Random Life Stories and Unpredictable Moments

At 16 years old, my son has been facing a tough battle with depression. Following advice from his therapist, he began taking antidepressants, which came with their own set of tough side effects like irritability and a significant drop in his motivation levels. His therapy sessions also emphasized the importance of gentle communication; sharp tones and harsh words only lead to negative reactions from him, such as retorts like "Do it yourself" or hurling insults back.

To deal with his depression, he often goes for long walks or hits the gym, finding solace in these physical activities. Despite me attempting to enlighten my husband and his family about our son’s need for patience and empathy during this challenging period, they seem to misinterpret his condition as laziness or outright disrespect, constantly pushing him to “man up.”

During a family event not too long ago, tensions boiled over. Everything seemed under control until his uncle began to criticize him for his subdued demeanor, urging him to "toughen up." Trying to escape the confrontation, my son attempted to walk away, but his uncle pressed on provokingly, remarking, “If I were your father, you wouldn't act like this.” Losing his composure, my son confronted his uncle, claiming to be “a bigger man at 16 than you’ll ever be,” which caused the uncle to step back.

Thankfully, his aunt intervened, supporting us and rebuking her husband for his harsh words. After things cooled down a bit, my son embraced her, clearly thankful for her support, and later sought comfort in my arms as well.

Back at home, when my husband began to critique his behavior calling for more discipline, I stood firm, telling him that such an approach would only make things worse right now. His uncle too received a stern warning from me to never demean our son again. Realizing the evening was becoming too stressful for my son, I decided it was time for us to leave, allowing him the space to relax and watch a movie in the comfort of our home. Eventually, my husband returned and although he was visibly upset, he didn’t push further.

Imagining this scenario unfolding in a reality TV show, one can almost picture the drama escalating dramatically. Cameras would zoom in on the heated exchanges, possibly amplifying the tension, and undoubtedly the audience's reactions would vary. Some might sympathize with my son and our approach to handling his mental health struggles, while others might side with my husband and his family, arguing that a stricter demeanor is necessary.

How should I manage the situation? What do you think?

Entertaining family and friends has always been a passion of mine, especially for festive occasions and birthdays. I am generally the mastermind behind the lavish Christmas gatherings and often the host for various birthdays at my place. I put a lot of effort into crafting a delectable menu, cooking everything from scratch, and ensuring the space is beautifully decorated. Since embracing the role of host a few years back, I added touches like Secret Santa for Christmas and sometimes organize games or karaoke depending on the event.

Prior to this change, our family gatherings were quite modest—just a simple meal that might include a barbecue, ordering pizzas, or enjoying traditional dishes and a store-bought cake for dessert. These gatherings were very straightforward: come over, eat, and then head home. There wasn't anything particularly wrong with that but having a deep affection for Christmas, about four years ago, I volunteered to host and decided to elevate the entire experience. Everyone was impressed and they showered me with compliments. Over time, my culinary and event planning skills have significantly improved, and I take great pride in the lively and memorable events I create. Soon, my relatives began to request that I host their birthday parties as their gift, which I gladly embraced. It’s worth noting that my immediate family includes around 9 or 10 people, making these gatherings manageable and not overly costly.

Now for the recent problem. During the latest events, such as the previous Christmas, and the birthdays of my mom, uncle, aunt, and my husband, I've noticed an unpleasant change in attitude among the guests.

For instance, I sent out detailed invitations indicating that the parties would start at 3:30 pm. However, some family members would arrive at noon, questioning why I wasn’t prepared. At my husband's birthday, they noticed that I was still setting up decorations and complained about the absence of food (despite being informed that it was an early dinner). They implored me to stop decorating and start cooking as they were hungry, which I found quite rude.

Ultimately, everyone started to meddle, eating snacks and rushing me to adjust everything to suit their preference, which ultimately dismantled my original plan for the event. The party did not unfold as envisioned, and after hastily preparing the food, several guests departed immediately after eating, leaving just six of us to continue the evening.

This pattern was repeated at other celebrations: arriving too early, criticizing my readiness, eating, then leaving.

This brings me to a recent conversation with my mom, who inquired about my plans for this year's Christmas. I responded that I wasn't planning anything due to their last display of ingratitude and my decision to step back, which sparked an argument. She accused me of being unable to "take a joke" and advised that I should "learn to accept help and adapt to our family's way."

The conversation was unresolved but left me questioning whether I was reasonable in my feelings. My husband supports me, but I'm curious about impartial perspectives...

Imagine if my situation were part of a reality show—how dramatic and revealing that episode could be! The cameras capturing every early guest, every complaint, and my frustrated attempts to meet unforeseen demands. It could really offer a unique perspective on boundary setting and familial relationships in high-pressure situations.

Are my expectations for family gatherings unreasonable?

So I met this Muslim girl online we were the same age practically and split by a month(13f) and 14f),

So she’s Muslim and I’m Christian (both girls). So we were talking for a while.. started to get closer and yk.. saying we loved each other and pet names. And honestly I loved her and I still do..?

Turns out she has a bf. But what we were doing wasn’t really dating? Dating without the label. So we acted like a couple and wanted to be one but we couldn’t. She was Muslim and a girl. And I was Christian and a girl. It was a SIN. So we just kept it “casual” even though we’ve been intim*te before. So after she told me she had a bf i obviously got jealous over time? She was my friend. I knew her better than him. I knew when she was unhappy, happy, depressed, bored, sad, angry, etc. and she chose to keep us both. So I was getting annoyed, I’m not your girlfriend but we act like it? That doesn’t make sense. But this damned religion is keeping her away from me.

So after a couple weeks she soon was acting different? She has a new boyfriend and still with me. She’s acting… weirder? Like s*xual and inappropriate, but with another person(not me or her bf) so obviously I’m annoyed??? So I start slowly cutting her off and hinting to her I don’t like this. So she listens and stops for a bit before randomly spiraling. This isn’t the first time this has happened. She’s thr*atening me to k*ll herself? So first of all. I’m freaked out and panicking to help her and convince her not to and she’s having flipped emotions. ||||||| after i calmed her down she soon starts flirting with me so i tell her to stop or she’ll regret it later(religion.)

So later on she starts acting s*xual to other people again so this time i cut her off. Because I’ve told her not to CLEARLY and it’s making me jealous. And honestly it was emotionally exhausting, but I still really liked her?

So it really ended suddenly and I hope she’s okay? But I’d honestly talk to her again. And I ended up friends with her boyfriend lol!! (ONLY FRIENDS.) and he’s nice! He’s got a new girlfriend with my other friend!! (It’s a whole gc with 10 ppl)

Recently, my partner and I celebrated a huge milestone by bringing our newborn son, Noah Alexander, into the world. The journey to deciding on his name wasn't straightforward, but we immediately fell in love with the name Noah after considering various options on the day he was born. Just 24 hours after his arrival, we were thrilled to introduce him to our family members, including my partner's sister, Sara, who has two sons (Ethan and Oliver) with her husband, Chris. Chris also shares a daughter from a previous relationship.

During the introduction, Sara was among the first to learn our son's name. Her reaction, however, caught us off guard when she expressed, "I've always adored the name Noah, but Chris wouldn't let me use it for Ethan because his ex already named their son Noah. Could you possibly think about using his middle name, Alexander, as his first name instead? It really does sound lovely!" Firm in our choice, I reassured her that, while I understood her situation, we had decided on Noah and would be sticking to it.

I presumed that would be the end of the discussion, but to my surprise, the topic resurfaced when Sara visited us at home a week later. I pointed out that it shouldn't have deterred her from using the name she loved, especially since the two boys wouldn't likely cross paths. They don’t attend the same school, share the same last name, or have any direct link except through their shared half-sister. I even mentioned that using the name in the future still might be possible—it’s a common name in our culture, which traditionally strengthens the bond among children sharing it.

It's important to note that Sara and I had never spoken about baby names before, nor did we have any agreements concerning them. The only complicating factor seems to be Chris's challenging co-parenting dynamics with his ex, which understandably impacts Sara. Although Sara and I maintain a good relationship, she typically avoids discussing matters involving Chris’s ex, so my understanding in this matter is quite limited. Should I feel like I've overstepped here?

Imagine if all of this drama unfolded not just in our personal lives, but on a reality show. The intensity of the situation could definitely escalate with cameras rolling, capturing every expression and reaction. How would the audience perceive my insistence on the name? Would they side with Sara due to the sensitivity of her situation, or applaud our firmness in keeping the name we loved? Reality TV thrives on such personal conflicts, magnifying every detail and potentially swaying public opinion either way.

Omg I don’t even know what to do. Like, I feel so freaking guilty but at the same time I don’t even know if I should tell him. My bf doesn’t know… and maybe it’s better that way? I swear I never meant for this to happen. I love him, like for real love him. But it was just one night, and it didn’t even mean anything. It was so stupid. We had this fight, nothing crazy but I was mad, and he was being all distant so I went out with my friends. And then there was this guy… I didn’t even like him like that, but we were drinking and talking and idk, it just happened. One second we were just laughing and then the next… I don’t even wanna say it. I keep telling myself it was just a mistake, just a dumb moment that don’t matter, but every time I see my bf I feel like the worst person alive.

I don’t even know what I’m supposed to do. If I tell him, it’s gonna ruin everything. He’s not the kind of guy who just forgives something like this. He’s gonna hate me. And I don’t blame him. I hate me too. But if I don’t tell him, then what? I just pretend like nothing happened? Every time he tells me he loves me I feel like he wouldn’t if he really knew me. And what if someone else tells him? Like what if one of my friends lets it slip or something?? Omg I would die. I keep thinking maybe I should just tell him first, but then I think about the look on his face and I just… can’t.

I keep going back and forth. Sometimes I think, ok, it was just a mistake, I love him, we can move past it. But then sometimes I feel like I don’t even deserve him anymore. Like, maybe I should just break up with him before he finds out, maybe that would be easier. But I don’t want to lose him. I just wish I could go back to that night and undo everything. But I can’t. And now I have to live with it, whether he knows or not.

This is more like a health question/vent. This is more on the sickness bit and not my age. Anyways, I suffer eczema and have cat allergies that came recently at 13. I had eczema since I was 2, and it has been bumming me out more at 13. The reason is because I always see folks like models with such glossy and pretty skin, with no acne, and while cutting cashew nuts did get rid of my acne (which is good). This is stuff like, where, I feel bad that I have eczema. I now hate even more how my skin flakes, how it makes me feel old, how it makes my lips look whitish pink than the regular lip pink, and how much it looks bad and spooks my dad even when he's seen it for years, and it sucks. I'm 13, and I know insecurity is what I should be feeling at this age about my appearance, but I just wish I was better than this since most girls in my class have clear skin.

And then I got a random cat allergy when I was in Malaysia when I rubbed a chubby cat, and then I rubbed my eye and it swelled so much. And then at my relative's house the same happened but not as bad. Now I fear I may get asthma because eczema, allergies and asthma are all part of the atopic triad. My maternal grandma has it, she's 64, and somehow I don't see her much with an inhaler and she's more chill with cats but her leg skin is dry af. I fear dermatologists because my paternal grandpa was both a dermatologist and anesthesiologist back in the 70s, and the pressures made him so rude and angry to patients, his family, senior doctors, and his own siblings too.

And I'm scared if I will get judged for my skin, for how gross and flaky and ugly it is. By the doctors. And I'm afraid if I'll never live like a regular human again if I ever get diagnosed with asthma.

I sometimes just wanna desperately eat all the sweet, sugary junk food I can if I ever will, just because if at least I die from asthma, at least it's sugary and sweet, like a cute filter with bears and puppies.

I feel I can never own a fluffy animal like a cat because of allergies and no cat is truly hypoallergenic, and lizards, frogs, fishes and snakes feel so emotionally distant they'll only see me as their food giver and not their parent who wants to love them but can't because they lack that emotional bit

Just, anyone with asthma or eczema wanna tell me what dermatologist visits are like (last time I went I was 2 and I can't remember), how you guys manage, what it was like when you got diagnosed, and I just wanna know if you can ever own a fluffy animal like a cat without wheezing or swelling.

I recently returned from church feeling a tad perplexed. I have quite small eyes, which I'm somewhat self-conscious about and are normally hidden behind my glasses. During a moment in the service where the pastor was praying over the congregation, I opted to remove my spectacles to prevent them from slipping off. I suppose he noticed my small eyes because, after the service, he approached me, commenting on their size and requesting to see them without my glasses. I brushed off his request with a laugh and a playful 'no', mainly because of my insecurities.

I didn't think much of the interaction at the time, but upon returning home, my mother criticized my reaction. She suggested that I should have just complied with his request, and labelled my response as rude. She even insinuated that my behavior was like that of a teenage girl harboring a crush on the pastor, who is a 40-year-old married man with three children and a wife. I was just trying to shield myself from further discomfort due to my insecurities, and I definitely didn't intend any disrespect.

This whole situation has left me in a quandary. I had no intention of sounding rude; I was merely acting out of insecurity. Now, I’m unsure how to rectify the situation or if I should even address it further with my pastor or mother.

If this scenario played out on a reality show, the reaction would likely be amplified and interpreted in numerous ways by the audience. Reality TV thrives on misunderstandings and personal interactions, turning minor incidents into major plot points. Viewers might side with me, understanding the action as a defense mechanism against insecurity. Others might view it as disrespectful or unnecessarily cold, aligning more with my mother’s perspective. It would be interesting to see how reality show editors would portray the interaction, potentially spotlighting it as a pivotal moment in the episode, complete with suspenseful music and dramatic cutaways to the reactions of other congregants or confessionals that delve into personal feelings and motives behind the actions.

On the 15th day without internet, frustration had reached a boiling point for my partner Rebecca and me. Our connection had been down since two weeks earlier, causing significant disturbances as we both depend heavily on home internet for our jobs. By now, the financial impact was glaring; not only had we lost over $600 in wages, but commuting costs to use wifi at public spaces were adding up too.

Each day, I found myself spending at least an hour on the phone with our ISP's customer service, encountering different representatives every time. Each one offered a unique "solution" or reason for our connectivity woes, but none bore fruit. Promises of urgent technician visits flopped—once, Rebecca even canceled important appointments to stay home for a technician who never arrived. Polite and patient, I thanked each representative, clinging to hope that maybe this time, they'd resolve our issue.

On day 15, the conversation took a sharp turn. Yet another rep assured me, with baseless confidence, that our issues would be resolved by the next day, mentioning another technician would visit. Frustrated and skeptical, I pressed for real assurance. The rep, clearly flustered, insisted there was nothing more to do but wait. Refusing to accept this, a heated exchange ensued, culminating in my insistence on speaking to his manager. After a lengthy discussion, I secured a promise: if our internet wasn't fixed by the next day, our bill would be waived. The next day, miraculously, our service was restored and has been stable since.

Reflecting on the ordeal, I realize despite my frustrations, I might have been too harsh on the phone. Having been a customer service rep myself, I understand the emotional toll of the job. Most of the day, you're bombarded with grievances that you have minimal power to rectify immediately, often constrained by company policies. In light of this, I generally strive to treat service workers with kindness and empathy.

Considering how I tackled the situation, I wonder how my actions would have been perceived in a different context. Imagine this scenario playing out on a reality TV show, where every emotion and reaction is magnified to entertain an audience. Would viewers cheer for my persistence, or criticize me for my aggressiveness? Reality shows thrive on conflict and resolution—they might portray me as a hero standing up against poor service, or as a villain losing his cool. It's intriguing yet unsettling to think how media can twist everyday frustrations into dramatic entertainment.

Would amateurs perceive my actions differently had they been framed by the dramatic lens of reality television?

In a relationship that seems perfect from the outside, it's funny how there can be an undercurrent of secrets just beneath the surface. My boyfriend, Jake, is everything I thought I'd ever wanted: charming, funny, and incredibly attentive. He knows how to make me laugh, how to listen when I need to vent, and he seems to genuinely care about my feelings. But there’s a layer of my life that he knows nothing about, and I question whether I should ever reveal it to him. Have you ever felt trapped by your own secrets, teetering on the edge of wanting to share but terrified of the fallout?

For the past year, I’ve been living with a burden that’s becoming increasingly heavy. Before I met Jake, I had a different life filled with reckless choices and a wild side that is almost entirely hidden from him. When I think about those times, I can't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment. I was carefree but also naïve, often putting myself in precarious situations that could have gone horribly wrong. It was the kind of life that seemed exciting at the time but ultimately lacked substance. As I delve into this side of myself, I realize how juxtaposed it is with the woman I’ve become since being with him. Would he still love me if he discovered what I had done, or would he see me in a completely different light, one that I can’t control?

The catalysts for my decision to hide this side of me were many. My past includes nights out that ended in chaos, relationships that were toxic, and moments where I put myself at risk, all in the name of fun and adventure. But I want to be seen as a responsible adult, someone who has their life on track. I carefully crafted a narrative to present to Jake; one where I’m a woman who’s made some mistakes but has learned from them, rather than a wild child who danced on the edge of danger. I often wonder if I'm betraying his trust by not being transparent about my history. Is holding back information simply an act of self-preservation, or is it a deceitful act in itself?

Moreover, I often find myself questioning the future we might have together. Will this secret haunt me, or at some point, will I feel compelled to share the truth? When we talk about our dreams and plans for the future, I can see us building a life together filled with happiness and love. But will I always carry the fear of him finding out on my shoulders? Would his perspective on ‘us’ change if he knew the entirety of my past? I can't help but to think: how would you respond if you found out your partner had a side they kept hidden? Would you view them through a lens of judgment or understanding, or would it make you question their integrity?

The thing is, I love Jake and appreciate the stability he brings to my life, but the shadows of my past loom over me, whispering that I am not the person he thinks I am. There’s a nagging sense of hypocrisy in presenting myself as someone who’s grown past that old life when parts of me still feel that urge for freedom and recklessness. Still, I choose to remain silent, at least for now. The thought of losing him terrifies me more than my own memories. Yet I am left wondering: is it fair to keep this piece of myself hidden, or is a relationship built on half-truths worth having at all?

I can’t get out of this. It has been almost 2 years since my A levels but it still haunts me. I have achieved A*s after extreme hard work as I was never that great of a student in my childhood so I had to work a lot. However in my A levels I got relatively poor grades especially in Biology, and biology is my strongest subject ( seriously ). Because of those grades I couldn’t even apply to Medical school, which has been my dream since childhood, as it’s a requirement to have an A for the application. It's so bad that the thought of it makes me nauseous.

My mom used to say, "What's the point of receiving the highest grades at school if you score that badly?" My dad called me a third grade student twice ( meaning like an extremely bad student ) and asked which university would ever take me in as I received those grades. My university has two similar courses like A levels and before giving the quizzes or exams I always panic and cry. My family is so tired of hearing me say all of this that it has affected me a lot because I have seen myself get compared with my siblings and friends. I wish I could move on but getting good grades in A levels had been such a long dream of mine that I can’t move on, I feel like such a failure, even now at university whenever I get a good grade or I feel like I know the content I feel like I am deceiving myself as I did so bad. I can’t move on.

So my friend is mad at me because I refused her help. She said I got "mad" when she tried to help me, which I DIDN'T. I just said "I don't need help" and that was it! But now, she's over here, talking shit behind my back! LIKE IF YOU HAVE A FUCKING PROBLEM WITH ME, SAY IT TO MY FUCKING FACE. And someone I THOUGHT was my friend is just taking her side. Ok, maybe I've been a little bitchy lately, but that's because I have things going on in my own life. If you cared to ask how I'm doing once in a while, you'd know! I'm actually about to fight her. She wants me to "grow up"? Yeah. I will.

Okay I am new here... idk how this works..but still I am here.. So rn I wanna say that

why am I even born.. like god why.. do u see anything good me in ? No !

Uk now I'm tired of talking to new ppl online and then saying the same shit.. hi hello where are you from ? age ? and then the whole loop of stories starts again

like every time the same shit..

I'm tired of me and my silly actions.

my future is in great danger bcoz of me..

I'm failing in neet since the last 5 years... I didn't gave the exam this year... so what ? u would have still failed.... cuz uk u had no preparation !

But damn u definitely know that u can do whatever you want in this world... then whytf are u so lazy ????

I really wanna kill myself... get better for ur own sake gurlllll

And this is not it...

Ur mood changes rapidly... like are u a maniac ? or what ?

one sec my playlist sounds so good and dreamy ... and then the other second u become Arijit Singh... like what the hell is going on... why aren't u stable gurlllll ?

U didn't even had any relationship !!!!

then wtf are these mood swings ?

And to make my life more hell...

day before yesterday

I met that British guy online

he's 6'2 niceee

and ur just 5

okay keep going

u like tall ppl

fine

u got one

fine

actually why don't you just marry a pole for the sake of your life ...

My gurlllll u fell for ppl so easily... like soooo easily !

Ik ur lonely , ur sad , u want love... ikkk gurlllll

but please don't fall for anyone...

that guy complimented u so much

even when he looks wayyyy much hotter

and ur just that potato

idk what did he saw in you

maybe he was saying that all just to use you

and ur an easy prey !

last night he tried to sext with you

I didn't wanted to

but he kept saying those words which u wanted to hear so much...

but not so soon

not just in a day

my gurlllll ikkk ur desperate to find ur ideal love but understand that there's nothing like ideal.. but one day u'll definitely meet that one guy.

don't get desperate

ur not that girl

uk it

u have kept ur sanity safe till so many days for someone special

ik ur alone.. depressed.. in anxiety.. ur young 21 yr girl.. ik ur hormones.. ik ur feelings

but bcoz of these stupid hormones which just get turned on unnecessarily seeing a hot guy..

U CAN'T DESTROY URSELF !

focus on ur career .. on ur studies.. on ur parents.. on urself

u'll achieve everything ik

just stop doing stupid things to find love.. I beg u

Umm so today and the day before yesterday i had dreams with something in common with them i had panic attacks out of nowhere in my dream i struggle to breath for 20 to 30 sec and then when i calmed down everyone in that dream looked worried like in the 1st dream my friends which i don't like asked me to show them my diary and my bestie too but then i didn't wanna show it to them and i had a panic attack . In yesterdays dream i was crossing the road and i heard some clicks like someone taking pictures of me then i went to them asked them to show the picture and they weren't taking pics of me i was just in the way and then i had a panic attack like wtf?

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. 😭

I've always been the kind of person who can do well academically, especially when the lecturer is kind to me. but this semester, there's a lecturer who keeps having issues with me. I completed my assignment and everything, but she deducted marks just because I didn’t show her my progress.hat day, I had to go to the hospital for a therapy appointment. when we got our marks today, most of my classmates got 27 or 28 out of 30, while I only got 22. I was so frustrated and I couldn’t hold myself back from hurting myself.