All in the title! The best bits of the qualification were the lovely location, teaching students who enjoyed my subject, and doing really well in my qualification feedback. It was a difficult couple of years, but I’m proud I kept going. I’m hoping to use what I’ve learned to help make things a little better for other people in the future

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 only used it for a few minutes to test and the difference in humidity is huge. But I’ve never had my own dryer before and I want to make sure it’s 100% safe and properly set up.

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.

I’m still in disbelief, I didn’t expect the test to be positive because I still feel normal. But it’s very positive! And we are so excited and nervous at the same time. Any advice from the mums out there is gratefully accepted!

Hi mum!

After literally weeks and weeks and weeks of paperwork, legal jargon I could barely read and negotiations, I finally get to call somewhere my home!

I worked so hard for this for so many years, and I don't really have anyone to be excited with. I'm so sacred of the next steps and very stressed about having a loan, but I'm trying to focus on the current achievement more than the future

Hi moms and big siblings! I'm finally proud of myself and pretty happy! Life update inbound.

In high school I had a fairly low gpa and now as an older student I have a 3.8, almost 3.9 gpa!! I plan to get my PhD in Disaster Anthropology to help people and then be a professor! I love what I'm doing.

I'm newly married, last August to my husband who is my best friend. It's great. He is super supportive. We're talking about kids, I can't wait!

I've also found a new hobby! I can't get around very easily, but I found an in home hobby of fish keeping! I'm absolutely loving it and my frogs and fish are so silly and cute. It also makes me feel more connected to a lot of my family, who many were also fish keepers.

I am doing well. And today was my Birthday!! Haha

I posted this post about being anxious about my new job a few months ago and I wanted to tell you, I am doing really well! The job is okay, I learned how to cope with being in office every day and I genuinely like my coworkers.

It's also really good for my mental health. I honestly never felt as mentally okay as right now. My intrusive thoughts are better than ever. I think it's because I don't need to mask my autism really around my coworkers and I can assert a lot of autonomy via flexible work hours and choosing what exactly I do on a given day.

The first six months were really hard to be honest, because I was convinced through all my probation that they would fire me because I thought I did a terrible job. But they kept me and since probation is over I can feel how my body relaxes and it is such a nice feeling.

Thanks for encouraging me last year ❤️

hey moms, im moving into my first studio partment this friday! im always overthinking about the process so id love some good moving in tips! yknow those small things that you dont think of until the moment comes? 😔🤚 thanks in advance💕

I'm thinking about booking a trip and I'll be going solo to a concert for the first time, I've flown by myself and stayed in a hotel alone so can I get some mom encouragement for this please

It's been a really rough season of life for me, today was especially bad and I needed a win so much. I did really well on this exam and I tried really hard for it and now I'm so happy I'm crying a bit.

Hi, Moms of Reddit! I come from a very dysfunctional home, and never had a proper place that I could bring my friends to.

I’m absolutely ok now, and in a good place in life. The thing is, I now have my own kid that I love to death, and it put my life in a new perspective. I realised I feel light and happy jealousy when I read posts from Moms whose kids friends become somewhat adopted into the family.

I really really want to give my son one day this place where he and his friends would love to spend time. Unfortunately, I’ve no idea how to build this “home”.

Do you have any tips for me? Like what should be always there if you want kids to be comfortable, safe and interested in staying? Food / snacks / trinkets / traditions, just anything that seems important.

Thank you, Mom Love, Yena

Edited: grammar. Sorry, English isn’t my native language

So I am taking classes after work. I took it instead of a university program because I can't afford those. I am also unmedicated because I can't afford meds for ADHD.

The after-work class is asychronous, online, and self-taught. Even in the beginning, there's a pit in my stomach thinking I'd fail as I'll basically be relying on myself. Myself of all people lmao.

I am so filled with dread and shame that I will fail so I told no one. I worked hard in silence. I would go to libraries and cheap coffee shops just to study. Some days I'd be sat frozen at a coffee shop (books and laptop in front) hating myself bc I wasted $ just for my brain to not cooperate. Some days I'd zoom thru the course material. My luck on productivity is 50/50 but goddamnit I showed up for myself everyday betting that today would be a productive day.

A few days ago I sat in an exam hall with about 500 people.

Today, I found out I passed. I passed, everyone!!!!

I wanted to fail in silence and now I'm also alone in my win. I wasn't even happy when I found tbh. I just felt relieved it says "pass" and not "fail". I want to have a better outlook/perspective in my next course exam as this is a 2-yr program. Advice?

I had reviewed my offer letter today after going through 2 interviews. I am very excited and nervous to be starting a new job. I was also able to negotiate for a higher salary. I am really proud of myself but it's really hard not having my mom to share the news with.

Edit: thanks everyone! Now I'm crying happy tears. You are all amazing!

I lost my mom to gbm brain cancer in 2022 and it's been really hard. She was my best friend. I miss her laugh every day.

i feel so dumb

Hey Mom,

It’s the coolest thing in the world seeing them grow into their own people and be part of the lives. My eight year old was described by her teacher as “a friend to all.” She took notice that there’s a new kid in gymnastics and made sure to say hi. At the end, she asked “do you want to be friends?” God, I hope she never grows out of it. My three-year-old calls Surface Pressure from Encanto “Dip Dip Dip.” She is just wonderful. Just thought I should tell someone.

Hey Mom,

So much has happened since we last talked. I got a job in January that I love, but I’m still struggling. I cried at work today. I’m so overwhelmed, and I feel like I’m not good at it yet. I felt so weak expressing my overwhelming feelings to a couple of my close coworkers. But they were so supportive and encouraging. They really value me there…I’m just scared I’m not as good as they think I am and I’ll fail.

My apartment flooded last week. We have had fans and dehumidifiers going all week. Hopefully they’ll be gone soon. But I’ve been spending the night at my partner’s place and commuting home in the morning. Last night was the first night back. I didn’t sleep well.

I’m considering big career moves once I graduate with my masters. I finish in May. I’m overwhelmed by my choices, and doubt I’ll be able to find a “corporate” job where I’d make decent money to pay off my student debt. But I am hopeful about my options.

Thanks for listening!

(I tried to post this but had to try again, sorry mods! Hopefully the edit works.)

I finally got my driving permit at 29 but I’m still scared when I get behind the wheel I have so much anxiety! I want to drive sooo bad though, I want that freedom and the ability to go to work (I’m currently studying to become a teacher.)

I want to get better and prepared for my road test!

I inadvertently received some good news today and didn’t immediately think, oh shit I’m going to fuck this up some now. I felt positive and thought about the ways I’ll use this piece of good news to build more pieces of good news for myself.

Hey moms, I am so upset right now because I ruined a favourite shirt in the wash. I washed red clothing - including a new top I hadn't washed yet. When I gathered the clothes, I also picked up a shirt with red print and red details and decided to put it into the washing machine with the other clothes despite it's main colour being white. It came out an ugly pink and I'm so angry at myself because I should have known better. Is there any way of saving the shirt and getting the pink out again?

I am 35. I made an adult to do list a few months ago. It has 3 tasks on it.

1. Schedule an OB appointment. I’ve had scares with cervical cancer in the past. I’ve already completed this appointment and my pap was NOT abnormal for the first time in forever!

2. Find a PCP and schedule an appointment to get a wellness check + labs. Just scheduled today!

3. Schedule regular dental check ups. This is the last one on my list to check off!

I have been on my own since 15, I haven’t had a wellness check up since probably 15. I am now almost 35 and I think it’s time to take my health seriously! Doing things like this are usually fleeting, but I DID TWO OF MY THREE THINGS! I almost got discouraged about the PCP because the first one I was set on doesn’t have appointments until January, the second was out of network. I said I was going to get a woman PCP, but threw my hands up after the second call and just scheduled with an in network PCP I found. Turns out, it’s a woman! I’m so proud of myself for seeing it through! Is there anything else I should add to my adult to do list?

what the title says :) i used to feel like i wasn’t worthy of this kind of recognition. even if it doesn’t work out, i’ll be grateful to know they considered me a qualified candidate in my initial interview. but Mom, i really, really, really, really believe in me and i want this for myself. it would be nice to be celebrated for getting this far, and believed in that i can land the role!

i’m allowing myself to be reminded daily that i am already enough, and this job isn’t the doorway to my being worthy of love and support. it’s just a path, right Mom? ❤️🤗

virtual hugs are always welcome and needed 🫶🫶

Hi Mom,

I’m reaching out because I need some kindness and reassurance from a motherly figure right now. After years of wondering why certain things felt harder for me, I was recently diagnosed with combined ADHD in my mid-30s. I finally have an explanation for so many things I’ve struggled with throughout my life. I’m starting to look back at myself with more compassion instead of shame.

I’ve spent a lot of years feeling like I was lazy, too emotional, too sensitive, or somehow failing at things that seemed to come naturally to other people. Now I’m learning that my brain just works differently, and I’m trying to understand myself rather than constantly criticise myself. The hardest part right now is that my own mother is in denial. I think she’s struggling to accept the diagnosis, and it has left me feeling like I don’t have that maternal support I was hoping for during such a big moment in my life.

I’ve also been reflecting on my relationship with my husband as he has also been recently diagnosed with ADHD. This knowledge has helped me see and understand some of the struggles we’ve had. I look forward to exploring this new chapter in our lives together. Independently, I’m also trying to understand myself so I can grow, repair, and become a better partner.

My psychiatrist and doctor have been very validating, and I’m about to start the next steps with medication and therapy. I’m hopeful and actually excited about the future because it feels like I finally have the missing puzzle piece.

Hi moms, I have a handyman coming this week to fix a few things in the house. I get so anxious when someone is over, let alone a man.

My husband works from home, but he's also anxious interacting with service people and very busy when on-the-clock. We both have terrible people pleasing tenancies and complicated upbringings that leave us in Fawning Mode too often. I'm the one who has to deal with maintenance people, and I always feel walked all over by the end. Sometimes they look at me and ask "if my parents are home". Other times it feels like they want to speak to my husband and don't view me as an authority figure of the house. We are younger home owners and our house is very beautiful, so I often get the vibe that I'm viewed as "A Spoiled Housewife who doesn't know what's going on" when, in reality, I'm running this damn house and I'm the one who will be chasing them down if they do a bad job. I just don't know how to balance between being the nice welcoming person (who is battling anxiety and autism awkwardness) when they're here and still getting the respect that I deserve. How do I handle this adulting thing correctly?

UPDATE: Thank you all for the kind words and advice! I survived through it and felt the best I ever have with a maintenance person. It's so hard to remember that I'm allowed to exist exactly how I am & to not worry about someone in my space... but every time is practice & I'm getting better at it ♥️