My delightful, amazing, young teen daughter is bi. Her friends know and her immediate family knows, but she hasn’t discussed her sexuality with the extended family. She doesn’t want to talk to them about it, but she’s a pretty open person, so they are likely to know sooner or later (probably sooner, thanks to social media). Can … Continue reading How Do I Protect My Bisexual Teen Daughter?

In good news, I don’t have cancer. In less good news, surgery needs to be involved to maintain the status quo. I had a salpingo-oopherectomy this summer (and let me tell you hot flashes are ridiculous and I would like to trade them in on a puppy), and will be having a prophylactic double mastectomy with … Continue reading How Do I Explain That I’m Not Transitioning?

Since at least junior high (around 16 years ago) I’ve suffered from what I now know is the wonderful anxiety/depression combo pack. And for twelve of those years, I’ve also enjoyed the feeling of multiple torn vertebral discs that won’t heal and associated arthritis. For the most part, fortunately, my mental and physical issues have stayed on … Continue reading How Do I Deal With the Emotional Side of Disability?

why do people jump wen thy are excited? Thanks, Luca, Age 5 Dear Luca, Well, some people jump up and down when they are excited. Like most five-year-olds. People like me with neurological issues (when I unexpectedly see my friend Johanna, who has cerebral palsy,  a jolt of happiness runs through us and we both jerk and … Continue reading Why Do People Jump When They Are Excited?

My brother has two children – a 7-year-old boy and 6-year-old girl. His wife is CATHOLIC – in all caps. Their wedding included something like five priests (I can’t remember exactly, I just remember it was well above the required quantity). Their son is named after two popes. She once stated that she believes that athletes who pray more … Continue reading How Can I Subtly Undermine A Fanatically Religious Upbringing?

I have a fairly diverse friends group and it’s important to me that my son (who’s four) grow up accepting of all races and creeds. However, I’m having an issue with my neighbors that I’m afraid my son may interpret as racially motivated. Two nights ago there was an issue with my neighbors down the street. The … Continue reading What Do I Do When My White Privilege Is Showing?

I am a 42 year old single woman. I have been struggling my whole adult life between solitude and the intimacy of a romantic relationship. I cherish closeness with people above all else, and derive much pleasure from my friendships and family. Sometimes I don’t feel human without the added intimacy that a sexual or romantic relationship brings … Continue reading Am I Just An Irredeemable Spinster At Heart?

I need advice on an awkward situation. I’m female, recovering alcoholic for 20+ years, married with two kids, grew up in a small, conservative middle America town, and currently live in a mid-sized liberal middle-America city. A few years ago, in my hometown at a class reunion event, a friend and former drinking buddy from high school proclaimed loudly and … Continue reading What Do I Owe A Former Friend?

I appreciate all of the people who are advocating for social justice, but why does it seem that so many of them are just yelling on social media, and don’t mention doing anything in the physical world? Also, why do “allies” have the tendency to be super-annoying and up in one’s face?These are not even … Continue reading Why Do Online ‘Allies’ Have To Be So Annoying?

I seem to have lost the knack of flirting frivolously and freely and devil-may-care. There’s a woman I keep running into at gatherings far and wide, and I’ll be honest, part of my problem is that I find her distractingly hot, but she’s married (to a man) and I don’t know if she’s queer or … Continue reading How Do I Tell If It’s Flirting For Fun Or Flirting For Real?