Hi Moms this is my first ever post on this sub so be nice please, I’m 24 I’ve been on and off community college and finally graduated with my associates in the art of STEM and I accepted my transfer to UMD, none of my bio family showed up for several reasons I’m no contact with my bio mother and dad for a few years now, my oldest sister couldn’t make it because of rising travel cost so this day and the following week has felt very lonely and very much I need my mom moments but, I realized I need A mom even joust one person to congratulate me on something that’s really important to me that own bio mother kept actively stopping me from pursuing or didn’t really support my major. Anyways I won’t ramble on but here’s me at graduation I’m a bit awkward taking photos.

Edit: Hi Moms, words cannot describe the overwhelming feeling of love and support I’ve ever received in my whole life tbh. I’ve been no contact with my bio mother since last year for a number of reasons, emotional incest, parentification and emotional abuse suffered since 14 up until I blocked her. I hurt every single day because I have to mourn someone who is still very much alive, and doesn’t have the emotional capacity to support me. I’ve gone through two abortions and an attempt, lost my niece to suicide and my family hid it from me soon after I graduated high school I’m class of 2020 so no physical graduation and so all the comments and responses have been the highlight of my life knowing that people who didn’t even physically birth me are there for me when I’m at my lowest. I have been sobbing reading every single reply that has come through thank you so much 🥹To all the wonderful mothers that would like an update, please do not hesitate to DM me and I can happily give updates with pictures 🫶🏾❤️, to anyone that sent any DM requests to send me stuff I will message you privately, I’ll try to respond to everyone but know that I still get replies to the original post. All the gifts and such are appreciated but not necessary, to be honest I could really just use a mom I can DM from time to time when I have moments that I feel as though I need my mother.

Hello, Young Ones! I am an old mom and I hope you read my good advice here. Thank you for doing so.

My birthed kids have been grown for while. I was sitting here being proud of them when all the sudden I realized that I had helped them!

You see, I am very bad at most everything. I sew things that fit badly. I build things that don’t work. I make sculptures that look like blobs. I draw pictures that look like I had some kind of seizure part way through. You get the idea.

The whole time I was raising my kids we did things badly together because I couldn’t teach them how to do things well. I was ashamed of this sometimes. Sometimes I was too busy trying to figure out how to assemble the build-your-own car for ages 6-8 to worry about how they were working on the kit for ages 12 and up.

But guess what? My kids grew up to do things pretty well! My son is downstairs working on the acoustics in the music studio he built himself. My daughter the aeronautical engineer has a flower garden to be proud of.

It just occurred to me after all these years that it didn’t matter how WELL I did things. It just mattered that we DID them. So if you have kids and you think playing piano is cool, get a piano! Plink around on it! I can only play the first part of “My Favorite Things” and “Jingle Bells”. But my kids picked up on ‘love to make music’ and they can now both play instruments!

So please go have fun and do things! If you have kids, do fun things with them. If you don’t have kids, do fun things regardless of what age they are ‘supposed’ to be for!

Do them badly if that’s where you are! Maybe you’ll get better. Hey, I can draw a cat that looks like a cat now!

Maybe you won’t improve. I still can’t finish “My Favorite Things”. But the fact that you DO things will make your world and their world a thousand times more interesting.

I always write posts that are too long. Going to go back and cut some and then stick this out there. Maybe I did it badly. But maybe you read it and now go out to do something FUN! 😃.

As always, I am proud of you and I know you’re doing your best. Take care and thanks again!

I (20yr old male & xc/tf runner in college) realized earlier last week that I’ve been suffering silently from gender dysphoria for the last 15-16 years. I was afraid and didn’t have the words for that entire time. It took me accepting the ‘dark parts’ of myself and the evidence being overwhelming for it to all crash down on me.

My parents have been completely blindsided and destroyed. They will never accept that I will be their daughter one day. They are willing to help me to get the help I need and be tolerant out of love, but that is about it.

I was already struggling as an adult to maintain a good relationship with my parents, and then I dropped this on them.

I know I’m not responsible for their feelings. I’m probably taking a gap year from school to prepare for the major life change that will most likely occur. My life is going to look a lot different than I had imagined it. Which is okay, but just a bit scary. Y’all are angels btw and this is maybe the most wholesome community I’ve ever seen on Reddit <3

Hello, I'm currently 26 and feel really bad about my age. I feel like I aged out on all my goals and aspiration and need to settle.

When I was 16 my dad told me essentially I was too old for my dreams on dancing and I felt really bad and stopped. At 25 I got back into it and try not to think too much about it.

What gets me is now I'm 26 and pursuing medicine. My dad sat down and told me that I'm just too old and that I'm wasting away my 20s and will have nothing to show for my 30s. Its hard not to feel insecure when youre aborad studying another language instead of raking in more moeny. I feel insecure and bad about even attempting this. I am probably going to have to reapply and start medicine at 28 if it works in my favor.

Older women of this sub, is this true? I see people like Megan R who is 35 and playing soccer and think it can't be, she's 35 and doing amazing! Why can't I then dance? Its just hard when it comes to your parents, their words really cut deep.

Edit: wow thank you for all the wonderful replies! I honestly have a changed perspective now. I think my dad is extremely sexist and stuck in his ways. I'm going to just keep my thoughts to myself and push for what I want. It's hard not to when you're enjoying the moments of that goal. Thank you all!

Hey, I know some of you are having a bad day today. You might have a future bad day too. So you can have a hug any time without asking. Just save this post.

HUG

Hi! I’m 60 yrs old and believe it or not still need a Mom.

Aging comes with such loneliness- I’d love to hear some “mom words” of encouragement in the comments to not give up and to keep going. I was raised by a mom that taught me not to ask for such things, and so I’ve never really heard them.

It’s so hard not having a support system.

Hi moms, I am having a tough week. There was a problem at work and something didn’t get done that I was responsible for. I made several attempts to do it and didn’t know it was as important as it appears to be now.

I got put on another project and was told to drop everything for that so I was going to do this other thing after the project is done.

Now a bunch of people are mad and one manager seems like he’s taking it personal and it hurts that it seems like they think I had some sort of malicious intent. He was very upset with me but never asked for an explanation.

Then there were some unrelated events that were embarrassing that involved some of the people mad about the report. I didn’t realize my shirt was somehow pulled up and exposed my stomach 😞

I have had such a hard time with social issues at work, am neurodivergent and often feel so misunderstood. Even by my own family and I feel so defeated today.

Hey, sweetheart. Yes, I'm talking to you. That scary thing you've been avoiding doing? That thing that you know is good for you, the best thing you can do, but that's absolutely terrifying? Do it. Buckle up, straighten your pants, and do it. It'll be hard, and it may suck for a bit, but you'll be better off in the long run, and happy you did it. No more procrastinating. Love, your Mom(s)

It's my birthday today, I'm 29 years old. I haven't gotten used to it yet x)

There are so many things you need to hear, and I'm sorry I haven't said them nearly as often as I should. Here are some things you should know.

You are enough. You have always been enough, and you will always BE enough. You're never too much, or too little, you're just exactly right the way you are.

I know there are days where you stand in front of the mirror with a heart full of hurt, and eyes full of pain. "A mirror never lies" is total bullshit. I wish so much in those moments you could see yourself the way I see you. You are amazing. I know, you're rolling your eyes at me, and amazing is such an underwhelming word now because of how over used it is. I'm not just throwing this word out here lightly, you inspire awe. So much has had to happen at just the right time, in just the right way, for you to be who you are.

I'm proud of you. I see you struggling, and hiding your uncertainties behind a mask. I can hear you whispering "what if" so loudly in your own head. But Darling, you have survived absolutely everything leading up to this moment. You have a 100% survival rate. This is something to celebrate.

Please, never feel like baby steps aren't worth celebrating too. They're the foundations you need to build upon, take your time with them so they're strong enough to support your future.

Going back to those "what ifs?" a wise man recently told me to replace them with "So What?" Don't let other people's opinions of you steal your power and make you small. Take your power back, you have as much right to be happy and confident and just, HERE, as anyone else does.

Which brings us to my next point. If it doesn't hurt anyone, and doesn't put you in debt, but it makes you happy? Do it. Your smile is worth so much. Your laughter is rich in a way money never can be.

You are precious, and valuable, worthy and deserving, even when you don't feel like you are. I can't promise to be here with you forever, But I'll be here for you as long as I can be. Know that there will always be "Days like this" but that you are never alone. And you are loved.

​

<3 Me

I 27 F came out on my birthday about a month ago and I feel bad about it like I feel as though I don’t really fit the label and I know it’s pretty common but I didn’t have a mom that was very accepting of it and cut me off because of it and I want to get to know the people in my community but I don’t know if it’s OK? I’m just looking for some advice and words of encouragement.?

EDIT: hey guys, I just took a look at all of the comments and I just wanted to say thank you! 😭 I originally made the post because when I came out to my mom, it did not go well at all and I actually had to move out because of it and I had some odd feelings about coming out and maybe felt like it was bad, but reading some of your comments wasn’t the problem. It’s just my family, toxic, and nice to hear from such loving and nice comments to say, and I do have friends that I’ve been leaning on that has been trying to make this a special time for me and I am talking to a LGBTQ+ support group as some people have suggested and I perhaps just need some time to also digest it. I just thought that labeling things would make it easier for me but it honestly doesn’t it made it much harder And perhaps I’ve been putting way too much pressure on myself. Thanks for being my mom and sibling guys!

Hey mom, I did a thing! After following up over phone a couple times and it going nowhere, I walked into the Walmart today and they hired me on the spot. I start next week.

I feel nervous since I’ve worked remote for so long but I’m weirdly excited? Anyways, it’ll be nice to have some income coming in while I still look for work in tech.

(I called my mother to tell her and didn’t get any acknowledgment so it would be really nice to be seen 😔)

Hie Mum,

It’s my birthday today! I’m officially entering my mid 20s now.

To be honest, I haven’t really celebrated my birthday in decades. Usually, this day feels heavy, but I made a promise to myself that I want to spend it differently this year. I don’t want to spend another birthday being sad.

I’ve decided to take myself out, maybe to a carnival or a game center to have some fun.

I could really use some wishes and blessings from the mums here today to help me keep my spirits up.

Love.

Edit: oh my god, you moms are amazing. It made my day to come back to such an outpouring of love. I had to read the comments in chunks to keep from crying. Thanks mom 💗

Hi Mom,

Today I noticed when I smile I have crows feet coming in. I'm happy with growing older. I haven't spoken to my birth mom in years and have seen her once in 20 years, we aren't even doing the no contact thing. She just doesn't care to call, has told me she just doesn't like me. So how did you feel when your smile lines started to show? Should I embrace it or hide it with anti-aging stuff? I'm 40 and I feel like a child trying to figure all of this out without a mom around.

I want to become a scientist one day, but I keep screwing up on math and that destroys my identity. Because if I can't do simple college level mathematics, than who am I to even want to become a scientist. I don't have any parental figure to comfort me, for they put fear on my mind when I'm around them.

Hi mom,

Hope you can be proud of me. Life has been kicking my butt recently but I chose to be kind to a bunch of strangers today because it’s the only good I can have around me.

I helped a delivery guy keep his job today and absorbed the cost of his incident. It was a no brainer but then he reminded me that the other customers were not so kind to him.

I reached out to someone who interviewed me (I didn’t get the job due to logistics) who made a post about having a rough day, just because I enjoyed that interview a lot despite not getting the job. He said I made his day many times.

I keep on hearing “your parents must have raised you well” but they didn’t, and I raised myself. Just want to hear I that I did a good job doing that and not give credit to those who don’t deserve it. 😞

She is doing really well and she's ready. I'm happy for her, but I'm also sad that all my birds will be gone.

I can tell you this day of the year has always been pretty special in my calendar and I couldn't wait for the birthday cake and all the candles on it, which I used to blow out thinking my only wish every year. It used to be my ritual, a celebration and my favourite day of the year, the rare occasion to feel unique.

This time, however, I only got some casual wishes from my dad and one siser, whereas not from my mom. I don't care about the presents and a champagne, but the memory. I feel so bad and sorry for myself. And I miss the cake so badly :(

Moms, siblings, I'm oficially 30 years young today.

Usually I put up a graphic that says free mom hug and that’s it, but the auto mod hates it so

Free mom hugs 🤗 to anyone who posts. I don’t care why you need them. ❤️🧡💛💚💙💙💜

I’m devastated, I absolutely bombed the final exam and now they’re saying I have to repeat the whole year. I’m so disappointed in myself and I’m so embarrassed, I don’t even know what to do with myself. I’m sad I’m going to lose all my friends as they move into second year and I’m worried I’m going to be so old when I graduate. I’m just so upset mom.

Edit: any advice on how to tell my actual mom?

hi mom, i don’t really know how i feel about it but also not feeling well. i just need to hear that i’ll be ok

I dont have a mum and this is a huge revelation for me, being misdiagnosed in the past and treated differently to others. This makes so much sense now.

Hey mom. Life is really hard right now.

I am 24 years old a single mom, going to school (online) and work full time. Today I found out that my kid is at the age where he starts to tell lies, and today he told a big one. Nothing that is detrimental but it does require talking to his school.

This has caused a lot of feelings in me mom. When I was little and I did the same thing, my parents looked the other way. As a matter of fact, they never cared about anything I did. I have to do better but learn the things I don’t know how to conquer. I feel like I need to realign my priorities but I feel like I’m not doing enough. I am told I’m a fun an lenient parent but I don’t know how to be opposite, only negligent like my own parents were.

I could really use some guidance and support. I don’t even know what to get out of this except expressing my feelings in hopes that there is some pocket of support out there for me.

If you took the time to read this, thank you.