If I could tell my 17yr old self, I would say: You're going to move out in 2 years, don't EVER talk to mom again because she has taken every chance she could to emotionally destroy you. I know you're dead set on being CF, but accidents happen...and let me tell you that having a DD will change your life for the better. Around 22, don't date the tattooed guy at work. Last and not least, when you have DD, don't marry her father....it will be the 3 most miserable years of your life.

I've had a miscarriage. Several years ago. On Fourth of July. And it hurt. Not so much physically, yes there was pain, but more-so emotionally, that hurt more. I was nearing 10 weeks in. Confused, sad, angry, happy, guilt, anxious, shaky, thirsty. The chaos that surrounded me was other's fun and laughter. No one had a clue what was going on with me. And for the most part, I didn't even know what was going on with me. As I went to the bathroom to change my overflowing pad for the about 7th time in 2 hours, I realized it was too late for me to want this pregnancy. I didn't want to raise another child. I was in my late 30's with three teen children already. My relationship was uncertain. I didn't trust him. But it wasn't this unborn child's fault. I completed the miscarriage physically that night and not only was my womb empty, but my heart was more empty. I was heartbroken and sad and still guilty, Did I wish this on myself? I used to be very emotional every year after as the fireworks burst in the air, but not just for America's Freedom, but for the life that could have been. If only I hadn't wished. My relationship blossomed into marriage and we went on to have a child. Now every Fourth of July, I will celebrate Freedom and life. There I said it. Time to let it go.

I'm done asking DH to"try" to work on our relationship and rekindle our love. He has made it painfully clear that he is no longer in love with me, has already emotionally moved on and has zero interest in trying. I honestly believed in my heart we could turn things around but if he's not willing to try, it will never work. I'm sad but it's out of my hands. We are going to counseling but instead of hoping for reconciliation, I'm hoping he can help us find a way to live together amicably until we sell our home. : (

Some components of intelligence are genetic. However, that doesn't explain everything. Well-educated parents are also much more likely to read to their children, expose their children to music and arts, travel, and place an emphasis on education. They can also usually afford better schools, computers, tutors, etc. When those children go on to exhibit a high intelligence, it is very hard to distinguish whether it was genetics or whether it was the environment they were raised in. It is very possible that if you put a child of highly intelligent parents into a poor family with little education who can't afford the same experiences or don't have the knowledge themselves to share with their children, that the child will have a lower level of intelligence. There have been studies done with identical twins who were raised separately that indicate the environment plays a huge role in not only emotional and intellectual development, but physical development as well. A child's diet, for example, can have a significant affect on their height as an adult, even in identical twins.

DH said his feelings are gone and emotionally, he's moved on (says there's no one else, he's just "checked out" after years of being unhappy). I agree that we've both been unhappy, but I remember all of the great times we had too. I think, with help from counseling and better communication, that we can get back to being happy - he doesn't but agreed to go. I hope I'm not just dragging this out, but I have to try. I also hope DH opens his mind enough to give us a chance.

UGH!!!!! My husband has been unemployed for almost 3 months. He just got turend down for another job (client went with another person who had more experience). We're broke, our rent is going up, he didn't automatically qualify for unemployment, so he has to appeal, but he's been dragging his fucking legs writing out an appeal letter. He has no prospects and to top it all off, it's my birthday tomorrow, and I'm not getting any cards, flowers, gifts - NOTHING from him, but a big fat ZERO. He might make a card for me, but that's about it. I am trying my hardest not to be ANGRY, BUT I FUCKING AM. I'm angry at the asshole supervisor who fired him, I'm angry at HIM, I'm angry at the horrible economy,where employers cherry pick who they want to hire (regardless of education or experience), I'm angry at being the one who has to carry the load and I can barely do that, and i'm angry that I will have to pick up a second job to make ends meet. He is not slacking, but he is also depressed (as most men are when they lose their jobs and can't get another one right away), clingy, emotional, and I'm tired of it, REALLY. I just want him to get a fucking job!!!! I am also tired of being the cheerleader and rah-rah person. I AM FEELING SO DRAINED! GET A FUCKING JOB ALREADY!!!

Just admitting this but I am 28 years old and my mother and family. Go on about how they are ready for me to have kids. I say that I am not ready or that my husband and I travel way too much for work and it would be hard on the kid. The truth is when I was a kid my mother used drugs and was emotionally and physically abusive. She would get in my face nose to nose while calling me a bitch and even the c word before slapping me around. I had to take care of my siblings and was failing school. I have spent the rest of my adult life being the opposite of her by getting an education and staying far from drugs. There is this fear that I will hurt my potential kid. That I will use the examples of motherhood I had and hurt my child. I have only phone contact with my mom and even though she is clean I still remember the pain and I don't want to do that to my child and my fear is I will se the same hurt I had in my child. I keep getting told by my mom I will get too old to have a child and could be a bad parent but the truth is...I want a baby but don't want to hurt it like my family hurts me

I love the song Stay With Me by Sam Smith. It might be really simple, but it I just think it's a really beautiful and emotional song and it does something to me.

There's been an emotional distance between DH and I for a few years. We both recognized and talked about it but never were able to reconnect. DH said he has checked out and doesn't think he can get his feelings back. I am devastated and want to put in the effort to make things work. He agreed to go to counseling but said he is only doing it at my insistence. We used to have a beautiful relationship, almost effortless - lovers and best friends. Has anyone been in a similar situation and had luck with counseling?

Looking back, I can't believe what I let my first boyfriend away with. He was messed up from his brother's death, and took way too many drugs. He used to belittle me constantly, in front of his friends and when we were on his own. He was depressed and talked about death a lot, and would disappear for days and then freak out about me trying to contact him because I was worried. He shamed my body when we were together and manipulated ME into feeling like I was the one in the wrong. He was a textbook emotional abuser. But if I ever had a chance to confront him, he would whine and pout and ask how I could call him abusive, because he would refer to himself as a humanist, a feminist and a caring person. It's crazy how people can't see their own behaviour for what it is.