Hiya, slightly longer script than I'm used to. Hope y'all would enjoy this one. As always, feedback is appreciated.
Feel free to edit parts of the script to make it seem more personal/realistic or to do a little gender swapping. Monetisation is ok!
[...]: Listener speaking
{...}: Background noise and actions
***
Description: You have been battling an illness, finding yourself confined to your home. As you begin to settle into your solitude, an unexpected knock on the door breaks the silence. You open the door only to find your childhood friend turned bully, what could they want?
Setting: Home
Audio start:
{Knock on door}
[Muffled] Hey loser, open up! [Irritated knock] Hello! Don’t make me say it twice.
{Door open}
About time blockhead! What took you so lo- Woah, what happened to you!?
​
Look like you got run over by a truck, [Chuckle] that illness sure did a number on you, huh. Heh and here I couldn’t look any worse.
So, how long are you planning on making me wait outside! Out of my way, nerd, I’m coming in.
​
Wow, this dump sure hasn’t changed, huh? I can’t believe I used to come here daily.
[...] [Chuckle] Yeah, we used to binge all those trashy horror movies, and play all your nerdy video games in here.
Oh what’s the record I had against you for Mario Kart? Hm… 14 0, was it?
Uhm… [Awkward pause] Heh, once a loser, forever a loser I guess!
​
[...] Why did I come over? Oh yeah, I had to pass you your homework, you dork.
[...] Yeah, yeah, don't let it get to your head. I'm not going out of my way to help you or anything. Blame my mom, if anything, for asking me to bring you your homework. It’s not like I wanted to come over anyways.
​
{Backpack rustles as speaker takes out worksheet}
Here, the worksheets, dork. We can’t have the poor sick teacher’s pet missing any lessons, can we.
Yeah? So what if the papers are a bit crumpled? You should be thankful, you know?
[...] Yeah, much better. You’re welcome I guess.
​
{Listener moves to a table and begins to write on the assignment}
Woah, straight to doing the assignment, as expected of someone like you.
[...] What do I mean? Well, you’re the golden child aren’t you, the straight A perfect student everyone loves. Never changed over the years, huh?
Heh, I remember your parents used to get you new games every time you scored well. You would come running over like a little puppy to share your games with me.
But that stopped pretty quick, huh. [Chuckle] Your parents would’ve gone broke if they bought you any more games… {listener begins writing half way through}
​
Hey did you even hear what I said? Tch, of course not, you always get like that. Too hyper fixated to even notice those around you… [Raise volume] I bet you wouldn’t notice if I left right now.
[...] Oh that actually caught your attention. [Dead tone] Colour me surprised.
[...] You don’t want me to leave yet? Fine I guess I can stay here a while longer. I had to cancel my plans to come here anyways.
{Listener beams} Ugh, don’t look at me like that! It's not like I wanted your company or anything. I just happened to be free.
​
{Speaker collapses on a couch}
Ugh, this is so boring. So is there anything to do in this dump?
No matter how much of a nerd you are, you gotta have something interesting around here, right?
​
{Speaker starts looking at and rummaging through stuff}
Let’s see what we have here: boxes of card games, check, a bag of dice, check, a bunch of boring nerd stuff, check.
And huh. {Speaker picks up cd} What do we have here, a bunch of horror CDs…
[Chuckle] I still remember your face after those cheap jump scares. There’s no way I would forget that.
Haha, your mom had to remove all your stuffed toys to even get you to stay in your room. [Slow down] And I had to…play with your hair to get you to drift off that night.
​
Uh anyways, woah look, it’s the Mario kart game disc. Heh you up for a round? I’ve got a record to prove.
{Words slur, heartbeat sfx, as the listener collapses} Hey, why are you wobbling? Too afraid to take the challenge?
​
{Listener collapses, ear ringing sfx}
{Regain consciousness}
[Closer] Woah, are you good? Don’t just faint on me like that!
[...] Shh, no talking, just rest. Let me check your forehead, dummy.
Agh, you're heating up. Come on, up on the bed, loser.
​
How did it even get this bad, wasn’t it just a small cold?
What are you eight? You should be taking better care of yourself.
[...] You can tough it out? You’ve gotta complete the assignment? [Sigh] You haven’t changed a bit have you. Can’t you think about your own health at all? You know you’ll be the death of me.
​
[...] Huh, why are you thanking me for helping you? [Slight stutters] It’s not like I care about you, it’s more like…like I didn’t want the guilt of being associated with your death. And either way, it's not like I’m not used to this by now. I had to take care of you when your parents weren't around after all.
Ugh, just lie down and rest, nerd. I’ll go get you a glass of water.
​
{Pours a glass of water} Here!
Yeah yeah, no need to thank me.
Hey roll up your sleeves, we'll use this wet towel to cool you down. Who even wears a long sleeved shirt during summer? I bet that’s why you're getting more ill.
​
[Grunts as speaker struggles to wrestle with the listener to roll their sleeves, occational grunts between each word]
Hey, stop resisting. I'm trying to help you here.
[...] It's embarrassing? I helped you whenever you were sick since we were young, why would you only complain now?
​
Stop struggling! Ugh fine you forced my hand. [Grunt]
Hah, struggle however much you want, but I doubt you'll ever overpower me with your hands pinned like that.
​
[...] Yeah yeah, continue struggling, but I ain't letting go.
Finally had enough? Yeah, let's roll up those sleeves, nerd.
​
[Gasp] Wait, why are your arms bruised? Shit how is it this bad!
[...] It doesn’t hurt? How are you able to even move your arms right now!?
Forget the assignment, these bruises run up the entire length of your arm. It must hurt to even move your arm, don’t even try denying it!
​
[...] Oh shush it, if you exert yourself anymore, you’ll hurt yourself even more!
It’s not like you're missing much by missing just one assignment, when you’re so far ahead.
And either way, if this gets any worse, I’m not going to help take care of you for the rest of your life, nerd.
​
So, what happened? Who did this to you?
[...]You fell down the stairs? These stairs better have grown out some hands and punched you, if not yeah I’m not falling for that.
Why are you even trying to hide it? Just tell me what happened!
​
[...]Why do I care? I’m one of your bullies too?
Yeah I know that, you don’t have to say it out loud. I know you would want to talk to me the least, but please just this once, tell me what happened. I’m serious, nerd.
​
[...] [Grunts of agreement]
So let me get this straight. A bunch of our classmates have been asking you to do their homework, and when you weren’t able to complete all of them, they beat you?
What’s wrong with you, why don’t you ever fight back!
When I pushed you around, you were meant to push back. But no, you would always accept it and just sat there in silence.
​
[...] You’re not going to stoop to their level? Please, this is simply protecting yourself and deterring others from continuing.
Just to scare them away, and to stop you from getting hurt.
​
[...] No? Ugh why are you always like this? Can’t you listen to me for once!
I know you’ve always been the better one of us, but stop and listen for once, please.
​
[...] What do I mean? Hah, you’re the one most likely to succeed, the one who has more friends, the one I like!
[Gasp] Stop looking at me like that! Yeah I do like you, dummy.
[...] Why? Are you serious!? Why… Well, you’re the only one that didn’t judge me when we were young.
​
I remember being kind of lonely in primary school, no one wanted to play with the weird kid.
Before you transferred in, I didn’t really participate in most activities, the last one picked for teams, the one with the worst grades, the one picked on by bullies.
Yeah, everyone eventually started steering clear of me to avoid being the new target of the bullies. I hated school back then, a never ending cycle of torture that I had to go back to no matter what I tried.
​
Time passed, and eventually there was no one around to even talk to. That’s when the smart new kid comes around, inviting me to play with them. I felt happy that someone actually wanted me to join them, but eventually everything had to come to an end.
I was disappointed that we had to go home that day, I wanted it to never end, but then you invited me to play the next day too.
​
I think that was the first time I was looking forward to going back to school.
Imagine my sorrow, when you didn’t turn up after school, I cried, I really did. But just as I was about to get up from the swing, guess who came hobbling out, with a visible punch mark on the cheek.
Turns out someone had found out that I was bullied and decided to confront them. Well, let’s say it didn’t go well for you, but you put up such a fight, that they decided to stop picking on me.
Well, I think I looked up to you for helping me, but gradually as we spent more time with each other, I kinda fell for you.
​
[...] Why did I bully you then? I don’t really know. We entered university and I don’t know we kinda drifted apart. You started to attract a bunch of people around you, leaving me out of stuff, answering my texts late. I started, you know, growing a bit jealous… So I thought there was only one way to get your attention again…
I know it was stupid and I’m sorry for that…I really am…
​
[...] Huh, you forgive me? Thanks… And yeah forget about anything I said just now, I don’t want to risk anything else changing from the way it was in the past.
[...] Wait what, you like me too!? Where did this come from? Liking your bully of all people?
​
[...] [Flustered] It’s because I’m cute and caring? Yeah, I think the illness is messing with your head.
[...] No!? I’m not blushing, it's the blurred vision from your illness.
​
So what does that make us now…
[...] Hm... a couple… I like how that sounds…
[Chuckle] Well this wasn’t what I expected my confession to be. But the end results are passable.
​
You better not pass everything off as some kind of fever dream. And, for the record, I want names, nerd. Those stairs better watch out when I get my hands on them.
I ain’t gonna let anyone mess with you under my watch, nerd.
​
You look like you’re on the verge of passing out, I’ll make my way out for now.
Remember don’t over exert yourself. Rest well, dear… Nah it doesn’t have the same ring as nerd.
Rest well, nerd.
Audio fades
Thanks for reading! :)
​

Hi! I am tutoring my youngest student yet. A 5 year old in Kindergarten with learning disabilities. Tutoring is online (this is all the family can manage right now). I am having a lot of trouble keeping this little boy engaged for 1 hr 3x a week.
He is working on numbers and letters. I have been doing letter finds (like word searches), color by number, dot-to-dot, count and color worksheets, matching with letters, "I spy" activities with either "find something with letter A" or with finding and coloring "how many puppies, kittens, bunnies" in this picture. I have online PDF stickers he can stick on the board (I tell him a number, have him count my stickers, have him draw a group of 1 more/less than I did).
​
Any other ideas to keep him engaged the entire time?
​
Note: I am providing a 5 minute "brain break" once or twice as needed.

2024-012 / Zedd MAP: 96.58 / MLZ MAP: 96.24 / Score Gap: 0.34
IMDb / Wikipedia / Official Trailer / Our Collection
CrAsH - I had just put my hand on the bedroom door knob this morning to come out and greet the day when suddenly there was a terrible clattering going off overhead. Rushing out, hoping beyond hope Mrs. Lady Zedd hadn’t taken a tumble down the stairs, I found her standing at the kitchen sink looking petrified. Our two German Shepherds, ever heroic and brave of heart, blew past my legs on their way to lodging themselves under the bed. Jokes aside, Brunnhilde and Fritz are generally ready to challenge any noise but this sounded like bombs bursting in air so, I’d had joined them under the bed if I’d have been able to… I’ve seen Winnie the Pooh enough times to know how that’d end (silly old bear).
South East Texas got its first real taste of winter over night, and as such, our heater finally had cause to kick on - the vibration of which sent the heavy metal door (ill fitting at the best of times) careening to the attic floor. Poor MLZ had to clamber up into the frigid cockloft (cockloft haha thank you thesaurus for my new favorite word) to effect appropriate repairs. Yes, wintertime is here, my sweet summerchild, it’s cockloft repairs at dawn, light breakfast to follow.
From IMDb: When a litter of Dalmatian puppies are abducted by the minions of Cruella De Vil, the owners must find them before she uses them for a diabolical fashion statement.
That settled, I knew we’d need something to salve our nerves. Is there a better remedy for artificially accelerated heart rates than classic Disney? This is where our daughter, Little Miss Zedd, enters the story - whilst speaking with her last night she advised me to bring One Hundred and One Dalmatians down. When I asked her why, she cooly replied, “It’s winter, time for wintertime movies…” and she’s (of course) correct. I’ve flirted with what I call “Cinematic Seasons” for years but it’s something I’ve finally firmly rooted in the newest version of the Movie Collection Catalog. A quick check for “Winter-Season” in the MCC will bring films filled with grey, cold, and snowy settings… think Blades of Glory (2007), Better Off Dead (1985), or Jeremiah Johnson (1972). Maybe you’re freezing enough already and want to warm up… Summer-Season suggests Meatballs (1979), Mr. Hobbs takes a Vacation (1962), or The Great Outdoors (1988). Custom tools mean my tools fit me instead of me trying to fit in with them.
Once the movie’s credits roll, I hand Mrs. Lady Zedd the MAP worksheet - my MAP from March of last year is still valid, but we need hers - wowza, did we score close! (What I call “seeing the same movie”.) I don’t mind when we don’t see eye-to-eye on a film (enjoy what you enjoy starts at home) but it’s good when we do. I should mention, it’s always easier to have unity of MAP at the upper register of the algorithm - all your question inputs will land between (4) Very Good and (5) Excellent, it makes sense. She comments that she likes the tweaks we’ve made to MAP 4.5, she feels like there’s more choices. I say I like that she’s taken to the algorithm so well, she felt inclined to give me input in those tweaks. It’s gratifying to watch your lifemate going from “movie algorithm huh?” eyeroll to using it, and finally helping improve it. How very movie on is that?

Would someone please read this and let me know what age group this would best target? I'm new to this, but want to write with my ideal audience in mind. Also, I will likely add more to this chapter, I'm just hung up on the audience thing :)
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Chapter One
Ms. Twist bounces into today's classroom with a smile on her face. You can always tell the classroom in which she's subbing because she leaves the door wide open. Jacob tells her a knock-knock joke and her laugh tinkles all the way down the third grade hallway of Hopewell Elementary School. She helps Caleb with his math worksheet. When Julia starts chewing her shirt collar, Ms. Twist calls her to the front of the room to help give stickers to her classmates. You see, Ms. Twist doesn't just teach, she sparkles with those children. As the school day ends and its finally time to shut the classroom door, she fingers her golden locket and smiles to herself. But this smile isn't one full of joy or pride. This smile is full of secrets, and Ms. Twist has plenty of secrets.
Mystery has followed Ms. Twist for as long as she can remember. Ms. Twist's parents disappeared from their home office when she was only six years old. Not disappeared as in ran away; no, disappeared as in a loud "boom" and then nothing. After her sisters and she had gathered the courage to enter the office, they had found it looking pristine, without any indications of their parents or what may have caused the thunderous sound that had erupted from the office minutes before. Ms. Twist has not seen her parents since.
In the wake of her parents’ disappearance, Ms. Twist seemed to develop a unique talent for attracting…others. It started with the dog.
The moment Ms. Twist arrived at her grandmother’s home with her siblings and luggage, the newfoundland puppy sprung from her grandmother’s hydrangea bushes. The puppy bounded straight to Ms. Twist and began licking her tiny hands. His soft fur was the color of the chocolate truffles that her mother used to give her on Valentines Day. The pup looked at her with his curiously golden eyes, and Ms. Twist knew that dog was hers. Though Ms. Twist’s grandmother searched (and searched) for the owner, none ever came to claim the overgrown pup. Just like that, Wilmore became part of the family.
And has remained so for the past twenty-one years.

I found a puppy last week and she has been freezing her butt off. So, I made her a little jacket with some polar fleece from Joann's!
I used the pattern worksheet from this site and I did have to make two versions to get the fit right. https://wholefully.com/dog-coat-tutorial/ But I think that was more because of my poor measuring than the guide.
I did not watch the tutorial, I just cut out two of the pattern, and sewed inside out before flipping right side out and attaching hooks and eyes. Took about and hour to draft the pattern and finish everything. Would definitely recommend the pattern to and pet owners!
Puppy pics with the jacket in the comments -

I know how the title sounds. I know I sound like a monster. At this point, I don't care. I'm a 17-year-old girl and currently in my senior year of high school. This time in my life is already super stressful with college applications, financial aid forms, scholarships, exams, keeping my grades up while taking honors and AP classes, etc. I have to juggle so much right now and I feel stressed all the time. And I genuinely think this fucking canine is going to make me implode.
For context, I grew up with my parents separated basically since I was a baby. During the school year, I'm with my mom during the week and my dad on the weekend. My mom was never really in the dating scene, so while I was at her house it was always just me, her, and our two cats. Last year, everything got turned upside-down when my mom started dating a man she met online, who I'll call Mark. Three months later, Mark came to meet us in person. We went to a restaurant and honestly he seemed cool-- he's from Canada and I'm half Moroccan from my dad's side, so we had in common that we both speak French. That night he asked me for permission to propose to my mom.
I was more than a little thrown off, because it all seemed so fast. I told him as such and expressed that I thought they should see each other for a little while more before even considering marriage. He said that was okay. Or so I thought. That weekend him and my mom went on a trip to New York, and I learned that he proposed to her anyway and she said yes. I found out because they posted about it on Facebook, so I was shortly bombarded by texts from all my aunts and uncles asking if I was okay with the news.
Obviously I was pissed at first. I think I honestly would have felt better if Mark hadn't asked me before, because at least then he wouldn't be showing a blatant disregard for my opinion. I get that they're both adults and it wasn't my place as a 16-year-old girl to cockblock them, but come on? Why ask me for permission if you're just going to do it anyway? What's the point of that?
Long story short he moved in that summer, and gradually I got used to him. It was hard at first, because I'm autistic and I really hate major changes. But I warmed up to him after a bit. All things considered, he's a nice enough guy. He lets me use his PS5 to play video games and he takes me out for coffee after school sometimes, and most importantly he treats my mom right. So by the time the wedding came this November, I felt fine with the fact they were getting married. I was just happy that my mom was happy.
Now you might be wondering, what does this have to do with a dog? Well, shortly after they got married, they started talking about getting a puppy. I thought that was a little weird, since we already had two senior cats and our house isn't exactly big. They asked me what I thought and I said it was a bad idea, for the two reasons I just mentioned, but also because neither of them were working at the time. My mom is on medical leave while looking for another job and Mark was still getting all the proper paperwork done to be able to work in America. Training and taking care of a puppy would be extra stress to their already loaded schedules, and I was worried it wouldn't be the best environment to incorporate another living thing into.
If the previous anecdote didn't already make you suspect as much, they got a dog anyway. He was a few weeks old when we got him. My first thought when they showed him to me was "well, this was a bad idea." And it was.
This is the part where I'm going to sound like a compassionless brat, and you can judge me if you want. I already wasn't a dog person before, and a part of me thought having a puppy might change that. No. I think I just straight-up hate dogs now.
That little terror is the most irritating, loud, smelly, hysterical creature I have ever come across. I swear to God he's an invasive species, because he's taken over the whole house. My stepdad had the brilliant idea of putting his pee pad in the laundry room, which just so happens to be where I GET DRESSED FOR SCHOOL EVERYDAY because that's where my uniform is hung up. Now the whole room smells like shit, there's dog shit on the pee pad, in the corner, next to the washing machine, everywhere. The dog shit isn't even limited to the designated laundry room-- if he feels like shitting, he'll shit anywhere in the house. The whole living room is his play pen. There's like 50 dog toys all over the floor that I constantly trip on. I can't watch TV, relax on the couch, or even eat at the table anymore. He's constantly biting my ankles when I'm eating meals, he jumps on me whenever I sit down and tries to bite my face and hands, he barks at me whenever I try to ignore him like my mom says. I can't do anything downstairs without him biting me or clawing at me, or just barking for no reason. He's routinely knocked food and drinks out of my hands by jumping on me and almost broke my laptop once. I feel like I should mention he doesn't do this to my mom or Mark-- just me.
He also doesn't get along well with the cats, which I told my mom and stepdad would happen. I have to constantly deal with them getting into hissing-and-barking matches, and the dog is always the instigator. The cats have literally started hanging out exclusively in my room because that's the only place where the dog isn't allowed in.
I get that this is normal puppy behavior. I'm not that ignorant. I don't think he's ever being malicious when he does these things. I get that he's still learning, and his aggressive behaviors are probably just him being playful. But knowing that doesn't make him any less of a tumor. The mere knowledge that he's acting this way because he's a puppy doesn't magically make the annoying behavior go away. I never wanted a dog. I never even wanted a stepdad. My life is already stressful enough because I'm supposed to do my little worksheets and write my little essays and keep my little grade numbers above a 95 to keep my financial aid while my entire future is being decided for me by admissions committees, and this dog is constantly pushing me over the edge into a mental breakdown. When I'm in a good mood he ruins it. When I'm tense (which is often), he'll always be that one little nudge I need to want to jump off the nearest building.
The worst part is, my mom and stepdad will try to pretend like this thing is my responsibility now that he's living in the house. Like, respectfully, no he isn't. It's not like I begged my parents for a dog and now I've decided he's too much work. I never wanted a fucking dog. I told them that explicitly, and they got a dog anyway. AGAIN, they're both adults and they are well within their rights to do whatever they want. It's not like I pay for this house. But don't just get a dog and expect me to shape my whole life around it. They say they're training him out of his more harmful behaviors, but if so they're doing a piss-poor job, because I still get marks on my wrists and hands from him biting me, and I've started eating breakfast, lunch, and dinner at my desk because I can't stand be in the same room with that dog anymore.
I'm not heartless-- I'll put food in his bowl when it's empty, I give him treats when he exhibits good behavior, and I'll let him out of his cage when if he's crying because I don't want him to be sad even though I hate him. He doesn't deserve mistreatment just because I don't like him. I don't think anyone, human or dog, should be punished for things that aren't their fault, which is why I've resorted to just distancing myself from him. I don't even think it's the dog I hate. I just hate the situation. I hate that so much of my life is being decided for me and I have no choice in it. I hate that I was given the illusion of choice multiple times, and routinely shown that no one in this household actually cares what I think or how I feel. I hate that they decided to get that little hellion and now it's my problem. I know my anger should be directed at my mom and stepdad, but every time I've tried to talk to them about they'll point out that they can't just return the dog (which I agree with, I don't think any dog should be put through that), so it's just fucking useless.
That was my rant. You can think of me as an entitled dog hater if you want. I just needed to get this off my chest, because there's no real way I can talk about it without sounding like an unreasonable brat. To anyone who actually read this whole thing, I commend you. Happy holidays (if you observe any holidays around this time), and I hope your New Year is filled with joy. Toodles.
TL;DR: My mom and stepdad got a profoundly irritating dog while I'm going through the most stressful time of my life thus far, and I feel like I'm about to rip my hair out.

Throwaway. Sorry, this turned loooong.
Basics: We’ve been married 12, together 14. Together we raised/are raising his son 21 (I don’t view him as a step, he’s my son), my son 16 (same dynamic), and our daughter 10. Bio parents of our respective sons haven’t been present for years. We both work FT. We supported one another through schooling. He is a present and involved dad. No history or any suspicion of infidelity. He is a hard working man, no abuse of any kind, no addictions, supportive of anything I want to do.
My husband never had planned a single date. Not one not even the first, never planned anything in our life, vacations, childcare, meals, us time, just nothing. Even my proposal was half assed him asking him to marry him after I got my son to bed one night with a ring he bought after seeing it open on my browser. No romance. If I give him a task, he will follow. He does not have adhd or any other conditions. He has worked and excelled in and jobs needing excellent executive functioning and now runs his own business. But in our home? I feel like a manager with an employee and I hate that. If I don’t plan, it doesn’t get done.
Over the last several years (6-7?) our sex life has stopped. Like 2-4 times a year. Initially I attributed it to raising young kids, working opposite shifts, exhaustion. Our kids are older, we have good similar schedules, and have no reason to be as tired for last 2 years. And when we have, he often has a difficult time maintaining an erection. He does have slightly low T, low end of normal thyroid function. I forced him to have it evaluated, he was diagnosed and placed on meds, he has never followed up to continue. He would not mention the ED to provider though. He does have hypertension and it is treated and well maintained. He’s a nurse and knows damn well how to maintain his own health and the importance.
We have very poor communication because he shuts down and acts like a kicked puppy when I try to bring things up. He apologizes but nothing changes. I have to be on eggshells so he doesn’t think I’m attacking him. I am the least naggy person ever, preferring to just get over stuff than deal with him acting like his feelings are hurt. The first 10 yrs of marriage had 3 medium size fights and next to no quibbles. I came from a very violent relationship before so I don’t ever want to fight. He had a very manipulative ex too.
So a bit over 1.5 years ago I realized it all. A light just went off one day. My mom was visiting and could watch kids so we could go out and he screwed around and came home late and I snapped. It’s like I was so used to living this life where I have to plan if we have alone time. I have to initiate. I have to maintain connection. I just never saw it. A few months before we moved to an area where we have no friends/family and so I think not having that as a distraction made it come out. Anyway, I actually came at him harshly, demanded he put effort in and demanded dates. Actually had some conversations around it. He planned one date a few months away. A concert that ended cancelled by the artist after I’d had to remind him at least 5 times to ask our oldest to watch our youngers for it. Definitely not great. No make up.
We get to 8 months later with nothing else so wrote him a letter explaining what all I needed. More help around house which in fairness did improve a bit. This is when I told him he had to go to be checked out medically and briefly started the T and thyroid medication. He planned an overnight staycation nearby for our anniversary the next month. I was ecstatic. 6 more months go by and nothing else. Still no sex. No connection. Nothing. I hate it. I’m miserable. I’m withdrawing from family activities. We sit down and have discussion and I reiterate all my needs. I told him I will not continue to beg for attention.
Primarily 1. Dates (not expensive or elaborate, can be going grocery shopping, in backyard once our youngest goes to sleep, anything) 2. He continue to seek medical treatment 3. He doesn’t shut down when we need to have difficult conversations
He planned one date for 9/30. We did begin to have regular sex from September to October and then it ended. No other date. No nothing, no follow medical. I began therapy alone with a couples counselor to try to figure out what I could do to encourage a better relationship or accept it’s over. Mainly I wanted to do alone because if he joined and didn’t put in effort I knew that would be the end for me. He was hurt by that and wanted to join. He did and we were given homework for a month straight to having “weekly staff meetings” and go over some worksheets. It didn’t happen and frankly I was letting him initiate. We had to cancel the therapy due to a financial issues that came up. 2 months later and nothing came of it. Back to where we were before.
I WANT OUT but I do not want to put our kids through a divorce but I want to be happy. He’s not a bad husband or person but he’s not a good husband. I’m the one who settled, it’s not like he changed he’s never done anything romantic or put any effort in our entire relationship but I’m now expecting more. He’s a good person, good roommate, good coparent. Bad husband. I feel selfish for thinking my being in a loving relationship is more important than kids being in an intact home. I could just keep going and pretending like I have for the last 1.5. We have 6.5 yrs until our daughter graduates high school. The kids have no clue now and if you ask them we love each other, so I’m sure we could pull it off for the time we have left. Time flies with kids. But I’ll be in my late 40s then, will I be able to find happiness? I don’t know.
Do I settle and accept a mediocre life? There’s no guarantee that better could come along but is a guarantee to upend the kids’ lives if I leave.

I've been drinking most of my adult life daily with a few exceptions for 16 years. I had been forced quit (due to deployment and restriction) for about 6 months and I was so happy but as soon as I had access to alcohol again I started right back where I was when I left. I'm an Iraq war vet, I turned 21 in Iraq and as soon as I got back I started hitting the bottle hard but only on the weekends. Somehow in 3 years that morphed into daily and held steady with the exception of a few short stints on ships where I didn't have access to alcohol. The longest I'd gone without a drink in the last 8 years was roughly 70 days. I learned to limit how much alcohol was in the house to one 750ml bottle of vodka or I wouldn't stop there. I would often drink more than I intended to and I nearly got caught still drunk the next day at work, I learned to cover my tracks so well. I actually took the job as the drug and alcohol program manager for years just to avoid any detection or suspicion and then after that close call at work, I switched over to the drug and alcohol testing job so that I would always know when a "random" test was going to be performed. I had dedicated start times I had to start drinking by or else I wouldn't be able to metabolize it all before the next morning. If anything interfered with these start times it would cause me incredible anxiety and frustration. I built my life around these start times meaning my wife and children knew I had to be home by 4pm or I would get increasingly agitated. For nearly 14 years my wife put up with it, even covered for me, even supplied me just to keep the peace. She had many times begged me to stop but she kept my secret like it was her own. I had convinced her that once I achieved certain career goals that I would "turn myself in" to my chain of command and let them know everything and I would be sent for treatment and finally be able to stop drinking.
Well, that happened, albeit a couple years after I had achieved my stated career goal. I kept dragging my feet to do the right thing because it was never the right time. The time came, and I let the cat out of the bag. Everyone has been so supportive, I work in the military medical community, the doctor managing my care is basically my boss. She put me on medically managed withdrawal and then I am going to do 35 days of intensive inpatient treatment with a minimum 1 year supervised follow on care.
So here I am, coming up on my first 48 hours sober...... likely a week out from admission to inpatient treatment, they're still working out the paperwork. I am happy that it's all out in the open now and that it is out of my control because if I could sabotage it or back out, I probably would have, which is why I started a process I couldn't stop. My entire career I've never been held accountable for anything because of my talents and value, people always seemed to look the other way or I would find a way to get out of something and no one ever challenged me. That environment just continued to feed my addiction, being insulated from consequences gave me no reason to stop and face the uncomfortable part that I would have to change or eventually it would all come crashing down or I would die an early death with my wife and children only knowing what I truly was and taking that shame with them.
I am actually terrified of what the next year is going to look like, how it's going to be without my oldest friend alcohol. So much of my life has revolved around alcohol and I don't really know how or why it started. I had plenty of demons in my life growing up and the war didn't help any, this lifestyle of high stress didn't help any, I really used my wife having a brief affair nearly 3 years ago as an excuse to fully embrace my alcoholism but the problem existed well before that and the root cause of the affair is likely years of neglect and emotional abuse caused by the alcoholism. I was an alcoholic when she met me, I went through our wedding, the birth of our three children, I achieved one of the highest honors the Navy has to offer, I constantly was ranked in the top three out of groups of hundreds of competitors on performance evaluations, I travelled to more than 35 countries, I won many awards, honors, I completed my college degree while working full time, with just the energy put in between 5am and 4pm, it's crazy to think of what I could have achieved without devoting so much of my mental capacity and energy into fueling, planning, protecting and continuing my alcohol addiction for so many years.
I stand now on the precipice of having to take a hard look at all the wasted potential, all the missed opportunities, all the consequences and regrets of this single substance. To the day I found out about the affair if I lay dying in a hospital bed with a sudden illness I would have told you with a stone face and a steel heart that my only true regret was not having a son. I have 2 teenage daughters who's lives until that point had been exponentially better than mine had ever been by their age. They had seen the world, travelled Europe and wanted for nothing. I wasn't even the worst drunk, I was the kind of drunk who would get happy and play music and dance with them, tell them crazy stories and put on mini comedy routines, give them affection and fatherly advice and be tender and loving with them. But there was always a dark side, underlying anger that they were never the brunt of, but their mother often was. If she would make a mistake I would criticize and belittle her for making such an obviously stupid mistake. I would remind her that it was my hard work that allowed her to be a stay at home mom and finish her degrees and how much the children absolutely loved and valued me. About how we never had to worry about money and got to travel and do things that other people only dream of. If she had the slightest complaint about my behavior, it was because she was ungrateful. I thought a lot of things she would experience would make up for the lack of attention, I thought surely that when I am making a speech and I'm the center of attention, center of adoration of my peers and I would praise her in public about how I couldn't have done it without her, I thought it must make her so proud to see that, or when she would run into someone at the store or at the bank or anywhere and they would say "oh! you're NavyGeiger's wife, oh I just love him, isn't he the best!" I thought it must fill her with pride to be married to a man with such public standing. I was wrong and I see now how she could think it was all an act because she never heard it from me directly, I never told her I appreciated her, I never told her the things in private she would hear me say about her in public, she thought it was all part of the show, how I trick everyone into thinking I'm such a nice and good person worthy of admiration and respect. I really didn't know a woman needed these things, in fact I had been under the impression for years that women ONLY cared about social status and resources, that's why I was able to land a smoking hot wife like her. Women like her could take their pick of the litter and she had chosen me because I had built an empire of social status, because everyone loved and adored me, looked up to me, other women were constantly throwing themselves at me, men wanted to be me and women wanted to be with me. I thought that must thrill her, she wouldn't want some sucker who worships the ground she walks on and just lives to tell her she's so smart and pretty and lives in her orbit like a pathetic puppy dog, but that's exactly what happened. Someone I would have considered a low life looser, the pathetic kiss less virgin neckbeard, of lower-than-average intelligence, way lower than average physical attractiveness and extremely lower career ambition and achievement.
But he was nice to her, told her she was smart, told her she didn't deserve to be ignored. One of those, well if I was your husband I would bring you flowers every day and I would always tell you how pretty you were and bring you flowers, etc. Well, that's what happened right under my nose because I was so sure that every day she was counting her blessings to be with such a high-value man. When I found out I was completely taken by surprise. It was like 10 9/11's and a couple Pearl Harbors in the space of an hour.
Humbled beyond belief, brought down to my stomach, you know the higher you are the harder you fall. I was mentally, emotionally, spiritually, crushed. I'd never been dealt a blow like that, it couldn't have been more custom designed to break me in every way possible. I had even been sober at the time because I could sense there was something off between us and I was making every effort to make her happy with me but by then it was too late. This guy had his hooks in her, he was constantly in her ear telling her it was a lie, that I was fake, insincere, don't believe he cares about you, he just uses you, the tenderness is a trick, you know the real him, don't be fooled!
I think the thing that hurt the most was that I honestly had dedicated myself fully to restoring and repairing our relationship and every overture was completely based on my absolute unconditional love for her and a desire to be a better husband.
So when I had caught them, it was literally the day after she had finally" sealed the deal" by having brief and disappointing intercourse with him at a shopping mall parking lot. Before that she had been kissing him at work and playing a little grab ass on breaks, but mostly just messaging about how much they wished they could be together and it was wrong etc., but that morning I had pushed her over by giving her an ultimatum through text message that I needed to know she was all in on our relationship and making it better or I would leave her because I had done everything I could and she just wouldn't believe I was for real. As the nausea set in from what she had done and how wrong and utterly disappointing it had been, I was at work downloading couples activity worksheets to do when I got home that would hopefully strengthen our communication. It gutted her to walk in the door, hours after the deed, and see me there smiling and so excited to begin our journey to better communication. She immediately went to the shower and cried for a very long time. I took the opportunity for the first time in our relationship to bug her phone by basically setting up WhatsApp web on my PC so I would be able to see all incoming and outgoing messages from my PC. She came out of the shower and went to take the dog on a 2 hour walk which was really just her going over to her closest friend's house and telling her that she was leaving the country (we were overseas at the time) she wanted to stop doing what she was doing. She couldn't continue the affair if they were on different continents. I didn't really think anything of it except when she didn't return for 2 hours so I looked at her messages on my newly set up wire tap and found out she had gone to her friends house. I decided to confront her as to what took so long when she got home, as the time dragged out, I had already started drinking and I continued to get more and more aggravated, I wanted to see if she would tell me where she really was. She came home and I grilled her, she lied, said she had gone to the dog park and lost track of time, wouldn't budge and inch, I berated her, called her a liar and then went to bed.
The next day, she was leaving for a trip to Rome with friends, I hadn't been able to go because of short notice, so as I'm putting my socks on I fire up WhatApp web on my PC and I see she is getting a message asking why she deleted him from instagram? She tells him she was in a panic because she thought I might know something because I grilled her really hard last night and kept calling her a liar, she thought I might take her phone, so she deleted him.
This immediately stopped me in my tracks, who the fuck was this guy? Why would she delete him if he was just a work friend? So he proceeds to tell her that she needs to be more careful and he was worried that she was going to cut him off because he wasn't in his best form in the parking lot yesterday, but promises he's usually better. Asks if she wants to talk about it. She really doesn't so she doesn't say anything and then, because he's an idiot and wanted to fill the space, starts promising he can perform and deliver on all their talk but he was under a lot of pressure and starts asking her what parts she liked, like "did you like how I felt inside you? to which she replies "yes".
It was surreal to see it unfold in real time. I immediately messaged her and told her to get home right away. Her friends had rented a van and were still picking up people in the area so she hadn't hit the road for Rome yet. She told them she needed to leave so they dropped her off, it was the longest 10 minutes of both of our lives I'm sure. What happened next is a blur but she broke down immediately when confronted and admitted everything. I called into work and told them that I was putting in for two weeks of leave and sorry for the short notice but something personal had come up. I had to bring in some papers that I had brought home to work on so I drove into work and dropped them off, then on the way home my first and only stop was the liquor store. I bought the biggest bottle of vodka I could find and took a swig of it in the parking lot.
Alcohol had always been my coping mechanism, this time I couldn't even wait til I got home, I was in such a panic, I just wanted that feeling to go away. I spent the next two weeks drinking from the moment I woke up til the moment I passed out, interrogating her, berating her, demanding access to everything, throwing out all of her clothes that she might have even been near him with, her entire panty drawer because they were all "tainted" I searched every piece of property she owned, tore up the entire house looking for anything he might have given her or she might have been hiding. All the while drinking, just reflecting on that time period right now has given me the strongest craving for alcohol I've had during this entire period of sobriety. I've had to stop a minute to let this one crash over me.
For me that's when I went from being a functional alcoholic to a full-blown unrepentant alcoholic.
I had been sober for you and it wasn't enough to stop you! I had given you the one thing you had asked me for over the years and it wasn't enough for you! I resolved to INFLICT myself on her as an alcoholic, to double down on drinking whenever I wanted and however much I wanted with zero guilt. Her actions had empowered me to never feel guilty ever again about having a drink. I would get more drunk than I ever got before on weeknights, I would get so trashed I couldn't control my distain for her, I would send pages and pages and pages of text messages while she slept in the next room, berating her for throwing away our marriage and about how disgusting she was for lowering herself to a pig like him, how she had no value at all, she was just an illiterate produce worker's side bitch and that's all she deserved. She learned to go to bed early to avoid when I would say those exact things to her after a certain point in the night, or I would sit and continue to ask questions about the details of the affair and then point out what a depraved whore she was to come home and kiss me after what she had done and how we now both knew what a morally depraved person she was etc. This went on for nearly 2 years. I had associated any attempt at sobriety as her getting what she didn't deserve.
My mindset was an ugly one, she got to have an affair and betray me, she got to fool around and fuck someone else with zero consequences, she didn't lose her marriage, she didn't lose the kids and have to go back home to face her family and tell them why we got divorced, I saved her so much shame, when all she did was give me shame. I had changed (during the affair) to be more of everything she had ever asked me to be, I was more attentive, I pitched in and helped around the house, I would praise her (when I wasn't drunk and berating her) and I would give her my full attention and I started making an effort to be sweet and appreciative (when I wasn't drunk and berating her) We had finally started marriage counseling which she had been asking me to do for years, in my mind me getting sober would have been the true last nail in the coffin of her getting everything she had ever wanted from me. The frequency of the drunken beratement sessions and hoards of text messages began to go from weekly to monthly to quarterly over those two years until now it's only been 3 times this year. The feelings to some extent haven't gone away, I'll still be cooking dinner or hear a song while out grocery shopping and all the rage comes back, but I don't act on it now, even when I am drinking heavily. This year things are finally right between us and I've been able to be at peace and honestly believe that she absolutely 100% regrets that it ever happened and does not have any fond memories of any of it or of him in any way and that she is truly embarrassed and disgusted by him.
I have resolved to get sober for myself because I know (from quitting smoking) that if you quit for someone else the moment they piss you off you lose your resolve. It has taken me a year of good relations and a lot of work to come to the point where I want to stop for me, but part of me is still there nagging me in the back of my mind that she got away with everything and I had to suffer so much.
I think that will be the biggest thing I struggle with, because there is still some lingering animosity and I associate being sober with her getting away with it essentially.
Has anyone ever dealt with something like this, where you feel like you might regret getting sober out of spite for someone who has wanted you to get sober despite being a cause of severe hurt towards you?

Let me start by saying I am not officially diagnosed, however have taken online tests like RAADS-R and have received a very high score multiple times (most recent has been a 162), and identify strongly with the neurodivergent community.
But I just realized something now: I really like statistics. Like... a lot. I went out of my way and used real data from wildfires in California to make a worksheet for a class I lead. Like I didn't have to do that - we have worksheets available through a Google Drive for my job. But I just fucking love the transformations of data and how it all connects together and getting to see them light up when I tell them they're on the right track and thinking critically about the problem. It's great!
I'm also taking a level 300 stats course on linear regression / ANOVA and it is so fucking fascinating. People are having a really hard time with it, which I understand, but I am breezing through it. The only trouble is using R (coding language) for the calculations and reproducibility, but just looking them up is really easy.
And then there's snails. Holy shit. I fucking LOVE snails. They are like slimy little puppies and they are EVERYWHERE in this area. I want to take home a snuppy, make him mine and just watch him all day and see what he does. Will they go on the glass? Will they eat this over this? Who knows! I love them and I wanna see their behavior.
(This is all just a lighthearted post - I feel really happy rn that I am embracing myself and my interests but why stats out of everything I could be interested in?)

I'm not sure if this belongs here. I'm an after school tutor and one of my tuttees is having problems. My boss and coworkers aren't super helpful, so I thought I would look elsewhere for advice. It's important for me to note that at my job, I usually have three students at once. She is one of students and usually the youngest at the table (the others are in high school).
I have a 4th grade10 y.o. student who I'll call N. N had a really bad home life and is now living with relatives. I don't want to go into details because it would identify her. Needless to say, she's incredibly traumatized. She acts like a much younger child; most people think she's in the first grade and is just tall. She has imaginary friends and will use them as excuses to not do work (e.g., my puppy grabbed my pencil). She expresses lots of fear about being abandoned (e.g., "if I get a problem wrong, you won't take me outside and leave me?").
N has some learning difficulties, which are undiagnosed. I think she has either ADHD or autism, but I'm not a psychologist so I don't know. She has a regular therapist for her trauma, but she's never been evaluated for learning disabilities as far as I know. She cannot sit in her seat and usually spins in place. She talks very loudly and gets upset at loud or repetitive noises. She stims a lot, usually by tapping her pencil or repeating words. She will also throw her pencil if she gets angry. She doesn't really get social cues and can't tell when the other people in the room are mad at her, especially her peers. She's very distracting, so that happens more often than not. She also misreads numbers a lot (e.g., saying seventeen instead of 71). N often refuses to work. Sometimes she'll say she's too tired or doesn't care; sometimes she'll pretend to do a work sheet but really just doodle. If she gets a question wrong, she just shuts down entirely. If I correct one problem, she'll immediately call herself stupid and refuse to do anything else.
N is vastly behind in school. She's barely capable of reading. She knows her letters but gets tripped up easily (usually she'll read the beginning of the word and guess the last half). We're working on a first grade phonics book. When I can get her to read, N doesn't remember what she read because she spends so much energy saying the words out loud. She can't read the questions to answer worksheets about a story even if it's read to her.
N counts on her fingers to add or subtract two numbers. She can do addition with multiple digits (still using fingers), but she can't reliably do subtraction. I have to reteach her substraction every session. No matter how many times I teach it, it doesn't seem to sink in. She's constantly saying she forgot.
Unfortunately, because of her behavior (and being Black, let's be honest), N has been labeled a "bad kid." She's not getting support at school. I think she can do the work because she is a smart kid, but she's very far behind. She doesn't think her teachers like her because they don't call on her.
I'm really at my wit's end here. I have tried taking N to a quiet room and dancing to "get out the sillies", which helps for a while with the stimming. But N does not seem to retain what I'm teaching and we're pretty stagnant. We've been doing the same chapter in the book for at least two months. I don't know how to make the material sink in for her or how to explain that you need to be able to do basic math in your head because using your fingers is slowing you down. (I am not sure if she's capable of this to begin with, honestly. She might have dyscalculia.)
She's a good, smart kid, but she's so far behind, and I know that gap is just widening all the time. Do you have any suggestions for helping her to retain lessons? Or anything, really. I'm a little desperate.

EDIT: Thanks for your feedback. You're right, this is on me as the dog owner. If I were visiting a friend with a puppy and I put myself in my son's shoes, the puppy damages something of mine, I'd expect the friend to make it right.
Also, we had a trainer. He had to take a break for personal reasons but he's coming back next week. Lesson learned for this parent.
My son is in first grade. In pre-K and Kindergarten, he was assigned homework to complete weekly (assignments went home Monday, worksheets due Friday). I say this to demonstrate we’ve been working on developing a sense of responsibility since he was 4. Making sure things were completed on time, making sure he placed homework in his bag so it wouldn’t be forgotten, etc. Also, we developed a chore list and accompanying allowance.
Last week, he brings home his first library book. We have an 8 month old puppy who table surfs the coffee table for anything to chew on. When I noticed his library book on the coffee table, I suggested he put the book away in his bag to keep it away from the dog. He acknowledged me but did nothing. Guess what happened an hour later?
The poor guy felt scared of the consequences and getting in trouble at school. My husband and I explained to him he will not get in trouble, they’ll simply ask him to replace the book to which HE will have to pay for using his allowance.
So the librarian calls to talk about replacing the book and now I’m wondering if I’m being too harsh. To my husband and me, this seems like a natural consequence - our son paying for the book for which he was responsible. But will this actually teach him responsibility? Or is this simply punishing him?

21/10/1
I worked with ychild to get her to clean her room. i did not help her but tried to tell her step by step on cleaning. ochild found out and started cleaning his room. He did well but missed something small. I asked him to finish this one section and he flipped out. I did not yell at him but did start to become heated because he was throwing a fit like a toddler. spouse came bursting into the room yelling at me for yelling at ochild.I think ochild knows he just can just yell and stomp to get spouse's attention and I will get in trouble and he will get to do whatever he wants. This is when I finally made up my mind that the only option is divorce. I cannot think that this marriage is fixable now. I did the dishes, cooked supper, cleaned the living room, swept, and vacuumed. spouse asked me when was the last time I cleaned the toilets. spouse slept with the kids.
21/10/2
spouse spent all day in her room working on her school work. I got the dash cams working in both of our vehicles. Worked with the dogl while walking with her harness. I put up all the laundry except for her shirts because there is no room in our closet and we are out of hangers. I picked up all the torn up trash and dog poop in the backyard. Did a water change in the aquarium. ychild has torn up her room that she cleaned the other day. I spent about an hour outside playing with ychild and ochild. I managed to get the kids in bed around 10-10:30pm. spouse announced that she was taking a bath. At the end of the bath I went in. She started talking about how after everyone went to bed she was going to stay up in the livingroom to work on school. She then told me i came in there for a reason and to tell her what was going on. So I asked if I could go down on her that night. She got angry and told me "does not need to be taken care of." I closed the door and left but I could hear her still going off on me. I feel deflated and unloved again. I don't know why I keep trying to bring the spark back in the marriage. spouse slept in our bed last night and ychild joined us. Today I cooked a breakfast supper and made pizza for lunch. I woke up at 3:30 am and couldn't get back to sleep.
21/10/3
I started this journal and decided to try and write about the previous 2 weeks events. My goal is now to record the things I do in the house, my interactions with spouse and the kids, where spouse sleeps, and anything noteworthy on a daily basis. This morning I tried to talk to spouse (she sighed and looked annoyed when I started talking) about an interaction I had with ychild on our way to get breakfast this morning. ychild decided to talk in a way that makes it sound like she is cussing even when she isnt. I told her what I told ychild and spouse snapped at me when I tried to get into the details. If I know I am going to talk to spouse about something non-spontaneous I'm going to try and start recording the interactions. I cooked supper. spouse slept in our bed last night, ychild joined us after waking up.
21/10/4
Today we went to the state fair. It started out as usual when we go on the trip. late start, blaming, getting mad, yelling, her being upset. After getting to the fair the day went well. We didn't argue very much and the day was actually nice but long. Wife had a school meeting at 5. Went out to eat for supper then ice cream with the kids. As usual fight started when the kids only wanted to sit with Wife. Get home kids bathed and put in bed. Wife bought a special deodorant to help with smells in the breast/pubic area (something she is self conscious about) I helped apply it and try and kiss her breasts. She turns away and says she is cold. Helped wife put together kids lunch and backpacks for the next morning. Take the trash out. I shower and notice my wife isn't in bed when I get out so I assumed she was sleeping with the kids. She was sitting in the living room in the dark with her phone on facebook. Wife said she was going to bed but didn't want to "do anything." I go to bed also so I can spend some time with her. Once again I try and cuddle with her. I roll next to her and place my hand on her leg. I don't move it because it tickles or annoys her. After 5 min without her trying to cuddle and with her face buried in facebook I roll over. She can tell I was upset and said that she didn't try and cuddle cause my arm was pinning her down. This isn't true it was only on her leg and i wasn't applying any pressure. YChild ended up in our bed during the night.
21/10/5
Went to work today. no goodmorning or goodbye kiss. Worked all day, picked up the kids, brought them home and emptied their backpacks. Wife got home about 10min later. No hey how was your day. no hello kiss. Nothing. She disappeared into the bedroom again. Worked with Ychild on her letters because she isn't doing well in school. had a breakfast supper. Took the dogs for a walk. made OChild lunch. She complained because I had not yet done the dishes. Waited till the last minute to get their backpacks/clothes together for the morning. Complained because things were missing. feels like I never hear anything positive only ever complaints. Went to bed and wife finally makes it in. I don't really attempt to cuddle just put my arm on her leg and accidentally scratched. Thought I had made her mad so I pulled my hand back. A few minutes later and she rolled over and spooned with me (little spoon.) Its been years since this happened. Is she doing that because of my persistence and she is trying to make me happy? or is it because of a positive change. Only time will tell (success.)
21/10/6
Woke up and wife wasn't in the bed. I don't know if she woke up early or went to lay down with the kids in the night. She was in a mood when i got up. Complained because I hadn't put up the kids school laundry when it came out of the dryer so the clothes are now wrinkly. I let myself relax last night and did not do as many chores. I need to work on that and try and stay busy. ran into trouble picking the kids up from school. Their school fund raisers were supposed to come out with the kids. Ochild did not bring them out because he didn't listen to instructions from his teacher. Wife had to swing by and pick them up because I was already on the way home and the line was seriously backed up. Got home did the dishes, cooked supper, folded the laundry and put a load of laundry in, and gathered and took the trash out. Wife spent the evening once again in our bedroom but this time it was working on activities to help our daughter learn better for school. She did have a school meeting at 7 pm. I thought the kids would shower on the next day so I did not tell them to bath, but was overruled agrily by wife and gave my daughter a shower because her hair was dirty. Kids got to bed 1 hour late because wife kept overruling me on telling them to go lay down. After kids went to bed I got on my computer to play games. I put too large a load in the dryer and it took a long time to dry so I was not able to put it up before bed time. Wife went into the kitchen to make the kids lunches. I asked if I could do anything to help and she said no. I layed down in bed a little later than I was planning. Wife was very angry when she opened the dryer because I hadn't taken the clothes out and folded them, I had washed our large pile of clothes instead of the kids 1 day of clothes, when I folded the laundry I didn't put the towels in the bathroom because i did not want to interrupt her meeting so she yelled at me because the towels were not in the bathroom when she went to take a shower. I was berated very badly and once again felt unappreciated, emasculated, and unloved (hated maybe.) She said that I was doing more around the house only because I felt our marriage was failing (in a sarcastic tone of voice) and I wanted to be praised. I am doing it because it helps with my depression and honestly I am trying to get into the habit for when I inevitably divorce her. I turned off my emotions and went to sleep. No kiss goodnight and even saying goodnight.
21/10/7
Woke up at 3:30 am alone in bed. I assume the wife slept with the kids. I couldn't go back to sleep so I laid in bed. Closer to the alarm time of 4:30ish I got ready for work. When my wife came in I had to say good morning,she wasn't even going to talk to me. I had to initiate the conversation. I left 5 min early because I didn't want to be around her. I had to kiss/tell her goodbye which is usual. I'm not sure the last time the morning routine was initiated by her. several times in our marriage I have experimented with how long we would go without a kiss or an I love you that wasn’t initiated by me. Usually its several weeks and I almost feel like seeing how long it would take this time. Got home with the kids and stopped for our weekly
treat. Wife did not spend as much time in the bedroom as usual. I was tired so I did not feel like doing any cleaning. I cooked supper and we watched a show during supper. Afterwards she joined me and the kids in walking the dogs. We got back and watched a few more shows and then I helped her with lunches and getting the kids things together. Anytime something didn't go perfect she always had little comments and blamed me (like when she couldn't find Ychilds clothes or if a tape was missing.) all in all, the day wasn't bad and wasn't good either. I went to bed a little early and she decided to stay up and watch one of her own movies. I did not kiss her or say I love you. She did not say anything about it.
21/10/8
Woke up at a normal time. Wife and Ychild were in bed with me. The morning went ok and Ychild was very chipper and loving. Got home from work with the kids and went out picked up groceries and ate out. we stopped at some yard sales and had a decent fun time with minimal arguing. Got home and put up the groceries. wife's parents were coming over the next day and "we" cleaned the house. I did the dishes, cleaned the counters, vacuumed and shampooed the carpets, picked up the living room, cleaned off the fireplace, put up the clothes in the living room. It was 10:30 I kept telling the kids to go to bed and Wife kept overriding me. Telling me its the weekend and the kids should be able to stay up. I think 10:30 is too late for an 8 and 5 year old to stay up. I told wife I was tired and was going to bed. She complained that she was going to have to stay up and clean the house by herself. She said i didn't do enough. The only thing she could come up with when i asked her what i didn't do was keep the entertainment center clean and organized. Apparently i'm fine living in an empty house. Funny when she was a stay at home mom after she got laid off and then during the pandemic, the house was never cleaned. She stayed home all day everyday and never cleaned nor cooked supper or did the dishes. I feel like I am bending over backwards not only am I not receiving credit for what I have done. I am actually getting complaints for not doing enough. She eventually went to bed with the kids while I slept in my bed alone again. Not that I wanted her company after making me feel like that.
21/10/9
Got up around 7:00. I finished cleaning the carpets in the living room, cleaned the trash from the carpets, and swept the bathroom. We went looking at garage sales. Parents got there a little late in the day and spent more time with her sister than they did with us which is usually. I tried to get the kids to go to bed at a decent hour but was once again overruled by my Wife. She said the kids are on a school break and should be able to stay up later. I agreed but didnt think staying up till 11:30 at night should be the answer. They should be in bed at 9:30 and asleep at 10:00. Needless to say Wife slept with the kids.
21/10/10
Today we spent a great deal of the day traveling and going to yard and estate sales. It was a decent day with minimal arguing except for right before supper trying to get the kids to not cry when we wont buy them everything they want. Wife said I am fuel to the fire for the kids. It upset me that she constantly bad mouths my parenting style. Apparently not putting up with children throwing fits and actually punishing them instead of just letting everything play out without saying anything is a bad day. A thunderstorm came late in the evening and none of us went to bed before it passed. Wife slept with the kids again.
21/10/11
We all woke up early and took wife to work. When we got back I let the kids play and be kids. We did work on Ychilds worksheets for school. Ochild had a dr apt then we went to pick up wife. Got home and cooked supper and did the dishes. I also vacuumed the livingroom. spouse spent the entire evening in the bedroom working on schoolwork. Wife slept with the kids again.
21/10/12
Woke up with Ychild in my bed and wife at work. Had a good day with the kids. Ychild lost one of her (only pairs) of shoes. They played all day in the living room having a good time. Had leftovers for supper. Wife spent all evening in the bedroom working on schoolwork. Wife slept with the kids again. I was feeling very alone again. Just reminded me how we don't have much of a marriage.
21/10/13
Woke up early alone in bed. Had a good day with the kids. Helped them build a big fort in the living room. I did some woodworking today and got the pole saw from our neighbor. Walked the dogs before supper. Supper didn't turn out well, the pork chops were freezer burnt so we got taco casa. Wife spent the evening in the bedroom working on schoolwork. Another thunderstorm rolled in around bedtime. Wife slept with the kids again. That's 6 days straight sleeping in my bed alone.
21/10/14
Woke up at 3:30am got up but went back to bed and eventually sleep around 4:30-5:00. Woke up with Ychild in bed. I took the kids to several stores today and changed the water in the aquarium . Wife got back home and let the kids play. Once my wife got home I cooked supper and washed the dishes while she disappeared into the bedroom. Went back there and she was just laying in bed saying she was tired while watching tv. I convinced her to come and eat supper with the family at the table. Afterwards she went back to the bedroom for more bed and tv. She would rather spend time laying in bed and watching tv than spend a little time with me. I have been all alone with 2 kids all day (actually for the last 4 days.) Ochild convinced her to come out of the bedroom to show her something on his tv. I don't know what to do and no longer feel connected to my wife, I feel like I am all alone. Wife came out and before laying down with the kids mentioned I havent kissed her goodnight in a few days and to come kiss her. It was just a smooch but at least she took notice. I told her it feels like she wanted me to do that lately.She told me she was just stressed and tired from school work. She slept with the kids again tonight.
21/10/15
Woke up with Ychild in bed with me. Got the kids up and fed them breakfast. Wife got home early and we went to an estate sale. I made hotdogs for supper. Kids went to bed late. Wife complained about them not being asleep. I told her what she said about them being on a school break and me getting in trouble with her earlier for putting them to bed before 10:00 pm. It didn't matter, it was still my fault and still upset. Wife slept with the kids again.
21/10/16
Wife got up earlier than me. We left the house around 9 to go look at some neighborhood garage sales. had a decent day in the car with minimal fussing. Got home a little later than planned. Had Ychild start cleaning her messy room. Wife started complaining about the messy house again saying she is the only one who cleans. Apparently I am not doing a good enough job. What a surprise. did some laundry today. got the kids to bed around 9:30. They were constantly out of bed until 11:00pm with different things. I was getting upset with them and my wife strolled in and took over as usual as soon as the kids started crying. She actually came to bed with me tonight. I tried to cuddle with her but as usual she huffed as soon as I put my arm around her. She said she doesn't mind me cuddling, she just doesnt like it when I move my hand. She made no effort to return the love. I am glad for these interactions because it reminds me that I am not loved and why I want a divorce.
21/10/17
Woke up around 6:00 am with a stomach ache and bloated. Down to 238 lbs. Wife spent the day in the bedroom working on school. I did some laundry, trimmed the trees in the yard, and put out bulk pickup items. Cooked chicken fajitas for supper. Wife came down sick with something and went to bed early. Kids were asleep by 9:00. Wife was asleep by the time I came to bed.
21/10/18
Went to work. Not a bad day there. Got home and cooked supper, took the dogs for a walk. Tried to put the kids to bed at 8:00 Ychild started crying and got wife to agree to let her sleep in our bed tonight. All they have to do is turn on the water works. The wife doesn't want to hear them cry so she caves. Ychild slept with me and wife.
21/10/19
Went to work. Picked up the kids and went home. Cooked hotdogs for supper. Put up some laundry. Wife cut the Ochild and my hair. Didn't go for walk today. Got kids to bed on time. Wife slept with the kids.
21/10/20
Worked from home today. Picked the kids up for a half day. Stopped at chick-fil-a for lunch. Went to the fish store with the kids. Met Wife for the Ychild's parent teacher conference. Cooked chicken fajita nachos for lunch. Gathered trash, did laundry, and did the dishes. Cut out the pumpkin with the kids. Wife and I watched Netflix until bed. We lay down and I decided to try cuddling again. I rolled over to her and she actually reciprocated. She put her leg around mine and held my hand. It felt really nice.
21/10/21
Went to work. It was an uneventful morning and work. Picked up the kids and called my wife to meet us at DQ for a treat. We got home and my wife wasn't feeling well. She didn't eat supper. Me and my kids took the dogs for a walk while my wife stayed behind and took a bath. We watched netflix until bed again. Got the kids in bed on time. When the kids threw a fit when they wanted Wife to cover them up she said something in a low voice and refused to tell me what she said. I kept asking her and she finally told me "it's probably why you resent me." I didn't say anything because it was partially true. I do resent her because the kids prefer her, but they only prefer her because she constantly gives in their fits and I do not. So I keep being the bad guy and she get to be the fun yes mom. Later we started working on the kids' lunches. I got a bottled drink off the table and started to open it.She asked if it was old and I said i don't think so. She started to complain at me because she didn't want to give the kids an old drink. I started to explain why I didn't think it was old (the cap still had seals on most of the cap.) She told me I was talking too loud (I wasn't, I was talking in a normal voice.) She told me she didn't need me anymore so I left and went to bed. We went to bed angry with
each other.
21/10/22
Woke up still angry at her because it was such a little issue to get mad about. Things like this happen all the time. Little things that don't matter in the long run end up being blown up beyond what it should have. had a decent day at work then went and got the kids. ate at the olive garden. Ochild asked if he could have her phone. I explained to him that he could only have his tablet, not her phone or tablet. He got upset and wife immediately caved and gave him her phone. I explained to my wife that we agreed 2 weeks ago and they haven't had either this entire time. their behavior is much better but she said she isn't feeling well and just didn't want to hear it. i got home and unloaded the groceries. My wife started complaining about me unloading the groceries wrong. Apparently I'm supposed to put them on the table starting at the far end then work down the table from there. Like it makes a difference if you take an extra step either way the entire table is filled up and it doesn't matter which end you start on. Then my wife complained that I hadn't cleaned up the blood drops from the dog yet. I literally was only home for 2 minutes before she got home then we left but it's supposed to be my job to get it done with no time to spare. I cleaned it up and she started complaining that I cleaned it wrong. I used a baby wipe when I should have used clorox wipes. There is litteral pee on the floor and she is worried that the blood wasn't sanitized. Makes no sense. This all happened within 20 minutes. Needless to say she slept with the kids again.
21/10/23
Woke up for overtime on a saturday. i worked 7 hours on a boat on the lake. Come home and the wife is sitting on the couch watching tv and the kids are right next to her zoned out with electronics. she didn't do anything all day and has been binge watching netflix. she said
She wanted to go to a local festival today. I fixed myself a pbj for lunch then did the dishes. We went next door to help the neighbors put on their pool cover. After that we went to watch a country band perform at a local festival. We were there for 2 hours and she seemed
upset with me because she knows i do not like crowds and i told her i was there because it's what she wanted to do. that's supposed to be my job to do things i don't like to support her but I guess i am actually supposed to like it to avoid offending her. The kids were
horrible and kept fighting over her phone. It seems like im never gonna get her to put her foot down. Came back home and watched the last episode of season one of our favorite shows. Kids stayed up late and the wife slept with the kids.
21/10//24
Had a decent night's sleep. The kids were screaming when I woke up. Kids had a full day of playing. I took Ochild with me when I went to the store and I bought him lunch. We get home and I throw the kids' laundry into the washer. Wife and the kids made a pumpkin into a puppy for
Ochild's book report. I take Ychild to the store to get her own pumpkin. Kids are playing a game with a hula-hoop like mirror-mirror. My son asks the mirror who is the laziest and he puts it up to me. It really hurt my feelings. Wife talked to him and told him all the things I do (dishes, cooking supper, laundry, sweep/mop, vacuuming, gardening, mowing.) She listed all these things. I talked to her about it later and she said "well" like she really thinks I am lazy. She just listed off all the things I do and she talks to me like I am lazy. Ychild threw a fit at bedtime because her required stuffed animal is dirty from the dog. I begin telling her that she needs to take care of it and this wouldn't happen. Wife gets onto me about trying to teach her life lessons. Wife allows ychild to sleep in our bed with us. I don't think any of my lessons will ever stick when wife is there to overrule me and go softer on the kids. At least I didn't sleep alone tonight.
21/10/25
Woke up and went to work. Uneventful day at work. Get the gets and bring them home. I put up the laundry and started a new load. Picked up the living room and then cooked supper (smothered pork chops.) Afterward we walked the dogs (wife got home and was tired so she changed into pajamas) ychild was upset and wants her mommy to walk with us so she got peeved but changed into street clothes and we walked together as a family. We get back and sit on the couch for the next 3 hours watching netflix. Put the kids to bed then finish our netflix binge. After I volunteered to help fix the kids' lunch for the next day. She praised me for the speed that I made their lunch. Unfortunately ychild had spilled something in her lunchbox and I cleaned it. It got wet when I cleaned and my wife flipped out and got in a bad mood. the next 20 min was kicking me out of the kitchen, complained because i forgot to bring ychild's sweater in from the car, upset because i did not put the laundry into the dryer. I went to bed alone.
21/10/26
Woke up with my wife and ychild in bed with me. I started getting ready and my wife started complaining to ychild that she will have to go dig through the laundry basket to get socks because they never get put up. I spent all my time between getting home and cooking supper and putting up laundry. The both of us sat on our butts and watched netflix for hours the previous evening. we could have done those together but we didn't. Instead it's my fault because I didn't do it. Its tiring bending over backwards, feeling like you are doing the brunt of the housework, the only one working, the only one cooking and feeling unappreciated and getting bitched at for minor things. especially the 1st thing in the morning to our ychild within earshot of me. She is very passive aggressive and saying these things to my kids undermines my authority and prevents me from being an effective parent. Its things like this that leads me to believe that's why my son thinks I am lazy. I wonder what she has said to him so that I didn't overhear. I got the kids from school and brought them home. I immediately put up the clothes that had been folded but not put up. I cleaned the fish tank of dead fish and snails. I cooked supper (hamburgers), i wasn't feeling well so we didn't go for a walk, I got an old laptop together for Ochild to use. Wife and I watched TV for about an hour and got on my computer. Went to bed alone.
21/10/27
Wife and I had an argument at the end of the night. Went to bed upset.
21/10/28
Woke up with my wife and ychild in bed. Didn't say goodbye to my wife when I left. I had a decent day at work. Picked up the kids and brought them home. We didn't walk the dogs today. Wife had to stay late at school. Wife went to bed early with the kids.
21/10/29
Woke up in bed alone. Left again without saying goodbye to my wife. She was upset but I guess doesnt realize that our marriage is in trouble or just doesn't care and wants to maintain an illusion. Didn't have to pick up the kids from school today. We went out to eat for supper. Wife slept with the kids again. came home and mowed the lawn. We ended up eating out at Tuscan Slice. came home and the wife slept with the kids.
21/10/30
Woke up alone. Worked 10 hours of overtime. got home and immediately left to go do some halloween stuff at the big church. had a decent time with little arguing. Afterwards I ate at CFLA. Daughter got upset because she wanted to switch seats and I said no. I am tired of giving in
to the kids' every demand. When she started throwing a fit and told her she was about to get a spanking. Wife got upset because I will actually spank them and she thinks it doesn't do any good. The kids only really seem to do this when they know mommy is around cause when it's just me they behave. They know they can always get mommy on their side and turn her against daddy just by crying. The wife stayed in the bedroom working on schoolwork after we got back. The kids stayed up really late (11:30). went to bed alone.
21/10/31
Woke up alone a little later. Wife and ychild had slept with me. We ended up staying home most of the day. Wife stayed in the bedroom working on schoolwork. I played with the kids, swept, vacuumed, did the laundry, cleaned the living room, and cleaned the aquarium. We went to a local church event for trunk or treat and then we took the kids trick or treating down downtown. It was a decent night. We got home and the kids went to bed a little late.
Nov 2021

Ok, I read this around 2015 in my elementary school english class. I must have found it in the classroom instead of being assigned it, because none of my former classmates remember reading it (and I'm sort of trying to prove it existed at all). It might have been a book, but I think it was just printed on a worksheet or in a textbook.
It was the plot of Of Mice and Men, complete with the old dog, the puppies, and Lenny getting shot at the end. It was shorter than the actual book, and had none of the flirting, cussing, or racism. The only difference I can remember in detail is that instead of Curly's wife jerking away and getting her neck snapped, she got scared and screamed, and Lenny panicked and covered her mouth to quiet her but his hand was too big and he accidentally covered her nose too and suffocated her. There were also way less characters than in the book. Candy and Curly were combined into one character iirc.