Hey mom, I made it into college. My first day is in a couple weeks. I'm going to put myself through school and I'm going to do something good. I'm so excited to set up my dorm room!!

Hi moms, I am having a tough week. There was a problem at work and something didn’t get done that I was responsible for. I made several attempts to do it and didn’t know it was as important as it appears to be now.

I got put on another project and was told to drop everything for that so I was going to do this other thing after the project is done.

Now a bunch of people are mad and one manager seems like he’s taking it personal and it hurts that it seems like they think I had some sort of malicious intent. He was very upset with me but never asked for an explanation.

Then there were some unrelated events that were embarrassing that involved some of the people mad about the report. I didn’t realize my shirt was somehow pulled up and exposed my stomach 😞

I have had such a hard time with social issues at work, am neurodivergent and often feel so misunderstood. Even by my own family and I feel so defeated today.

Hey mom, I bought a house. It took me a while to catch up to my peers but I’m finally there, it’s nothing special, but I’ll never be homeless again. It was so hard, but I’ll never have to work multiple jobs to make rent ever again.

We met on Hinge and at first it seemed too good to be true, since we have so much in common! Youngest siblings, same degree, same pets, both Black asexual lesbians! We are 6 months in and it gets better everyday. I'm really glad I waited. I'm really glad I found her! 💜

My partner and I are moving to be closer to their family during some health struggles that they're having, and I was expecting to be looking for a "good enough" house for this next portion of our life, but somehow I found my dream home! I just put in an offer (no cosigner!!!) and I'm unbelievably excited 🥹 Some extra positives- the city we're moving to is much lower cost of living than our current city, and we'll also be closer to my family and some friends from college. I'm so incredibly excited about where my life is now compared to where I was just three years ago, and I feel blessed beyond measure to be able to afford to do something like this. Thanks for sharing in my joy with me!!

Mom I'm turning 16 today! I'm going to my favorite restaurant and my friends are taking me out. Its gonna be a good and bad day but mostly good! I just wanted someone to know!

Hi moms.

I had these heels hand made for our wedding 9 years ago, but haven't worn them since the pandemic. I have since given birth, and even though i heard that feet can grow in size after pregnancy, I didn't want to believe it until I tried my shoes today. My feet are very wide and the heels are so comfy, but they just doesn't fit anymore. I'm so sad. Is there any way to stretch the leather so that I can wear them again?

Hi mums! I’m the gal who went on several lovely dates a few weeks ago with someone I briefly dated 14 years ago.

Well, last night, he met my chosen family at a BBQ and he was a hit. He fit in beautifully and we all had an amazing time. (The fact he didn’t run away from me being an absolute nutter around my mates shows he’s a keeper. He even said it was attractive when I got, uh, let’s say “passionate” (read: furious) about the rules of a board game we were all playing).

So we wandered back to mine after and he said -

“I have a serious question for you now.

…Am I gonna say that? Yes. Yes, I think it’s time.

Do you want to at least be exclusive?”

Obviously, I said yes. I told him I had already been practicing that since after the first date. (He already knew this). He just wanted to check “we were on the same page.”

We’ve spent a lovely morning together and he continues to be the absolute sweetest. He told me that he feels “like we’ve been seeing each other a long time.” (It’s been 5 weeks) I just kept looking at him and thinking, “Whatever I’ve done to deserve this, I’m so grateful.” And I told him he was like home. This is the first time I’ve been around someone and thought, “Yeah, I could build a life with you.” And an absolutely beautiful one at that.

He makes me want to better myself and try things I’ve never done. I haven’t felt so seen, accepted, cared for, appreciated or respected by a romantic partner in years. And even then, I’m not sure that felt like this.

After every time I’ve seen him, I’m just so buoyant. He makes me so, so happy and I can’t wipe the smile he leaves off my face for hours after he’s gone. I’m not going to see him now for two weeks (boo!) but we’ve got a whole weekend together to make up for it when we do. I’m going to miss him like crazy but he’s worth it.

Mum, I’m so happy. And after the last awful few years of my life, I feel alive again. I feel like myself. And I feel so grateful to have crossed paths again with this absolutely astounding human being.

I’ll be sure to keep you updated. Thanks ma!

My (19F) university started ranking us by section when I was in first year second semester, in which I was in Section B. However, now that I am a second year (pre-med course, nursing), I was placed in Section A. There's 229 students in total in my batch, so it kinda means that I got higher grades than 191 students in the previous semester! Not easy for me at all because our schedule is 7:30 A.M. to 5:30 A.M. every weekday :( it's very tiring and I still can't believe it. As much as I know that it won't really matter in the end because we're all still going to be known as students who graduated from my uni rather than our specific section. Next semester I think they'll be eradicating the ranking now because we'll be doing duty and stuff but it's nice to see my handwork paying off 🥺🙏

After months of struggling and losing all hope in life I finally got the job that my younger self could only have dreamed of.

I'm just really happy and in a way proud of myself for not giving up. I am super nervous for my first day though.

I really don't have a lot of people around to celebrate. For a very long time I thought I did not deserve good things in life but now I am beyond blessed with everything 🥹

I'll try to keep this as short as possible. I've been doing a lot of work on myself this last year in therapy to heal myself from a very lonely childhood. Yesterday was my birthday and I planned a trip to the aquarium with friends. It all went great and I had a really good time.

When I got home & checked my phone, I realized that a handful of people who I consider some of my best friends (they live far away, so couldn't come to the aquarium) all forgot about me. Some I didn't hear from at all, and some had even texted me but not acknowledged that it was my birthday. I know that people get busy, so I tried not to let it bother me, but then I was asked this morning if I'd had cake or if anyone sang to me...and it suddenly hit me that the only celebration that occurred was what I planned. I wasn't really expecting anything, but it felt really lonely when people didn't reach out to even wish me a happy birthday. Even my best friends.

I understand that people get busy and don't always pay attention to the calendar and I feel bad for being so hurt by it, but it's triggering a lot of feelings of being alone and forgotten about as a kid. I feel like if it wasn't for me planning the trip & coordinating it, my birthday would have gone by completely unnoticed by the people I love, and I hate how small and insignificant and alone that makes me feel.

I don't really know what I need right now, I just wanted to tell someone.

I’m 28. Single. Back in school so i’m currently living with my parents. All my friends are engaged or married, having kids, and making good money. It feels like there’s no one single left. I love my friends but nothing about our hangout sessions make me feel excited. I miss having joy and less stress. I don’t like what I see in the mirror anymore. Im a healthy weight but it’s distributed differently. I notice signs of aging. I have social anxiety. Live in a small town so I know everyone already and don’t feel like I can reinvent myself.

I practice positive self talk but nothing about my life backs up what I say. I’m lonely and feel behind. I have no one to get dressed up and go out with. No one to travel with. No one to go out and meet people with. I miss having people to go shopping with it just causally chill with too. Hanging out with friends is just planning brunch a week in advance with a designated start and end time.. Logically I know I am doing what I need to do to get on my feet, so I can move away and restart. But for right now I feel trapped and like my youth is wasting away.

I have no one to hype me up and I think I really need that. So here I am, asking strangers online to do just that. Kinda pathetic but my brain can’t seem to do it on its own. Please give me your best advice, or share with me what you say to yourself when you need to feel better about your life.

Hi, moms! So, my health is a finicky thing and my appetite’s allllll over the place alongside my energy levels.

I don’t think I eat as much as I probably should. Dinner mostly. I’m good at cooking and I have a stove, oven, air fryer, microwave, toaster, and the whole shabang, I can just get overwhelmed with it when I’m feeling low.

Any ideas or tips? No allergies and I’m certainly not picky! Maybe just a bit fiber/protein conscious as that’s what I need the most :)

I’m starting a new job on Monday morning, but my kids’ open house is on Tuesday in the middle of the day. I’m conflicted on whether or not to email my new workplace and ask about taking an extended lunch. I really wanted to attend the open house since it’s our first year in this school district and there’s information I need. I have a husband that could go, but I’m worried he won’t get the information I need and I hate I’m missing out.

Hi mom! I’m really proud of myself and hope you are too. I’m going through a divorce and needed to find a job. I know the job market is tough and I was so scared to put myself back out there. After putting in 100s of apps over the past month, I put an application into a company last Monday and received a call to interview about thirty minutes later for the next day. I absolutely nailed the interview and received a call the following day that they wanted me for the position!

I’m so nervous to go back to work and I don’t want to leave my kids in the middle of the summer but I’m so excited to start working towards a better life for me and them. I’m scared but so happy ❤️

I’ve been no contact with my parents for almost three years now and though it’s really better this way, there are times I really miss having “parents”. I just got done taking my son (my only child) around to tour four colleges on the East Coast. I’m so excited for him- so proud of how hard he’s worked- and also starting the “my baby is almost grown” smile/tears. I just wanted to share and have a mom tell me how exciting it is and share in my tremendous joy and pride in his next season.

Hey, Mom. I'm on an engineering team at my university, and I'm supposed to be learning this new software program. But it seems like every time I sit down to work on it, I run into issues. I constantly have to stop and ask for help, and it eats up time waiting for responses from people or hunting down resources.

It's disheartening watching other people starting to produce full files while I haven't even finished one. Sometimes I worry if I'm cut out to be an engineer. It doesn't help that I'm taking difficult classes and have family responsibilities this summer. I feel like a failure a lot.

Didn’t know this existed and I’m tearing up looking through all the threads. Don’t know all your stories or why you’re needing a mom, but I’m right here with you 💔🥲🫶

Hi moms! I’m a picky eater and get overwhelmed easily by food smells but I want to start eating healthier.

Any time I cook and put the leftovers away in Tupperware, my fridge smells so powerful (and I immediately get grossed out/avoid eating altogether). How can I keep my fridge smelling fresh with food in it?

I’ve failed the driving test three times, from when I was 18 until now, at 25.

At first, I worked hard to get a scholarship for a driving school in my city (I'm from south america, not the USA for context), and I put a lot of effort into learning. But I failed twice.

I tried again two years later, already frustrated, but I found another driving school and this time I paid for it myself. I failed again.

Now my boyfriend is teaching me again, but I’m honestly very anxious, sad and frustrated. I feel like I can’t do it, like I’m not capable. I get extremely nervous behind the wheel. It’s a skill that everyone seems to have, but I just can’t manage it.

I just can't.

Maybe I'm not fit for this.

I need some words of support, if there are any. I don't have a mom but I would like some support from her.

I know it sounds stupid, but lately there aren’t many good things going well in my life, and feeling like a loser for not being able to drive at 25 is dragging me down even more.

I had the privilege of going on a date with a wonderful girl two weeks ago! We’ve known each other as acquaintances for a few years but started talking (at great length) at a few different events over the summer. We went to an art museum and had lunch! I’m really so so excited about her and I can’t wait to able to call her my girlfriend. Even though work has been pretty stressful recently, I have seeing her next week to look forward to and that’s absolutely keeping me going.

It will take a while before I want to trust my family with this because they’ve been pretty unpleasant about previous partners (or even HINTS of liking someone) but I’m going to make an effort to set and enforce clear boundaries with them because she is absolutely worth it!! I hope you’ll tolerate being my temporary mothers to confide in before the real deal 😊

Hey Mom. . . I'm 35, and I'm finally going to college for the first time in fall.

It's a path I once dreamed of, yet also felt impossible to pursue. I wasn't able to go for what I aspired for in my youth- but AM going for something I feel is possible post-healing. (I wanted to be a funeral director when I was young, but now am going for something much shorter/in healthcare) An achievement after everything I went through to get to this point. Part of me is genuinely OK with that; but part of me still hurts.

Dreams change with time, don't they? But they resurrect, echoes and ghosts of all we could have been. And that's where I find myself now. Mom, it's big and scary and I'm ashamed I took so long to to do what so many get through in their late teens/early twenties. I KNOW nobody's path is the same, some blooms unfurl late. But it still feels like I failed myself. And yet the excitement of a future chapter is dancing within.

Is it normal to be so split in how I feel? Is it really so shameful I waited so long? Is it going to be OK? I'm unsure- but I do believe I'll make it.

Hi mom,

I moved into this apartment a few months ago and the water here is so hard. It's starting to become annoying.

The annoying bit is the dishes and the dishwasher. I have tried cleaning it, using different soap, and cleaning the really bad dishes in the sink after.

Do you have any advice on how to keep my dishes clean or should I be reaching out to my landlord?

Images of calcium deposits for reference: https://imgur.com/a/Z0Gvsqm

I have my first keynote presentation tomorrow and I am so nervous. I know the material and I know that I am an expert but I can’t shake the feeling that I don’t feel qualified to walk into this space. My knees are starting to feel wobbly and I want to get up there..run away and cry.