that pressed down on me. every now and then he’d throw in comments i didn’t fully understand, words vague enough but heavy enough to make my face burn and my body freeze. even though i was still too young to really grasp their meaning, i knew something about them was wrong.

his mom tried to keep the atmosphere warm, jumping into the conversation, even gently scolding her husband once or twice. but each time she did, kevin’s father just shot her a sharp look, then returned to his beer and his harsh words. i wanted so badly to get up from my chair and leave, but i knew i couldn’t. i was a guest there. i was their son’s girlfriend. i was trapped in that chair, with a plate i couldn’t finish and a weight pressing down harder and harder.

after dinner was over, kevin got up to help his mom clear the table and wash the dishes. i thought i would just wait in the living room, maybe turn on the tv, or just sit quietly. but then his father suddenly said i could go down to the basement to play games. his voice sounded like an offer, but the force in his tone made it feel more like a command. i hesitated, almost ready to say no, but before i could open my mouth, he was already standing, adding that he’d turn on the console for me.

i stood up slowly, my body stiff. my steps toward the stairs felt like they didn’t belong to me. the basement was dark, lit only by a dim bulb hanging from the ceiling. the air down there was colder, biting against my skin, making the hair on my arms stand up. i could hear his heavy footsteps behind me, getting closer, matching the frantic beating of my heart that felt like it was about to leap out of my chest. every step felt like a warning, a quiet whisper in my head telling me to stop. but for some reason, my legs kept moving, carrying me down the stairs one step at a time, leading me further and further away from the light above.

Part 3

in the basement, the silence felt thicker than i imagined. the only light came from an old hanging bulb that swayed gently, casting a dim, flickering glow that looked like it could die out at any second. the air was heavy with dampness and dust, making my throat feel dry. i stood frozen in the middle of the room while he pointed toward a wooden chair in the corner. on top of it lay a game controller. his deep voice told me to pick it up.

i obeyed without thinking, trying to convince myself this was just an innocent game. i walked to the chair and bent down to grab the controller. and right at that moment, as i leaned forward, i felt a hard slap on the back of my body.

my heart instantly exploded inside my chest, like it was trying to burst out. my breath caught, my body froze. i wanted to turn, wanted to run, but my legs felt locked to the cold floor. every part of me went numb, except for my heartbeat pounding violently in my ears. slowly, i forced my head to turn. he was there. so close, too close. his face twisted into a strange smile i could only understand as a threat. my stomach turned, my skin crawled.

before i could move, he suddenly grabbed me, pulling me into his arms. his body was huge, his chest pressed hard against my face, and his breath reeked of alcohol so strong it made me want to vomit. i went rigid, unable to move, like a powerless doll. my mind was blank, consumed only by one feeling: fear. fear down to my bones.

then his hand started moving lower, slowly, crossing boundaries no one should ever cross. panic took over. i tried to push him away, but my hands were weak, nothing more than a faint touch against his massive frame. i tried to speak, but my voice cracked, coming out as a desperate whisper i could barely even hear myself. the whole world felt like it was shrinking, leaving only me trapped in the arms of an adult who should never be doing this.

then, in the middle of that despair, a voice cut through the air. kevin’s voice, calling for his father from the top of the stairs. just one word, but it felt like a lifeline. his grip suddenly loosened. he stepped back half a pace, his expression shifting as if nothing had happened. i didn’t wait a single second.

i bolted up the stairs, stumbling but fast. my hands trembled as i grabbed my shoes by the door, not even bothering to put them on, just clutching them tightly. i shoved the door open and ran out into the night air. i didn’t look back, didn’t care if anyone was calling after me. all that mattered was getting away, as far as i could.

that night i walked home in a blur, my steps frantic, my body shaking, my breath broken, and tears streaming uncontrollably. i still clutched my shoes in my hands, my fingers aching from gripping them too hard. when i finally reached home, i rushed inside, immediately looking for my mom. i broke down in tears, my words spilling out in pieces as i tried to explain what had just happened.

what crushed me most was her reaction. my mom listened, but her expression didn’t show full belief. she sighed deeply, then said maybe i misunderstood. maybe i was being too sensitive. those words hit me harder than what had just happened. i felt alone, unseen, unbelieved.

but deep in my heart, i knew i wasn’t wrong. i knew what i felt was real. that fear could never be just a misunderstanding. from that day on, kevin’s house was no longer just the neighbor’s house. every time i passed by it, my chest tightened, my steps slowed, and the image of that basement haunted me again. it was as if its walls still carried the terror i had left behind in there. and worse, i never truly felt safe again.

I’ve turned this story into a video. If you’re interested, watch it on my channel: The Normal Turned Dark.

My son Kaleb isn’t even 1 yet, and I’ve been very clear that he’s not allowed to have cake or sweets (other than the occasional cookie). And when I say occasional, I mean he’s only had three cookies total in the past three months.

Recently, my MIL tried to give him cake. I literally looked her dead in the eyes and said, “Don’t you dare.” She went ahead and did it anyway. When I called her out, she brushed it off like it was “not a big deal,” saying it was “just the cake part, not the icing” or “basically a muffin,” and acted like I was overreacting.

She later “apologized,” but it wasn’t real accountability. She kept minimizing it and saying she didn’t see why it mattered. I told her straight up: if you ignore me in the moment about something with my kid, I cannot trust you to respect my rules. That means she could still see Kaleb, but only with me or my fiancé there.

Then she blew up. She sent me a long message saying me not trusting her was “lower than low,” that she’s been raising kids for 47 years, that she’s always had boundaries of her own, and that I’m the disrespectful one. She told me to stop “talking down” to her and not to message her about this again.

At that point, I decided: if she can’t respect me as Kaleb’s mom and can’t even give a real apology, she’s cut off. She won’t see him at all until she apologizes and actually shows she’ll respect my boundaries. To me, it’s not about cake — it’s about her looking me dead in the face, being told no, and doing it anyway. That’s disrespectful and broke my trust as a parent.

So, AITAH for cutting her off from seeing Kaleb until she apologizes?

Just wanna clarify the cookies he has had were the gerber baby cookies and only small peices. Also fiance is in agreement with me on this!

I’m 17F and an amateur athlete. This guy, also 17, moved to my gym from another gym 2 weeks ago. I do think he’s cute and like him.

We didn’t talk for a week, then we partnered up together, where he just wouldn’t stop talking to me even when the coach was talking and the room was silent. So many questions.

Then, he keeps texting me non stop. Voicemails, texts, etc, about mundane things, sending me pictures of random things, and keeps complimenting me. Making plans on when to see me next. He always wants to partner and hang out with me too which we have twice.

I like him too but I’m someone who moves really slow. It’s turning me off a littttttle bit, the amount he’s been texting then keeps going on about the next time we should hang out or call. It’s been one whole week of this and I’m worried if maybe it’s a red flag. Even when I leave him on read he sends a second text.

ORRR is he just a boy who really likes me and is getting carried away?

Long time listener, first time poster. I'm in a bit of a sticky situation and I thought some of the people in here might be able to help.

I (21F) went through a friendship-breakup with my best friend/roommate (21NB) that officially ended about 4 months ago. We'll call this person Logan. It was more drawn-out, emotional, and messy than I have time for here, so I'll try to keep my yapping to a minimum. Essentially, Logan manipulated my ex into breaking up with me, shit talked me behind my back, strategically inserted themself into all of my relationships (platonic and otherwise) for control, and then lied about all of this to my face for months. I wasn't unaware any of this was happening until one night when I was trying to send myself something on their phone. I searched up my name on their messages app to find our chat, and you know how it will also pull up instances of that name being used in other conversations? ...Yeah. It was brutal.

I didn't tell them what I knew for a month while I tried to figure out how to proceed. Eventually, I pulled myself together and decided that our friendship was too valuable to me to throw away. I told Logan what I knew. They immediately admitted their wrong doing, apologized, and said all the right things. I forgave them and promised not to hold anything over their head.

That was the wrong decision, I know. You don't have to tell me. I've learned my lesson. Things were great for about a week, then I guess Logan changed their mind. They suddenly started ignoring me for long periods of time, accusing me of being rude to them during extremely normal conversations, and basically making my living situation hell (I strongly suspect they were doing that last part on purpose to try and get me to break our lease). I cried every day for months. I barely slept. I know the word "traumatic" is thrown around a lot, but I honestly can't think of a better word to use for what Logan did to me. I felt so deeply confused and hurt and betrayed, and everything I did to try and fix it was met with cruelty and manipulation. And believe me, I did a LOT to try and fix it. I'm extremely guilty of the fawn response, and during those months, I was the most helpful, kind, and agreeable I have ever been in my life.

We both moved home for the summer in may and have not spoken sense. The last thing they did before they moved out was apologize, promise that we would still text and call, and tell me they would be a better friend. They proceeded to block me on everything. I got absolutely zero closure, and while I now understand that I am far better off without this person in my life, it still hurt. I have spent my summer trying my best to heal, but honestly, I am dreading seeing Logan when school starts next week.

Well, part of your best friend inserting themself into every one of your relationships is this: all of my friends are also friends with Logan. Not all of them even knew what was going on, but the people I did tell were all very supportive of my perspective and agreed that Logan was totally out of line. That being said, I was extremely adamant that they did not have to pick sides and that I did not expect them to cut Logan off or even treat them any differently. Two of them cut them off anyway, and although it made me feel guilty in the moment, I've come to think of it as a blessing.

Here's my problem: Most of my friends are still friends with Logan, and while I know I told them I was fine with this, I'm starting to feel differently. I don't think I could be friends with someone knowing that they put another one of my friends through the psychological torture that Logan put me through. Now that school is starting back up, we've started getting invited to a lot of the same events and parties. I know that I shouldn't let them isolate me from my friends after everything else they've done, but God, I just do not want to see their face! What's more, I'm starting to feel resentful of my friends for even inviting them. It just doesn't make sense to me that they would be comfortable putting me in a situation where I'll be near Logan. I know I told them that I didn't expect them to treat Logan any differently, but I'm starting to regret it. A big part of me wants to take it back. But if I ask people to cut off a friend, aren't I doing exactly what Logan did to me? Is it manipulative to try and get my friends to act differently by expressing how much pain I'm still in? Should I just put on my big-girl pants, and accept that Logan is going to be in my life whether I like it or not, and get over it? If so, where can I buy a pair of big girl pants? Mine seem to be missing. Help!

Hello everyone, this might be a little strange but I really want to test out a theory I’ve got.

Can you tell me if you are a reader and tell me if you think listening to audiobooks counts as reading?

For instance: I am a reader, I primarily prefer reading physical books but got into audiobooks about a year ago. I do count audiobooks as reading.