Random Life Stories and Unpredictable Moments

How do you quit a job that really depends on you?

I've been with this corporate company for over five years. When I started, I really enjoyed it—different team, exciting projects... but things changed. I was moved to a new team last year after I politely mentioned to my previous boss that I wasn’t feeling it anymore. Then, I got shifted again, and now I’m with my current team for the past month and a half. I've honestly never felt worse about work in my life. I absolutely hate what I’m doing now; there’s no interest, no motivation. I feel sick every morning, and my Sundays are just filled with dread. Anxiety and depression have crept in.

The tricky part is that I’m working on a brand-new project, and I’m one of the most experiencd people in this field here, so they’re really counting on me. Like, heavily relying on me. If I left, it would seriously throw a wrench in their plans. But I’ve hit a wall and feel like I can’t do this anymore. Not one more day. They’ve even told me no vacation or sick days are allowed for the next few months due to the workload, and my boss subtly reminded me about the two sick days I already took. That’s when it really hit me—it’s time to go.

But I’d be quitting without another job lined up, and that worries me. Plus, I feel guilty about leaving them in such a tough spot, and I dread how my boss might treat me during the notice period. I really need advice here. 😭

Well, here I am again. This time I will talk about what happened to me a few years ago. I have three daughters, 17-year-old triplets. They are somewhat rebellious and rough, but they are also very well-mannered, respectful, and kind girls. Those who read my previous story already know what happened with the mother of my daughters.

But for those who haven’t read it, I kindly invite you to read the previous story so you can have context about my situation.

What happened is that after my daughters learned about my past and what happened between their mother and me, they noticed my loneliness, since I have always lived to raise them with affection and love, educating them and guiding them to always be better. Honestly, I was fine with how things were, but my daughters decided to sign me up on a dating site, and then they sent me on several blind dates. The truth is, it didn’t go very well… because I was still dealing with the trauma from my ex-partner, Ana.

The first date was with a woman around 32 years old, about my age. At first, we talked nicely; she was polite and everything. But the problem came up when the topic of women arose, because she was extremely sexist and very attached to that mindset. I became serious, because my daughters are actually taller and stronger than me. They go to the gym: the oldest does boxing, the middle one practices archery, and the youngest practices kung fu. When this woman asked me about my daughters, I told her everything without shame, because I am proud of them. She became aggressive and started yelling at me, asking how someone like me could allow my daughters to practice “men’s sports.” I got angry, because they can throw hate at me and curse me if they want, but if they mess with my daughters, I will never allow it. So I politely stood up, told her about her flaws and her lack of respect for others, paid for my meal, and left the place.

After that, my daughters sent me on another blind date. This time it was with a divorced woman who, from the very first second, seemed kind, respectful, and sincere. But at one point she asked me if I drank alcohol or smoked. I honestly have never drunk even a drop of alcohol, nor have I ever smoked, because I don’t like it. Even my daughters don’t drink or smoke. I kindly told the woman that I didn’t, and she looked at me seriously and started drinking and smoking. After a while, she stopped talking to me because she considered me boring and not adventurous.

Honestly, I have been the father of three girls since I was 15 years old. I raised them completely on my own; I worked alone and never had the support of my family or my parents. I kindly told her, “Excuse me, miss, I am a father of three. I dedicate my life to raising them, educating them, spending time with them, and helping them with everything. If you are a party-loving woman who enjoys parties, alcohol, and smoking… and you have also made it clear that you don’t like children, I’m sorry, but I’m leaving. I will pay my part of the dinner. Have a nice night, miss.” I paid the waiter and left.

My daughters were always excited, waiting to know whether the date worked or not. Every time I said no, they got a little frustrated, but it passed, because I always told them what had happened. So they decided to keep sending me on blind dates, but it was terrible.

None of the women were my type, and many things happened. Once, a woman threw dessert in my face because she didn’t like me for being a dedicated father. Another time, a single mother slapped me because she didn’t like my hair color. Another was a feminist, but one of those who are very violent, and I am extremely respectful, since I have three daughters and even act as a homemaker. And so night after night of blind dates passed, and I never found a partner.

My daughters gave up for now, but I always cheer them up, because I am passionate about cooking and I always cook and prepare the food they like. That is life to me, and I wouldn’t change it for anything in the world, because seeing that smile of joy on my daughters’ faces gives me the strength to always keep moving forward.

When I first settled into the place next door to my elder brother, Thomas, and his wife, I felt pretty comfortable. Thomas has always been keen on mechanics and was thrilled about the spacious four-stall garage on my new property, plus the snug two-stall attachment to the house. From the beginning, it seemed my family assumed I wouldn't require all this space. Thomas started using the front garage right away, and initially, I didn't mind.

As time went by, Thomas brought over more of his belongings. Despite having ample storage on his own property including a garage and two sheds, my space started filling up. I tried to overlook this; after all, I hadn’t needed the extra space, upholding a 'don't sweat the small stuff' attitude. However, within a year, not only my back garage but also my front garage and basement began accumulating Thomas' stuff.

The clutter didn’t truly bother me until my boyfriend, Jake, moved in. Jake was quick to point out the inconvenience posed by the overflowing storage, particularly as he contemplated buying a boat or camper which we'd have nowhere to store. Gradually, I realized this arrangement might be inadvertently encouraging Thomas's hoarding tendencies, especially since I was beginning to declutter my own possessions.

Just last week, Thomas showed up intending to store two more boxes in my attic. Seeing that I’m trying to minimize clutter throughout my house, I stood my ground and refused. While Thomas seemed to take it well, the real extent of how he felt became apparent shortly after.

This weekend, Jake and I returned home to find Thomas clearing out his stored items from my back garage, preparing to place them into newly purchased sheds. His actions felt sudden and emotional, although he insisted he was fine. But after some insistance, his wife revealed that my refusal to accept the attic boxes upset him to the extent that he decided to withdraw all his belongings from my property.

Talking to Thomas' wife and my own family shed more light on their perspectives; they all seemed to empathize with Thomas more than with me. My mom, despite recently decluttering herself, and even our mutual friends sided with him, which makes me question what version of the story they've heard. Jake, thankfully, supports me, recognizing the importance of establishing clear boundaries.

The whole situation leaves me frustrated. I hate causing distress to my brother, but at the same time, I am relieved his stuff is finally being cleared out. I feel a mix of guilt for drawing these boundaries, as it's natural for me to try to please others, but I'm exasperated that everyone but Jake views me negatively for it.

I wonder how this family drama would play out if it was under the scrutiny of reality TV cameras. Would the audience see me as being unreasonable or would they empathize with my plight for personal space? Reality TV tends to dramatize conflicts, so perhaps my stance might either be seen as a heroic stand for personal boundaries or painted as overly harsh and insensitive.

So let me set the scene because it is a bit crazy, and I'm not even sure if I'm the one who's out of line here. I'm a 16-year-old girl, and I come from a Latin American background. I was born and grew up in Costa Rica until I moved at the age of 13. I still speak Spanish fluently, eat Costa Rican cuisine, celebrate all the local festivals, and hold Costa Rican citizenship. However, my parents are from Chinese descent, so yes, I am also Asian. Surprising, I know! But for some, the concept of being both Asian and Latina is hard to grasp.

The confusion heightened during a school event. I’m very passionate about musical theatre, and when my school announced they were staging ‘In the Heights,' which portrays a mainly Latino neighborhood, I was eager to be part of it. I auditioned for the role of Nina but was cast as Vanessa instead. I was super excited about it. But then, there was this girl, Heather, who also wanted Vanessa, and she was furious when I got the role instead.

Heather seemed either not to care to learn about my background or maybe chose to ignore it, but next thing I know, she’s spouting off that I had nabbed a Latina role from a "real" Latina. She ranted about how troubling it was for me, an Asian girl, to fill a role meant for someone with "authentic" Latina roots. As if things weren't bad enough, she started trash-talking me with her buddies, throwing around insults like “stupid Chinese” and “pick me.”

I hit my limit and decided to confront her about it. At first, I tried to calmly clear up that yes, Asian Latinos do exist (ever heard of Costa Rica?). I even mentioned actor Harry Shum Jr. as an example. But she refused to listen. The argument blew up when she kept saying I didn't look the part and that casting me was wrong, likening it to if she were to be cast as Mulan.

I lost my cool.

In the heat of the argument, I threw back that if we're judging by her standards, she shouldn't portray Vanessa since Vanessa isn't supposed to be FAT and UGLY. Yeah, it was harsh. But by then, I was frustrated with trying to get through to someone who had no regard for me or my background. She stormed off after that.

Now she's painting me as the villain, claiming I body-shamed her. I admit, the words were harsh, but was I supposed to sit quietly while she demeaned my heritage and perpetuated racial slurs? It feels like she started this by being so close-minded.

Imagine if this whole incident transpired on a reality show. The cameras capturing every heated exchange and each biting remark. Would the audience side with me, knowing everything, or would they see me as too aggressive, focusing only on the climax of our confrontation? Reality TV tends to twist narratives, so it's intriguing to think about how our story might have been portrayed.

I don't have a diagnosis yet but I'm sure that I'm not a mean or evil person, maybe I'm a little bit dramatic and all that shit but I'm fine with it, and if I'm alive it's because of my true friends and my family, they're my ground to earth over and over again

Man, I gotta spill something. Like, I ran into my ex-wife just the other week, and it seriously messed with my head. You know how it is...went for a quick coffee and ended up in this weird emotional rollercoaster. Not that I didn't know she was still around, but spotting her after all this time was like seeing a ghost that still haunts the edges of your life. She seemed good and all, but that's not my thing anymore. Honestly, I was a bit all over the place for a day or two after. 🙄 Anyway, now I’m kind of hung up on this whole rebound relationship idea. You ever thought about it? They say jumping into something new after a breakup can help, but who's "they" anyway? Like, part of me says, "Yeah, go for it, bro!" but the other side is like, "Nah, maybe you're just trying to fill a hole and it’s not even gonna work out." You get me?

Been thinking about diming it back and not rushing into crap that doesn't even belong to me. Just cos my ex is doing alright doesn't mean I need to force myself into some setup with the next person who smiles at me. You ever feel like you’re in a race, but you’re not even sure it’s a race you wanna run? It's tricky. I mean, I’ve had times where I rebounded and times when I didn't bother, and looking back, well, I guess each had its pros and cons. Maybe some things just roll different for different people, you know? You'd think by now I'd have a concrete answer, but nah. Life's never that simple. Has anyone actually found their person on a rebound? Or do people just apply that idea like a Band-Aid, hoping it'll stick and do the trick?

And the truth is, when you're connected like I was with my ex for years, it doesn't just go away in a snap just because you meet someone new. But who am I kidding, right? People only see the surface and think you're all good. Soon as you’re not wrecked on the outside, everyone assumes you're ready to ride the dating train again. Reality check: it ain't that easy, at least not for everyone. For some, maybe it’s fine. Are rebounds basically like a relationship placebo or what? Fake it till you make it, or something like that?

I don’t know about you, but the last thing I want is to drag some poor girl into my half-baked healing process and end up making more of a mess. Just makes me wonder if it's worth it at all. I mean, does curing a broken heart with a temporary fix ever turn into something lasting? Like, damn, I don’t need to learn the hard way again. Trying to keep things chill and not dive head first into anything until I’m sure. That's just me being cautious or chicken??? pick your choice, whatever fits. ..

Bottom line, are rebounds the real deal, or are they just a lame Sunday afternoon hangover cure that never sticks 'cause it’s not addressing the real problem... just asking for a buddy, haha

I was diagnosed with Alpha-Gal Syndrome and it's ruining my life.

Google:

Alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) is a delayed-type allergic reaction to a sugar molecule called alpha-galactose (alpha-gal). It is primarily caused by the bite of the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum).

Basically, with AGS, I can't have any mammal meat, or the byproducts. With AGS, you can develop an allergy to dairy and gluten as well. I'm dairy reactive as of 3 months ago. I thought it would be okay but it's not.

From the start.

Before I was diagnosed I noticed I was breaking out in hives, and they got bad. At one point I had to drive myself to the ER but my legs were so swollen they felt numb, it was terrifying. I had no idea why that was happening. I was eventually referred to an ENT Specialist to get tested for allergies. It was the standard allergy test and I needed bloodwork. Two weeks after the tests, I got the unfortunate news, I could no longer enjoy my favorite foods. I was devastated, depressed even. I was constantly in tears, barely eating, slowly slipping into depression. It took 3 months for me to finally accept that I could no longer have any mammalian meat or byproducts. At that point, I wasn't reactive to dairy or gluten, so it wasn't the worst. I was getting sick of eating chicken for every meal. I tried to cut meat completely but that just made me sick, and extremely weak.

With the help of my amazing fiancé, I started to get better mentally. I finally took back my life, I started working out, eating healthy balanced meals, it was amazing, until it wasn't. A few months before my 1 year check up for AGS, I started to just constantly be in pain again. It wasn't hives, it was the most painful stomach aches, mostly in my lower abdomen. I was freaking out, I didn't know what to do or why it was happening. Cut to my one year check in, I tell the Doc what I was feeling and all of my symptoms, then she gives me even more bad news: no more dairy.

It's been two months since dairy got cut from my diet and I'm struggling so much. People around me, at work, in class, even my own family, all keep calling me dramatic and tell me to suck it up. I CAN NOT JUST GET OVER SOMETHING LIKE THIS!! I went my ENTIRE life with no allergies, never been allergic to ANYTHING until now. I'm losing so much weight that I can't keep up with. I can feel myself slipping slowly. I've been in so much pain since not being able to have dairy, it's like my body is rejecting this diet. I have another appointment coming up soon, and I just have this feeling that Doc is gonna cut gluten out of my diet too. If that gets cut, I'll literally starve. Everything now tastes bland, no matter how much I season it. I try new recipes, my fiancé tries recipes and I just want to puke after eating anything because of how bad it tastes. I can't stay positive over this anymore. I'm sad and I'm sick of people telling me to get over it because I can't.

so, I’ve been trying to wrap my head around this whole freelancing gig combined with building a SaaS platform, right? it’s honestly a mess. I’m 25, and not a developer at all, but here I am, thinking I can just roll up my sleeves, watch a few YouTube videos on how to build software with AI, and magically make it all happen; my girlfriend? yeah, she's not so supportive anymore. when I first told her I was going to dive into this thing, her eyes kinda lit up, but that faded quickly into this cold hard stare like she’s watching a train wreck in slow motion. she keeps saying things like, “you know, not everyone is cut out for this, and maybe you’re just wasting time and money.” and honestly, those words gnaw at me like a constant background static. it's amazing how someone you love can inspire both motivation and doubt at the same time. after binge-watching videos, you’d think I’d be golden; but no, it turns out that coding is like trying to learn a foreign language while climbing a mountain blindfolded! it’s not simple, it’s not intuitive, and sometimes I feel like the more I learn, the less I actually know. I keep telling myself, “there is no try, only do,” but is that even true? with everything from front-end user interfaces that need to look sleek to back-end architecture that needs to be solid, it feels like I’m trying to juggle flaming swords while blindfolded! the other day, I attempted to code this feature that I thought would be revolutionary, right? I’d been watching some tutorial on how to incorporate machine learning to analyze user behavior but when I finally tried to implement it, my code just crapped out on me; I didn’t just get an error, I got an existential crisis wrapped in a tech failure. I mean, seriously, who am I fooling? I’m sitting here staring at this screen like I’ve lost my mind, and the worst part? the more I dive into this, the more I can feel her doubts creeping in and sinking into my brain! it’s relentless! how do I prove to her—or even myself—that I can really make this work? every time I show her a little bit of progress, it’s like I can hear her inner voice saying, “great, another day wasted on a pipe dream.” but you know what? that’s the struggle of the freelancer, isn't it? constantly battling not just market competition but your inner demons and the opinions of those around you! and don’t even get me started on all the self-proclaimed “entrepreneurs” online spinning tales of their immense success one month after they started their business. do you ever wonder if some of them are just pulling a fast one on us? there has to be a good chunk of them who are just as lost as I am, right? sometimes I feel like I'm just another cog in a giant machine that’s destined to break down. I mean, come on! does anyone actually just pick up coding and have instant success? because if that’s the case, then I might need to re-evaluate my life choices! it’s not all sunshine and rainbows; it’s more like being trapped in a perpetual storm cloud that rains down self-doubt instead of water. while I keep pushing through these coding blocks and trying to keep my head above water, every notification I get seems like a reminder of how much further I am from any type of success. have you ever felt that way, where every step forward is accompanied by a hundred steps backward? do you think it’s just a psychological trick that our minds play on us? like the more you succeed, the more brutally aware you become of the uphill battle ahead? I even signed up for a few forums and groups, thinking I’d find solidarity or a little inspiration, but honestly, it seems like it’s just an echo chamber of complaints and failed projects; sure, there are success stories sprinkled in there, but a lot feel like gimmicks, you know? how do some people garner millions in funding while I’m just out here sweating over a simple AI-driven user interface? am I just a fool chasing after shadows, or can I actually turn this around?! sometimes I think I should just toss in the towel and get a 'real' job that pays the bills instead of this stressful rollercoaster ride of tech dreams and failures. it’s exhausting living on this edge of hope and despair every single day while I try to create something out of nothing. so what do I do? do I listen to my girlfriend and consider this a lost cause or do I forge ahead blindly into the chaos of the unknown, clinging to this idea that if I push hard enough, maybe, just maybe, I’ll find something worthwhile on the other side of all this mess?

I hate my life so fucking much.

For the last 4 months I have been feeling so depressed, numb and alone and every night I sittl in my bed thinking to myself what has my life come to and I in the last 3-4 months I have had at least 2 mental breakdown a week ( that isn't me trying to flex in any way ) and cryed multiple times some times to the point I can't breathe or I fall asleep. This has oveousley been since I started college last September and my mental health just went down hill as I wasn't and still am not going the right support at college for my mental health and just over all my other needs That are clearly stated in my EHCP . The only thing I actually asked for and got was a laptop which I have load till June and the only sort of help I get is on a Thursday and Friday form an member of staff . when I should have someone on a Wednesday which again I did. But sadly it only lasted till the October half term as they gave that person to someone else and lefft me with no one and the worst thing about this hole situation is the or staff members of the support system at the college have been lieing to the support person I have on a Thursday and Friday by saying that I have had help in my lesson when that particular starf members wasn't with me and that is all day every Wednesday. I know it's not there fault or mine but surely they know what students need help. I must admit that every Wednesday when I get home from college I end up helping my mum with jobs then I go up to my room and sit on my phone untill it's time for dinner then I do other jobs around the house then got back up to my room and sit on my phone until it's time for me to go to bed. But I don't full asleep straight away or at all as I'm normally up until about 1-2:00in the morning as I end up having more than one panic attack or a meltdown because I'm so overwhelmed or I will cry myself to sleep..

side note the reason I have an EHCP is because I have Adhd.

and as some of you may know 5days before Christmas I got the devastating news that my nan that live in Weymouth sadly passed away and it didn't hit me hard at first but it sertenly has now and I'm feeling so incredibly numb, depressed and lost. and I just can't amagen how I will get through this year and the coming day as we all find out when her funeral is going to be and how I will cope when I'm at her funeral or when I'm back at college.

I love this guy so much. I love him so much that I wish he would understand that it's torture to be left in the dark about how he feels. We got into a situation where I was honestly being very emotional and hysterical for no good reason. I asked him if he would ever tell me if he had an issue with me or anything that he ever wanted to talk about so that I wouldn't spiral so badly again and he told me that he would never. I was shocked to say the least. It's important for me that there is communication in a relationship and I feel like we have awesome conversations when we are just talking, but we can never sit down and have a conversation about anything important. He internalizes a lot of things and I feel very cautious of what I say around him because he remembers very little comments and brings them up when we fight about anything. I match his energy and I keep things to myself and when I eventually explode and have horrible reactions he either just brushes off my emotions with "ugh men" or he talks about how he could've never known I felt that way and that I should talk instead of keep things to myself, when he is the worst at doing that. He makes me feel like I'm insane or dramatic and he often calls me dramatic, but I don't know if I really am or if I'm normal? We have both had bad experiences with dating in the past, so of course we're gonna have our baggage, but I really want this to work. He recently has talked about moving back to his home state with his mom and how he wants to get a one bedroom apartment and I was afraid that he meant alone and my emotions are clear on my face usually so he saw and he told me that of course he meant with me, but I really feel like I can't trust anything he tells me. He is very good at putting up a facade, it's kind of chilling how he can do that honestly because one day he was talking to an old friend and being very chill and laughing with them and immediately after that he just straight up cut them off entirely. He had reasons why he did that and I understood that he felt uncomfortable with that friend for a long time, but it put a big fear in my heart that I would wake up and he would just be gone one day. How would I even explain that to people? I have been through something similar with an ex that I had in high school where we stopped talking and he broke up with me and blocked me. I feel like this is worse though because I am not even sure if he would TELL me before just straight up blocking me.

I recently got promoted at work, which allowed me to move into a new apartment in a desirable neighborhood. It's the first time I've lived on my own, and I'm genuinely proud of the independence and space I've earned.

However, things took an unexpected turn. My older brother, Thomas, who's always had his share of financial instability, found himself in a bind. He and his wife, notoriously poor with money management, were evicted from their apartment due to soaring rent prices. Now, homeless with their two children, ages 5 and 7, Thomas reached out for help.

Thomas asked if he and his family could crash with me while they sorted out their situation. But here’s the hitch: my apartment is a modest one-bedroom, barely spacious enough for me alone, and certainly not designed for a family of four with young kids. I’ve never dealt with children and the thought of childproofing and constantly monitoring the kids is daunting.

I tried to offer financial assistance instead, suggesting that I could pay for a temporary rental or a hotel stay. Despite this, Thomas and his wife are firm on the idea that staying with family is not only economical but also less stressful for their children.

The pressure from my family didn’t take long to mount. My parents and relatives began labeling me as selfish, accusing me of prioritizing my “fancy apartment” over the well-being of family. They remind me excessively that “Family helps family,” and plead me to consider my young nieces, which does tug at my heartstrings.

Despite the guilt-tripping, I've decided to hold my ground. However, it's left me isolated, with family members expressing their disappointment, making me second-guess if I'm being unreasonable or cold-hearted.

If this scenario were featured on a reality show, imagine the varied reactions from audience members! Viewers might be divided, some sympathizing with my need for personal space and understanding the limitations of my living conditions, while others might vilify me for not opening my home, dramatizing the situation with intense family arguments and emotional appeals from my brother, casting me in a less than flattering light. Reality TV thrives on such conflicts, and my situation could easily be framed to boost drama and engage viewers.

Am I really the bad guy here for wanting to maintain my personal sanctuary and my lifestyle?

i dont get it. like fr why everyone in my family gotta be so mean to me all the time?? i aint even do nothin and still they act like im the worst person in the house. my mom always yellin, my dad dont even look at me half the time, and my brother’s just rude for no reason. i wake up and its already attitude from the second i walk in the kitchen. like, if i ask for something simple like if theres any cereal left, my mom's like “go look yourself” with that tone like she already mad at me for just breathing. why they always act like im the problm?? i swear i try to stay outta the way, i stay in my room most days just chillin or listenin to music but still when i come out its like instant drama.

i be helpin around the house too. i clean my room, i do the dishes even when its not my turn, nd still they find sumthin to complain about. if i put the spoon in the wrong drawer, its like the end of the world or somethin. my dad once told me “you cant do anything right” just cause i forgot to take out the trash one night. like fr?? ONE night. nd he talk to me like i failed at life or sumthin. my brother, don’t even get me started, he be callin me names every chance he gets. annoying, stupid, crybaby... nd my parents don’t say nothing. they just laugh like its funny. well it aint.

sometimes i think maybe i was adopted or somethin, like how else do u explain it? they all so close with each other. laughin at the table, goin out places without me, sharin inside jokes. nd im just... there. invisible. or worse, the target. i tried to ask my mom once, like, why yall always treat me like im the enemy? nd she said “stop makin everything about you.” like, bruh, i only asked cause im tired of feelin like trash in my own house. is that too much?? to want to feel loved in ur own damn family?

school aint much better but at least there, some ppl smile at me. even if they fake, at least they fake nice. at home, i get nothin. no hugs, no “how was ur day,” not even a “good night.” just silence or sarcasm. nd if i say anything back, they say im disrespectful. like sorry for having feelings i guess?? they make me feel like im a burdden. like they’d be better off without me there. nd sometimes, late at night, i start thinkin maybe they're right. maybe i am the problem and dont even kno it. maybe im just broken in some way that makes ppl not wanna be around me.

but then i remember, im just a kid. im only 15. i didnt ask to be here, i didnt choose this family. nd i shouldnt have to beg for basic kindness. im not askin for them to buy me stuff or give me everything i want. i just want respect. some love. someone to say “i see you” instead of makin me feel like a ghost. if i ever become a mom, i swear imma treat my kids like they matter. i wont let them go to bed feelin unloved like i do most nights. i want to break whatever this is, this cycle of meaness that they think is normal.

i dont even kno what to do anymore. talkin dont work, cryin dont help, stayin silent just makes them act like nothin’s wrong. maybe one day i’ll move out and things’ll change. maybe they’ll miss me when im gone. or maybe they wont. maybe they’ll just keep goin like i was never there. all i kno is, i can’t keep holdin all this in forever. it hurts too much. nd im tired of pretendin it dont. so if ur readin this n u ever felt the same way, like ur own family don't even like u... ur not alone. i feel it too. every day. every damn day.

My mother and I we don't have the easiest relationship. I mean the things are great until they are great. We can't seem to agree on anything. Plus she thinks I am naive and will get mistreated everywhere. I think she thinks I am stupid. She judges me for almost anything and everything, like how I talk, who I talk to, what I talk about. She judges the way I conduct myself, why I speak so much when I literally met my friend after 2 years. I don't know how to deal with this. I think I also I have severe mommy issues. I have a voice inside my head, mostly her voice that tells me that I am wrong, that i every step I take is wrong. So yeah that's my story. I want to change this narrative and I want to become a person of my own free of from all prejudices that my mother has set for me. I want to be free. What would you guys do if you would in a situation like this?

I only tagged the story in this category because I wasn't too sure where else I could tag it in. Anyway, this story was when I was in an internship right after finishing my college days, which was already a little while ago.

For context, my mother was supposed to leave for like...5 days I think ? To see some people from our side of the family while I stayed at home with my stepdad. I noticed, while she was away, that life felt a little lighter along with me being an intern with some people that I honestly cherished a bit and had fun working with (though I did wish they'd reached out to me more because I was always the one that did first in the groupchat. Seeing that there was no communication when I wasn't the one that initiated a convo, I eventually dropped it, so there's that 🤷‍♀️). I don't know if I started reading into things a little too much and got a bit paranoid, but she came back home 2 days earlier than planned and I found it a bit weird. I think it's mainly because when she goes to visit our side of the family for 1 month, she usually stays for 1 month before coming back. She also gave me a shoulder bag that one of my aunts told her to gift to me, but since I was already using another shoulder bag that was competely fine and that I was happy with, I didn't use it.

What really got me was, when I was sleeping in my bed next to her that night (because at that time, I still had to sleep next to her in my room while my stepdad slept in theirs or vice versa), I had a dream where I was in my mother's room and having an argument with her about something. I don't remember what exactly, but at some point, she suddenly stopped and fell quiet. That's when she starts smiling at me like she was possessed by something. I was confused as fuck and concerned as hell, so I called out to her and asked her what was wrong. That's when she attacked me and got all close, so I obviously tried to get her off me. I don't remember if I just had a tug of war to get my arm back from her hold or if I was getting sucked in a spiral Junji Ito style, but I quickly told myself that I had to wake up, so I woke up. For some reason, I felt some sort of recoil upon waking up, but maybe that's really just the knee-jerk type of reaction when waking up from a nightmare.

I'm used to vivid dreams, so upon reflection, it doesn't actually scare me, but it does make me wonder what this dream could mean. I have a feeling that at least part of it, if not the entire reason for it to have happened, was because of my paranoia acting up a bit at that time. I still want to make sure to see what else it could potentially mean, so please feel free to tell me what you think. I hope y'all have a good day/night, and I'll see y'all around >3°

I reside in a rather expansive subdivision, home to around 90 households, which has the reputation of being quite affluent. This status naturally transforms our neighborhood into a magnet for trick-or-treaters each Halloween. In the beginning, the sight of 700 to 1000 children parading up and down our streets was charming to me, especially since my children, now teenagers, no longer partake in the festivities. However, the past four years have seen this charming tradition exacerbate into a nightmare. The number of visitors has surged to thousands, including many unsupervised toddlers. It’s not uncommon to see vehicles packed beyond capacity, hay-laden trailers carrying groups of kids, and an unacceptable amount of litter and destruction.

Two years ago, a personal incident sharply turned my tolerance into action. My daughter, in the mayhem, had a fall and ended up with a suspected broken arm. The shear volume of people and parked vehicles made it impossible for us to drive out and seek medical aid. We were trapped until the streets cleared around 1 am, leaving my daughter in agony for hours. That was the last straw for me.

In response, I rallied our community leadership and we managed to implement a controlled entry system at the neighborhood’s entrance. Now, admission on Halloween is restricted to residents and their close associates. Following this change, the atmosphere became more manageable and safer, with the number of trick-or-treaters dropping to about 300 and litter reducing significantly.

My sister, however, was none too pleased when I shared this development with her. Growing up, we had experienced trick-or-treating in various neighborhoods ourselves due to living in a trailer park with few children. She accused me of spoiling Halloween for countless children. Despite her disapproval, I stand by my decision as it addresses crucial safety concerns which could potentially prevent emergency services from accessing our neighborhood in a crisis. Safety, in my opinion, should always come first.

Now, envisioning this situation playing out on a reality show sparks an interesting thought. Reality TV thrives on conflict and dramatic reactions, so how would audiences react to my stance? Would they see it as a reasonable measure for safety, or would they paint me as the villain, ruining Halloween fun for kids? The controversy alone might make good television, but it would undoubtedly amplify the scrutiny and the polarized opinions on my decision.

Am I right to prioritize safety over tradition?