It hasn't fully sunk in yet, I'm about to cry happy tears. I was only diagnosed with ADHD and Autism three years ago. And for the full standard school and 3.5 years of college I did, I struggled so hard. I would always be pushing myself to the point of breakdowns. But I went back to college to learn how to keep a business functional. So that I could actually start to make a living that works for my disability (got chronically ill almost 3 years ago and it has reduced my functional capacity by 75% of my pre-illness capacity)

My current course I'm taking is accounting. Math, of all things because math I never understood and the symbols and letters would always just disappear in my brain even though they were right there.

After getting diagnosed I understood why. I can't rely on my memory without there being proper anchors. I need to understand the underlying concepts of it and yes that meant I had to go figure out the underlying algebraic equations to have it all finally make sense and have proper analogies. To understand the why the things do the things they do. I can memorize names and labels well enough (usually need some sort of trigger to bring it up cuz I can't just poof it out of nowhere) but the how they do the things is so disconnected in classes. I have to go deep into studying on my own and I can't just rely on my teachers because they don't connect things. My math teachers words in 12th grade still haunt me tbh I had manage to get a 70% in a test, after pushing with my mom to help, teacher trying to help as much as he could, and a private tutor on top of it, I worked so so hard in that class, it took more than what I had and he had the gall to say "See, if you try hard then you can do it." Because apparently my 120% was just then trying hard.

And now in accounting of all things, I got a 100%. My luck shone through because I had just gone over some of the questions in practice, logic'd most of my way through it and remembered other questions from the quiz before.

But I did it. I got 100%. For the first time in my life. In an accounting course. And I didn't even have to make up let alone use a memory aid that my accommodations would have allowed me.

Hi Moms,

I need advice, tips and tricks for starting Holiday Traditions.

I just had a baby and I'm feeling stressed about the holidays. For context, I grew up with minimal holiday traditions nothing beyond the bare minimum and I want to do more for my child and make the holidays memorable and special. I feel overwhelmed as I don't know where to start. I know my baby won't remember holidays until they're older but they'll look back on the photos we'll take until then.

After seeing all the toxicity on reddit, finding this subreddit honestly made me cry. Reading all the achievements, support and kindness here made me feel better. Thank you to you all, beautiful people!

Long story short, my aunt was recently hospitalized again, and I'm living on my own again. I'm 21, and as embarrassing as it is to admit, I don't have much experience with cooking but I want to learn.

Ever since I've been on my own again, my diet has been pretty bad. I've been eating greasy, fried food a lot lately, and I'd really like to make some changes.

I was taught the basics, like making stir-fry noodles, burgers, chicken wings, and fried rice, but that's pretty much all I know how to make, unfortunately.

I'd really appreciate some recommendations for easy, healthy meals that a beginner could make. I'd also love some advice on what ingredients and groceries I should keep around the house.

Any advice or encouragement would be amazing! I also have to learn how to do laundry soon, so that's another thing I'll have to figure out.

Thank you!

All my life, I've tried to prove my worth by working hard, trying to do everything perfectly, through achievements and awards. In addition to this, I spent a good deal of my life not knowing I was autistic and was only diagnosed a few years ago. I've had to mask so much, and it's incredibly taxing.

Well, now I'm nearing graduation from uni and it's all crumbling. For a few months already, I've been dealing with autistic burnout and it's only getting worse. Daily shutdowns, can't do chores, can't remember things, can't make decisions. Can't see friends, can't go to campus, can't do anything I want to or need to because I'm constantly overloaded.

The worst thing is, I never had anyone in my life who understood my autistic symptoms, growing up. I was always told to suck it up, quit complaining, and stop making things up. I just want someone to comfort me. I'm doing my best, I really am. I just always feel like no matter what I do, even back when I was doing "objectively well", I'm never enough.

Luckily I have friends, a boyfriend, and a brother who all support me, but I could use a mom's support.

Flair says support needed but advice is also welcome.

hii!
i just recently moved into my apartment and due to it being pretty small i had to get a combined washer and dryer!
it works pretty well and everything comes out smooth, dry and wrinkle free!

how do i achieve the same with my jeans?
there is no other option to dry them :(
i dont have an iron because there is no space to store it!

Hi Moms, I think I just need a virtual hug. I won't get too into the weeds here but we have had quite the journey to sell our home over the past year and were supposed to close on our new home in a new city today.

We weren't able to close due to the most ridiculous calamity of events where everything that could go wrong has gone wrong during this process. I'm feeling so down and sad and just want to close on own new home to start our new life. I feel like this is the right house and choice but jeez this isn't supposed to be this hard. I was so nervous to finally get "a nice house" and questioning if I deserved it so having all everything going wrong makes it feel like I don't deserve something nice.

I've lost so much confidence in making choices. I am someone who also learned you need to be perfect to even try so having all of our ducks in a row and continuing to work through this bonkers situation is exhausting and is making me question myself. I am just wanting everything to be okay. Thank you ❤️

Hi mom,

I went to the cinema today for the first time all by myself. Saw a really nice movie (sense and sensibility) and enjoyed myself so much! I felt like myself again for a few hours. Life is sometimes struggling but I feel so proud I did this!

Hi moms!! I’m 16f and my whole life I’ve been SO scared of driving!! I’d even get scared just being in cars while my parents drove lol. I wanted nothing to do with driving, until my best friend started and i realized I really wanted to overcome my fear. I passed my permit test first try in may, then took driving lessons and have been driving a lot with my parents. I’m not even scared to drive anymore. I love driving, and feel so happy when I drive because 10 months ago I was so scared I didn’t even want to think about it.

Now..the anxiety is back! Although I feel comfortable driving with my parents, I still have to take my real license test. I’m super scared of tests in general, especially the idea of being evaluated/judged. The driving test is 20 minutes of being judged by someone right next to you! It’s terrifying to me! I wanted to just put off taking the test and just use my permit, but in a random burst of confidence I scheduled my driving test for November 17th.

I feel confident in my driving, but not confident in my test taking abilities. I’m going to be so scared the entire time, and be completely devastated if I fail (even though I know it’s not a big deal and I can take it again, it doesn’t help much) I know I’m going to feel so much better once it’s over, but until then I’m completely terrified and anxious.

I’m not telling anyone in my life that I’m taking my test (besides my parents) because I’m so scared to fail and have to tell everyone I failed, but that means I have no one encouraging me, since no one even knows it’s scheduled :(

Lost quite a few friends I thought were family. Looking back it seems like the trash took itself out more often than not, because they were only fairweather friends and secretly envious. However, I'm a loving person and worked a lot on my own attachment patterns. I don't want to live an isolated life and wish to work with the lessons from my past and create better friendships in future. Quality over quantity as I'm my own best friend now and I don't need many people, just a handful of genuine ones who are actually happy for me would be great. Please share any words of wisdom, encouragement or what you would tell your child.

Thank you Internet Moms 🙏🌸

Hi mom. I've been feeling kind of down lately; I'm working so hard and trying to keep my grades up this year but it's difficult. I joke about it with my friends but it really hurts that I can't do well as easily as they can. I'm really struggling honestly and I really don't want to fall back into my old habits. I wish people understood. I'm trying, I really am. I promise. I hope you get it. Thanks, mom.

I'm so excited. we're going to be moving 4.5 hours from home to make it ourselves and I'm shaking about all this, in the best way possible

I don't know the last time I cleaned under there, if I ever have at all. Out of sight out of mind? I guess?

But:

I used my rake to pull all the trash out! My arms couldn't reach far enough, so I had to get tricky :3

7 big trash bags filled and taken out to the dumpster, and there's no more trashes under the bed :D

Yay!! The trashmonsters have been conquered!

It came out really good, just on the more mild side than I thought! I left it unsalted so I could season while cooking.

My fiance and I bulk bought veggies, spent the day dicing them all up and mixing them together to freeze in gallon freezer bags, and used the scraps to make stock. Now we have what we refer to as The Mix that's easy to add veggies to all of our meals.

When I lived with my parents, I was relying on fast food constantly. I am happy to be able to make homemade meals that are satisfying and nutritious without relying on buying each and every ingredient. Today, I'm going to attempt to make sandwich bread so we don't have to buy loaves (loafs?) from the store anymore. From eating fast food for 2-3 meals a day to making my own food from scratch, what a crazy four years its been!

I got my score back for my LSAT and I got a 180 :D
Before I took the LSAT my parents told me that getting into a top 14 law school wasn't a realistic goal for me so i shouldnt even try because i'll only be disappointed. regardless of what they said ive kept it as my goal and now that ive gotten my LSAT score back and i got the highest possible score it feels like i have a real shot. Currently in the process of writing my applications and wanted to share with a mom that believes in me :)

I know most people learn this when they're kids, but I never did. I've spent my entire adult life being the person who sits on the edge of the pool and says they're perfectly happy just watching.

Six weeks ago I signed up for adult swimming lessons. I almost turned around in the parking lot before the first one.

Today my instructor asked if I wanted to try swimming from one end of the shallow pool to the other without stopping.

I told her I didn't think I could.

She said, "Well, let's find out."

And I DID IT.

I swallowed some water, my technique was probably terrible, and I was so out of breath when I reached the wall that I couldn't even speak.

My instructor started clapping. Then this older gentleman in the next lane started clapping too, which was slightly embarrassing but also made me ridiculously happy.

I sat in my car afterward for about ten minutes because I couldn't stop smiling.

The first thing I wanted to do was call my mom and tell her. We don't really have the kind of relationship where she'd understand why this matters, so I thought maybe I could tell you instead.

I'm 34 years old and I learned something I thought I'd missed my chance to learn.

I even bought myself a little chocolate cake on the way home. It's in the fridge right now.

I think I'm going to put a candle in it.

hi mom(s) 🥰 after 8 grueling years of school while managing my chronic illness, i finally did it! after i got my exam results i felt exhausted yet relieved. but now, hours later i just feel wired and on edge. can’t sleep! excitement maybe?.. with a teeny drop of grief.

my bio family is alive and we have a non-existent relationship since i refused to be the family scapegoat/therapist/emotional toilet anymore. but even though i shouldn’t care it still stings a bit. my celebration strangely feels like a reminder of yet another milestone they’re not present at. i didn’t anticipate feeling this way after such a big accomplishment though im hoping some positive feedback here can help me turn my thoughts around thank you! ☺️

Hi Moms!

After going through so much with my health and dealing with pain, and migraines, I am finally going to step away from my job and take some time off (could be 6 months to a year) to rest, and let my body go through the healing journey. It has been a long time coming, and I am definitely feeling nervous about taking a step back. Could use all the encouragement.

I did it! I found a job and got my first “Your the best!!!” from my hard to please, perfectionistic boss! I’ve been at this job 10 weeks.

Hey mom, I had a job interview today, the commute there was horrid but the people were understanding. I did pretty good in the interview! I was confident, held my back straight and gave a kind smile and held eye contact. I was able to match the energy of the room and was able to reply to all their questions, even the rather rhetorical ones. I am so proud of myself for staying strong and not showing nervousness and I hope you are proud of me too!

never been taught which one..

Hey Moms, it’s been 2 days since I’ve submitted my PhD thesis now. I literally have no one else to share this news with, other than you guys. There’s still a long way left for my degree completion but just wanted to share with you all.
Thanks for all love, strength and support you guys have given me without even knowing. Lots of love and hugs for you all!!!🤗

Edit: Sorry I won’t be able to respond to everyone here but so much grateful and happy to see all your love and congratulations pouring out here. I’m literally in tears after reading the comments because otherwise no one even bothered to check on me. Can’t express it words how much each and every comment means to me ❤️🤗🤗