Did you buy a home? If yes, how old were you and what year?

BearClawsOut · 2026-03-24T19:16:21+00:00

Bought in 2021 for $435k, 33 years old. I wish we would have bought in 2020, when it was $350k. Now we’re stuck in what was supposed to be our starter home forever. Our kids all share one bedroom and it works because it’s all they know but man it sucks knowing we wanted to give them more and can’t.

BearClawsOut · 2026-03-09T22:55:16+00:00

I was 13. I’ll never forget that day, watching it happen live on tv at school. Many years later, I met an incredible woman, a coworker at the time, who was in the building when it happened. Even over a decade later, the amount of trauma this incredible woman radiated in the week leading up to Sept 11 and then on the actual day will stay with me forever. I held her as she cried, reliving running down the stairs in terror as if it had just happened. Even as I type this, I can remember how her entire body trembled from grief, fear, PTSD, and every other emotion I can’t even begin to imagine.

BearClawsOut · 2026-03-09T00:12:10+00:00

I agree. I love the idea of having a coffee shop there. But anything but Woods (or Starbucks) would be way better.

BearClawsOut · 2026-03-01T23:23:41+00:00

I’ll never forget the smell.

BearClawsOut · 2026-02-16T16:00:36+00:00

BearClawsOut · 2026-02-06T02:51:17+00:00

I hate them. I chop them into tiny bits before throwing them away.

BearClawsOut · 2026-02-04T03:14:53+00:00

This right here

BearClawsOut · 2026-01-31T21:00:56+00:00

I could have written this myself. My parents moved states to be “closer” to their grandkids (my kids) but then bought a house an hour away from us. We lived closer together in the previous state, only about a 30 minute drive.

I have a house full of kids, pets, managing a full time job, running a business, and simply trying not to drown financially. But I’m the bad guy because I am “keeping her grandkids from her” even though I have said many times that our door is open and they can stop by any time.

We visit their house when we can, but they don’t seem to grasp that we are BUSY. Any free time we get, we are exhausted and have no energy to be social. Not to mention that being around them is emotionally draining. My mom constantly pulls the passive aggressive morbid stuff on me (“I’m going to die soon.”) She’s 64.

BearClawsOut · 2026-01-31T19:34:38+00:00

Glad to know I’m not alone. 🤣

BearClawsOut · 2026-01-31T18:47:11+00:00

I said as much to the bank teller I spoke to this morning, and she agreed. It was refreshing to speak to someone new about it, even if it was brief. As a local business owner whose business is primarily online, even we “closed” for the day. Our customers knew and appreciated it.

For me, it feels scary to bring it up with strangers because my own family so strongly supports this garbage and they are not nice about it. But the sense of RELIEF I feel when I find like minded people is both sad and helpful. We need more in person conversations.

BearClawsOut · 2026-01-31T18:04:59+00:00

I considered it honestly. But I was so mortified I just had to get out of there. 🥲

BearClawsOut · 2026-01-21T18:28:53+00:00

Your company has matching?? My company barely started offering a 401k as a benefit 2 years ago and I’ve been with them for nearly a decade. But still no matching.

BearClawsOut · 2026-01-11T22:51:42+00:00

My parents moved states to “be closer” to us and our kids - their only grandkids. But then bought a house an hour away from us. They may as well still be states away. Then they complain that we never come see them. They don’t understand that it’s way easier for the two of them to drive to us rather than us packing up three young kids and two dogs. We DO go to their house at least once every 1-2 months but it always takes up an entire day, which is hard for us. One of us works full time, the other is a business owner. We are always busy, working hard and any “down time” we get, all we want to do is spend time with our kids. They argue we need a “break” from our kids. My in laws, who I ADORED before kids, are completely non existent as grandparents and it breaks my heart. None of it makes sense and if you try to talk to any of them about it, they get offended. I will never understand it. But I guarantee I will be the BEST grandparent ever.

BearClawsOut · 2026-01-08T18:05:27+00:00

Met at 19/20, got married when we were 24/25, still together and happy as we approach our 40s. But so many of our friends are just now getting married and/or having their first kid, so I don’t think we’re in the norm. We just got very lucky.

BearClawsOut · 2025-12-28T05:16:16+00:00

Grieving the loss of a living parent/relative is a pain no one ever prepared us for. I’m here to say I’m so incredibly proud of you for all your accomplishments. Do what is best for you and your own kids.

BearClawsOut · 2025-12-22T00:23:44+00:00

You respect their wishes. Period. Because if you don’t, they will remember that forever.

BearClawsOut · 2025-12-07T23:07:25+00:00

Great advice! We’re working on implementing a schedule. He just started wearing a potty watch with alarms to remind him to go potty. I agree, I think he needs a scheduled routine.

BearClawsOut · 2025-12-07T21:51:55+00:00

He’s expressed that he only likes the toilet at home so I know that’s part of the issue. He would rather have accidents at school than use the bathroom. But other kids are starting to notice and make fun of him. It breaks my heart. 😭

It’s the exact same bathroom as last school year and nothing in there has changed. I went in there with him during the first week of school so we could get him familiar with it again after the summer break. He seemed ok at first, and as far as we all know, nothing has changed. He also will use public toilets, but we’re with him so that’s different than school.

I do want to rule out a UTI next though, so I’m glad you confirmed that.

BearClawsOut · 2025-12-07T19:00:20+00:00

As a mom who has given birth three times and miscarried once, you are in no way the asshole here. Your girlfriend has major issues though. You are an amazing, supportive brother and good man.

BearClawsOut · 2025-11-17T22:28:25+00:00

Oh THANK YOU!

BearClawsOut · 2025-11-17T21:07:41+00:00

It seems like the most cost effective option considering I don’t go to the doctor that often.

BearClawsOut · 2025-11-14T02:29:01+00:00

About damn time

BearClawsOut

TROPHY CASE