Hey everyone. I'm sixteen years old and have been living with my legal guardian for five, almost six years now. I believe over the course of this, our relationship has deteriorated substantially, along with her ability to parent me. I'll be organising the most notable facts in a list, for my ease.

1. Just today she forced me to rid objects out of my room, saying that they were "a gateway for demons" to enter the home. Forceful religious ideals have been a constant throughout my time here. Said objects included two transgender flags. I'm holding out with some civil disobedience currently until she forces me to rid of other things. This isn't the first time this has happened. Two years ago, she made us clean out everything she deemed as demonic and proceeded to burn them in our back yard. Harry Potter books, my statuettes and drawings of dragons, D&D themed playing cards, just miscellany she labelled as witchcraft that was influencing and possessing me. Today, though, that trans flag definitely pushed me over the edge. That has been a part of my identity for more than half of the time I've lived with her, and now she decides to make me discard it. It broke my heart to try to defend and fight for the significance it held for me to keep it. In the end the only thing I could do was fold it similar to the way you fold American flags for disposal. At least the poor thing went out just as respectfully as Old Glory should.
   
2. Various levels of education and opportunity limits, along with 'privelage' limits. Recently got onto a track to graduate early, perhaps December of this year. I expressed this goal and trajectory to her, to which she barely even gave me a scoff. She doesn't believe that I can make it, and expressed the idea that I was lying and bullshitting her to waste her time. I just wanted an "I'm proud of you," not insults. I also lead several school organised groups, to which she shut down after one of my mental breakdowns (related to her parenting), saying that I don't deserve that privilege anymore. Mind you, privileges to her are reasonable, but hung over my head in such a way that, instead of being motivational to be better, they only fuel my desire to give up said privelage. Quoting from memory, “Good parenting teaches a child to be better; bad parenting teaches a child how to lie more effectively.” Instead of working to gain my devices back, for example (they've been gone well over three months now, with no sign of her wanting to return them to me despite the fact I had bought both of them with my own earned money), I've resorted to utilising various secretive devices behind her back. I don't feel safe without one on my person whenever I go somewhere, yet she still feels the need to "punish" me for using the WiFi when I shouldn't have, way back in January. She also considers naps a privilege, and I am currently not allowed to sleep unless it is 10pm. I am made to wake up at 7:30am, and when I fail to meet this, she sprays me with vinegar-water like I'm some sort of fucking animal.
   
3. Multiple occasions where she would berate, mock, and insult me for menial things, and compare my work ethic from when I was actively sexually abused to my laid back ethic I have now. I remember vividly all the times she's called me retarded for not waking up on time or keeping secrets from her. I remember vividly the time she's slapped me, especially the time it busted my lip. I remember vividly every single time she's called me a bitch, especially a dumb one. These hurt me every day, and she acts like a half-assed apology will fix those names that I feel like have been engraved into my memory. I identify as transgender, and have made no decisions to physically alter my appearance or body, except cut my hair short on one occasion (she's since banned me from doing so). Every mistake I make is apparently deliberate according to her, and a direct stem from my 'gender confusion'. She also believes I'm schizophrenic for being trans, and unable to care for myself. I am extremely self-sustaining. I have been most of my life because of the fact that early on, I was forced into an adult role. She doesn't see this.
   
4. Sabotaging of relationships. Throughout most, if not all, of the years I have been here, she has put it upon herself to micro-manage my friendships. It used to be understandable. Now, she's actively telling me that I don't deserve to have a best friend and I essentially should lose them because I'm a horrible person. I like to think that I'm not, but due to the frequency of her berating, I'm starting to believe it. Self-esteem has always been an issue for me, and whenever it's especially low, she gets angry.
   
5. This is where we delve into the topic that I've marked this as NSFW for. I've been suicidal in multiple occasions, all of which, instead of actively reassuring or helping me, she said that it was my fault and that I was wasting her time. Again. It's painfully clear that I'm an extreme disappointment to her, especially when compared to her biological sons. I desire to be equally treated as they are, but she's always expressed that it's not possible given my 'delinquency' (for lack of a better term). I've expressed feelings multiple times where I felt like I don't belong here, they would be happier without me, they should put me back into foster care, and that I constantly ruin everything for the family. At the end of that discussion, my legal guardian and her two sons all agreed that I was attention-seeking and lazy, and that I should just change my personality to be easier for them to deal with. I almost attempted the same night, though she still doesn't know about that.
   

There is SO much more I'm leaving out here; considering the post is already getting really long, I think I've made a few main points. I want to know in the replies: am I really experiencing abuse, or am I overreacting like they say I am?

In 2020 I went a physical transformation. At the time I was 20 yrs old trying to work in the film industry, with my high school sweet heart and I was starting to get bored with it and wanted to get back into fitness, change my life and break up with her and focus on my career.
Flash forward a year later
I got in shape discovered my love for the sport of calisthenics and started working as an independent contractor for a small post production company. Thing’s were looking up….sorta
It was hard breaking into the industry as it doesn’t pay well at the time I was still living at home and only ever graduated high school and never attended college.
I was getting some clients here and there outside of freelancing for the post production company and they only ever called me when they had clients which was only once every 4-5 weeks.
Eventually I broke up with my high school sweet heart and I noticed I started to develop anorexia….
I was diagnosed with it and I weighed 115lbs I took my physical transformation too far.
At this point my life as in a crisis, I didn’t who I was anymore. My love for film died along with my love for people. They took noticed at my job and it ducked becuz at this time they hired me on full time making $20/hr. My boss said to me and I quote “stop wasting my fucking time” if you’ve ever had an eating disorder you know how hard it is to function with one especial anorexia nerviosa. I cared more about fixing myself rather than coloring videos for commercials.
Eventually now I got a license in massage therapy and now I’m a massage therapist and I like it but man that time was rough.

Hello everyone, this would be my first official post on this subreddit, and I want to use it to explain how Natsuki Subaru changed me for the better. When I was in middle school things have change so much to me that I couldn't catch up with everyone around me whether grades, friends, or family I felt as I was stuck in a dark loop where I didn't know if I could move on with my life. Things went harder for me when I was in High School when covid had started appearing all over the news and had everything shutdown and we were forced to stay at home and hope this will go over soon. But soon turn to weeks and months and even a year that it made me feel a deeper hole than I could ever be. I didn't know if I even have hope left in me. But that is where he comes into place when I saw trailers for S2 of Re:zero. At first, I wasn't interested with it since I saw Subaru as a good-looking character that is just there to garners some clicks until I saw Mothers Basement Review of Re:zero. And it made me interested in watching it. When I first saw Subaru in action, he was weird, funny, and a bit embarrassing with his character but I know that he means well whenever he wants to save someone. Subaru made me realize more about myself especially when his character was talking to me, whenever he struggles and wants to do with every being of his power to save the people around them because he loves them which not many main characters are transparent with their emotions and wants. I understand with his love, his failure, and his dream where he just wants to be loved with the people he cares about. But above else what truly made me feel as I was a part of him is the dreaded episode where he was begging for Rem to take his hand and take the slothful way out and run from his problems, when she refused claiming that this is not what Subaru would do his mask shattered and we get to witness the ugly truth that has been hidden for so long. His self-hatred had poured liked molten lava as he swore up and down how despicable person he is, how he always makes excuses so that he doesn't have to do his best, and how disgusted that nothing about his existence has changed. When I saw that scene, it made me reflect on my self-hatred and how it feels to be in Subaru position, for a moment I truly felt how hopeless I was, but Natsuki Subaru realized that he cannot stop, he realizes he put too much effort with what he did, and he cannot abandon the people he cares about. But what truly hammers Natsuki Subaru as the greatest character in my eyes is during S2 when he was fighting Garfiel and quote "Whenever you think I want do it! I want to change! Thats where your starting line is". That quote had lit a desire in me that I didn't have in a very long time, fast forward to a couple of years and I am in a much better position than I ever been I graduate high school and doing well in college, granted not every day are great but whenever I feel cornered, I always think what Natsuki Subaru would do, and the answer is always clear, to win for another day. I hope you were all able to finish it to the end and see the gratitude for Subaru and the inspiration he gave me and how I will cheer for him to win his happy ending.

I'm starting research for my undergraduate honors thesis in art history this summer. I'll be writing it in the fall, and revising it next spring before graduating. My research area is Renaissance and Reformation Spain, and I'm discovering more and more than not only are primary sources in Spanish, but a majority of the secondary literature is as well. I'm a native English speaker, and I have some slight proficiency in Spanish (as in, taken several high school classes and one in college, but none were very good) and in German (three good college classes, though its been a while). I really don't want my scholarship to be limited to exclusively what Anglophone research has been done, and I know that for my graduate degrees, I will need to demonstrate multiple language proficiencies anyway. So, I've been trying to figure out how to incorporate more non-English scholarship without being very good at the other language yet. But I need some advice! Here are my questions listed below for ease of reading and answering:

1. Are there any specific resources or tips anyone has for getting access to more scholarship in other languages, particularly Spanish (from Spain, not Latin America)? I've done one paper citing several Spanish articles already, but it was extremely difficult to find them, and many times, they cited sources that I literally could not access-- not even by purchasing a physical book.
   
2. What are things I can do to help with reading/translating sources I do find? I've been using ChatGPT to tediously translate articles page by page, and the translation is pretty good, but its not the most elegant system. I have to store my English-translated copy and cross-reference it. And, of course, this method won't work on anything that isn't digital.
   
3. Similarly, what can I do to get better at my reading comprehension and speed in another language? I don't have room in my schedule to take any more language classes at my university, and even if I did, those classes are geared towards improving your conversation skills. I really just need to be able to skim essays written in other languages and understand key points without having to translate. Eventually, primary source analysis abilities will certainly be needed. Are there any structured ways to learn this? Or, if all I can do is teach myself, what strategies and methods do you recommend?
   
4. And for a bit of an unrelated question, when you write papers citing a language other than English (assuming you are writing in English), how do you handle direct quotations? If you read the article through an AI translation, should you quote in the original language or English? Or both? I always dislike when papers include long excerpts of other languages without a translation, but if you want to include one, can it be your own translation? Or should you only include one if there is an official, published translation of the text?
   
5. For primary sources, is it best to read them in the original language if at all possible? Obviously, reading the original language would get me more access, but I'm wondering what the feeling on translated primary sources is amongst academics.
   

Thanks for taking the time to answer, feel free to address as many or as few of these questions as you'd like, I'm all ears!

Date: 05/16/2024

Reading time: 14 minutes, 2817 words

🪖 Military

Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg unanimously adopts motion expressing support for Armenia

The Chamber of Deputies of Luxembourg unanimously adopted a motion expressing support for Armenia. The motion condemns the forced exodus of more than 100,000 Armenians from Nagorno-Karabakh as a result of Azerbaijan's military operation. It calls for the immediate release of Armenian PoWs by Azerbaijan.

Armenpress, Luxembourg lawmakers urge government to act for implementation of ICJ orders by Azerbaijan

Russia expels U.K. defense attache in tit-for-tat move

Russia has expelled Britain’s defense attache in a tit-for-tat response to the expulsion of one of its own diplomats from London last week. A. T. Coghill must leave the territory of the Russian Federation within a week.

Armenpress

Ruben Vardanyan's detention period was extended for another 5 months

Vardanyan was arrested on September 27, 2023, at the Azerbaijani checkpoint of Hakari Bridge. He was charged with three counts: financing terrorism, creating and participating in armed units and/or groups. Azerbaijan confirms presence of about 23 Armenian prisoners.

CivilNet, Azerbaijan extends Rune Vardanyan’s arrest by 5 months

Training sessions will be held from June 11 to August 30

From June 11 to August 30, training camps of reservists will be held in Armenia. Up to 5,151 citizens will be involved in the training sessions, of which 4,647 are rank-and-file and junior non-commissioned officers. It is planned to provide 45 units of road construction equipment.

CivilNet

🏛️ Politics & Government

An opposition figure was killed in Azerbaijan

Natig Mehdi, a member of the opposition Musavat party of Azerbaijan, was killed in Baku. Mehdi's disappearance was reported by his nephew on May 9, and his death was announced on May 14. His colleague Elsevar Islamov is accused of the murder. Islamov worked as a security guard at a Baku school, and Islamov was the school's deputy financial director.

CivilNet

Zelenskiy visits Kharkiv describing the situation there as “extremely difficult”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy travelled to the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Thursday. He described the battlefield situation in the region as "extremely difficult" but under control. Zelenkiy postponed all his foreign trips on Wednesday as the situation deteriorated. Russia says it has taken control of 12 villages since it launched its attack.

Armenpress

Red Cross visits Armenian captives held in Azerbaijan

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) representatives visited Armenian detainees in Azerbaijan. Among those detainees are representatives of the former military and political leadership of Nagorno-Karabakh. Baku officially confirms capture of 23 Armenians, 17 of whom ended up in Baku after Azerbaijan's military aggression last September.

Armenpress

France accuses Azerbaijan of interference in New Caledonia riots

France accuses Azerbaijan of ‘interference’ in politics of its Pacific territory of New Caledonia, which has seen deadly riots in recent days. Azerbaijan swiftly denies the charge, adding to a growing number of tensions between France and the hydrocarbon-rich Caspian Sea state. The riots were sparked by moves to agree a new voting law that supporters of independence say discriminates against the indigenous Kanak population.

ArmRadio

No new Armenia-Azerbaijan border created, the border existing at time of USSR collapse being reproduced – PM’s Office

No new border is being created between Armenia and Azerbaijan; rather, the existing de jure border at the time of the USSR’s dissolution is being reproduced. The border description is exactly as presented on the 1976 map.

ArmRadio

Armenia border residents dissatisfied with delimitation

Residents Kirants are dissatisfied with the results of the delimitation of the border between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

PanArmenian

Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan receives EU Delegation

Deputy Foreign Minister Paruyr Hovhannisyan received the delegation led by Adrien Kirali, Director of Neighbourhood East and Institution Building of the European Commission. Interlocutors highly appreciated the Joint EU-US-Armenia high-level meeting held on April 5, 2024 in Brussels.

Armenpress, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan meets with EU Trade Commissioner

Armenian, Jordanian Foreign Ministers express concerns over tense situation in the Armenian quarter of Jerusalem

Political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan were held in Yerevan. The parties commended the current high level of political dialogue between Armenia and Jordan. The interlocutors exchanged views on the prospects of developing cooperation between the two countries.

Armenpress

Armenian Foreign Minister, PACE President exchange ideas on regional issues

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met with the President of the PACE Theodoros Rousopoulos in Strasbourg on May 16. The interlocutors exchanged views on the issues related to Armenia’s engagement in the Council of Europe.

Armenpress, Armenia involved in efforts to reopen regional communications: Mirzoyan

Prime Minister Pashinyan meets with World Bank and International Finance Corporation leadership

Nikol Pashinyan received the World Bank's Senior Managing Director Axel van Trotsenburg and International Finance Corporation (IFC) Regional Vice President Alfonso Garcia Mora. The progress of joint projects, as well as the potential for diversifying Armenia's economy, were discussed.

Armenpress

Speakers of the Parliaments of Armenia, Azerbaijan have brief conversation

Alen Simonyan and Sahiba Gafarova had a short conversation in Geneva. The main meeting of the speakers of the parliaments of the two countries is expected to take place in the evening.

Armenpress

Armenian Foreign Minister signs Oviedo Convention in Strasbourg

Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan signed Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine (Oviedo Convention) Armenia is the 37th country to join the Convention.

Armenpress, Armenia signs Council of Europe’s Bioethics Convention

Government approves housing provision program for Nagorno-Karabakh displaced people

The government approved the housing provision program for forcibly displaced persons from Nagorno Karabakh. Minister of Labor and Social Affairs Narek Mkrtchyan presented the relevant project.

Armenpress, The housing problem of Artsakh residents will be solved in 3 stages, 2-5 million drams will be given. the government accepted the plan, Armenian government approves program to support refugees from Nagorno-Karabakh

Armenia to establish Embassy in Cyprus

Armenia will establish an embassy in the Republic of Cyprus, the residence in Nicosia. The project was included in the package of non-reportable issues at the May 16 session of the government. The justification for the project states that the two countries accept each other as traditionally friendly countries.

Armenpress, Armenia will have an embassy in Cyprus, Armenia to open embassy in Cyprus, Armenia will open an embassy in Cyprus, Armenia to open Embassy in Cyprus

Legal basis for border delimitation with Azerbaijan relies on the last maps of the USSR- Pashinyan

Pashinyan: It was fundamental for Armenia not to create new borders, but to reproduce the borders previously confirmed by the Alma-Ata Declaration. The last maps of the Soviet Union, de jure having legal significance, he said.

Armenpress, In the issue of border demarcation, Armenia has adopted the principle of "the border passes where it passes". Pashinyan, The border demarcation commissions of Armenia and Azerbaijan signed a protocol, Pashinyan on Armenia-Azerbaijan border delimitation agreement: ‘I think it’s major success’, Pashinyan commented on the agreement reached with Azerbaijan on the issue of border demarcation in Tavush

Armen Grigoryan and Bogdan Klich discussed regional and extra-regional developments

Secretary of the Security Council of the Republic of Armenia Armen Grigoryan received the Chairman of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the Senate of Poland Bogdan Klich. The parties discussed the Armenia-Poland bilateral agenda. Ideas were exchanged on the possibilities of expanding cooperation in various fields, particularly focusing on promoting trade and economic relations.

Armenpress

World leaders should steer clear of Baku climate conference unless political prisoners are released

Hrair Balian: World leaders who stand for a rules-based international order must decline participation in the 2024 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku unless 23 Armenian political prisoners jailed illegally in Azerbaijan are released. Balian says Azerbaijan is one of the most corrupt despotisms on the planet. Azerbaijan wants to turn the COP29 into a “Cop of peace”, urging countries participating in the summit to observe a ‘Cop truce”

CivilNet

State revenue committee chairman meets with WBcolleagues

Chairman of the State Revenue Committee Rustam Badasyan met with his colleagues from the World Bank. The meeting discussed the progress of programs implemented with the assistance of the Bank. An agreement was reached on possible areas for further cooperation.

Armenpress

Slovakia's prime minister not in life-threatening condition – deputy PM

Slovak PM Robert Fico is no longer in a life-threatening condition after being shot several times, deputy prime minister says. Fico's surgery had gone "well" and he was "not in a [life-threatening situation] at this moment", deputy PM Tomas Taraba says. Earlier the defence minister said the prime minister was "fighting for his life" after being gravely injured in an attack.

Armenpress, Slovakia PM Robert Fico no longer in life-threatening condition – deputy PM

Healthcare Ministry to receive additional 3 billion AMD to cover government-paid services

The Armenian government has decided to provide the country’s Healthcare Ministry with an additional amount of 3 billion drams to cover government-paid medical services for citizens. Half of this money will be spent on aid to low-income families, 400 million on emergency aid, 500 million on hemodialysis, 300 million on cancer treatment, 200 million on transplantation, and 100 million on treating infectious diseases.

ArkaAm

Yerevan Mayor visits Missak Manouchian’s tomb at French Pantheon

The official delegation led by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan visited the French Pantheon, where the remains of French national hero Misak Manouchian and his wife Meline are buried. The ceremony took place on February 21, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the execution of the executed soldiers.

ArmRadio

💵 Economy

EEU membership is beneficial for Armenia- Pankin

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Alexander Pankin said participation in the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) is beneficial for Armenia. He said the growth of the Armenian economy and its involvement in the flows of commodity production cooperation is statistically confirmed by various indicators.

Armenpress

Granting market status to Armenia's economy discussed in USA

Armenian Economy Minister Gevorg Papoyan met with U.S. officials in Washington. Focus was on Armenia-US bilateral trade and granting Armenia the status of a market economy. In January-March 2024, the Armenian-American trade turnover amounted to more than $108.9 million (37.4% decrease compared to the first quarter of last year)

ArkaAm

''Learn & Work: YSU Expo- 2024'' launched at Yerevan State University

"Learn & Work: YSU Expo- 2024" has gathered applicants, students, graduates, university divisions, and employers under one roof. The Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine CJSC has joined the Expo with great pleasure. The mining industry is one of the most important branches of Armenia's economy.

Armenpress

Byblos Bank Armenia celebrates Students' Day with scholarship recipients

Yerevan State University students who received scholarships from Byblos Bank Armenia gathered to meet with the Bank's CEO, Hayk Stepanyan. The Bank and the university have a history of successful collaboration. 10 YSU students were granted nominal scholarships of AMD 1 million each, while five others received tuition reimbursement.

ArkaAm, Byblos Bank Armenia celebrates Students' Day with scholarship recipients

EBRD and EU boost funding for Armenian firms via Inecobank

The EBRD is providing a US$ 7 million loan to Inecobank for on-lending to Armenian firms. The EU is complementing this support with grant incentives of up to 15 per cent and free local and international consultancy services. At least 70 per cent of loans provided to Ineco Bank will be allocated towards funding investments in green technologies.

ArkaAm, EBRDis providingUS$ 10 million financial package to ArmSwissBank for on-lending to Armenian MSMEs, EBRD plans to invest up to 500 million euros in Armenia in 2024

EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso re-elected for a second term during annual meeting in Yerevan

Odile Renaud-Basso re-elected for a second term as the bank's president. The EBRD is the leading institutional investor in Armenia. The bank has invested more than €2.1 billion in 211 projects in the country’s financial, corporate, infrastructure and energy sectors.

ArkaAm, EBRD Governors re-elect President Odile Renaud-Basso for a second term

Ardshinbank hostspanel discussion on economic and trade sanctions as part of 33rd EBRD Business Forum

Ardshinbank organized a panel discussion on economic and trade sanctions. The main objective of the discussion was to exchange views and assist participants in the practical implementation of sanctions compliance. The meeting also discussed the role of financial institutions in ensuring sanctions compliance, mechanisms for collaboration between the public and private sectors in combating sanctions evasion, and the importance of information transparency.

ArkaAm, Ardshinbank held a panel discussion on economic and trade sanctions within the framework of the 33rd EBRD conference (PHOTO)

Armenian customs find amphetamine in package from US, suspect detained

90 pills of amphetamine found in package sent from U.S. to Yerevan Zvartnots Airport. The package was sent via Globbing Shipping forwarder company. The drug, fully banned in Armenia, was found inside the package alongside edibles and personal items.

ArkaAm, SRC found 90 amphetamine tablets in a shipment sent from the USA to Yerevan (VIDEO)

Donations to Armenia:

Himnadram
ServicemenFund
Armenian Wounded Heroes
ArmeniaFund

I've gotten super into the band recently and finally listened to everything up to libad. What lyrics would make a good quote for a graduation cap because soon I'm graduating in a week and was thinking a quote and a deathbat would be perfect

On today’s episode of Catholic Shenanigans I introduce you to Harrison Butkiss (whoops did I say that?) when he’s not slipping and falling on the football field he’s giving half ass commencement speeches at various colleges. His most recent one has resulted in a massive scandal. Before we delve into this sordid tale let me introduce you to some of his hobbies. Crushing his wife’s career and having children… Btw his wife is an extremely accomplished woman who holds a degree in computer science and Spanish.
Let’s go back to the speech in it he hits the trifecta of Catholic talking points, he manages to be anti LGBTQ, rail against IVF and tells women their lives don’t begin until they have babies. (Hold on I thought life began at conception…it’s not to late for an abortion for me!!)
The part that irritates me the most is when he says “embrace your roles as homemakers” directing this comment at women. It’s so inappropriate to say at a college graduation. What’s worse is his mother holds a masters degree and works in oncology at Emory University. He’s crapping on all accomplished women an boiling all of us down to our reproductive abilities and domestic use.
If we look at his instagram we can see he has virtually no pictures of his family or wife and the entire page is made up of pictures of him in carefully manicured suits with bible verses in the caption. Unlike most NFL stars who take time to appreciate their partners Butkiss does not even acknowledge the existence of Isabelle his most accomplished wife.
The only time he speaks about his wife is when he’s praising her for embracing her role as a baby machine and human laundry mat. In the next breath he attempts to be cleaver and works in a Taylor Swift quote while referring to yet another accomplished woman as “my teammates girlfriend” and smirks while doing it. Nothing illustrates the distain that he holds for women like this quote. Almost as if to say Taylor would be no one without Travis and she is defined by her relationship.
It’s good that this kind of rhetoric is making it to the mainstream. I want everyone to see what theses so called “traditional Catholics” are about..rewinding time to a day when women couldn’t buy houses, hold property or open a line of credit….

I am a graduating senior at my highschool in the DFW area. In the past few years I have gotten really in depth in how our Broadcasting studio, Stadium camera set up among many other things. I know more than any of my teachers on the in-depth technical side of it. This past year I taught one of the new teachers the stadium. (We have 2 stadiums and 4 High schools, each school runs their own football video crew at their respective shared stadium.) This upcoming year half of the teachers left and new ones will need to be trained on stadium operations. My teacher has proposed to higher ups in the district of hiring me back to get both stadiums to the same set up (they all have same gear but some things are broken at each) and to teach the new teachers on operation of the stadium.
I have no idea if what a good rate would be to charge. In my mind I would charge a flat rate to go through both stadiums to test all the equipment, show files, and confirm that everything works. Use that as a time to get both to be exactly the same even to the labels on things so troubleshooting would be easy. I would note down what is broken or needs to be fixed and provide a quote for the replacement or fix of that. For the teaching I think I would either charge flat rate or hourly for the teaching of the stadium operation. If I was to be “on call” per say during games and operation I would charge a lower hourly rate for being “on call” then if I got a call would charge a higher hourly rate. If I had to make a trip out there to fix or service something than that would be a quote or hourly.
This is just what I thought I should do. I have no idea what I should charge per hour or for anything. I know if they approve of the plan I would need to become a district approved vendor and work as a contractor not employee. What type of company should I make? A llc? Will I need insurance and what else do I need to think of. Whst do I include on the contract and how to make one. What do I do to keep personal and business expenses separate or anything else I am missing.
Thank you for any advice or tips.

Your absense has gone through me Like thread through a needle. Everything I do is stitched with its color. W. S. Merwin
Here is a quote that explains my deep sorrow, while simultaneously reminding me of the melancholic beauty of losing a parent. I hold pieces of him and I will continue to share him with the people I encounter throughout my life, whether that be through telling his story or just sharing a smile with a stranger.
I have just graduated college. I went through 3 years of losing him while in school, yet didn’t even come to terms with it until a month before he was going to pass. Good fortune to all of those who understand the pain. Quite often I feel alone, especially while I silently cried on graduation day…the day that was supposed to be one of the best days of my life. May us all continue to spread the joy and love of our parents in our own lives, even the parents that hurt us were once joyous children once.

hello I’m graduating next month, so I was thinking of using “You can do what you want to, there’s no one to stop you.” as my yearbook quote, but I’m not sure if there’s other ones that are great for a yearbook quote like this one is since his songs are really sad

I've been quite active on this subreddit for a while now, so I come with yet another question.
I wish to be an English teacher in the future, so, obviously for my Bachelor I wish to make the right choice, but I am extremely undecided between two, very good in my opinion, options!
First option would be to pursue an HBO Bachelor in International Education with a specialization in English, which would give me the opportunity to have up to 11 weeks of practice in International schools and to master the knows-and-how's of TEFL. The programme says that it teaches students to, and I quote:

In your first year, year 1, you explore what it means to assume the role of a teacher in international education. You become aware of your own cultural identity and acquire intercultural skills. You encounter the social aspects of learning and teaching in a global context through the course units of Exploring the world of international education, Citizenship and Educational Studies. In the DBE lab, you'll work on creating a lesson using the design cycle, collaborating with students from different specializations.

For the former years it still teaches you things along the lines of this + A LOT of practice. Thing is, this Bachelor does not instantly offer you a Dutch Teaching Permit, rather it gives you a Teaching Permit for International Schools. They say I can do the pedagogy module while doing my Bachelor, but would that allow me to teach English in Dutch Public schools? Besides that, I don't know whether I could potentially go to a WO master after pursuing this HBO bachelor, any thoughts on this subject?
Second option, the usual one, would be for me to pursue a WO Bachelor of European Languages and Culture (Specialization in English + Another language if possible), do the pedagogy curriculum and then pursue a Master's programme in a more in-depth subject.
Which would be a better option and which do you guys think would be more beneficial to me? I'd like to study up to a PhD, is that even possible for HBO graduates?
​

Hey guys,
I need some advice on purchasing insurance on new Model Y long range AWD. I have quotes ranging from 3600-4200 dollars for 6 months. I am 24, recent graduate. I wouldn’t want to pay premiums more than my monthly car payments. I am wondering is it me or is it something with tesla.
Thanks

Hello fellow potatoes! And to the potato queen herself, girl, you're amazing!!! I just found your channel a few months ago, but I'm a huge fan. I don't have a lot of time for videos, but when I do get to watch, I watch yours.
Have I got a boomemil story for you! Let's go on an adventure...warning...I tell stories with rabbit holes and tangents. This is probably gonna be too long. I'm sorry!!!
So, the characters are me (40f), boomer MIL (64f BM for short, like bowel movement bc she's caca), my oldest son, (17m), and my church "mom" (65f CM for short).
A little background: BM thinks she's an awesome mom and grandma even though she's not. She uses my kids as facebook props to show off how "wonderful" she is. The only reason she was around my kids so often was because we went to the same church. She lived 10 minutes down the road from us, but could never be bothered to come over or have anything to do with any of us is if we didn't initiate. She has always said that if we ever try to threaten to keep our kids away from her, like if we were having a disagreement, that she would not fight to see them. We've never threatened to keep our kids from her, she just wanted us to know that she didn't give a sh!t to see her gandkids. So, that tells you right there, that she's a grandma when it's convenient for her.
She's of the boomer mentality that mental health issues are made up and aren't real. "You have nothing to be depressed about." "Just snap out if it." "Just be happy." You get the point. I struggle with depression, I always have. She doesn't understand or even try to understand and is the least empathetic person I've ever met.
When I get overwhelmed, I get depressed, and I start shutting down. My plate is overflowing right now. Between the end of the school year and the possibility of us moving states, I've been overwhelmed. My oldest is a senior and the last month of senior year is crazy busy. I have another child (11m) in public school and this is his last year of elementary school, so this has been an extremely busy month for him. I have 3 more kids that do online public school/homeschool. So, they're home all day with online classes, but since they're a public school, they have mandatory state testing just like regular public school. I have had to take them to do state testing on 4 different days overyhe last few weeks and the meeting place was 45 minutes from home, at a conference room in a mall. I also babysit 3 kids (1m, 4m, 4f), so hanging out for 4 to 5 hours a day on 4 different days with a shitload of kids at the f#cking mall was not easy. Not to mention the positions and "jobs" that I hold at church. To say I'm busy is an understatement.
We've been planning on moving for the last few months because a position at my husband's work is coming open near where he grew up, which is in another state. His parents recently moved back to their hometown after my FIL retired, so one reason for the move would be to be closer to them. They are getting older, so I would be taking care of them once they needed it, so moving closer seemed like a great option. Also, it's a lower COL area than we live in now. Currently we live in the metro area of a capital city and we would be moving to a middle of nowhere po'dunk town.
Told you, rabbit holes, thanks for still being with me!!!
And this is just the straw that broke the camel's back, this is not the only reason for my decision.
So, to the actual story...
Last week, I got a mother's day card in the mail from BM. She's a dollar tree card fanatic. It was a very typical card that she sends me. Nothing handwritten except for "love, grandma and grandpa." This is what she writes in all my cards. (Another tangent...last year my mom passed a month before mother's day and that actual mother's day was her and my dad's anniversary. And I had a super complicated relationship with my momster. So, it was an exceptionally hard day for me. The card she got me said "Daughter" in huge letters on the front. I thought it was so incredibly passive aggressive and completely inappropriate for that year. If it would've been any other year, it would've been fine. Also, she never gets me cards that just say "daughter" so, to me, it was a low blow.) (Yet another tangent...she does passive aggressive crap all the time, for instance when she used to do fb birthday posts, she would always ask me to send her a pic to post. I'm picky about what pics are used and she knows that. Last year, I sent her a great pic of me and her son to use. So, she used one from about 12 years ago that looked like absolute poop. It was a surprise pic, so like not even posed, stupid look on my face. No matter what pic I send, and usually send like 3, she uses a completely different one that doesn't even look good.) I got the card last Tuesday. Hubby happened to be talking to her while driving home from work that day, so when he got home, I thanked her for the card and just wanted to give her a heads up that I hadn't gotten a chance to mail hers yet because of everything I had going on. I kinda broke down and was sharing how I felt and she basically just said, "suck it up, it'll be fine." She's always been dismissive of my feelings, always.
So, my CM is the sweetest lady you'll ever meet. She listens to me, lets me share my feelings without being dismissive, and actually shows she cares. I see her twice weekly at church, and text with her during the week. Since BM has moved 8 moths ago, she has called or texted "just to talk or check in on us" less than a handful of times. She only calls/texts when she needs something or on a special occasion. She called my husband to ask about something, not just to talk. I understand now why the oldest grandson, my nephew, didn't even bother to invite her to his and his girlfriend's baby shower where he proposed. She thinks she's an amazing grandma bc she sends birthday money in a card and posts their pics on Facebook. And, she even stopped posting the kids birthday messages on fb bc she said it was "too much trouble." So, she just sticks to her 30 daily inspirational Bible quotes posts. She's the type that was so pissed off that both of her kids went with courthouse marriages instead of going into debt for a wedding because she didn't get to walk down the aisle at her kids' weddings and post pics on fb. She's mentioned this several times, but definitely wasn't even willing to spend a dime towards a wedding that no one wanted except her. She was also unwilling to take a day off work to go to the courthouse with us. With both of her kids' marriages, the kids and partners were together for a while and had kids before getting married, so spending tons of money on a huge wedding for either of us couples wouldn't have been the best way to spend money.
On mother's day, I gave my CM a card with a few lines written in it about how amazing she is and how I'm so grateful for her. I'm way closer to her than BM. CM is my chosen family and to me, your chosen family is the one that means more because you chose them, you didn't just get stuck with them. My blood family is incredibly toxic, so I stick with my chosen family. CM made a fb post with all that she got for mother's day. It was gifts and cards from her own children, and of course my card as well. CM & BM are fb friends, so of course BM saw it. Also, BM has everyone convinced she's this sweet, little old church lady, but she is far from it.
So, this Tuesday she got her cards in the mail. I always give her one from hubby and myself, and a separate one from our boys. I wrote a nice little note in it. Not long, a line or 2, but it was more effort than she put into my card. She sent me and hubby the following in a group text...
Copy and pasted, only edited out names.
"Got my cards in the mail today. 😭. They were post marked Saturday. You could of kept them til I got there or next year. It's like yall bought them Saturday, wrote a few words and rushed to get them to post office. My heart 💔broken. I thought I deserved better. I wish I could send pictures of my card verses [CM] 😩 card. I couldnt tell which gift was yours. But least I have a year to try do better and be worthy of such wonderful words of love and praise that was written to her.
I don't mean to complain or seem ungrateful but I wished you hadn't mailed them.😭😭. I can't explain how crushed I am.😔 Anyway hopefully I will see yall on the 20th."
Note: my oldest son is graduating on the 20th. She was supposed to drive down and spend the night with us to attend the graduation. I honestly believe she picked this fight because she doesn't want to drive the 6 hours down here.
If you "don't mean to complain or seem ungrateful" then why tf did you send it? I asked my husband what was his initial reaction and he said, "Really?!? All she had to do was say thanks."
So, after I talked to my husband and oldest son (I wanted to make sure everyone was on board with what I was saying before I sent it) , I sent her this response:
"I mailed them on Friday, I bought them several weeks ago. I told you I hadn't mailed them yet because I've been in a deep depression and you dismissed my feelings like always. I have real, valid feelings and you always dismissed them as silly. And come after me because now you're feelings are hurt. Wow, ok. The absolute audacity. And it's not just with your cards that I'm slacking. It's with everything. Because I have depression. I'm overwhelmed on top of that and literally the only thing you care about is a card. I tried to express my feelings the other day on the phone and you dismissed them like you always do. I know things will be fine, but in this moment they are not and you don't get that. Because you don't understand how or why I feel the way I do, then my feelings are silly or invalid to you.
And I never gave [CM] a present. Don't know why you thought that.
Don't worry about coming down on the 20th."
She replies by trying to blackmail me;
"Well my am so sorry I said anything. I never realized you thought that about me. I never dismissed your depression but yes i never knew what to do for you. I am not going to go back and forth about this. I will text [son] and let him know you told me not to come."
She's not sorry to me for being dismissive, she's sorry because now she doesn't get her "Proud MeMe moment" and can't post pictures of her at his graduation on fb. And even if she didn't "know what to do" for me, all she had to do was ask. Or listen. Or give a damn hug. But, no, she just dismissed me bc to her depression isn't real. And she's not going back and forth bc she knows shes wrong! Little did she know that I had already cleared it with hubby and son before sending the text, so I think she thought it would make me look bad to my oldest son that I told her no to come. Oldest son said, "I'm neutral, I don't care if she comes or not. It's not like she's had anything to do with us since she moved, and barely had anything to do with us when she was here."
So, my last text to her said, "He knows. I asked him before I texted you, and he's good with it."
All she had to do was say thanks or not even say anything at all. But, no, she had to say something stupid. Even her own son said that she's lucky she even got a card bc if it was up to him, her actual son, she wouldn't have gotten anything. So, not only is she not invited to the graduation, she's never welcome in my home again. The great part is I don't have to share my holidays with her ever again!!! And please know that I'd never keep her grandchildren from her, but if she wants a relationship with them, she'll have to put some effort in. And we all know boomers hate effort.
If you made it this far, thanks for reading my rant. I appreciate you my friends!

Can y’all please help me find 4 quotes? I need one from each of his solo albums. It has to have something to do with graduation or something like that. I already have the gbgr one I just need the other 3. Really appreciated if u could help thank you.

Which one of zote the mighty's many amazing precepts would make the best senior graduation quote?

Hey Reddit! Long-time lurker, first-time poster here, so bear with me!
I’m reaching out to see if anyone here has experience in the Australian construction industry, particularly those who have moved into property development. I'm wrapping up my final year at a G08 Uni in Sydney, studying construction management and property, and I’ve got just one term left before graduation. My current average WAM is sitting at around 89 including one subject where I received 100/100.
A bit about me: I'm in my late 20s and a mature-age student with a previous five-year career in data analytics and related fields in the corporate world. I migrated to Australia alone about ten years ago with basic English skills and got a late start in my professional career. Despite these challenges, I've always been driven to advance and make the most of my circumstances.
So, I’ve shifted gears to construction and have been working as a cadet with a well-known tier 2 builder since last year. I've had rotations in site management and site engineering and received great feedback. Now, I'm in contracts admin, which I thought was my ultimate career path I wanted to focus on , but it’s been rough.
The guy above me in contracts admin is making life tough—constantly criticising me in front of the team, keeping me out of important emails, and just generally blocking my growth. It's got to the point where coming to work is a drag. Plus, the work itself isn’t as fulfilling as I hoped. I miss the networking, the meetings, the kind of work where I can produce a report, build spreadsheets and give presentations—more my style than the daily grind of quotes and contracts.
So, I’m thinking of moving into property development. I like the idea of handling a project from start to finish, from land acquisition to OC and it seems like it could be a better fit for my skills and interests. There are a bunch of grad roles opening up in July with some top-tier developers, and I’m gearing up to apply—doing my research, prepping for interviews, even taking some elocution lessons to sharpen my interview skills.
Here’s where I need your advice:

1. Quitting the Cadetship: Is it a bad idea to leave my current cadetship in July to focus on landing a development role? I’m pretty burned out and could use a break before jumping back in. My only concern is when(if) I make it to the final stage of the in-person interview, it may show I did not show commitment to the cadetship.
2. Sticking it Out: Should I just stick it out until at least September(when the final interview stage is expected to take place) to show I can commit, even though the toxicity is really wearing on me?
3. Fit for Development: Given my background and skills, do you think I’d do well in a development role at a major company? It’s likely to be a competitive and high-pressure environment, but I’m ready for the challenge.

Thanks for reading through my novel here! I usually keep to myself about work stuff, but this situation has been increasingly tough to handle. Any advice or insights would be massively appreciated!
Cheers and have a good one!

I’m graduating w my associates in a few days and have yet to decorate my cap 😖
Does anybody have fun quotes or stuff for inspiration? I’ve seen Charlie and “what do now?” which would’ve been extra fun if i was graduating hs. I’m going to transfer in the fall for mech. engineering so i’m going to continue school.
any quotes or inspo would be greatly appreciated 🫶🏼🫶🏼
edit: i’m barely on season 7 btw

There was a point in time about 1 year ago where I was feeling extremely pressured and stressed out in school due to the overwhelming workload. It was crazy and I felt I was all alone in it, there really wasn't anyway comfortable that I could reach out for advice or optimism. Talking to people kinda sucked cuz it'd take so much effort for a genuine conversation, and it'd be too selfish to simply ask for message of affirmation straight away...
This prompted me to do up a project to solve this small problem of mine as I was dying for more optimism. It was ridiculous to think that I found more energy and brain power to learn and create this in that time of stress, I guess passion can really drive a person far, it drove me to create this: https://t.me/daily_zen_quotes
This telegram bot's message of wisdom and positivity everyday has supported me throughout my last year in school, all till I graduated this month. I've been happy and satisfied with it and felt perhaps there might be others going through a similar time like mine last year, so yea... this is my first step out of my comfort zone to share it publicly, I really hope that my product reaches the right people and helps em out even if just a little bit! :)

(I am SO sorry for the needed lengthy) Back Story & Context Leading To My Decision:
I (33F) have 1 sibling, “Sam” (38F). Although we share the same parents, our childhood & the way we were treated was incredibly different. Mainly because Sam had always been favored & treated far better than me. A fact that Sam refuses to acknowledge to this day.
Before & after my parents got married, it was agreed upon that they would not have children, until one day my mother “Susan” (66F) came up with the bright idea that if she gave her parents (“Norma & Gene”) a grand-baby they would finally love her. She went off the pill without telling my father, got pregnant, then had Sam. To no one’s surprise, Susan hated being a mom. So she would ship Sam across the country to Norma & Gene’s constantly, so much so, they saw her as THEIR child. And they showered her with love that Susan never even got a taste of. This led to Susan being aggressively jealous & resentful of her child.
Years later, my dad was tricked again into having me to “save their marriage.” They divorced when I was 3. All Sam ever knew from Susan was neglect, emotional & mental abuse from Susan, which only became worse when she could use “favoring” me as another way to hurt Sam. This was NOT a secret in my family, resulting in maltreatment towards me (either subconsciously or intentionally).
Abuse toward Sam turned physical. My father was given full custody of her when I was 8, and I was left with Susan for the next 2 years until she decided she wanted to move to San Francisco because she “deserved” a more glamorous life. I do not remember the years living with Susan, but recently one of my closest friends (of 25 years) said to me I practically lived at her house & she barely interacted with Susan throughout the entirety of our friendship.
To make up for Susan being an awful parent, Norma & Gene would dote on Sam & shell out a lot of $$$ to give her a very nice life which includes but not limited to; taking her on luxury trips around the world (I was only invited on 1 in the times we lived together), Norma would write her lengthy letters to continue growing their bond, has had so much money spent on her such as down payment on her first house & paid for extravagant events such as majority of the bill for her $50,000 wedding @ 21yo, the rest my father paid for. The only time she worked before graduating with her degree was part time ONE semester in college then quit because it was “so tiring” to work & study. Want to guess who paid her bills & gave her an allowance the rest of the time? Compare this to me when I barley received a kind word. They offered me money ONCE in my early 20’s to pay off my credit card & medical debt I accrued in college as I had to pay all my own bills while working full time (I have been working since I was 15) and going to school full time. I am the only one in the family who worked in college, yet I am still the only one to graduate with honors. I accepted with the condition it would come out of my “inheritance.” I have never asked or been offered money since. I have paid for ALL my own bills since I left home @ 18 years old.
Despite the obvious disparities and constant hurt they put me through, I was an active member of the family who mainly kept her mouth shut. I attended family events unless I could not afford to go, I sent holiday gifts, called between 1-2x per month for an 1 hour+ phone call in which I most often bit my tongue unless it was to defend Sam as Norma did not agree with her parenting.
Something to note, in May 2021 my father had an accident that would lead to his passing in December 2021. The disagreements & Sam’s nastiness toward me after the accident and then his death further strained our relationship.
Fast forward to March 2023. An explosive incident at Susan’s home. Susan started berating Sam for not allowing Susan to take my oldest nephew cross country for a week. When Sam confronted her on the abuse she endured growing up, and will not subject her kids to that, Susan lost it. Not only did Susan say that Sam made that up (I have the court documents in my possession) she screamed at Sam until she began sobbing in ear shot of her 3 young kids, husband, and my step father. I stood up for Sam as always, which resulted in Susan screaming in my face “I don’t want a relationship with you” with Sam as a witness. I cut ties at that moment, then made the family aware of my decision, and everyone, including Norma agreed to respect my decision.
By August 2023, my physical health that had been on a rapid decline since 2019 including 18 out of 23 (78%) of my spinal discs deteriorating without a known cause had become unbearable to manage + time I had to take off because of migraines & doctor’s appointments, I had to quit my corporate desk job. I had enough money saved to tide me over for some time, but as any US adult in their 20’s & 30’s know, it’s been rough the past few years, add in physical disabilities & limited mobility + regular migraines, I was running low on money & needed help. So at the end of December, at the encouragement & insistence of my aunt “Elizabeth” (61F & Susan’s sister) who I had become quite close with over the past few years, I went to Norma & Gene to ask for a LOAN. They had donated $25,000 to Sam’s place of worship on her behalf a few months prior, offered to buy Sam & her husband a house the year prior, paid for Elizabeth’s bills & expensive lifestyle for the last year when she was soul searching on what line of work she wanted to do next, this was after putting a down payment on Elizabeth’s new $470,000 condo + $70,000 of renovations it needed, not to mention the literal hundreds of thousands of dollars that they have given Susan over the years just to pay off her credit card debt (none of which is coming out of their inheritance might I add) she assured me they would absolutely loan their granddaughter with serious health issues money. Elizabeth would talk to them personally about it, just to seal the deal while Sam would help me find cheaper alternatives to my current necessities such as Medicaid.
I make the request, and to my surprise they are more than happy to help me with a loan. But one week later & their phone calls with Susan, they say by email they “love me but cannot continue to financially support my poor decisions.” I call Elizabeth who says, it was not in her best interest to talk to them about helping me as I am “worthless to this family and society while being disabled.” Then adds that she will not let her “mental health deteriorate just to emotionally support me.” I then immediately reach out to Sam who does not even have the guts to talk by phone only text, and says she called Susan to explain my circumstance but “wasn’t going to argue or pick a fight” to help me and that she is sorry that that she “can't show up for me the way I want her to because she needs to maintain her own mental health, relationships and boundaries.” She also threw in that I have “made up this narrative in my head” that they treat her & I different, that she is treated better.
That day I fully cut contact with Norma, Gene, and Elizabeth. I told them they will not be hearing from me again, and I will not be attending theirs or Susan’s funeral. And I stopped speaking with Sam for the time being. Ironically, what led us to speaking was last month (April 20224) I had begun working on an article about going No Contact with family members. I asked if I could discuss her childhood abuse in a few sentences as part of the article. She agreed and offered to give me quotes. I accepted then interviewed her. From there we began rebuilding our relationship.
Then last Wednesday, (May 8), Norma passes. I do not attend the funeral that happened on Friday, May 10. My two cousins who I have become very close with in the last 6 months understood why, and supported my decision. But even though I did not go, I continually checked in with them & Sam to ensure they were okay. Not once from Wednesday to yesterday (Tuesday) did Sam reply to a single message. As I am concerned about this, I reached out yesterday morning. She replied in the afternoon. I was incredibly hurt by her very lengthy message. Here are 2 excerpts that led me to full NC.

1. “Your perspective on the situation was clear, you werent coming to be with the family and you arent grieving [Norma’s] death at least in the conventional sense. I had to be the one to answer from most of the family why you werent there, it was incredibly awkward and uncomfortable for me.”
2. “Since late January/Early February things have already been really strained between us. I know that most that comes from my point of view and actions were really hurtful to you. I hate that I hurt you and Its been difficult for me to reconcile that I can't show up for you the way you want me to while also maintaining my own mental health, relationships and boundaries.”

She continually says that she cannot show up for me the way I need without affecting her mental health, jeopardizing her relationship with Susan, Gene or Norma, crossing boundaries (boundaries she never clarified even when I asked) and I am not someone that would ever want to hinder someone else’s life by my presence or cause inner turmoil by associating with me. I let her know this and said I will stop trying to cultivate a relationship and I will step away for good. I said it as kind as possible, taking an hour to craft a message that can only be seen as kind. I told her if she responds I will not be reading it.
I work very hard to stay positive as it’s just me to lean on. When there is something eating at me emotionally, it will drain my energy & have me spiral until it is resolved. I did not want to waste another moment feeling hurt especially when I wasted hours being angry & upset after receiving her text before crafting my reply. But with that said, AITA for cutting ties at this time & not waiting?
EDIT: I realized that this post may have appeared as me venting more than asking for perspective since my mind was already made up about going full NC, but the reason I pose AITA is in reference to the timing. My dad always preached that Sam is “far more sensitive” than me & needs to basically be treated with kid gloves despite her being almost 5 years older (he held this stance until his passing). He would have surely wanted me to apply that rule to this situation by waiting a few weeks to cut ties once she had time to process her grief. As Norma was the closest person to a loving mother Sam consistently had, I cannot help but compare it with my experience of losing my dad. If someone who always supported me esp. with any family issues, cut contact the same week he passed, it would have added a whole other layer of devastation & loneliness to an already difficult time…So, I am torn between if did the right thing by putting myself first or if I should have done what I am known & expected to do which is making Sam’s feelings the priority over mine.
ADDITIONAL ADVICE REQUESTS: 1. If anyone else has gone through a similar situation or has no immediate family, how do you handle it when having to discuss it with others? Such as explaining it to a new S/O’s, or the least complicated version to their family members or my friends who do not know the full back story but will eventually pick up on me not mentioning my sister or my nephews & niece. 2. If anyone is not able bodied or is limited to working options due to health, what you do for your full or extra income (outside of any government assistance)?
TY to all who comment &/or upvote!☺️

Long time lurker here. It's time I officially gave up on this sub for the sake of my sanity.
Despite always having loved school, years of depression prevented my starting college at 18. Fortunately, at age 22 my fervor for life and academics rekindled. But, my high school class graduated undergrad 5 years ago yet I can't even start college until age 28, if that :/ This is all due to unfortunate external factors. At best I can become a doctor at age 40. I hate to say this, but that's bad timing for a woman.
Yeah, I've heard the “you will be X age anyway so you might as well follow your dreams” quote enough times that I'm unfazed by it now. In fact I've waited so long to start college that I feel like an innocent prisoner who is waiting to be let out and move on with their life. The difference is that usually unfairly accused prisoners are awarded a handsome compensation to get back on their feet while I have to start from scratch (and even go into debt).
Medical knowledge is at the junction between my love for anatomy, chemistry, mathematics, and caring for people. PA is a good option, but the knowledge gap and extroversion required compared to doctors is quite unappealing. Therefore, I will most likely just get a generic bachelor's degree in a STEM subject and hope a semi-interesting job will cross my path. It's time I have the courage to join the ranks of countless unfortunate people who never realized their full potential due to poverty, persecution, lack of opportunity, or just plain bad luck.
I am far luckier than many because my love for life has never stopped increasing even years after depression. I just wished it came with a side of ~following my dream~. Alas, such is life. Everything good requires some sacrifice.
To all young people: don't squander your opportunities! There are plenty of people who would do anything to be in your place, including me, and including your possibly future unfulfilled selves. Live your best lives. Humans share one soul. Goodbye!