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Too small clothes so I’d be excited to go on a diet and lose weight… as an already very sick underweight teen with an eating disorder who wasn’t a wize zero “but you’ll get there”

Paulo Cohelo’s garbage books to “help me with my constant depression that keeps bringing everyone down and you like books, no?”

Stuffed animal toy thay was first intended for a baby shower but the mom didn’t want it so “why should it go to waste if you can have it as a birthday present”

Plastic surgery offering as a sweet sixteen present “so you can feel beautiful”

Professional acne treatment (Accutane) as a birthday present because “Oh you poor thing need it”

A used and stained old yellow blouse “because it will make you look happier” I hate yellow.

And the list goes on lol. That was growing up and it is one of the many reasons why I am no contact with all of those people.

Now as an independent adult in a stable loving relaionship surrounded by nice genuine friends, I actually get very thoughtful and beautiful gifts. Some expensive, some with no monetary cost.

I am sorry OP. Cancer is such an awful thing.

Ooooh this made me teary eyed. My dad was my hero and he absolutely adored me, when he passed away unexpectedly I still remember him saying goodbye while getting out the door carrying his coffee thermos and briefcase. I miss him everyday.

This is what comes to mind whenever someone uses that “Iron sharpens iron” line.

Oh the scene/secquence? From Tim Burton’s “Big Fish” when he gets the dad back in the water. That was so wholesome but so sad at the same time.

I use both depending on what I need from them. For example, if it is a trashy/novelty book that I don’t care much about and just use it to pass time, I will use digital.

If it is a book I have wanted for a long time or an art book for references or a book I want tied to a place (I try to read a new book whenever I vacation somewhere new so the memories of said book are related to my trip) I buy physical. I love love the smell of ink and old books.

Oh I like this idea.

Vanillekipferl for the win!

Yes. My own family visited for Christmas.

Yes I was, my parents wanted me to practice my english. I lived with a family in Indiana for a bit and then lived with another familly in North Dakota. Both families were different but I liked the one in Bismarck better, the girls from the Muncie family were mean to me the whole time. My parents booked the experience through a private agency, not really sure how that worked (it was the nineties). ETA: I was 12 years old when I started the exchange and went back to my home country at 15

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Big family gatherings. I did not particularly enjoyed them growing up (I come from big extended families) but when I became a parent they were unbereable so I just stopped attending. I couldn’t fathom to subject my child to all that nonsense. Best decision ever! While cousins fight over who brings what side dish for Christmas I will be relaxing in a hammock by the beach, thank you very much.

I share this sentiment. School was such a drag and I miss nothing about it.

“Perfect is the enemy of good enough” This changed my view about so many things: Exercise, it’s fine if I don’t go 100% everyday. Work, it’s perfectly fine to negotiate agreements. Etc.

Good for you OP! Spanish is such a rich, beautiful sounding language.

My best bet, aside from full immersion is to first, take lessons in order to learn good foundations and know how stuff works and then, hire a language coach who can help you with your specific request.

Source: I help people doing exactly that. Some want to learn an accent, some want to lose an accent, some people need help getting more confident in their second or third language, etc.

I thought I knew stuff about nutrition, then I hired a professional and learned that lots of so called “healthier” or “better” foods were not so. I also learned not to think about food in terms of good or bad, food has no morals. It has been a great adventure to learn so much about how to take care of myself and feed me in the best way that I can each day.

It is! We were expecting him back in January.

No of course not. They deserve to know the truth and share the joy.

Kind of related: The barn where my kid goes to for lessons has an option for the horse owners that in case their animal dies (there are strict rules about the cause of death etc), the animal’s corpse can be donated to the local zoo to feed carnivores.

My SO works from another continent from time to time, he has been gone for a month now but today he told me that he’s going to be home for christmas. My kid is going to be over the moon!