Steph, would your anti-vaxxer fFB riend like to have my best friend's two ADD teenagers come stay with him sans Ritalin for a few days? I guarantee he'll believe in the existence of ADD by the time they leave.

Hell, all he'd need is unmedicated Tim for a few days.

I will say, I find being around lots of people in bathing suits to be the best thing -- there are lots of people of all shapes and sizes out there! Many of them in bikinis!

Yeah, I definitely find that to be the case. Really, when I figured out that the only person who gives a shit about how I look in a bathing suit was me, I tried to let that go so I didn't miss out on fun stuff in life like tubing. It's a process, but it starts with trying.

Really, when I figured out that the only person who gives a shit about how I look in a bathing suit was me, I tried to let that go so I didn't miss out on fun stuff in life like tubing.

Yes!

I realize the vast diversity of people and total lack of caring about me are part of why I prefer the lower-class beach to higher-class ones, but I'm sure those things are true everywhere!

the only person who gives a shit about how I look in a bathing suit was me

This is also true for public speaking.

I realize the vast diversity of people and total lack of caring about me are part of why I prefer the lower-class beach to higher-class ones, but I'm sure those things are true everywhere

This is also why I'm perfectly comfortable in a bikini in Mexico. Because (a) most people there are like 60-something and (b) they're strangers IDGAF If they see my belly and judge. I'm slightly less comfy at a beach with my friends, but again...they're my friends. And many of them are big on the health at any size thing, so they're all for it. And if someone doesn't find me attractive eel, better they figure that out before we are naked?

And if someone doesn't find me attractive eel,

You are a very attractive eel, meara!

Hah, that should be "attractive, well"

The older I get, the more territory I want covered when I'm out swimming, but that has to do with sun protection, not vanity. I still wear a bikini most of the time, but I wear a rash guard and board shorts over it. Hoping to avoid any more skin cancer.

"put down the pills" and change the diets of kids with ADD and be stricter parents and things would be better.

That makes me gnash my teeth. At this point, I am fairly certain that my daughter has ADHD but the inattentive type. Which means it interferes with her studying but not with her behavior at school, so the school has no compelling reason to officially "identify" it, hence she still is without a diagnosis and therefore without any form of treatment. Her doctor recommended getting a Dx outside the school system, but that would cost us $8000. Ugh.

I think what hobby magazines of Hubby's don't sell I'm going to take to a firepit in the park and ceremonially burn.

Public speaking, I got no problem with! Other peoples' bodies, IDGAF what they wear. My body in public in a swimsuit, no. I bought one, a couple summers ago, and wore it once in my niece's hot tub, and that was it. I haven't made my peace with being fat, yet.

meara, I didn't know you were an eel, that's cool. Now when someone talks shit about eels, I can say, "Hey! One of my best friends is an eel!"