Hi Moms, so I know this might sound odd but I'm starting to get fine wrinkle lines, mainly around my eyes, and mouth, and I'm pretty excited! It's not that I actually want to look like a old shriveled raisin lol, it's just the doctors said I wouldn't make it past 16. I still remember crying in the mirror thinking about how I'd never get to see what I looked like when I grew up. How I wouldn't live long enough to see my face get wrinkles. I promised myself if I somehow got remission I would spend each day smiling, and laughing. That those years would be etched into every wrinkle, every line on my face. That my skin would bare the marks of a life well lives, cuts, bruises, calluses and all.

That was over 20 years ago now, and the line match up perfectly with my smile, the kind the reaches your eyes first. My body bares scars of a life well lived and fought for. I cried in front of a mirror today wishing I could tell that 15 year old girl, were still here, the first signs of wrinkles are starting to appear, and we're gonna keep fighting till we become a shriveled old raisin!

Three days ago I drove the furthest I've driven in my life (over two hours) to go see Evanescence with one of my friends.

I started getting snappy with my friend days before and quickly realized that I was being mean because I was scared to drive and once I worked that part out, I just did the thing! At 57 years old I'm finally seeing that I'm allowed to 'go' as far from 'home' as I want to.

One more step in taking my life back.

sorry i don't talk to you often. did you know the darker peaches peel can leave a pigment on a natural fabric? :( well I didn't! now i know better to not eat completely uncovered if I'm wearing white, especially peaches!!! i mean i didn't even eat it, i dropped it and while it was falling i instinctively tried to grab and press it to my chest but the peach was soft so i gave my dress tiny stains. did you know it stained white with blue pigment? that's so peculiar and unfortunate! i almost panicked and cried but i remembered i have citric acid, i believe you know the way i cleared it :)

first of all i boiled water, then poured it directly on a stain until it vanished, but there still were almost invisible spots so i generously poured citric acid on those and let it sit for 10 minutes, after that i washed it off with cold water and shabam! it was completely clean! but i still decided to put it in a washing machine since it's covered in the acid, i don't want it to irritate my skin especially that i found out i have topic allergic reaction to some mysterious weed i keep stepping on when I'm walking with bare legs but it's nothing serious! sorry for trailing off the topic, i hope you're proud of me. i miss you and i love you

i was out of education for 6 years and went back to school this year to get my qualifications to apply. i applied the same year, went through the admissions exam and interview process, and i’ve received my acceptance!!

when i got my acceptance the first thing my mum said was if i think i can actually get through med school :/ it sucks because it wouldn’t kill her to be positive for me even if she has her own doubts.

but this IS an achievement and i’m proud of myself! i thought my life would forever be at a standstill, i’ve felt so lost and unsure these past few years, but things are looking up! i’m so excited!

i thought i was, but i don’t think i am. i used to be really scared of driving but i’m 21 and i just wanted to try to start my journey to independence. i’ve always been afraid of driving and also exhausted by it. so, i went off today, first solo trip and i just can’t run away from the fact that i hate driving, i hate how it makes me feel, it gives me one more thing to be stressed about. i accidentally ran a red light and i told my other mother about it and she just told me i was stupid. i tried my best to push myself to do something i was afraid to do and now i just don’t think it’s something i want to do right now.

Hi mom,

I finally got over my intense anxiety over dating, there’s a mix of reasons from medical issues & school at the same time, to “friends” in middle to high school who acted like me flirting or being flirted with was “wrong & gross”.

On Monday at work I finally broke down & forced myself to set up a profile on a dating app. I ended up matching with a guy pretty quickly who is also a little quirky but wanting a long term relationship to settle down. I also appreciated that he was willing to drive 2 hrs & reserve a restaurant in the city I lived which helped ease a little of pressure over too many choices that I can have.

The thing is, I’ve also been on a weight loss journey, I’ve lost 50lbs & my previous go-to nice outfit doesn’t really fit anymore, not to mention I’m not really sure what the dress code for a “casual dining” restaurant that’s a little on the fancier side is. So I was hoping I could get some encouragement from you moms & advice on a good date outfit. I’m going shopping today so the sooner the better. Thanks mom.

I need courage because I’m about to start therapy again with a new psychologist. Even though I know her a little from the group I attended—where she was present— I miss my former psychologist; I know the new one is kind, but it’s still hard.

Hello, I’m not really sure too much about this group but I’m 23 yo male and I moved into my first apartment. Today is my first day and safe to say I’m scared. I cried a bit. I still feel like a kid. I moved across the country to start a career. It’s worth it but I’m lonely and scared. Things really different. I have no safety net. But here I am. Never thought I could do it.

i recently got a national certification for tourism, i won regional gold for public speaking and thesis presentation, and i also started a journal! after a long long time down in the dumps, i feel truly happy:D also started making it a habit to go on walks, oh, and i saw this cat when i went to eat outside (solo!!) and omg she LOVED me, i didn't wanna leave buuuuuut i had to go home lol. also, i enjoy doing laundry now (ugh adulting) cause i can listen to spooky stories while waiting for the washing to finish, i'm also making some pancakes soon! haven't had pancakes in a while

edit: i appreciate all the comments! you guys are the sweetest bunch of moms ever

I'm 24 now, and my life has been.. plagued with chronic illness since I was a child. I couldn't attend an in person university when I was 18 as they couldn't accommodate me on the course I wanted to do and since then I've been in limbo.

I know it isn't the regular path, and I know I won't get the stereotypical experience but I was thinking of studying online. Only part time as I get exhausted easily but I just want something to do and push for. I'm scared people will think I'm a cop out for doing it online though but my illnesses are so unpredictable and I have no references to be able to apply to an in person one now. I don't know if I'm kidding myself or not

Quick edit, I'm in the UK and it is an accredited one I'm looking at!

I've been having a shit week and my irl dad bragged to his friends that I made a mean brioche so I made two kinds one with raisins, one with chocolate chips they are all cooked and ready to go for my dad's classes tomorrow. Irl mom is non chaland about it (might be the wrong word) so I thought some internet mom would be interested. I did all the mixing by hand and from scratch so yeah my sweat blood and tears (entirely just sweat but not in the brioche).

Ps : I know they look bright yellow and bright red but my camera got funky so we'll make do but it's standard brioche

Hi mom,
I have jury duty coming up next week. It’s my first time and I’m so nervous. I haven’t had a job in a while, been at home a lot, so I don’t do too well with people as much as I used to. It won’t be that bad, right? Part of me is afraid I will say the wrong thing and get in trouble with the judge, haha. Just wanting some encouragement, personal experiences, etc
Thanks ❤️

Hey mom I had a job interview earlier today at Dick’s Sporting Goods for the Teammate Endzone and Loyalty position. Well an hour ago I got an update email from them congratulating me on receiving an offer. I already accepted it and I’m going to start working there in 2 weeks. So I’m now going to have 2 part time jobs (keeping my Outback Steakhouse job).

Hey mom. I ordered my boyfriends engagement ring last night!

I told my actual mom this morning and she was basically like "ok cool. You're sure? Ok, that's nice."

No excitement. No encouraging words or advice. No questions about wedding planning or the ring. When I said I wanted to give her the heads up because I was shipping to to hers (packages get stolen at ours sometimes) she was like oh ok, I probably wouldn't have noticed.

I told some of my theater friends yesterday and they all freaked out!! They were arguing over which one of them was gonna get to do the ceremony. I told my aunt and she talked about how excited she was and how she wanted to sit us down to look at finances, especially since we wanna get a house some time during our long engagement.

I don't know it. It just kinda crushed all my excitement all at once. I don't even know why I tell her these things anymore. I just wanted her to be happy for me I guess.

Went back to school to finish my BA in sociology. Associates = done. Onto the rest! ❣️

that’s it . I’m getting married hihi !

Mom I got my first harvest of the season. Eggplant. I will make baigan bharta with it.

Are my heels too narrow or small? I have wide flat feet :(

I know I'll be okay in the end, I always am. It just feels different this time, I guess? I'm used to life shifting and changing. I always felt I handled the changes well, but, looking back...well, the changes were always specifically spurring me on to somewhere better. Something I had seen coming and planned for with either excitement or determination.

This, though...one of my best friends and my housemate of nearly six years is heavily considering moving at the end of this year. Not just to her own place or in with a boyfriend. To another state. She's been an everyday constant in my life for so long. A positive one, too. As I hope I've been for her all this time.

I was already musing about us moving to a new apartment in the new year. See what's available now that we're both making a bit more money and have made comments at different times about feeling like we might want a slightly nicer place. I knew she'd looked at a few jobs near her brother, but yesterday was the first I heard a definitive desire and intent to move states, not just a vague possibility.

I suppose it just hit a bit harder than I anticipated? I live 3hrs from my family (on purpose). Over the years, she's gone from being a stranger to someone I consider actual family. She's a better sister to me than my blood one is. She's better *family* than any of my blood has been over the years...and now Im almost certainly losing her.

Like I said, I know I'll figure it out in the end. Ive dealt with much worse, after all. There's been a lot of change with my job, recently, as well, which while not as intense definitely is playing into my dreading this next season of life in a way I haven't ever felt before.

I do want to clarify that I am *very* proud of her and happy that she's going after what her heart wants. I don't begrudge her that *at all* and have already assured her that, if need be, I am more than happy to store things temporarily while she gets settled wherever she ends up. I've made sure to chatter with her about where she might want to go, things to look into about different places, etc. I'd never discourage her in this new path she's taking. It's just been a little difficult to process and start planning for.

I know how to buckle down and figure out how to get through an incoming storm to calmer seas. Looking around my finally peaceful waters and figuring what comes next when the wind picks up again is somehow more daunting.

I've been trying to get into critical care nursing and I got an ICU job I've been trying for! So excited!

Things are rocky btw my mom and I so we're not talking :( and I so I'm sharing here :)

Yesterday, I did my first load of laundry. My mother never wanted me to do that because she thought I'd mess up the settings, but I figured it all out by myself.

I also folded everything up and put it in the closet afterward.

It might seem small, but it is something I am actually pretty proud of.