Two Hot Takes - 189: Popped Off Big..

Episode Date: October 31, 2024

Two Hot Takes host, Morgan, is joined by guest co-host Lauren! Popping off can mean so many things.. like blowing up on someone or even doing something exceptionally well.. YOU get to decide which def...inition fits for today's stories by adding your thoughts. We were astounded with some of the issues in this episode like someone throwing out their sister's organ or someone's wife calling them to fix thing problems constantly, like a store being out of her favorite oat milk. Can't wait to hear your thoughts on these! Father Knows Something Spooky Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=loSfnBqIzHs&t=22s Bonus THT Spooky Episode and Content on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TwoHotTakes Fill out the google form HERE if you're coming to a live show!! : https://forms.gle/9t3zgUDL1VZkvfFt7 LIVE SHOW TICKETS HERE!! https://linktr.ee/twohottakestour MERCH IS ON SALE HERE ! https://shop.twohottakes.com Bonus Content on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/TwoHotTakes I can't wait to see you all in these, especially at our live shows!! Our PO Box!! Two Hot Takes. 5042 Wilshire BLVD. #470. Los Angeles, CA 90036 Our SubReddit to Submit YOUR Stories!!! https://reddit.app.link/twohottakes Full length Video episodes available on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TwoHotTakes Partners: CookUnity: http://cookunity.com/tht for 50% off first week! Audible: http://audible.com/tht for free 30 day trial! Skims: http://Skims.com/tht Lume Deodorant: http://Lumedeodorant.com Promo Code: THT

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:00 Hey friends, couple things. One, subscribe. Two, are you in Atlanta? Cause we'll be there tomorrow. Otherwise we still have a couple more tour stops and we would love to have you guys come out and join us. And third and final thing, we've had an amazing spooky season this year.
Starting point is 00:00:16 And the very last of our spooky stories, a full bonus episode just went up on our Patreon. So many really, really, really, really good stories. I was about to poop my pants. I was so scared. And a lot of them have pictures. I'm obsessed. I have loved Spooky Season this year from our 2 Hot Takes episode on this channel to the Father Knows episode that was full of listener write-ins that blew my mind. It has been really, really fun. And I've now agreed, thanks to the Patreon episode, to do a ghost bus next year. So big things in store for Two Outtakes and paranormal adventures. But other than that, thank you so much for being here and enjoy the episode.
Starting point is 00:00:54 How's it going over there? Oh, good. It's, uh, I worked out this morning and there's this like productive little day you're having. Yeah. It's like, I'm realizing I got to do that in the morning more often because I have a really hard time waking up. Like really hard time waking up. And every time I wake up and have a workout class planned, I'm like, I don't want to go. I don't want to cancel it. But Berry's is so stupid expensive.
Starting point is 00:01:19 And I do it on Clemson Pass. I'm scared of Berry's. I've heard things. I've never gone. No, they're not like that anymore. I've heard stories too, but I've never had Clemson Pass. I'm scared of berries. I've heard things, I've never gone. No, they're not like that anymore. I've heard stories too, but I've never had like a bad experience. But no, it's like I finally wake up once I get there. It's truly wonderful. So I should do it more often. Drink your water, work out, drive your car safe, practice some gratitude today.
Starting point is 00:01:47 All the things. I just haven't been working out much at all. And I just realized that like, it's definitely good for my brain to get some movement in. So I feel about riding horses again. Yes. I just like get out there. I'm not on my phone for an hour. I'm up in the hills looking at the sights, hearing the birds chirp.
Starting point is 00:02:07 And it's just like I get done. And I'm like no matter what I was dealing with before, I instantly feel better. Therapeutic. Just zen. No truly. I think that's how I feel about workout classes. Because it's like not only just the, you know, getting some movement in, but also just like being forced to be off my phone for an amount of time is important. I really think it's important.
Starting point is 00:02:28 It's huge. Yeah. So good. I'm just checking in with all of you. Like I hope everyone else is practicing some good self-care techniques, making sure your mental health is where it should be. I mean, we're transitioning in a fall, like it gets dark here at 6 p.m. And I'm just like, oh my God, this is terrible.
Starting point is 00:02:47 So I know seasonal depression and girlies are gonna be coming out soon. So just make sure you're checking in with yourself and your people and everyone is good. Have you been getting all the fog over here? Yeah, I love it. Oh, I know. I've been loving it too, but keeps it cooler.
Starting point is 00:03:05 It's so hot where I am in the valley. I've been loving it because it's October, and I love October. Spooky! It's so funny too, because it's like every single summer, I'm like, no, I don't want it to end ever. And then it's like September 1st, and I'm like, fall. Did I hear pumpkin spice? I buy all the candles. I'm just like, I love it. I love fall smells. I love smells. I just got these flowers from the Million Roses and I'm obsessed.
Starting point is 00:03:38 Brian bought, being one of those, it's, they're white, but they're a smaller one. Yeah. But he bought me that for like our, I one of our like, our first Valentine's day. I love them. It was a gift. They sent it and I've never like thought, okay, so I did steal one of those forever flowers from a different brand, the guy's house. We went to like a party at his house and I was like, I'm not going to buy it for myself,
Starting point is 00:04:04 but I'm going to steal it. I was still, you know, I don't know. I was a little wild. Where was this? I had a party in LA. We went with like Alejandra and a couple other people. And so I stole this little flower. And so I was like...
Starting point is 00:04:16 Damn, you're going to admit to that? Yeah. And so I... He's going to come looking for you. I didn't say what brand. And so I really, really liked it, but I just, I never thought I would spoil myself in such a big way.
Starting point is 00:04:31 So like they reached out and I'm like, the way it came packaged, I was like worried about it getting damaged. And it was like the nicest packaging. It looks really good sitting here. It's gonna be like my go-to gift for people going forward because it's just, it's so beautiful. It smells amazing. I love this one because it's a little ball. Mine is like mine is just a littler one, but I have it in my I
Starting point is 00:04:52 Have it displayed in our So called your coffee table. Yeah. Yeah, it's a really cute. I really like it. Tell them I want a new one I want to pom-pom one like this one Lawrence here I really like it. Tell them I want a new one. I want a pom-pom one like this one. Okay, okay. Tell them to call me. Million roses if you're out there. Lauren's here. But let's get into today's episode. So we were talking earlier and we were talking about some of these people that have been on social media lately and just happenings of the world.
Starting point is 00:05:19 And I realized I was getting so heated. I just want to pop off. And I realized I was getting so heated. I just like wanna pop off. And I realized I had an abundance of stories where the people are popping off in really weird or big ways. So that's the theme today. We got a lot of people popping off. Are you ready to pop off?
Starting point is 00:05:40 Yes. Yeah. Lauren just looks so scared. Like, ah. Oh my God. No, well, when you said about our previous conversation, when we were talking about some of the things people post online, Dude. then it just brought me back to that convo and I kind of looked through you a little bit.
Starting point is 00:05:56 I was like, yeah, that convo. I mean, there's some crazy shit online. Crazy shit online. It's amazing what people will willingly post of themselves unhinged. But let's dive in. Let's do it. Okay, I'm starting with a palette cleanser because I don't know what we're going to get into. Could be heavy, could be good, but I want to start off for sure on a good, happy foot. By the time this episode airs, we will also be going to Atlanta the very next day. And our live shows have been so, so amazing. I love and appreciate every little present you guys bring us.
Starting point is 00:07:02 And I just appreciate you guys coming and being in the room with us and yelling and sharing your takes. And it's so fun. It gives me such a sense of community that we don't usually get. Yeah. I love it. And so I came across this story
Starting point is 00:07:18 and I read it at one of our very last live shows from the last tour, but I just want to read it again. For those that haven't heard it, maybe. I know what you're talking about. And I just want to feel good. Yeah. Because it's so cute. Okay.
Starting point is 00:07:32 So this first one is coming from our very own tuhat takes subreddit. It is a year old now. It is titled, "'How Going to a THT Live Show Was the Best Decision of My Life' I, 27 female, was first introduced a THT live show was the best decision of my life. I, 27 Female, was first introduced to THT through a friend about two years ago. Ever since then, I have been hooked. I had the pleasure of attending one of the THT live shows a year ago. Little did I know this seemingly ordinary evening would turn out to be one of
Starting point is 00:08:01 the most extraordinary moments of my life. It was at your show that I had the fortune of crossing paths with my now-fiance, 28Mail. Our encounter was nothing short of magical, and it was all thanks to the amazing atmosphere you created and the connections you fostered throughout your podcast. From the moment we locked eyes during the show, there was an instant connection that I can only describe as fate. After the show, he pulled me over and said, quote, "'Is your name Wi-Fi?'
Starting point is 00:08:32 Because I'm feeling a connection." I admit, not the best line, but to be honest, he was extremely hot, so I decided to give him a chance and accepted his offer to grab drinks. We found ourselves drawn to each other, sharing laughs, engaging in meaningful conversations, and bonding over our shared love for your podcast. The first date turned into a second, which turned into a third, and the next thing I knew, a year went by. We spent Thursdays as date nights where he would cook me dinner and then we would have a picnic in our backyard
Starting point is 00:09:03 while listening to the THT podcast. I swear our whole relationship doesn't rely on the podcast. It was just something we had in common and bonded over at first. Two weeks ago on my birthday trip, my fiance proposed. We were in Italy and he proposed to me on a hot air balloon ride. It was perfect. Our wedding is going to be next year. I guess what I'm trying to say is thank you, Morgan, and all of the other hosts of THT for your incredible podcast and for inadvertently bringing me and my fiance together. I love it. It's just, it's so beautiful. I mean, I opened an email the other day from someone who recently got a colonoscopy thanks to the podcast
Starting point is 00:09:46 and found out that she does have colon cancer and wouldn't have likely found it until it was too late. She didn't really have a lot of symptoms. It was in a place where she wouldn't have symptoms until it was too late. But because of the podcast, went and got one. I mean, I just, I look at how this show has changed my life, your life, our lives, but not just ours and just so many others. And it's, I'm so grateful each and every day for all of you that listen and support the show.
Starting point is 00:10:24 And it just, must be going into Shark Week because I'm very emotional today. But I just I really just love this community and it's a magical little thing. Yeah, it's it's so amazing when people reach out and share certain stories with me. Like, I just I can't even explain that feeling because it's something to me when I was growing up and I just remember my teachers being so impactful to me. I mean, the ones that were good, there was obviously some of that were not my favorite, but there was some that were just so impactful to me. And I just remember thinking that it'd be really cool to be a teacher because if I
Starting point is 00:11:05 could just have one person in my class be inspired and feel good about themselves, like then I would feel good. I would feel good too. And so I think it's really cool to hear stuff like this, that this podcast has brought together a community that, you know, like outside of me and Morgan, like you guys are like helping each other, you know, people are making friends at the shows, people are making friends in the comments, like it's just, I don't know, I think it's a really beautiful thing and it makes me feel really happy to know that, you know, through
Starting point is 00:11:40 all of this, these silly little combos that we have that it's bringing a lot of positivity to a lot of people. So that, it means a lot. It means the world. What Lauren said. Yeah. Okay, let's get into these stories. This first one is coming from Am I the Asshole? It is titled, Am I the Asshole for Throwing Out My Sister's Organ? That is something you don't hear every day. I don't know if I've ever heard that one. My sister is always intentionally trying to be the odd one out in the family. Recently, she's had her first child and she decided she wanted to have her placenta taken by some
Starting point is 00:12:20 weird woman and dried and treated so she could scatter it like ashes or plant it with a tree or whatever. She considers herself very witchy, which causes a lot of friction. The woman was supposed to come pick it up, but then my mom and our aunties surprised my sister with a whole bunch of frozen meals while she's in the newborn phase, and there wasn't enough room in her deep freeze for all of the dishes plus the giant bag of ice and placenta. My sister texted the woman and she said it could be dropped off early. My mom essentially volunteered me to drop it off since it was on my way home.
Starting point is 00:12:59 I picked up my husband on the way because he had had a few drinks after work with friends and was being responsible. When he saw the cooler in the back, he looked in it and was extremely grossed out seeing the frozen placenta. After some discussion, he also made me realize it was very disrespectful to him and I to rope us into this because he has very strong beliefs in God. There was also hygiene and health concerns that my husband brought up. It got to a point where it was either he was going to get out of the car and walk or the placenta needed to be out of the car.
Starting point is 00:13:36 Oh my God. I texted my sister to come pick it up and our mom, but after ages without an answer, we ended up just throwing it out. She's furious and has started making it other people's problem. and our mom, but after ages without an answer, we ended up just throwing it out. She's furious and has started making it other people's problem. I know it wasn't the nicest, but it also doesn't seem like that big of a deal. I offered to cover the deposit she put down with the woman who was going to process it, and I even got her a gift card to the witch store that she likes to get some herbs and stuff to do the ritual she wanted,
Starting point is 00:14:07 despite it being against my values. She still claims, even after apologizing, making amends and covering her losses, that I'm an asshole and she won't let me come see my niece and refuses to come to or bring my niece to family events that I'm at, which is causing huge problems within the family. She told me to post the situation here, and if it's hormones or sleep deprivation making her overreact,
Starting point is 00:14:36 then she will let it go. If I'm in the wrong, I don't know what else I can do that I haven't already done to make it up to her. Was this really such an asshole thing, even after the amends? Yes, I think so. I think it doesn't matter if you find it weird or not. It's like you agreed to do it and now you're turning around and throwing out something that was special that you can't just replace to your sister. I mean, it's a placenta.
Starting point is 00:15:07 Yeah. Yeah. So I think like, it's fine that that's not for everyone. I totally get that. But like, you agreed to it, and then you threw it out. It sucks that she's not letting you see your niece, but it's probably because you don't understand how much that meant to her. And I think the fact that she feels so confused, like, why is it a big deal?
Starting point is 00:15:32 Like I said, I'm sorry, I gave her a gift card. It's like, that's the issue, in my opinion. Like if, if somebody threw out something that was very important to me and they're like, like let's say, let's go back to one of the stuffed animal examples. Yeah. The grandma stuffed animal that that boyfriend threw away. It's like him being like, I said I'm sorry, and I bought her a new teddy bear. Like, what's the problem?
Starting point is 00:15:58 It's that lack of empathy that would be the problem for me. It's not a genuine apology. You're just trying to band-aid it, but you still don't recognize that what you did was wrong. Yeah. Admit you were wrong and give me a genuine apology. You're not. You're not sorry.
Starting point is 00:16:15 You don't see the problem. Right. And that's the problem. Exactly. Literally. Like, stuff is so frustrating. I just don't understand how like, it was such a big deal. Oh, husband gets in the car drunk,
Starting point is 00:16:28 starts looking at the cooler, he's grossed out. Why are you looking in there? Yeah. Oh, it's unhygienic, there's health concerns. Why? Are you gonna eat it? Well, and then he's frozen in a cooler. Yeah, and then he's just like,
Starting point is 00:16:39 this is against my religious beliefs. And it's like, okay, well, you're against a natural body part. She's just preserving it to plant it with a tree. Right. And, and regardless, it's like, well, that why are your beliefs more important than her beliefs? The sister agreed to do this favor. The sister had no idea that her sister would turn around and say never mind and then throw it out. That's the thing. Turn around and drop it back off at her house.
Starting point is 00:17:14 Exactly. She didn't text back for ages. What is ages? 10 minutes. 20. And it's like, okay, in that time, could you have just driven back and dropped it off with her? Sorry, I can't bring it. And also, if your husband was a husband, right? If your husband is being that erratic, like, I'm going to get out and walk. That's also concerning.
Starting point is 00:17:37 It's very manipulative. Yeah. I don't like... And it's just like one of those things, like again, why are you making this such a big deal? You don't agree with it? Cool. We won't freeze my placenta.
Starting point is 00:17:48 If it was, if, and that's what is annoying too, is that she's like, oh, then my husband made me realize that we don't agree with this. It's like, no, you had no problem with it when you agreed to it, like five minutes ago. So stand up for yourself, stand up for your sister, tell your husband to shut the fuck up and go and drop the placenta off where you said you were going to and then be done with it. stand up for yourself, stand up for your sister, tell your husband to shut the fuck up and go and drop the placenta off where you said you were going to and then be done with it.
Starting point is 00:18:09 You committed, you committed. If you didn't want to do it, even if your mom and sister or whatever, whoever it was signed you up for it, you can say, no, I don't, I can't. And don't. Yeah. Like, do you know how much stuff
Starting point is 00:18:21 my mom tries to sign me up for? Oh, well Morgan will do this. No, Morgan won't. Morgan don't have time. Morgan can barely get a nap in these days. Morgan will not be doing that. Well, and like say no. Yeah, and then think about it too with,
Starting point is 00:18:36 I mean, a lot of people go through a lot of different extreme emotions after pregnancy, like postpartum depression for one. And so you don't even know what the sister's going through that this was, could be so, so huge for her and so important for her. And now this is like the sister might be thinking that she wants to do this for the rest of her children and that her firstborn will never get to have this done. You know, there's a lot of implications.
Starting point is 00:19:02 Yeah, exactly. So if it's something important to your sister, even if you think it's stupid, if you don't agree, if you think it's gross, then have your separate beliefs, but don't like infringe your beliefs onto hers and, and ruin her moment. Yeah. Well, and like, I just wanted to Google it because I know this is like a thing that's talked about a lot lately. People are processing their placenta and I don't even know the process of this, but I'm
Starting point is 00:19:32 pretty sure they like freeze dry it or dry it out, grind it up and then make like capsule pills out of the powder. And there are some people that claim there's health benefits to it. And I'm not sure if that's valid. Quick Google search says that there's no evidence that eating the placenta has health benefits, according to the Mayo Clinic. But some people believe that eating the placenta can prevent postpartum depression, ease bleeding after delivery, promote a healthy hormone
Starting point is 00:20:05 balance, improve mood, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, milk supply. Mayo then says that there's no actual evidence so far, but like, has it really been evaluated? Because we all know when it comes to women's health, there's not the most research on it. Like even drug studies were done on men because women's hormones were too irregular. So there's a lot of issues with that and research with women's health and things like that. But it is interesting, like even if it was a placebo, you now denied her of that.
Starting point is 00:20:34 Right, right. Come on. Man, someone's got me heated. I'm like, I feel like I'm about to pop off. I've been a little angsty. Top comment, where to start? One, do not agree to do things that are against your religious beliefs.
Starting point is 00:20:50 And then when it is too late to back out without consequences, leave other people high and dry. You are married, so you are presumably an adult. The fact that your mother volunteered you is not an excuse. You did not have to agree. Thank you. No is a full sentence. No. Yup. You did not have to literally hold the placenta hostage and throw it out if she couldn't respond and get it to you sooner.
Starting point is 00:21:16 Two, the fact that your sister is angry with you for the thing you literally did is not her quote, making it other people's problem. She's not obligated to suppress her emotions and just forgive you, especially when you clearly do not respect her and don't give a shit about what you did. It's literally what you said, Lauren. Three, it really doesn't matter if you find your sister's beliefs odd or strange. You do not need to share her beliefs, but her wanting to save the placenta so she can plant a tree or do some private ritual literally does not harm you or your husband in any way.
Starting point is 00:21:51 So accusing her of being deliberately weird and claiming things like it was a hygiene issue is just bullshit. Her next placenta, she's gonna make a voodoo doll out of you though. As she shut it. It was in a box, harming neither of you. You don't respect your sister and she shut it. It was in a box, harming neither of you. You don't respect your sister and she knows it.
Starting point is 00:22:07 There's no way this is the first incident either. Four, also, did you even actually apologize? Because you didn't mention that. You mentioned offering to pay for the deposit and give her a gift card, which doesn't actually cover the damage considering that the item is irreplaceable. But no apologies. Did you make a sincere apology or did you make all these excuses and expect her to just get over it? My ruling, you're the asshole. Plus add that a human organ was not properly disposed of. That's a huge biohazard.
Starting point is 00:22:39 Oh, next comment. Wow. Didn't even think about that. In fact, I think that makes her a criminal. Yep, here in South Carolina, that's up to $5,000 in fines or a year in prison or both for improper disposal of medical waste. Whoa. Sewer ass reporter. We have some edits.
Starting point is 00:23:00 Okay. Edit to add. Didn't really expect this to get so many comments. There's no way I'm going to read all of them just for people to be rude and twist things, but some much needed clarification. I didn't improperly dispose of anything. I just couldn't fully explain with the word limit. We removed it from the car and left it hidden in the cooler on the side of the road.
Starting point is 00:23:24 Her husband went and retrieved it later, but it had thawed, so they couldn't take it to the place anymore because there were all these strict rules about custody chain and freezing and whatever. So we essentially threw it out, but didn't actually. She can still plant it or whatever she wants to do. She just can't have it dried or whatever Also to those throwing around US laws, you're not the center of the universe and we don't live there I clearly stated I apologized. So not sure why people in the comments can't grasp that. Sorry
Starting point is 00:23:58 I'm just laughing at your tone reading this We clearly don't live there Obviously, I'm wrong, so whatever. I'll find a way to make it up to her. Overall vote was asshole. Yeah. Obviously I'm wrong. You can just picture it, can't you?
Starting point is 00:24:15 Like, okay, let me try to read it normal. Okay. Obviously I'm wrong, so whatever. I'll find a way to make it up to her. Yeah, that sounded nice. That sounded nice. Obviously I'm wrong. Bleh. Just like, you can just hear it.
Starting point is 00:24:30 Like those people that just have like that defensive, like, can't ever. But it is such a funny thing though, because it's like, that is why like texts can get so misconstrued, because, you know, like people will read them in a certain tone in their head. And then the other person on the other side was typing it in a different tone in their head, you know? So it's just like, it is a funny concept. I feel like my texts never come across like, how I want them to.
Starting point is 00:25:00 I don't know. I feel like texting is hard. The voice memo stuff is nice. Yeah, I like voice memo. But I hate listening to them. I know, I try to send you voice memos and you were just like, I can't know. I feel like texting is hard. The voice memo stuff is nice. Yeah, I like voice memo. But I hate listening to them. I know. I try to send you voice memos and you are just like, I can't listen. And I'm like, why? And you're like, I don't know. There's something I'm like,
Starting point is 00:25:11 I'm on a plane or like... I hate them. You're like, I'm in a movie. I'm like, just listen to it later. You're like, can't. I'll be busy then too. I really hate them. I really love them. I really love them. I love the update where you can just click and read it.
Starting point is 00:25:28 Oh, I... But those have so many mistakes though. I guess. They'll say the funniest things. It'll be like, I just went to TJ Maxx and they'll be like, I just farted. Like it literally will like... Have you... You gotta listen to it.
Starting point is 00:25:42 You gotta listen to some mistakes in yours. And then I've like had to listen to them because I'm like, I don't think she was trying to say this. Mm-mm, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. But it's a nice update. I hate voice memos. I don't know why.
Starting point is 00:25:54 I don't know. I like them because I have to like actually focus because you can't like close out of it. So I kind of like that I'm like listening uninterrupted. You know? Makes sense. I feel like listening uninterrupted. You know? Makes sense. I feel like there's a lot of times where like we... Multitask?
Starting point is 00:26:12 Yeah. Yeah. So I'm like... Spending my life. So it feels like I'm kind of just like being present with the person who's sending me a four minute voice memo. That's a really good way to look at it. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:26:22 Okay. Maybe I'll stop hating on them. Got her. One of this I'll stop hating on them. Got her. One of this week's partners is Cook Unity. As you guys know, I hate cooking, despise it, but ordering takeout all the time and eating out just adds up really quick. And it also doesn't feel like the healthiest,
Starting point is 00:26:37 most high quality meals, which is why I love Cook Unity. With Cook Unity, you get affordable restaurant quality food from award-winning chefs delivered right to your door. These are meals that are done, ready to go. You simply heat up however you would like and you eat them. For me, I am an air fryer girly. I don't own a microwave.
Starting point is 00:26:57 So I love that these Cook Unity meals come without plastic. I can slide them into my air fryer on a little tray and within a few minutes they are ready to go and taste amazing. There's so many different meals but Justin and I mostly eat things with wings so chicken and turkey and we were able to find some amazing meals from some award-winning chefs. So if you're busy and still want to eat healthier juggling a bunch of activities for your kids and you don't want chicken nuggets that night, try Cook Unity. Avoid the takeout trauma with Cook Unity. Affordable food crafted by award-winning chefs delivered to your door. Go to cookunity.com slash THT or enter code THT before checkout for 50% off your first week. That's 50% off your first week by using code THT or go to
Starting point is 00:27:42 cookunity.com slash THT. Okay, this next one coming from Am I the Asshole? Two days old, titled Am I the Asshole for needing more time to sort out how I feel about the babysitter erasing a love note from my late husband. Oh my god. My late husband would be 44 male and I 43 female. We used to leave each other notes in dry erase marker on the mirror and on the counter by the coffee maker. When he passed away three years ago, I put tape over his notes to preserve them, seemingly forever. Having three young children, I hired a babysitter to help
Starting point is 00:28:21 out. She's been with us for a year, and one of the first things I pointed out was the notes. The other day, she removed the tape and wiped away the notes, stating that she wasn't thinking and was just trying to help clean up what she thought was something the kids did. It said, quote, forever, my girl. Being rather upset, but also open to the idea
Starting point is 00:28:43 that it has been three years, maybe it's time to remove the notes. I told her I needed space to figure things out. I'm leaning towards asking her to not come back because I can't get over it. It seems intentional on some level, but that may just be my hurt talking. Even if it's a lapse in judgment, I wanted to be the one to take it off when I'm ready. It's been two days and I'm still not ready to have her back yet. She keeps asking if she can work.
Starting point is 00:29:11 Am I the asshole for wanting to say no and for wanting to say I can't move past this? Thank you all. No, not the asshole. Why did she do this? I don't know. We could dig into a few different parts of this, but I think the first thing is first is that you're not the asshole if you don't want to have someone to continue to work for you when you're feeling this negative about it.
Starting point is 00:29:35 You know, like even if it truly was an accident, like if you don't want to have someone work for you anymore, like that's okay. You know, and obviously like if if it was truly an accident, and the babysitter feels awful and like needs to make money, like then that's unfortunate, but that's also not your problem to bear. The babysitter can be more careful next time. OP said that she mentioned these to her. She let her know what they were.
Starting point is 00:30:01 And so next time, in her next job, I'm sure she'll be able to find another babysitting job. She'll just be more aware. It's a learning lesson. Like it, OP doesn't have to hold that burden. Um, if she doesn't feel like she can like emotionally stomach it. So that, that's my opinion on that. And then, and then we can go back into the fact where it's just like, how did you, like you had to take the tape off. It said forever, my girl. It's so off. It said, forever my girl. It's so deliberate. It just, that, that is also on top of it really confusing because it's like, yeah, sure. We all clean and can kind of like go into like a different world.
Starting point is 00:30:34 But like when you see writing that says something like that, how do you assume that it's the kids? I mean, I guess it could be really sloppy handwriting and she didn't read what it said, but it does. I would have those thoughts in my head too. Like, was it deliberate? Like, yeah. And that would... How?
Starting point is 00:30:51 I'm just sorry. I'm, I'm popping off. No, go for it. I took the mic. No, keep going. Take it back. No. No.
Starting point is 00:30:59 I just want to talk with you so fast and I'm like, I've had too much coffee, but I just, I don't, I don't get it. I don't how she, don't understand how she could even think it's the kids. If it was just written forever my girl with nothing over it, okay, you're just absentmindedly wiping, listening to music. Oh oops, didn't see it really. Right.
Starting point is 00:31:20 There's tape over it. That just feels like you look at it, you see the tape, you can read what it says, forever my girl. Rip the tape off, wipe it. The steps that you went through and still went through with it. And maybe this is just a me, like I'm an over thinker, so when I would nanny, even if I was like a little confused about something or like
Starting point is 00:31:47 just wanted clarification, I would send her a picture and be like, Hey, is this what you meant? Hey, you know, boys, you said the boys needed this. And like, I get you don't want to be bothered with stupid shit, but that's no one puts tape on their counter. Yeah. Unless it's intentional. Right.
Starting point is 00:32:04 Come on. And that's like a, I mean, even if the babysitter wasn't trying to do anything malicious, like maybe the babysitter, maybe it just bothered her. Maybe it was one of those things where she's like a neat freak and it bothered her. And so she just pretended like it was an accident. I would have these thoughts in my head too, because of the fact that she pointed it out, which is why I'm saying like, OP, if you don't feel good about continuing to have her work for you,
Starting point is 00:32:28 then like you don't have to continue to have her work for you. No, and I wouldn't. And going off what you just said, I'm starting to wonder if she's trying to take facilitating OP's grief into her own hands. Like, I wonder if she's like, ah, it's been three years, I should get rid of this message. It'll help her own hands. Like, I wonder if she's like, ah, it's been three years,
Starting point is 00:32:45 I should get rid of this message. It'll help her move on. How long was she a babysitter for though? I'll see if there's any comments from OP. But I could see someone who just like, maybe is a little... You would hope not. I don't know, self-centered or high-horsed,
Starting point is 00:33:02 where they would be like, hmm, it's so sad that she's still hung up on this. I'm going to help her move on. I could so see that. That doesn't compute to me. I can't imagine feeling that way for anyone in my life, whether it's someone I was babysitting for, a friend of a friend who I just met, like a family member.
Starting point is 00:33:20 There's just like no space where I could see myself being like, I'm going to erase a note from their loved one who has passed. So it's hard for me to like, wrap my mind around that, but I do know what you're saying, that some people are, they think that it will help them let go and move forward and keep like, living their life to the fullest. So maybe that was that. move forward and keep like living their life to the fullest. So maybe that was that.
Starting point is 00:33:47 I would hope not because it's definitely not the babysitter's place. But who knows? Do we have any updates or? So we only have one comment from OP. It is in response to this comment. Could it have been an accident? One of the kids did it somehow, not intentional. And she, the babysitter, knowing how much it meant to you,
Starting point is 00:34:09 took the blame. OP responds, I don't think so. They were all really sweet saying, quote, I'm sorry that happened. One even said he knows it's not the same, but offered to rewrite it. Oh, little nugget. Wait, that's so sweet. That's like a piece of their dad too.
Starting point is 00:34:30 Like he's gone and that's... I hope she has a picture of it at least and can like frame it. Like put it in a frame by the coffee maker or something. Like I really hope she has a picture of it. But that's the only comment from OP. No update, but I don't know. Like a husband passed three years ago, having three young children, I hired a babysitter to help out.
Starting point is 00:34:54 She's been with us for a year. Okay. Yeah. And the fact that it was only a year ago that she pointed it out. And it's like, it's been there for a year. You've seen it babysitting for a year. You've seen it. And you just handed it. Baby sitting for a year.
Starting point is 00:35:07 Yeah. That's... What? It does. I would have the same thoughts of it being questioned if it was intentional. Top comment does quote what OP said. It seems intentional on some level, but that may just be my hurt talking. She's worked for you for a whole year. The notes were shown her and explained from the get-go. But one day she just forgot and thought one of the children wrote,
Starting point is 00:35:31 forever my girl to you, not buying it. Right. Okay, I literally did not even read this fucking post. This person goes on to say, she's probably one of those people who think that grief has an appropriate timeline and an expiration date, and that people need to be forcefully helped along.
Starting point is 00:35:50 This was not her place in any form or fashion. It's pretty outrageous. Even if it had been an accident, you're still deeply upset, and you're allowed to no longer want to employ someone who has caused you the grief. Not the asshole, Take care of yourself. I'm sorry this happened to you.
Starting point is 00:36:07 Edit to add, as has been pointed out by other commenters, she would have had to scrape at carefully placed three-year-old tape and wipe at even older ink twice, two different locations to remove love notes. And on both occasions, she forgot, quote, I was explicitly told not to touch this. I'm not buying the autopilot thought it was the kids excuses at all. Damn. Wait, it was, it was two different places. I didn't realize. I thought there was still other notes left. I thought it was just one note. We used to write each other love notes and dry erase markers on the mirror and on the counter by the coffee maker. I thought she only want... No, she did both notes. Oh my God.
Starting point is 00:36:52 Not just the coffee maker one. This was 100% intentional. The other day she removed the tape and wiped away the notes, plural. Also, the gull of her to text OP and be like, hey, can I come back to work? I know. I need to work. I know. I need to work.
Starting point is 00:37:09 Not my problem. No. Not my problem. Oh my God. This actually, this really bothers me because you're right. This is intentional. I can't see that it's not. That's really messed up.
Starting point is 00:37:21 What the what? Who would ever do this to someone? And the fact that she was working with her for a year and knew about the notes and then just one day decided to that after a year. No, this was intentional. That's really messed up. Well, and it's like, where was that mirror?
Starting point is 00:37:39 Was it just a common area bathroom mirror or was it a mirror in their bedroom? Like I never, I was a nanny for a family for two and a half, maybe, maybe all of college, like it's starting to blur, but I was like my my sophomore year of college until I graduated, I was their nanny. And I never went in their bedroom. Yeah. The parents bedroom.
Starting point is 00:38:02 I, it was off limits to me. I, and they never said I couldn't go in there. She asked me one time to grab something for her and I felt weird going in there. Yeah. I was like, let me run in, let run out. Like I don't like encroaching on people's personal spaces. If she went into her bedroom and did this and again, another piece of tape, another, like, not once, but twice. No, that's a hundred percent intentional. That's so messed up.
Starting point is 00:38:29 Oh, I can't now, now with like knowing that I can't unsee it. Cause I was trying to think like, cleaning, autopilot mode, like. We've done that shit, like, you get it. But no, you don't do that twice. Twice. No, and specifically like, I thought, you don't do that twice. No, and specifically, like I thought maybe it was a brand new nanny, like, no, for a
Starting point is 00:38:49 year. Why didn't you do it six months ago? You've seen it every day for six months. Why didn't you do it on your first day? Like you don't even mean like you know, no, no, no, no, no, no. I hope OP has pictures. I hope that there's some way to like memorialize those notes. And I'm so, so, so sorry that this happened. It's just like, even though it's been three years, it would almost make the pain just like ripping open a scab. Like it just, it's then so raw.
Starting point is 00:39:25 And I don't think like those notes ever had to disappear. Like I think OP could find the right person, get remarried, and the notes would be fine. Like the right person would not care that there were notes there. You sell the house, well guess you're taking the mirror and the countertop with you. Like that's just how it works. Or like, well like we said before, and I think they said in the comments, but that is not up to somebody else to make that decision for her. If she wanted to do that, if she said,
Starting point is 00:39:51 it's time, then that's on her to do that, not the babysitter. So that is just so inappropriate. I literally got that vibe. I was like, I think she's trying to facilitate her moving past that grief. But it was something you said that spurred it. And I was like, I think she's just one of those people. And I was like, I hope not, because I don't understand how she could be.
Starting point is 00:40:12 She is! Anyway. Asshole. Moving along. Moving along. I hope we get an update from OP. Me too. Another one of this week's partners is Audible.
Starting point is 00:40:24 I don't know about you guys, but I thought audio books were gonna be boring, lose my attention and just not have as much substance as a book. I was wrong, which is why I'm really loving Audible. I feel like I'm able to imagine more with the audio book. I'm seeing the characters and picking up details that I might not have while reading.
Starting point is 00:40:42 And I love that I'm able to put Audible audio books on while I'm cleaning, while I'm running errands, going to and from. This is going to be a little weird, but my favorite way to listen to my audio books now is while I'm outside cleaning horse stalls, feeding the ponies, doing all my chores. It just makes the most mundane task more fun, enjoyable. And I'm also feeling Zen while I'm in the moment. I get lost in my audiobook flow. And you're going to want to turn to Audible because they have the best selections of audiobooks without exception, along with popular podcasts and even Audible
Starting point is 00:41:16 originals. And you'll find all the genres you love while also discovering some new ones. There's more ways to imagine when you listen. Sign up for a free 30-day Audible trial and your first audio book is free. Visit audible.com slash THT. Link is also in the description. Okay, this one is coming from r slash true off my chest. It is titled, I found my wife's secret Google account and I'm sick to my stomach.
Starting point is 00:41:45 Secret Google account? What does that even mean? I, male 36, met my wife Bailey, female 33, nine years ago through mutual co-workers and we hit it off immediately. I felt absolutely head over heels with this woman. She was everything I was looking for. I'd gotten out of a toxic, dare I say abusive, long-term relationship right before that with a woman Bailey had been acquainted with but was not friends with.
Starting point is 00:42:11 I'd blocked her on everything and had no contact with her since breaking up. We got married right after the tail end of the pandemic, bought our first house together, and started trying to conceive. That was difficult because Bailey has PCOS. But last year, she finally gave birth to our first daughter. I'm having a blast being a dad. It's kind of a dream come true. I finally got my happy life with my perfect wife
Starting point is 00:42:35 until last Monday. My laptop's battery shit the bed. So I opened up Bailey's work tablet with an attached keyboard. You can sit at it like a monitor to check on some tax stuff. But she wasn't home. It was just me and the baby.
Starting point is 00:42:49 But we've never asked permission to use each other's devices. We've always been open like that. There's nothing for us to hide. That's what I thought. When I opened up the internet, I noticed that she had an incognito tab open. Never in a million years
Starting point is 00:43:03 did I expect to discover what I did. My wife has a secret Google account with a photo album saved called XX. So I clicked on it. Did I discover an affair? Nudes? Nope. In this Google album were over 300 photos, 348 actually, of my ex. The woman I was with right before I met Bailey, the woman who tormented me and made me feel worthless. The album said it was started back right around the time Bailey and I started dating and was updated as recently as two weeks ago.
Starting point is 00:43:41 The photos range from candid shots with family to pictures at her work functions. There were even pictures from her yearbook. I don't know how Bailey could have found her high school yearbook photos. Photos from vacation, ID photos from work, pictures of her in crowds, screenshots of videos, and screen recordings of videos. Just her. The other people in the photos would be scribbled out or the photo would be cropped and zoomed in on just my ex.
Starting point is 00:44:08 What the? This is scary. There was other disturbing things I found, too. There was another album with just zoomed up pictures of my ex's hair. Come to think of it, Bailey had recently started wearing her hair different, and my ex had a very identifiable hair type. There was another album with screenshots of comments on social media. Of course, I can't find them because I have her blocked. Like Facebook groups she's in and public posts.
Starting point is 00:44:36 And my ex is very low-key on social media. I can't imagine the lengths Bailey went to to find them. My ex literally lives in another country now. There were also different lengths to the exact outfits she was wearing, like very specific blouses and trousers you'd have to really go looking for to find. A specific water bottle I remembered her purchasing, and identical hiking boots and sandals. So basically, my partner of almost a decade has been single white female-ing my ex-girlfriend. What? Is that a phrase these days? Has secretly
Starting point is 00:45:10 stalked her to the point of buying her exact clothes and changing her hair and now I'm starting to realize Bailey's new interests over the years were just my exes. Bailey has turned herself into my ex. Whoa. Everything feels like a lie. Our love feels like a lie. The things we share feel like a lie. I threw up and had a panic attack. I looked at our daughter and felt betrayed.
Starting point is 00:45:35 I haven't confronted her yet. I don't know if I want to. I want to run away with our daughter. I want to print out all the pictures, leave them on the table and disappear. I don't know what to do. I just want to throw up. Oh my god.
Starting point is 00:45:50 I don't even know what to say. I would be very, I would be very freaked out. I'd be terrified. Where do you go from there? You have a kid, you've been together ten years. Where do you go from there? It's interesting too that he had no like, inkling that, you know, like you would think that he'd be like, you know, she did say that she was jealous or, you know, that she was
Starting point is 00:46:18 always felt like insecure. Like it doesn't sound, it seems like, and that, and I think that is kind of what freaks me out more is that this complete secret side of her, instead of like him kind of knowing that she was struggling with like comparison or something along the way, just the way that she was able for an entire decade to kind of keep these like, this secret like life.
Starting point is 00:46:41 I don't know, it- Yeah, she hid it really well. The fact that it's never come up, even like a casual conversation of like, what was your ex like? Or, you know, like now I'm five years in with Justin and like, well, I'm a six. And I, you know, recently found out
Starting point is 00:46:55 what his ex looked like. I don't know if I would have gone 10 years without being curious. Now I wanna know. I've never known either. I literally just found out recently. I was like, oh, okay, cool. And then, you know, I started watching
Starting point is 00:47:12 Nobody Wants This on Netflix, which can we talk about how they definitely got inspo from Too Hot Takes? Let's talk about that maybe another day. But she is very open about his ex and she's like, what was Rebecca like? I'm obsessed with your ex. Like, yeah.
Starting point is 00:47:30 And I'm like, okay, maybe there's a fine line of that not being healthy, but to ask like general questions like, what was she like? And I'm not surprised he missed it where like she was slowly morphing into someone else because it is such a long time and people have a type. Like there's a very good chance that from a get-go they were two very similar people because sometimes people do have a type. Right. So I just I could see it happening. It's just the whole thing is just really odd because it's like it's a true obsession because You're you want everything that she has I think it'd be different if like she was just following her because she was an Instagram model and
Starting point is 00:48:14 She loves her style and she's like I don't care that she's your ex. I love her style cute boots I'm gonna buy them too but this secret little incognito file and doing it for the past decade and like zooming in and like crossing other people's faces off and then like zooming in on the ex, like that is, that's creepy. It's crazy. I mean some of the stuff in there, I just like, I could dissect everything all day, like all of the pictures, but then the folder of just cropped in on her hair. But then like the other people scribbled, like you said, but then the yearbook photo,
Starting point is 00:48:53 work badge pictures. How did she get some of these pictures? Pictures of her in a crowd? Is she stalking her in person? Right. Taking some of those pictures herself? Exactly. And he said that she was like very low maintenance or not on social media
Starting point is 00:49:09 much. So that also is a huge red flag because it's like, I mean, oh my gosh, this is just so concerning. Top comment. I'm so sorry. This sounds like something out of creepy pasta. Hopey responds. I'm actually surprised with the amount of support I've gotten on here in the last hour. Haha. Believe it or not, there are no other red flags in our marriage. Now I don't know what else I've missed.
Starting point is 00:49:38 First off, I'm sorry you were in an abusive relationship. Second, unfortunately, as hard as this will be, the only option here is to sit her down and ask what the hell is going on. Don't let her bog you down by bringing up that you snooped. You did, don't deny it, but that doesn't compare to her cyber-stalking your abusive ex and imitating her look.
Starting point is 00:49:58 It's creepy and I can't even begin to imagine why she would. Your wife is the one you married and your relationship with this other woman was horrible. You're clearly not pining for the bad old days, so I've got no theories." Yeah. And that's so true, like,
Starting point is 00:50:14 this other woman was not a threat at all. She's the furthest thing from a threat. Right. OP has her blocked on everything. What the fuck? There's just so many things where it's gone way too far because even if wife was doing this for maybe like the first six months of their relationship it would be questionable but maybe she was just having a really hard time like do you still love her?
Starting point is 00:50:45 What if he still loves her? Like the obsession, but like the, the 10 years is so confusing to me. Like how do you stay dedicated to trying to like mimic everything that this person is doing for 10 years? It's a lot of effort and time and who are you then? Who are you? Right. If you're so involved and engrossed in becoming someone else, who are you?
Starting point is 00:51:13 Is there any chance that he went back to his ex while he got back with this girl? And that just kind of like spiraled this crisis? There's no mention of them ever getting together. It sounds like from the time Bailey and OP met, they were kind of dating and exclusive. There's another comment OP adds in response to the one about the other red flags. I don't know what I've missed.
Starting point is 00:51:40 While I talked about my ex, most of the things I told my wife about her were negative and paint her in not such a good light. My wife knows these things and knows they were traumatic. Of course I've mentioned things like what she does for a living and things she used to do. I think everything else she found, she got through intense cyber-stalking through my ex's friends and family. The yearbook photos, I have no idea. And then there is an edit, removed specific info so I don't accidentally dox myself. But I mean, there's one comment, someone's like,
Starting point is 00:52:13 best thing to do is address it now and see what'll change if she no longer has someone to replicate. I really want to get her reaction. I really hope he gives us updates. So OP does respond to that one and goes, I feel like what's worse is that she's subtly making these changes over time under my nose. So my ex has a specific career and Bailey didn't express interest in switching careers to the exact same thing until after I mentioned what my ex did. I didn't notice at the time, but I remember telling her, quote, ex went to school for
Starting point is 00:52:43 that. The hair was more recent, the outfits and objects slowly over time, but I remember telling her, quote, X went to school for that. The hair was more recent, the outfits and objects slowly over time, the interests. I'm not sure how much she's stolen personality-wise from my ex and what she actually likes. It's all incredibly exhausting and confusing. And that's how I would feel. I'd be like, who are you?
Starting point is 00:53:03 Who are you? If it was like, if that folder was from the time when they were dating, like he said, there were times, yeah, like there were a couple of the pictures saved from when we first started dating. But the fact that he was like, it was updated as recently as two weeks ago. That's, you have a baby together. You're happy.
Starting point is 00:53:26 And like, I don't. Yeah, there's, there's just so many things that make this just too far. And I really can't get over like the scribbles though, because if like you don't want to see other people only her so clearly. Right. It's just it's odd. Like if she was just like, had this obsession that she got in this habit of doing and she's just kept like checking on the ex and then she like didn't want to accidentally like, like, I don't know, creating a separate album is just confusing to me in general. But like scribbling people's faces out. Oh man, I don't know. This is just so odd. I really, really would love to get like what the wife says about it.
Starting point is 00:54:06 Like, does she deny it and say, you're crazy, gaslight him? Or is she gonna be like, I'm sorry, I've been battling like this mental health like issue that I've been having and I wanted to keep you out of it because it makes me feel so crazy. Like, I wanna know like what her response is gonna be so badly.
Starting point is 00:54:22 Well, we don't have enough. Just kidding. We do? Yeah. Oh, we don't have enough. Ugh! Just kidding. We do? Yeah. Oh, why'd you do that to me? Oh my gosh. So the original post was coming from March 17th of 2024 this year and the update came July 7th.
Starting point is 00:54:38 So March, April, May, June, July, like almost four months. Okay. I'm pretty sure I accidentally got my original post removed just now because I tried to update it with a link to my update. Oops. Anyways, I'm the guy that found the Google Drive full of pictures of my ex. So, I was not expecting my original post to go viral on YouTube and TikTok and have so many responses.
Starting point is 00:55:01 Yikes. I'm overwhelmed by the support. I'm humbled by the number of people who have been through this experience on both sides. Whoa. Wow. I have an update, but it's probably not as exciting and as juicy as you want. It's not bad though. First, let me clear a few things up. If people think this post is fake because it doesn't make sense or trying to conceive timeline is short or the way I worded things makes it looks like a teenager or woman wrote it, continue to think that because it means I've successfully been
Starting point is 00:55:30 vague enough and worded things to not accidentally dox myself because this is a creative writing exercise so I don't embarrass myself for real. No, I actually didn't throw up. I was in the middle of a panic attack. Private browsing tabs were open to the websites with clothing and objects. Another tab was signed into Google Photos. When I exited the Google Photo tab to look at the website with clothes and came back, it was already signed out and I couldn't get back in. A lot of the clothing I recognized wasn't because I remembered my ex wearing them. There were more recent pictures of her in the file wearing
Starting point is 00:56:05 them and I remember the day Bailey bought the water bottle that also happened to be in the folder. The hair. Bailey and my ex are the same race and my ex wore braids in a particular way. Not so particular that it's exclusive to my ex because Bailey has also worn different braids but seeing pictures of her made me put two and two together. Is there any way Bailey could have gotten with me in an attempt to get to my ex? Was Bailey possibly obsessed with my ex before she met me? Probably not, because Bailey grew up here and my ex originally moved here for university. And while you can drive across the border, it's not that easy and I don't think Bailey was going back and forth
Starting point is 00:56:43 to stalk her in person. Also the reason why my ex and I broke up have nothing to do with Bailey and she could not have had any involvement. Onto the actual update. The next day when I had calmed down, I called several social workers and therapists. I was planning to confront her there. Unfortunately, the only places that take our insurance did not have an opening for another couple of weeks. So despite what a lot of you think, I've known my wife for nearly a decade, and even
Starting point is 00:57:11 while I was confused and upset and doubting things, I didn't think she'd be a danger to me. We took baby to grandma's and I asked her to go for a walk with me. I did not beat around the bush and straight up told her, quote, I found the folder. Her face got very red and she was frozen, but also tried to play dumb at first. I was persistent and she started crying and begged me not to leave her. This is what I uncovered. Bailey first started looking at my ex out of curiosity, to keep tabs, I guess. But over time, it became more pathological.
Starting point is 00:57:47 It's like she got addicted to it. But she also wanted to please me. Okay, maybe I talked about my ex a lot more than I thought. And Bailey wanted to emulate the good parts. She told me she really doesn't know who she is. And my ex's image was something she latched onto because, quote, she had me first. Finding information about her became a game. Finding the clothing and objects became a game by searching things like blue water bottle, green stripe, until she compared the product
Starting point is 00:58:17 to a photo and found the exact one. The reason why I couldn't find the posts wasn't because I had blocked my ex, but because my ex had made a new Facebook under a different name. Bailey found her profile by searching up a family member. She made a fake social media and added enough mutual friends until she could see my ex's post, and until her private Instagram accepted her. She weaseled her way into her exercise Facebook group, where the videos were posted, and searched her high
Starting point is 00:58:45 school on a yearbook website to find the yearbook pictures. Over time, she just collected the images and would get excited to find something new despite the fact that my ex is extremely private on social media. The folder had originally been called, quote, hex the ex in case I discovered it. She was going to make the excuse of saving the pictures to put a hex on her. When she made a burner Google account. That's more normal. I think that might be worse. Yeah, I'm kidding.
Starting point is 00:59:15 When she made a burner Google account, she deleted the old folder and named the new one XX. Then she got sloppy and comfortable. And that's right around the time I just happened to open the work tablet. We took a break. It was a while. We made it to couples counseling, and Bailey and I also began seeing separate therapists. She still has not had an assessment with a psychiatrist, but it's on the list. She promised to stop and deleted the album in front of me. Slowly, certain clothing items began to disappear
Starting point is 00:59:45 from the closet. I still do not entirely trust her, and that is for me to work on. I'm afraid she has another secret account somewhere, like a backup. The physical mimicking is actually stopping though, including the hair change. We're still not okay.
Starting point is 01:00:02 I want us to be okay, and it's okay if that takes time. If we end up not being okay, then that's something I have to deal with. What I do know is that my wife is incredibly insecure, probably mentally ill, and is misled. I don't really want to walk away from that. Although this probably isn't the most exciting update, I appreciate the private messages. I just couldn't get back to Reddit cares and links to resources. I'm not sure how I feel about social media, YouTube and TikTok. Pick it up my story though. That's wild.
Starting point is 01:00:33 Until next time, if I ever give another update, I do hope it's a good one. Damn. Until next time. Until next time. I mean, I guess it's kind of exactly what we all thought, but I mean, I feel like that's, a lot of people are screaming, ah, he should have got divorced. But there's so much more nuance to life than that.
Starting point is 01:01:02 Yeah, I don't, this doesn't scream divorce to me. I think I would be more concerned if the wife completely gas lit him, wouldn't own up to it, like said he was crazy, like that type of stuff, then I'd be concerned around it. But the fact that, you know, she was embarrassed and then she came clean, I don't think that it's like an immediate,
Starting point is 01:01:22 like divorce worthy, it just, it depends on what happens from here. What it sounds like to me is that she was interested in the ex, and then it became a little obsessive because she gamified it. She literally gamified it. And then it became an addiction that she just didn't drop. So I, you know, if nothing else is going wrong in the relationship and if she's going to be honest about getting help and talking it out of why she did it and not doing that anymore, then I don't see why, you know, they shouldn't still try.
Starting point is 01:01:59 But again, it's up to OP and like how he feels. If he feels really betrayed and he can't move forward from it, then like that's that. But if he thinks he can, you know, still trust her and feel that she still is the same person that she is, like she is her own person and she was just copying clothes because she had this like addiction and he can get over it, then... That's their life. And that's that. Yeah, that's their life. And I mean, did they do have a kid together?
Starting point is 01:02:28 Like otherwise really happy marriage. And I mean, he even kind of admitted, he's like, maybe I did talk about my ex a lot more than I thought. And so maybe, you know, she loved him so much, she felt that need to do it. And still unhinged, but you know, you could rationalize it a little bit more. And they'll proceed forward and they'll figure it out.
Starting point is 01:02:53 Even if he just said in passing, like, oh, my ex was super stylish, very into fashion. And she used it against me and blah, blah, blah. And always said that my fashion sucks. even if he said that in his head, he's thinking he's talking about her being like, yeah, toxic. And then his partner is just like, she's fashionable. She's fashionable. She has such good fashion sense.
Starting point is 01:03:17 You pick up the positive versus the negative that follows. Yeah, this one is wild, wild. Like I do wish them the best. I'm very curious about the other people's comments about being in similar circumstances. Yeah, I mean, it doesn't really surprise me that much because I do think that that's something that happens with people. When you fall so in love with somebody and knowing that they had a past before you, I think can sometimes be like trippy. I would lose it if I opened Justin's computer and there was a picture of my ex-boyfriends on there. I would lose my mind. I'd be like, sir, are you okay? Yeah.
Starting point is 01:03:57 I don't know. I don't know. It would be very challenging, but... With just a picture or like multiple pictures? Multiple, 346. Yeah. 346. Cause if I saw like one picture, then I would just think that he like sent it to his friend to like make fun of my ex.
Starting point is 01:04:15 Yeah. I wouldn't be concerned. Or like wanted to see what he looked like. Cause I don't know. I guess I did have a couple of pictures of my ex on there when we met, but I don't know. Yeah, I don't know. Yeah, I haven't really taken anything down
Starting point is 01:04:27 from people I've dated. Yeah. I know, I have a lot of pictures. I was scrolling the other day. I have a picture with like one of my guy friends and it literally looks like we're dating. And I'm like, I can see why that pose is... Yeah, I know I saw this one picture of a brother and sister the other day.
Starting point is 01:04:49 Oh, I know. The siblings are dating stuff. And it was such a relationshipy pose. And honestly, they're both so cute that if you didn't know that they were siblings, you'd be like, oh my God, they're such a cute couple. I definitely have a picture like that with my little brother and it's framed at my mom's place. And every time I look at it and I'm like, I'm truly just so awkward
Starting point is 01:05:10 and don't know what to do with my hands that I just put it there. I'm just- Where was the hand? Where'd you put it? Like, you know how you like kind of loop your arm around someone and then like put your hand- Yeah, like on his chest?
Starting point is 01:05:20 Yeah. Okay. Your face looks so embarrassed. I just, I literally want to pay someone to Photoshop it and make it normal. No, it's fine. It's fine. I mean, it shouldn't be, it shouldn't be that big of a deal. It's just, it is, it, you know, I mean, it's just funny because it's like when you, when there's like a boy and girl sibling and they're around the same age and they, and a lot of people, like when they're dating each each other a lot of times you see people who date people that look familiar to them
Starting point is 01:05:50 That's like a psychological thing. I know so it's not it's not that wild but thank you. It's you know, yeah I need that reassurance. Yeah Okay moving along You're not a creep it's okay Moving along. Okay. Fuck. You're not a creep, it's okay. Another one of this week's partners is Skims.
Starting point is 01:06:09 I've always been that person that once I get home, I race to take off that painful bra. And even when I do take it off, for hours after I will have lines from that underwire. Not with Skims. Skims are some of the comfiest bras I've had in years. And trust me, I went on a bra journey. I was ordering from just about every brand you possibly could. And none of them were as
Starting point is 01:06:30 comfortable, as flattering, as supportive while also looking sexy. And even if you don't want to look sexy, you want a comfy t-shirt bra. They've got you covered there too. They have so many different options, textures, materials, and Skims does a whole lot more than bras, from lounge wear to t-shirts, the robe you guys. Me and Justin are fighting over this robe right now. I get it from my ad reads and editing the rest of this episode after. He dibs it for after his shower and it's now his bedtime outfit. I think it's time to get another one.
Starting point is 01:07:00 So if you're ready to try it for yourself, shop Skims bras at skims.com. Now available in 62 sizes, 30A to 46H. If you haven't yet, be sure to let them know we sent you. After you place your order, select podcast in the survey and select our show in the drop down menu that follows. Thank you. Okay. This next one coming from Am I the asshole?
Starting point is 01:07:22 Am I the asshole for making my daughter pay back a thousand dollar dress she was supposed to wear in a wedding. I have a daughter Emma, 16 female, who was supposed to be a bridesmaid in her older sister's wedding. My oldest wasn't planning to have Emma in the wedding party. It was Emma who really wanted to be a bridesmaid because she was excited and wanted to be involved.
Starting point is 01:07:43 My oldest agreed to include her, even though it meant extra costs and adjustments. The bridesmaid dresses, shoes, and fitting were around $1,000 each, which we agreed to pay for since Emma did not have the cash. The wedding is in a month. Emma suddenly changed her mind. She's refusing to wear the dress since she thinks it is ugly, saying it is unflattering on her. It is, but didn't speak up at any part. She said she felt uncomfortable and wasn't close to the other bridesmaids and didn't want to participate anymore. I reminded her that she had been the one pushing to be a part of the wedding, but she was firm and backed out.
Starting point is 01:08:28 Now we're stuck with a thousand dollar dress that can't be returned. I told Emma that since she was the one who wanted to be in the wedding and then backed out, she would need to pay us back for the dress, either by working part-time or payment plans using her gift money. Emma is upset and says it's unfair, claiming we're punishing her for not wanting to do something she wasn't comfortable with anymore. Multiple family members think I'm being too harsh. Am I the asshole? How old is Emma again?
Starting point is 01:08:57 16. 16. What are your thoughts? No. Which part? What's no? Not the asshole. I think this is a great lesson for Emma to learn. I think it's justified. It's kind of one of those consequences. Like you begged to be in the wedding. You inserted yourself. We helped you buy this expensive dress so you would be involved, but now you're backing up because you think it's ugly.
Starting point is 01:09:22 It's not about you, Emma. I think you should wear the dress and be a part of the day. Is there still time? It's not the after the fact that they're saying to pay her back? Wedding is in a month. Oh, okay. Yeah, I mean, okay, so the wedding hasn't happened yet,
Starting point is 01:09:35 so she can still be in it. So I think she should just be in it. And actually, you know, I was thinking 16 sounds young, but it's actually a prime time to teach lessons like that. That money, you know, that money actually means something. Doesn't grow on trees. Yeah. And I think that, you know, because I, growing up, like I would save my money from gift money,
Starting point is 01:09:55 or I would do what, like babysitting, or I would get whatever job that would hire me. And like, I was working at Cold Stone for $6 an hour, which like, I don't even know still how it was legal. Apparently it's because like we were able to take tip, but, and- What? Yeah, I know, I don't really understand, but I was like 15. So I just, I really remember thinking, you know,
Starting point is 01:10:17 anytime that I would buy something, if I would go into Abercrombie and Fitch and buy a pair of jeans, then I would put into how many hours I worked for that pair of jeans. And I think it's really good to think like that at a young age. So yeah, I think what you said makes a lot of sense.
Starting point is 01:10:37 If she's not willing to be a part of the wedding anymore when it was something she really wanted to do originally because she doesn't feel comfortable with the dress. Well, you either wear the dress, be in the wedding, or you pay your parents back and understand the meaning of money. And they said, you know, pavement plans. So it's not like they're like,
Starting point is 01:10:55 find the money right now or get out. Or we're selling your car. Or we're selling blah, blah, blah. Like I think it's the most fair, like, pop off, put your foot down. We've had in a while. And I don't think a lot of bridesmaids' dresses are great. I think some people are making moves to really put their bridesmaids in really flattering things,
Starting point is 01:11:15 but like, I don't know, there's a lot of ugly bridesmaids' dresses out there. They're just kind of standard and, you know, meh. Yeah. Like, I don't know. Like, I've, I've, there's very few brides Yeah. Like, I don't know. Like, I've, I've, there's very few bridesmaids dresses I've been excited about. And I think they're pretty, but. They're very nice.
Starting point is 01:11:33 Um, and I, like, I remember being asked to be in my brother's wedding and I was so happy to be a part of the day. Did I love my dress and how I looked in the pictures? No, but it wasn't about me. I was there to support them and have fun, and be involved in their day. And it's so special to even be included. She forced her way in, now you're a part of it.
Starting point is 01:11:56 You're 16, you're gonna be in those pictures, you're gonna be a part of the day. Who cares what you're in? If you don't wanna post the pictures, don't post the pictures on your own Instagram, but be a part of the day. Like, who cares what you're in? If you don't want to post the pictures, don't post the pictures on your own Instagram. But be a part of the day. You inserted your stupid little self in there. Suck it up. That's so, so true. And I think the only hesitation that I had was thinking if, if the 16 year old had no idea, let's say they didn't discuss cost with her, if she just
Starting point is 01:12:25 thought it was a hundred dollar dress and then they were like, no, it was actually a thousand dollars. If that was a shock to her, then I would feel a little bit bad. Yeah. But it sounds like it was transparent up front. Right. And at the same time though, still, even if it was $100 or not, it's just like, be a part of the day. Suck it up. Like you said, you don't have to post it on your own social media. It's literally like, you're not even, no one's going to see it. No one's going to see it. Who's going to see it? No one. The people in the room, they don't care about you and your bridesmaids dress. They care about the bride and groom.
Starting point is 01:13:05 That's who they're there for. You're not the center of attention. You literally, I don't know why this one's making me pop off so much, but it's like you inserted yourself. You pressured your sister and like, it's like, well, maybe she thought ahead of time and this is why she didn't ask you in the first place. But I don't think you can force her. Like, it's hard because I feel like I do want to force her to, like, you committed to this, you signed up for it.
Starting point is 01:13:33 A thousand dollar bridesmaids dress is a lot of money. Well, that was... That's a lot. That doesn't really sit well with me either. I don't understand how people are expecting their bridesmaids to have a thousand dollar dresses. Unless they're paying for it. That doesn't really sit well with me either. I don't understand how people are expecting their bridesmaids to have a thousand dollar dresses. Unless they're paying for it.
Starting point is 01:13:49 Hmm. Maybe, maybe that's why that there was gonna be additional costs. Oh. And so maybe the bride was paying for it. So she was like, I'm not gonna add another. Yeah, and so the parents were then like, we'll pay for it. Right.
Starting point is 01:14:01 That would make sense. So top comment, not the asshole. A lot of people in the comments are making assumptions or straight up making things up that are the opposite of what Opie has stated. The dress is the same for all the bridesmaids and Emma has only ever met the bridesmaids while supervised so there hasn't been any bullying.
Starting point is 01:14:17 The bride didn't even want Emma as a bridesmaid. This is something that Emma pushed for. The fact is she's 16 and bulldozed her way in a new position as a bridesmaid. And now that she's realized the style of dress isn't ideal, she's throwing a tantrum. Yeah. And that is a really good point. No, I think this is a really important time in somebody's life to learn a lot of these really valuable lessons.
Starting point is 01:14:42 So you know, if you are pushing and are pushing and you're committing to something, follow through or pay the consequences of not following through. I mean, my uncle used to be, he was really wealthy and he used to be really hard on my cousins because he wanted them to really... Appreciate money and the concept of value. Yeah, and be self-sufficient too.
Starting point is 01:15:07 And so they told this story how when they were little and they would get a budget and he would give them a budget for the entire summer. They just had to write out exactly what they wanted to do and how much it would cost. They would do their own research and have this little Excel or whatever. And one of my cousins forgot to like include camp. And so, yeah. And so he's like, sorry. The old well clause.
Starting point is 01:15:31 You can go to camp next year. Damn. Yeah, and it sounds harsh, but like, how amazing of a lesson is that? Right, exactly. So it's like, it's harsh, but at the same time, you know, when they had a lot of opportunities, it's like he wanted to make sure that their brain developed in a way that was being self-sufficient for themselves,
Starting point is 01:15:52 that they weren't just like relying on him, you know? So I think in a story like this, I think it makes a lot of sense to have some tough love, because in the end, you're actually just helping her build her character and be a better adult in the future. And that's life. Yeah. Life is like wearing, you know, maybe you get a job at a place and you hate the uniform. I'm going to tell you right now, did I love my Perkins uniform? No.
Starting point is 01:16:15 Did I still wear it because I wanted the money to go buy my buckle jeans? You're talking about Abercrombie and I'm like, oh my God, the amount of money I wasted at the buckle buying bedazzled Miss Me jeans. That is like the image I have of you when we first became friends. I feel like you wore the buckle jeans like right when we first met too. I definitely did. Unless, unless I just saw pictures of your... No, I was still rocking them.
Starting point is 01:16:40 You're still a buckle jean girl. Yeah. So it's just funny because I can like picture you perfectly with your little like swooshy hair and... Dude. It's just crazy the development we've had. But yeah, I think it's gotta be one of those lessons she learns. The comment does go on to say, frankly, how she feels about the dress doesn't matter.
Starting point is 01:16:59 The wedding is about the bride and the bride picked the same dress for all the bridesmaids and didn't even want Emma there. Emma pushed for this. So she should either suck it up and wear the dress, or she should take responsibility for her decisions and pay back the cost. Again, this is a 16-year-old that bullied her way into being a bridesmaid, despite being warned of the cost, and now she's wanting to drop out because the dress isn't ideal? She was perfectly fine spending her parents' money, but now that there are real consequences, she's upset?
Starting point is 01:17:25 Not the asshole. And OP did have an edit on the top of the post. I didn't go to my oldest and pressure her to make Emma a bridesmaid. My oldest gave in after Emma pestered her about it. Emma has a phone. I don't even learn about the pestering until after she was added.
Starting point is 01:17:41 Yeah. There are a couple comments from OP just kind of describing the dress. I was kind of curious about it. It is about the dress. It's not about other bridesmaids or bullying. It got back from being fitted and she hates it. We picked it up two days ago. Her dress isn't different from others and she doesn't have a mental health issue. It's just not flattering for her body type. You know what dresses? I really don't like silky dresses that don't have a mental health issue. It's just not flattering for her body type. God, you know what dresses? I really don't like silky dresses that don't have like a cinch by the-
Starting point is 01:18:09 A ruching. Yeah, by the stomach area. I'm just gonna be uncomfortable like the entire night if I'm wearing like a silk dress that's like tight against me with no like- Uh-uh. Ruching. I don't want people to see the outline of my belly button.
Starting point is 01:18:22 No. Yeah, I'm good. I'm good. I'm good. The dress is a fall orange. It's not a bad color, but she hates it. Everyone else was happy with the dress. No, I wasn't gonna go to my oldest and ask her to change the dress.
Starting point is 01:18:37 Everyone else was fine with because it wasn't flattering on someone that wasn't even originally part of the bridal party. That would be so entitled and wrong. So OP seems to have a good head about him. Yeah. Him, her, I don't know if they ever said them. Good head about them.
Starting point is 01:18:53 But yeah, I think Emma needs to get with the program or pay for the dress. Mm-hmm. Sorry, Emma. Pop off. Next. Another one of this week's partners is Lumi. Well, I think I've finally figured out this deodorant thing. I've got a Lumi in my bathroom, my car, and a travel size in my purse.
Starting point is 01:19:15 So guess who hasn't forgot to put on their deodorant lately? Me. And good thing. Because I don't know if it's just me, but I feel like my body odor has gone worse over the years. And I don't want anyone to ever say I smell bad. And thanks to Lumi, that is not going to happen. Lumi is a deodorant that was created by an OBGYN and it works everywhere. It is pH balanced, so it's safe to use pits, privates, beyond, and it is clinically proven to last up to 72 hours. Lumi is also baking soda free and paraben free.
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Starting point is 01:20:05 customers too. And if you combine the 15% off with the already discounted starter pack, that equals over 40% off their starter pack. Use code THT for 15% off your first purchase at lumedeodorant.com. That's code THT at L-EDEODORANT.COM. Please support our show and tell them we sent you. Smell fresher, stay drier, and boost your confidence from head to toe with Lumi. Okay, this next one is coming from AITAH, titled, Am I the asshole for telling my wife I'm done with her emergency calls and leaving her stranded?
Starting point is 01:20:47 I, 32 male, have been married to my wife, 29 female, for four years, and we have a three-year-old son. She's not a bad person, but she is constantly in a state of chaos, and every little thing becomes my problem. No exaggeration. I get these emergency calls multiple times a week. Flat tire calls me at work. Forgot her wallet calls me. Grocery store out of her favorite oat milk blows up my phone like the world's ending. It's relentless. I work full time and do my fair share at home with our son.
Starting point is 01:21:21 Diaper duty, bedtime stories, cooking, cleaning, you name it. But these crises are killing me. I've told her before that unless it's a real emergency, like someone bleeding or stuck on a highway at night, she needs to figure it out. I don't have the bandwidth to drop everything constantly. The last straw came two days ago. I had to take my son to the doctor because he had an ear infection and I was already running on fumes. While I'm in the waiting room with a fussy toddler, she calls me in a panic because she locked herself out of her car in front of a target five minutes from home. I told her, quote, I can't leave.
Starting point is 01:21:57 You'll have to call someone to pop the window. She freaked out, saying that would cost too much. She didn't bring enough cash, and I was being unreasonable. I stayed firm, said she needed to figure it out, and I hung up. When I got home later, she was furious. She said that the guy charged her $150, and I should have come to help because she, quote, didn't think to grab her wallet. I told her point blank, quote, I'm done rescuing you from things you can easily handle. You need to stop acting like everything is a disaster. Now she's barely speaking to me,
Starting point is 01:22:32 acting like I'm the villain for not dropping everything for her again. My brother thinks I was harsh, but my mom said I was right to set boundaries. So am I the asshole for leaving her stranded this time? I don't think so. I think if it's something that's consistently happening, then I mean, you have to set boundaries at some point. If this was an isolated situation, I would probably be like, you should have helped her out. You should have. I don't know. I think that it's because it's like so consistent that he needs to set a boundary at some point. And kind of like what we're talking about in other stories, it's just like, you got to learn your lesson too. She made a mistake, that's okay. But it's time for her to fix it on her own. And that's okay too.
Starting point is 01:23:17 And I think sometimes when people get in relationships and the other person does a lot for them, then they start to kind of like lean into that and sometimes forget to be their own independent self without actively trying to do that. They just kind of fall into that cycle. So if the partner continues to let it happen, then it's almost like they're losing some of their individuality or their self-sufficientness.
Starting point is 01:23:43 What's the word for that? Yeah, exactly. Yeah. And you do become almost complacent in your life. Like, if you have someone doing everything for you, it's like, yeah, well, I'm just, I'm good. I'm comfortable not doing anything. Right.
Starting point is 01:23:56 And I don't even think, I feel like that's a depressing feeling though, too. Like, I think it's good for people to have that individuality and to a point, but it's like, if I could have breakfast in bed every day, I think it's good for people to have that individuality. And to a point, but it's like, if I could have breakfast in bed every day, I would. I certainly would. But like, I know that's not a reasonable expectation to put on my partner either. Like, I can wake up, I can put my hash brown in the air fryer,
Starting point is 01:24:18 I can put some eggs on the stove over easy. Like, I can do it. But she's not even being reasonable in what she's calling him for. The store is out of your favorite oat milk? What's he supposed to do about it? Like, if this was me, I would feel suffocated. You're so dependent on me that you can't even problem solve what to do when a store doesn't have your oat milk. This is crazy. And I know there are some people who they didn't grow up learning certain things. They're not as self-sufficient as others. I get that. But let's talk about it. Let's work through
Starting point is 01:24:58 this. Here's an experience. Call the tow truck company. See if anyone can come get your car open. experience. Call the tow truck company, see if anyone can come get your car open. Do you have AAA? Okay, we don't. We should think about getting AAA now in case this happens again. Then you have someone you know you can call. But she's like, I don't have my wallet. I don't have my wallet. Who doesn't bring their wallet to Target? Come on, ma'am. And it's like your baby is at the doctor for an ear infection. You want your partner to leave the doctor's office to come fix your problem at Target? You can sit there and wait until I'm done with the doctor, go back in the store, take a lap.
Starting point is 01:25:34 Take a lap, bitch. Because this is not my issue right now. And it's a five minute journey from home. Do you have another set of keys at home? You have your phone, you called me, can you Uber home and get your other keys? Because an Uber is probably cheaper than 150 bucks. Use your brain. Use your brain. I think I'm popping off today more than these people. I like it. It's just, it's frustrating because I can, I can just feel that smothering-ness of this.
Starting point is 01:26:03 And it's not, I don't know, it's just, it's so simple. No, it's just, I think, and what I meant earlier too, about it being good to do your own things, because, and when you said, you know, I'd like to have breakfast in bed every day, I'm thinking more of like, there's certain times where, so my boyfriend, he drives a lot. He likes to drive, he's the one who drives us a lot. And so like we'll go and drive and like to get groceries together. And there's something that when he's out of town and I drive myself and get my own groceries, there's something that feels really like empowering, which sounds so silly to say, but it's like it's good to do things on your own sometimes.
Starting point is 01:26:44 It genuinely like improves your confidence, your self-worth. And it's like, oh, that sounds so silly, right? Like going to the grocery store, but no, genuinely like doing little tasks for yourself and building up your confidence and your abilities is so good for you. Yeah, it really is. Yeah. I just think doing things like doing anything on your own is every once in a while is very good for you.
Starting point is 01:27:09 So that's why I'm a fan of him just saying like, I got to draw the boundaries somewhere because I think it's actually helpful for her as well. I do too. I think so. Because it's like, you also need to raise a little human to be a capable. Yeah, happy healthy human Exactly can't do that. If you're like incapable of handling yourself Top comment not the asshole quote my car won't open
Starting point is 01:27:36 Quote I'm at the doctor with our son. You are not the priority. Yeah, which is the right thing to do OP responds that's exactly it. I was focused on our son and it felt like she didn't see what really mattered. I can't keep putting everything aside for every little excuse. Someone goes, she had so many options. Go back into Target, get a coffee and wait for dad to be done at the doctor or walk home and get the car later. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:28:03 Sounds like she's missing some critical thinking skills. Right. Curious if there's an update on this one. That's the other thing too. It's like, realistically, did you expect me to leave the doctor when our son has an ear infection? Is that realistically what she was expecting of him? There are a lot of comments from OP.
Starting point is 01:28:27 I just scrolled like four or five, maybe six, maybe seven. Could have been eight times. I lost track. It was so many scrolls. OP had a lot to get off the... OP's really going through it. Yeah. It's draining to say the least. I feel like every small inconvenience turns into a crisis and I'm always the first call. At some point, I just hit my limit. I can't keep putting out fires that aren't even real emergencies. It almost reminds me of like the little boy who cried wolf. There's a wolf! There's a wolf!
Starting point is 01:28:56 No wolf. By the time there was a wolf, and he cried wolf, no one believed him, and his ass got eaten. Yeah. Kind of reminds me too of that sailboat when the guy had the partner who was, we're gonna die, we're gonna die. Just like in the way that it sounds that both OP and the other OP are feeling.
Starting point is 01:29:18 Yeah. There's a comment, I see her getting flustered by everyday challenges and it seems like she doesn't know how to cope without relying on me. And that is interesting. I wonder if there's some mental health stuff going on right now, because like what did she do before you? And maybe there's, you know, some issues that need to be addressed through therapy. Right. It is really interesting. She's always been a bit scattered, but it does feel like it's gotten worse recently.
Starting point is 01:29:47 It's tough to figure out how to help her manage things when she's at home all day and still struggles with everyday tasks. So it sounds like she's a stay at home mom. And I'm not, I don't, I really don't want this to get taken the wrong way. Because OP does mention he works. OP also mentions now wife is a stay at home mom. It's interesting that she would just go to Target instead of going to the doctor as a family together. You know what I mean? Maybe that's like, maybe that was her alone time
Starting point is 01:30:16 as a mom that she needed and that is totally okay and justifiable. But it is just, I'm curious about it. Maybe that's a wrong thing to be curious about. I don't know. But it's like, if my baby was sick, I'd want to make, I'd want to go, but I also love going to doctor's appointments, so that could be a me thing too. Yeah, there's a comment here. The chaos affects all of us, especially our son.
Starting point is 01:30:41 Yeah. One other comment. Someone does recommend that maybe she needs a job, maybe she needs a sense of purpose again or something. A job could give her a sense of responsibility and help her learn to handle things on her own. It might help balance out the dynamic at home too. Yeah, I mean, I honestly think that like stay at home parenting or stay at home jobs are not for everyone. Like even me, I have really questioned because I work from home and I just, I don't, I just feel healthier when I get out of my place because I'm there so often now that I work from home
Starting point is 01:31:20 and it just feels like my brain like starts to heal when I actually get outside, when I socialize with people because I have to, you know, like there's something about that for me that feels, that feels good, even when I don't think I want to do it, but doing it anyway, it feels really good. So I mean, that, that could be some good advice. Like maybe OP's wife just needs something else going on to, to kind of put herself back in the driver's seat. I think you are spot on with that because I think sometimes, you know, the baby is three, maybe she's just feeling like she's lost herself a bit. You know, we've had posts like that where
Starting point is 01:32:01 it's like, I love being a mom. I love being a stay-at-home parent, but I feel a little lost in my own identity, my own self-worth or, you know, whatever else you could throw in there. And maybe that is it. Maybe she does need to get back in the driver's seat, like you're saying. I think that's, I think there's something to that. A lot of comments from OP. I will be sure to post the link for this one because I can't even get through them. There is more of an explanation on the oat milk situation. OP says something about like, I thought we were a team, but it feels like I'm more doing it all. She called me while I was at work, freaking out about the grocery store being out of her favorite oat milk. It wasn't just a simple call. It was like the world was ending. She
Starting point is 01:32:45 was insisting that I needed to help her find it. And when I suggested she try another brand or go to a different store, she acted like that wasn't an option. What's he supposed to do? Go in the back and check the stock? Ask someone at the store, do you have any more in the back? If not, go to another store. Yeah. It's so confusing. So confusing. I feel like based on how responsive OP is, I think there could be an update that comes from this one.
Starting point is 01:33:18 I could see it. I could see it. I could see it. You know what I mean? Mm-hmm. You know what I mean? You know what I mean? Mm-hmm. You know what I mean? You know what I mean? Okay, moving along. This is gonna be our last one, Miss Lowen.
Starting point is 01:33:29 Okay. Would you like a choice on it? Oh, you're putting me in a tough spot, but kind of. Okay. Option number one. Am I the asshole for snapping at my wife and calling her crazy because she wants me to take a paternity test for my nephew? Juicy.
Starting point is 01:33:51 Or I want to ask my male 34 business partner, female 31, to be with me romantically. How do I go about changing the context of our relationship? I think we got to do the first one. Yeah, that was pretty good. Yeah, unless the second one is like sneaky, like, wow. It is, but we'll get into it on Patreon. Okay. Okay, this first one.
Starting point is 01:34:15 Am I the asshole for snapping at my wife and calling her crazy because she wants me to take a paternity test for my nephew? Throw away account for obvious reasons. My wife and I have been married for 10 years and together for 14. We are child free. I also have a nephew who's currently 13
Starting point is 01:34:34 and I'm not going to lie, he looks a lot like me and has a lot of the same facial features as me. I'm really proud of him and we have a close bond. I have played a father-like role in his life since he was a kid. He has a deadbeat father and my sister divorced him a long time ago. A couple of my family members have commented on how my nephew looks a lot like me. And while I initially thought it was wholesome, my wife for some reason became very insecure and started getting doubts.
Starting point is 01:35:03 She was questioning why I needed to play such a prominent role in my nephew's life, why my nephew had autism, etc. The insinuations just became weird and made me uncomfortable." Wow. Insinuating that the nephew has autism because it's a brother and sister, is that what she's getting at? I don't know, but one could assume a lot of things. I do agree that my sister has played some part in my wife's insecurities because of
Starting point is 01:35:36 her dry humor. During family gatherings, my sister jokes a lot about how wholesome it is that her son looks like me and that she couldn't be happier. It's obviously a joke, but I spoke to my sister and asked if she could tone it down a bit because it was making my wife a bit crazy. However, last night, my wife asked if I could take a paternity test just for her peace of mind. That's when I finally snapped and called her crazy
Starting point is 01:36:03 and that marrying her was the biggest mistake of my life. I did immediately regret saying it because I meant none of it. My wife is the love of my life. But my wife got quiet and started crying shortly after. And I had to console her. Was I the asshole? Oh my gosh.
Starting point is 01:36:24 I want you to go first. Well, we were doing really well, right? We were doing really well. I mean, it was all going great, fine and dandy. And I was gonna say not the asshole until he popped off a bit. Yeah. And said, marrying you was the biggest mistake of my life.
Starting point is 01:36:42 Well, it honestly makes them sound guilty. I mean, you can call her crazy. Is it nice? Maybe not. But is she acting a little unhinged? Yes. Right. So I understand that.
Starting point is 01:36:56 But like to be like, you're so upset that she's asking for a paternity test, which I I do understand offensive. She doesn't trust you. There's a lot of implications there. Of course. But you couldn't be like, babe, you are being so crazy. You're being unhinged. I wouldn't sleep with my sister.
Starting point is 01:37:15 And so the reaction does kind of like, it's like, well, why are you getting so defensive? And so defensive to the point you said marrying me is the biggest regret of your life. Right. That's weird. Right. And also very hurtful. You're kind of the asshole now for how you said that. Right. No, I know because like if you were to tell me that he said, if he popped off and was like you,
Starting point is 01:37:37 like that is absolutely crazy. That is so hurtful that you would and disgusting that you would assume or ask, whatever. But Mary, sorry. Sorry, but saying that Mary and you was the biggest mistake in my life, it feels like it went from, I mean, I shouldn't say zero to a hundred because like maybe 45 to 100.
Starting point is 01:38:02 The action doesn't, what's that? What's that like? What's that like? What's that like? Fucking Albert Einstein? Not... No, my God. No. Sir Isaac Newton.
Starting point is 01:38:11 Every action has an equal but opposite reaction. His reaction, I'm trying to like determine in my own head right now, does his reaction, is it justified based on her action? You know what I mean? Well, because I mean, I guess justified based on her action? You know what I mean? Well, because, I mean, I guess- Does it level out? How would you react if Justin were to ask this of you about your brother and your nephew?
Starting point is 01:38:35 I'd be like, you act, what? You're disgusting. You think I would sleep with my brother? And it's like, well, of course they look alike. Like the brother and sister, they're siblings. So they share some DNA. But would you say that? Could you see yourself being so pissed off? If Justin kept making little jabs throughout the entire time, and then could you see yourself getting to the point where that was your last straw and you say something really mean? Because that's the only thing that... Maybe. Are you the asshole? Yes, you're the asshole for saying that like specifically
Starting point is 01:39:09 if you didn't mean it, then you should definitely apologize, but you're still in the right to be offended and hurt by this insinuation. Yeah. This might be in everyone sucks here. Yeah. Like everyone sucks. The wife sucks. Like, you've been married for 10 years together for 14, and you're making this a thing now. What? And then you, the dude sucks for his reaction. Like, that was way, that was, that was really unhinged as well. Yeah.
Starting point is 01:39:43 Top comment. Your wife's new homework is Punnett squares. Someone goes, for real, my nephew looks exactly like me and I never even considered this happening. I'm not married, but if I had a wife that was like, quote, proved to me you didn't fuck your sister, I'd be mortified, maybe unrecoverable. So, my sister and I look a lot like our cousins, my father's older brother's kids,
Starting point is 01:40:12 to the point that people in the past said the four of us look like sisters. We've also been told we look a lot like our fathers. If some family member or anyone had suggested something like this, we all would have laughed super hard, especially given that when all the cousins were conceived, my father and his brother lived more than a thousand miles from each other. Some people don't understand how hard genetics go. And that's the thing. Like I was saying, like their brother and sister, of course there's a chance he could look like his uncle. They share
Starting point is 01:40:41 DNA. Do I'm sorry, did they, do they have a child together? No, they're child free. So it's making me almost wonder if they're some of like the issues that are going through the wife's head are just seeing him be a father figure for another like family. She's jealous maybe. Yeah. And even though that was a very like a very clear decision on their part. Right. Yeah. And or like maybe not. We don't know. Yeah, who knows? But just a very clear decision on their part. Right, yeah. And or like... Maybe not. We don't know. Yeah, who knows? But just maybe it's like her mind is like playing tricks on her because she's seeing him be this father figure, but it's not...
Starting point is 01:41:14 But she's not necessarily involved or as involved. And maybe that's kind of making her have these like crazy... Irrational thoughts. Thoughts, yeah. I know. And I guess like if you had this thought or like even if you didn't have this thought, but all the time family members were like pointing it out,
Starting point is 01:41:32 like, hey, oh my God, he looks just like you. He just looks like, he looks identical to your husband. Oh my God. He looks, and it's again and again, over the course of 10, 13 years, however long it is. Like, maybe you do get in your own head and be like, am I so stupid? Am I missing something? And then you ask him to just do a DNA test, a paternity test,
Starting point is 01:41:54 to give you some peace of mind. And then he flips out over it and says, you're the biggest regret of my life marrying you. Ugh. You're kind of like, why do you react that way? Maybe it is true. Ooh. So it is tough. of my life, marrying you, you're kind of like, why do you react that way? Maybe it is true. So it is tough.
Starting point is 01:42:09 Yeah, I mean, you don't know what she's going through. And like, again, it's such a complicated thing because that question is like highly offensive. It's so bad. It's so offensive, but it's like, we don't know how much like mental twists and turns she's been putting herself through. Over the course of this many years.
Starting point is 01:42:26 Right. So it's just kind of an interesting... It's an interesting... I mean, she could have literally listened to this podcast and come across like a brother and sister type of story on Reddit. It happens. Or just, yeah. So... It happens. Who knows what she's going through? I'm curious to hear updates and like how they kind of resolve this because it sounds like the thing that's good is that he turned around and was like consoling
Starting point is 01:42:48 her after he snapped and said this like really, you know, painful thing. He was in a lot of pain from what she said to him. So it sounds like they there's a lot of like love, but there's just some type of disconnect. And I'd be curious to see like, how they are planning to work through that. Yeah. Do you think your opinion would change if the genders were switched and it was the husband going to a wife being like, hey, can you get a paternity test to make sure you didn't fuck your brother? Do you think your opinion would be different at all?
Starting point is 01:43:18 Because I'm trying to think. I don't know if mine would. I feel like it's the same concept. I mean, because I'm, when I'm like answering, I'm putting myself, I'm trying to put myself in the husband's shoes and in the wife's shoes. Like, regardless of their gender, I'm trying to think of if I was in that situation, how I would feel on both ends. So to me, I don't think that my opinion would change if gender was switched.
Starting point is 01:43:42 Do you think it would? I don't think so because I'm sitting here and I'm like, is it offensive to ask for a paternity test after such a long committed relationship? Yeah, it's not the nicest feeling thing, I'm sure. But then like, if I had a reaction like that and said, I regret marrying you, it's like, that's also really hurtful. So no, I don't, I don't think it would switch. But you mentioned wanting an update. We do have one. Let's hear it.
Starting point is 01:44:13 The gist of it is that I've agreed to take the test, but under certain conditions. I understand my wife is being paranoid and delusional, but I want to take the test just to erase whatever irrational fears she has. Sometimes these fears have no logic, and I too have had irrational fears before, and there was no logic in them. I spoke to my sister about it today, and she was obviously pretty angry at my wife. However, my sister and I discussed it at length, and she agreed to the test under certain conditions. I spoke to my wife after and told her I would take the test under some conditions. My wife was very happy that I agreed to take the test, and then I told her those conditions.
Starting point is 01:44:54 The first condition being that she had to stop these insinuations immediately. My wife immediately agreed to it. The second condition being that there were going to be no more arguments on me spending time with my sister and nephew. My wife and I have had some arguments over the years where she asked why I spend so much time at their house. My wife agreed to the condition, although she took some time to think about it. The third and final condition was that I had the liberty to go on vacations with my sister and nephew without my wife being there. I told my wife up front that my sister doesn't want her to come go on vacations with my sister and nephew without my wife being there. I told my wife upfront that my sister doesn't want her to come on these vacations anymore.
Starting point is 01:45:30 My wife was a bit more hesitant on this, but she ultimately agreed to it. Wait, why doesn't she want her to come anymore? The wife or the sister is probably just so hurt. Yeah. Like you're implying that I would sleep with my brother. Right. And you're so paranoid you're making us that I would sleep with my brother. Right. And you're so paranoid, you're making us all do a paternity test. I understand that, but just like to make that an agreement like for good.
Starting point is 01:45:53 It's interesting. It is. It's like specifically vacations. Like you would think she'd be like, you're not allowed to see my nephew anymore. But like being like, you don't get to go to Florida with us. Well, and then there's almost the question of like, maybe the wife's feelings aren't so out of the blue because maybe he has been stepping in like a surrogate partner.
Starting point is 01:46:13 Maybe she has had her needs neglected. It is a weird condition versus like, I don't wanna be around her anymore. And like, oh, hey, we're gonna take you on our happy family vacations and she can't come. Right. It is interesting. Unless they've had issues on those vacations and she's like, I'm done with dealing with that. But it's an interesting one. Okay, let's hear it. That's probably my final update. Oh, thanks everyone for the advice. Well,
Starting point is 01:46:41 is the kid not yours? So there is a comment. LOL dude, it's not going to matter what the test says. Your wife has an irrational delusion in her head and will go through whatever mental gymnastics she needs to justify it. The test is not going to help. If anything, it's going to get worse, especially based on those conditions you set. OP responds, I told my sister this, but if this doesn't work, I'm going to look into divorce. Wow. And that's all she wrote. Someone replies to that comment, save the money from the DNA test and
Starting point is 01:47:14 just spend it on the lawyers. Your wife thinks you are incestual and on top of that, you don't practice safe incest. I don't know how you move past that. Yeah, I mean, that's fair, but I like that OP is being empathetic and saying I've had irrational fears that have come from nowhere and I, you know, I get it. Yeah, so I like that he's being empathetic, but if the problem doesn't solve after this test,
Starting point is 01:47:42 then that's an issue. Yeah, I mean, there's options like therapy, but you kind of just, you know, she really did throw a wrench in their lives. And that accusation and that demand that we can't move forward with our lives without this test is, I mean, it's, it's goofy. It just, yeah, I don't think there is really coming back. It sounds like she really does need to address her mental health. But again, if he's acting like a surrogate partner and neglecting you and your family
Starting point is 01:48:14 and you know, you get all these comments, you know, two plus two starts equal four. And then sometimes people tell you two plus two actually equals five. And if you hear it enough times, you start to believe it. Where is this coming from? I don't know. Okay. Just off the cuff. I actually know of somebody who had her partner's family ask her to do a paternity test. And she said, I will do that, but if
Starting point is 01:48:52 I do the paternity test, then you are not allowed to have access to my child. And so then they said, do not do the paternity test. Psych! Just kidding. It is interesting. It is interesting. It's crazy how wild people get with paternity and stuff. And it's like, I mean, even like my own family, there was, there was some issues with it, with me and my dad, you know, taking me on and just being like, nope, that's my daughter.
Starting point is 01:49:22 That's my daughter. And, you know, there has been times where certain family members have been like, nope, that's my daughter, that's my daughter. And there has been times where certain family members have been like, well, you're not really grandma's granddaughter, because I wasn't looked at as real family. And it's so, people get goofy and it's just, that's so weird. Family's family.
Starting point is 01:49:42 If you got good ones, hold them close. I don't know. I'm a little perplexed with this one. I do want another update. How'd it go? Are you getting divorced? Does she believe you now that you got the evidence? Can you imagine if Tess came back? Oh my God. You are the father. Oh my God. I just think that we should change as a species, and the men and women should get pregnant at the same time. So men also, there's no question. It's like, no, my partner's also pregnant. I would love for Justin to have a sympathetic pregnancy.
Starting point is 01:50:22 You don't have to go through birth, but I go back and forth. I'm like, oh, okay, I would do one. If it happens and I get pregnant, I'll do one. But then other days I'm like, I don't wanna do it. I don't wanna do it. Yeah. It's just people that go through childbirth,
Starting point is 01:50:41 they all deserve trophies. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I'm gonna start making medals. I see a baby in public, I'm gonna give it to the mom. Good job. I'll get canceled for that. It just seems like so, it's such a big sacrifice. I mean, you're pregnant for almost a year
Starting point is 01:51:00 and then you're changing diapers for two years. And we were just talking about this. Yeah, it's just, it's definitely a big sacrifice. It's for life. It's not, you know, just the first 18 years, it's for life. It's a big thing. Today, I'm like, I don't know if I want kids. Tomorrow, I'll be like, I want 10 of them.
Starting point is 01:51:16 Yeah. No, no, we all got to fit in one car. Basketball team. Three tops, three tops. But then, oh my God, I saw the craziest video of a woman who just gave birth to triplets. Her stomach. Oh, I think I saw that.
Starting point is 01:51:32 It looks like one of those black bullet emojis. It was the most insane bum I've ever seen. Maybe it's a different one. There was one that I saw where it goes straight out like this. Yeah. Like a tube. It looked like straight out like this. Yeah. Like a tube. It looked like she had like, yeah, yeah.
Starting point is 01:51:48 I can't think of like the, what I'm trying to explain it as. So in OT, we used these things called peanut bolsters and they're in a shape of just like a big, like a giant jelly bean. It literally looked like she had a ginormous jelly bean coming off her. Okay. That's a good, that's a better example. Yeah. And everyone in the comments was like, where's the girl with the list?
Starting point is 01:52:08 I mean, it's just- Who is the girl with the list? I want to introduce you, the girl with the list. Who? She's just got a ginormous list going of all these reasons to like not be pregnant. Oh. It's nuts. Okay, I have heard of that.
Starting point is 01:52:20 Yeah, but we got a little deviated here. We had to record some Patrons. So thank you guys so, so got a little deviated here. We had to record some patrons. So thank you guys so, so, so much for being here. October's been great. Loved it. We're back on tour. Come see us at some of our final shows. Oh, I'm probably not going to have a Halloween one this. You were saved, Lauren. Oh, I like the Halloween ones. No, you don't. Yes, I do. They're like my favorite ones when they're not too scary. She's lying. But anyways, thank you so, so, so much for being here.
Starting point is 01:52:51 If you want more, Patreon, I probably already said it, but until next time. Until next time. Bye. Bye. Thanks for watching!

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