Being pregnant is awful.

People say your skin glows and I have had friends say they loved being pregnant and would gladly do so again.

I feel like all of this is a lie? My skin has gotten way worse since the start of my pregnancy and my stomach hurts constantly. I sleep very poorly and wake up in the middle of the night. This is all within the first 6 weeks.

I am getting an abortion next week and while I am not excited about the recovery from that I am excited to be done with this parasite.

Netizens comments

• I’m happy for women who had easy pregnancies because I wouldn’t wish what I went through on anyone.
  My skin, hair, and gums were affected. I was so nauseous I lost a ton of weight. My super nose made everything a trigger so I was sick all day.
  I threw up so much the capillaries around my eyes burst making it look like I’d been beat up.
  Migraines, back pain, and insomnia, and I developed a metal allergy that never went away. My post partum wasn’t a whole lot better.

• From my understanding the first few (12 or so) weeks are often the most difficult as the body is going through so many drastic physical and hormonal changes. Things like sickness or trouble sleeping can clear up and recur. It’s different for everyone.
  It’s also worth considering the tendency for people to look back things with rose tinted glasses. For your friends; the issues, discomfort, tiredness etc was worth it all because of the outcome. They wanted a child. That said, it’s not worth it if having a child isn’t something you want to do.
  I hope all goes well next week and I wish you a speedy recovery.

• I did not glow. Pregnancy is so hard on your body. Totally destroyed mine.
  I hated it when I first stayed feeling the baby move, it was horrible. Like some horrible alien thing inside. It was better once it was bigger, but very gross seeing your belly move about. While pregnant my son kicked my ribs out of place so painful.

My husband, Chris, and I have been married for almost 10 years. He has three daughters with his ex-wife: Madison (F23), Adaleine (F17), and Lana (F10).   

Lana and Adaleine live with us, while Madison lives with her mother and she got into two extremely good schools.

I didn’t really care; we never really got along well. She resents her dad for moving on so fast while her mom was single for another 2 years.

I just want to add that me and my husband didn’t know each other until after they had divorced. We met at a support group.

They divorced because she had an affair with another man, and when she found out she was pregnant with Lana, she didn’t know who the father was and couldn’t lie about it, but Lana did end up being my husband’s.

which is fair because we got married after only dating for 3 months, but it doesn’t justify the constant awful behavior.

When I was pregnant, she refused to help me with simple tasks like going grocery shopping or cooking. and when my son was born, she would refuse to watch him.

I don’t expect much from her. I just want her to help with her brother. It’s not like she doesn’t want to watch him because anytime my husband asks her, she’s more than willing. 

We are having a birthday party for Lana and I’m planning everything. Her mother is coming to surprise her since she usually only sees her every once in a while.

While we were on the phone, she mentions Madison coming with her and I tell her she isn’t allowed to come.

She got extremely angry and started saying that Lana isn’t my child and I’m robbing her of having a relationship with her mother. I understand Lana isn’t my child, but I’m paying for everything, excluding the flight.

Madison and her see each other for 2 months every year, and according to Adaleine, she’s very rude the entire time.

I may be overstepping my boundaries, but I do feel like it is justified.

Also, adding that the person who hurt my husband was not his ex-wife, it was his ex-from before, around the time, and he and his ex-wife came to terms

It’s a stupid thing to ask I know. But my mom’s been an important person in my life and I’m not sure if perhaps I overreacted. I (26m) met my soon-to-be wife Amy (25f) 7 years ago and she has an 11 months old son(Jason) and she broke up with his dad already. I love Jason as my own son and that’s how I see him.

He calls his dad “Dad/Daddy” and me “Pa.” My mom didn’t like the idea of me being with someone who already had a kid with someone else. We fought about that during the first 2 years of the relationship until I threatened to stop talking if she doesn’t accept Amy and Jason in my life. So she let it go and didn’t bring it up ever again.

I proposed 4 months ago. We’re supposed to get married in March. My mon offered to pay for half of the wedding and we accepted. The issue was my mom saying Jason shouldn’t be at the wedding because it would be just as weird as if her ex was there. We were both confused by that logic. Jason’s a huge part of our lives, it’s our wedding so of course he’s gonna be part of it. That was a hard no from both of us.

She tried to bring it up more times until finally she pulled the “I’m paying for your wedding so I’m allowed to decide ” card. That’s the part that got me the most. Is she wanted to use the fact that she’s helping to pay to keep our 8 year old from being there at our wedding. I paid her back the money she gave us for the wedding and told her she’s also not invited. Now she keeps calling crying that I’m her only son and it would be heartless keeping her from being part of this huge milestone in her life.

To her it’s not the same if Jason missed it because he’s a kid not a parent. My family is on my side about her going too far wanting to exclude my son but they do think I’m a bad son if she’s not invited since I already gave her the money back so she has no say in anything. I’m just so mad about it and don’t wanna see her after she tried to control things like that.

Did I do the right thing?

Here are what netizens think:

your mother is acting like a monster to a literal child. Hope she kicks the bucket soon, why would you want such a nasty and hateful person anywhere near your son or your future wife on such an important day? You did the right thing.

My first thought was I would never let her watch my child. If she acts like that to their face, imagine how she would treat him when it’s just her. I’m not suggesting she would physically abuse him, but he definitely wouldn’t enjoy being around her.

He is not and will not be safe around her. She cannot be allowed in his airspace at all, ever. She will do irretrievable harm. Please hear me.

My brother excluded my husband from his wedding because he’s in a wheelchair. I decided to not go.

My husband (30) got into an accident that caused him to become wheelchairbound 2 years ago, I’m his caregiver and it is all hard as it is.

My brother is getting married soon, he sent me an invite but excluded my husband implying it’s because he’s in a wheelchair.

My brother explained that he didn’t want for me or my husband to “suffer” and suggested that I leave him at home and come alone.

I had a fight not just with my brother, but my family as well after I said I wasn’t going to attend the wedding because my husband was excluded and for what?

he didn’t do anything to anyone, he’s struggling and doesn’t need them shunning him for something he has control over.

I made my mind to skip my brother’s wedding which caused a problem because he’s my oldest and only sibling and be there was a must.

My mom, dad and others are pressuring me to go and said my husband was being dramatic for not letting me go enjoy myself a bit, but my husband didn’t stop me and this was my decision.

I got called unsupportive and petty for refusing to attend now.

This might ruin my relationship with my family and I might be letting my emotions get in the way, but I’m just so mad and hurt right now.

I hate being a woman. I don’t hate having the external physical appearance, but having a uterus feels like such a fucking burden. I’m only 19, I know, but intimacy with men never feels safe.

I never feel like I fully own my body, I have to sacrifice my autonomy to chance (even tho I’m on birth control that 1% still terrifies me).

I want to remove this burden from my body. I want to own myself. I feel bad for hating kids, especially when there are people in my life who love them, I feel bad for hating everything about pregnancy.

I had a nightmare where I was looking into the mirror and I was suddenly pregnant and looking at my pregnant belly. I don’t think it’s normal to hate having a uterus this much.

I got my period when I was 12! I WAS A CHILD WHEN I COULD START HAVING KIDS. My body doesn’t fucking care, it’s betraying me.

I get so distressed about this I feel like I can’t breathe.

I was feeling really low and out of control of my body when I wrote this. I wanted to say that I don’t actually hate children, they simply remind me of my own anxieties around pregnancy and hatred of my body—which of course is not their fault!

Also I wanted to say that you don’t have to be a woman to have these feelings. anyone of any gender can feel this way about their uterus. I really appreciate all of y’all and relate to many of you deeply.

I have a 27-year-old sister who started dating one of those “brutally honest” guys few months ago. He can be quite rude and make backhanded comments about me and the family sometimes which is bothersome but my sister says he’s not malicious but is just the brutally honest time and we should get used to it.

I visited my parent’s house to celebrate my sister’s birthday and my husband couldn’t come with me because he was busy, after the party, we all sat down for dinner and my sister’s boyfriend said it was weird that my husband and I don’t have kids despite being married for 6 years now, I was shocked that he brought this up but I gave a short answer stating that it’s because of infertility issues, he asked on which side and I didn’t wanna answer but my sister said it’s on my side.

I got uncomfortable as he looked at me for a second and said that maybe not having kids now is a good thing because he thought women over 30 might “produce” defective babies due to age.

I told him it was none of his business but he said that he was just giving his “honest opinion” and that’s all. I, in return, told him while maintaining eye contact: “trust me, if I wanted an A-hole’s opinion, I would’ve farted!”.

Literally, everyone at the table burst into laughter and my sister and her boyfriend were stunned. A few seconds later her boyfriend excused himself out and my sister followed then sent me a text after they left saying I was mean and disrespectful towards her boyfriend and insulted him maliciously just cause he stated his honest opinion, she also said I ruined her birthday by being petty and making her boyfriend the joke of the night in front of the family.

I didn’t respond but she demanded an apology via Whatsapp as soon as possible, my mom agreed that I shouldn’t have said what I said and should’ve just ignored him knowing how he is.

Am I wrong?

Here is what netizen thinks:

• Does the mother really think ignoring these dreadful comments was really the best thing to do?

• Exactly! This guy just takes advantage of everyone’s politeness and social manners. Maybe a solution is to reply unfiltered.

• I once heard someone say that people who say they are ‘brutally honest’ are often more concerned with the brutal part than the honest part

My fiancé found my underwear and put them back on me after I told him I was too drunk to sleep with him.

I can’t stop thinking about him and how happy and safe he makes me feel.

I was wayyy too high and drunk last night after we had started to get busy with it, and I asked him if we could try again later.

He just smiled at me and said okay, and before I could say anything else or even sit up, he found my underwear and put them back on me.

After the nausea had passed, we had the best intimacy I’ve ever had.

And to top it off, when I was cleaning up in the bathroom, he knocked on the door and said “I left your clothes outside the door so you don’t have to walk out without any clothes on”

My heart, I just can’t. Who knew I would be so turned on by respect???

Netizens’ comments

• When we find the right one we realize why it didn’t work with anyone else

I’m happy you found someone to respect your boundaries and someone you’re sexually compatible with

• When no actually means no and is respected in kind you know you have yourself a good dude.

My wife and I have been together for about 5 years in total. Last year we kind of broke up/separated for about 8 months. She dated someone else, and I had some hookups but nothing serious. We have a daughter together, and she has a son from her previous marriage who calls me dad. Due to the family we had I agreed to give her and I another go.

For sake of the people reading and to make this short, I’ve left out a lot of details. In short, the guy she dated after me, to be honest, was better looking all around. Way taller than me, in way better shape, had a lot of stuff in his life that I don’t amount to.

It was emasculating, to say the least. Like we have been trying 2 months to work things out. At this point, although my insecurities have really gotten to me. Honestly, I don’t wanna do this anymore. I love her more than anything honestly but I don’t know the fact that she went out and got “someone better” just weighs on me too much. Anytime she and I “do it” it makes me feel sick.

Makes me feel insecure and depressed with a lot of bad emotions.

I’ve tried to end it several times in the last 2 months. But she either convinces me to stay, or I have a hard time letting go.

I can be on my own I’m cool with that 100%. Matter of fact it’s better for me, I have a lot of things as a man I need to work on in order to be who I want to be, and the constant bad vibes from this I feel Like is going to hinder my growth.

I just don’t know how to leave her for good. I am going to have to see her every week for the next 15 years. It’s gonna kill me to see her with someone else again, but I just know deep down this is making me miserable.

We do have a great connection when I’m not in my head and thinking about her. But it’s to the point where I’m losing weight and sleep from stress. My OCD that I pretty much put into remission when u was alone is back into full force. Feels like I’m losing myself. Similar to when she left.

I’m looking for any advice. Also it was nice to just vent.

Here is what netizens think:

• The best advice I’ve ever gotten in terms of a relationship is that when you have something and you want to keep it, you try to fix it instead of throwing it away. Has she said anything about the other guy being all around better or is that your anxiety filling your head with these thoughts? If she has, leave. You really need to think about this since you’re in such a position with having a child and all, you could work on yourself while still being in a relationship. Think about what will truly make you happy and go with that decision.

• Maybe it’s time to write out a long calm list of pros and cons of being involved with this person any further. Keep it unemotional. Such as the fact that you enjoy your daughters company. (I assume as much, although you haven’t stated so.)

• I don’t think you should leave a relationship for the reason you gave. That’s self hate/ self sabotage. That low self esteem is coming from inside you, not from her, so it will follow you post break-up. I think you should consider staying with her and working on you simultaneously. Think of that other guy like you would any other previous relationship she had before you ever met her. That relationship ended and then she chose you. You’re obviously pretty damn good in her eyes.

Backstory: I got into an accident before and will never be able to have kids. None of my family members know of this. They know about the accident but not about this. I have always wanted to be childfree so it did not affect me much mentally.

I have finished my Masters Degree last year and never dated before. I got a very high paying job directly through campus placements.

My parents immediately wanted me to get married after getting a job but I wanted to work on myself and explore a bit.

They said no and I said that it was my wish. All my life I did what they wanted and for the first time when I talked against them, they were not happy. This was last year and they gave up after covid started.

So I picked up some dating apps and went through them but no luck. Then my parents introduced me to a family friends daughter and we clicked kinda.

Looking back, I was a fool. She said yes to anything I said and never complained about anything. I felt kinda weird about it. I wanted her to express her interests but she always said she was interested in whatever I do. Well, i did not think much about it.

I said that i wont have kids ever and she surprisingly said ok. I was like damn, she is probably the one as it is very hard to find a partner who is childfree in my country (or atleast i thought), but we were in the initial stages and I have not told about my accident.

Long story short, we slept together a month ago, i used condoms because safety first. The next day on, she started ghosting me a bit. I thought it was due to my performance in bed and wanted to give her some space.

Then she texted infrequently and only replied OKs and Ks and one line answers. I thought maybe she wanted to end the relation and was sad but left it at that.

Yesterday, all her family came to my house and she claims shes pregnant and the father is me. Needless to say, I freaked out and wanted to collapse on the ground. I did not say anything while they were talking about marriage and stuff that needs to happen because I got her pregnant.

Please advice me on what steps to take now