That mushroom thing looks neat.

Askye, that's so tough.

askye, I'm sorry if your dad doesn't realize how beautiful you are. That's a really hard thing for you to be carrying around. I don't know your dad, so I can't say I'm sure it's not true, but I really hope it's not.

I've always liked my breasts, though I'm not so fond of having to buy spendy bras to accommodate them. But I think they're pretty awesome. I once dated a guy who thought they were too big. He would tell me that a perfectly sized breast should fit into a martini glass; anything bigger than that was a waste. He was a total asshole, in case you hadn't picked up on that already.

He would tell me that a perfectly sized breast should fit into a martini glass; anything bigger than that was a waste. He was a total asshole, in case you hadn't picked up on that already.

I've heard "more than a mouthful is a waste." (Actually, the first time I heard that was when I was about 15, and the person speaking was an adult who was the music teacher at the performing arts camp I attended, and he was talking to a bunch of teenage girls who all had crushes on him, and we were just listening to anything he'd say as long as it meant he was paying attention to us, and somehow his rambling got to that topic. I really wonder whether he realized how inappropriate that was.)

I'm with Kate, askye. Parents need to be so careful about the judgey voices they can put in your head.

anything bigger than that was a waste

There's nothing like admitting up front that you have no sexual imagination. Any part of your lover's body is a waste, it highlights that you don't know what to do with it.

I would like my boobs a lot better if they didn't need pricey bras to make sure they don't look inappropriate, uncomfortable, or dowdy. Also if I had any idea of when I'm crossing the line into "too little support/restraint". But that's absolutely not a question my family will give candid feedback on. It turns into an "I can't do that with my boobs!" conversation.

Which, you know what? There are a lot of hangups that come from inside and out, and it's not like mammary anxiety is inherently a genetic issue, or something that springs up independently amongst a bunch of women who weren't raised in similar environments.

I'm not blaming the world, or blaming the menfolk, just...bodies are charged, women's bodies are charged, and secondary sexual characteristics are super charged. The groundwork is well-laid, and the soil is very fertile, where the slightest windblown seed can take root.

I know what that's like...it sucks.

Myth busters new book?

Oh, that's a good one for my son.

I am hanging with Mom waiting for step-dad to have hernia surgery. He had them repaired in the 60s, but it didn't hold. He is way more concerned about being a burden to my mom than he is about himself. We are sitting outside and she is walking around the building to stretch her legs. I am so grateful for her good health. 91 looks good on her.

askye, I'm sorry if your dad doesn't realize how beautiful you are. That's a really hard thing for you to be carrying around. I don't know your dad, so I can't say I'm sure it's not true, but I really hope it's not.

What Kate said, absolutely. Damn.

I've heard "more than a mouthful is a waste."

KBD used to say this*, and my response was, "Only if you waste it."

There's nothing like admitting up front that you have no sexual imagination. Any part of your lover's body is a waste, it highlights that you don't know what to do with it.

...but I think ita's response might be my new favorite.

I'm pretty good with my boobs. Right now I'm annoyed because my bras are kind of too big due to my recent weight loss and I can't afford to buy new ones, but whatevs.

Laura, glad to hear your mom is well and best wishes to your stepdad.

I am home because it was pouring this morning so we delayed work. I fought the urge to go back to bed and got a lentil soup in the slow cooker for dinner and did a bunch of other little things. Now it's clearing up and I *really* don't want to go to work but I can't afford not to. So, deep breaths and baby steps.

* On a semi-related note, every time I listen to or read a story about a woman in an abusive relationship, I get chills because it feels so familiar. Uggh. Have I said thank you lately to y'all for supporting me and helping me finally GTFO and Dump That Asshole? Because THANK YOU.

Reading all of this makes me appreciate my family so much. It's not perfect by any means, but any body issues I had/have were self-taught (or taught by society). And I have seen pics or met all of you and you are all beautiful people! I hate that anyone has to view themselves through the eyes of an abusive family member/SO/etc. Oh, and FTR, I have great breasts! Hahahahahaha!

ION, I am just so bone weary. I'm seriously considering going back on my ADs just because I can't face life this sleep deprived. I stayed off ADs during my first pregnancy and it wasn't that bad. This time I can't sleep for half the night because of my pregnancy and I can't sleep for the other half because of my toddler. I am not feeling happy or like I have any patience or anything lately. Honestly, if I could just get some decent sleep, I think everything would change. But that is going to get worse before it gets better. I really want to be AD free during pregnancy, but I don't know if I can go another 5 months like this.

Maybe sleeping pills instead, GC? I hear there are some that are pregnancy-ok