Regardless of whether or not you've achieved immaterial enlightenment or are neck deep in the current iteration of the social-media-fueled consumerist frenzy, it's more than likely that you possess things that are your favorite. Chances are these items have some sort of sentimental value—a keepsake from a loved one or photographs that are irreplaceable despite having no measurable value. They may have some monetary value, too, regardless of whether or not you'd ever want to sell them. Heck, may…

It really should go without saying that you can't just go around renaming people just because you don't like their name for some reason. Even if—no, especially if—that person is a foster kid under your care. Some things like this are so outrageously laughable and out-of-pocket that they would be silly if they weren't so cruel… This 16-year-old foster child found himself facing hostility from his new foster family's extended family, who apparently came to the decision that his name, “Nico,” was…

As a kid, bedtime is one of the ultimate constraints; being forced to go to bed right at an exact time every night feels like authoritarian oppression, almost symbolic of the limitations being imposed upon you. Of course, when you're seven years old, your bedtime is really for your own good, it's not really like you can be trusted to make your own decisions at that point for whether or not you're tired. But still, who among us didn't “cheat” our bedtimes, playing in our rooms long after our par…

Spending the holidays with your husband's ex-wife sounds like prime material for a straight-to-streaming holiday-themed romantic comedy, but the reality is that it's not nearly as funny when it is your reality. This stepmother turned to this online community for advice on a complex personal problem she was facing and wondered if she was in the wrong for encouraging her 19-year-old stepdaughter to speak up about ending their joint family holiday gatherings with the stepdaughter's mother, her hus…

It's hard to be on the receiving end of questionable parenting habits. When your mom or dad is being ridiculous, frustrating, or just all-around crazy, calling them out on their nonsense does not always help the situation get any better. These Redditors understand that conundrum all too well. Some of these frustrating parenting habits can range from universally annoying ticks to uncharacteristically specific quirks and eccentricities. For instance, we've got plenty of folks discussing their par…

Are you even a real family if you DON'T have at least one argument during Thanksgiving dinner?

Everyone has problems—some may not be as bad, and others will be worse—a lot worse than yours. But that doesn't invalidate any one of those problems or anyone and their feelings. Yes, venting and sharing are good and can make you feel a lot better about your problems, but it's important that it's reciprocal. Like with anything in a relationship, you have to give as much as you take. This pregnant woman had been going through the motions with her friend, who was also pregnant. At first, she was…

We can all probably remember those peaceful weekend mornings, sun filtering through the basement playroom windows, curled up on the couch with our favorite bowl of way-too-sugary cereal that we had to beg our parents to buy. That cereal might as well have been gold; we certainly thought it was worth its weight in it. My parents, however, never showed an interest in eating this cereal themselves. Something about stale marshmallows and really overhyped Cheerios just wasn't all that appealing to t…

Not your cake

Eighteen years of age is when the training wheels of life really start to come off. Of course, it depends on your personal situation, but for the first time, you really get the chance to start making your own decisions. Many of us will be fortunate enough to still have the guidance of our parents, mentors, and guardians once we reach this age to hopefully prevent us from making life-altering mistakes that could dictate the rest of our adult lives. But, inevitably, mistakes will happen—we're all…

Siblings are a difficult part of growing up—even when you're an adult, you're going to be prone to troubles with them. But, during your developmental years, you're going to be constantly compared to them—both by yourself and others. This creates complex psychological interworking and can create complex disorders and issues. And this is just with normal siblings; I can't claim to have one myself, but I can only imagine that with twins, it's a lot harder. No longer are they only similar to you or…

All may be fair in love and war, but when it comes to family board game nights, you can expect the gloves to come off if you go for below-the-belt strategies. Nothing causes family arguments like a competitive board game—heck, even Candy Land games can get heated when someone draws that plum card at the end of a close game—or rockets ahead with a lucky snowflake draw early on. And that's before you get into games that have actual strategy Board games from the beginning of the “Board Game Renais…

Working parents are team No Days Off!

In a perfect world, everyone would have to pass a test to prove they are worthy of having children. The fact that anyone can become a parent, without any requirements or supervision, is quite honestly insane. In that perfect world, where parents have to prove their capabilities to become parents, they would actually have a good relationship with their kids. And who wouldn't want to have that? A healthy and happy relationship with their kids? Since we are not living in a perfect world, parents l…

Her money, their problem

No one dreams of clocking in while everyone else is home savoring pumpkin pie and watching holiday classics. Working on Thanksgiving feels like a necessary evil for those in essential roles, but even then, the thought of missing out on the wholesome chaos of a family gathering is hard to pass up. So, when this employee was finally lucky enough to snag her first holiday off, it was like making it out of the new hire phase and into the big leagues. She was thrilled to finally spend the holidays w…