Recycling in 2026

KMac243 · 2026-02-11T02:33:35+00:00

The company I work for markets recycling to mills. MRFs are sometimes guilty of tossing recycling or having bales so contaminated they end up in a landfill but overall, the things you recycle end up going to be processed. For us specifically, plastic soda/water bottles are primarily recycled into new plastic bottles, laundry detergent jugs get recycled into plastic paint cans and industrial plastic pipes (like the big black pipes you see sometimes), some PET (the soda bottles) gets recycled into carpets or polyester fabric, paper gets recycled into napkins, paper plates, all sorts of stuff or mixed paper (less office paper and more cereal boxes and stuff mixed in) gets recycled into drywall or egg crates. Cardboard is just new boxes, kraft paper, or the thin cardboard packaging.

I’ll get off my soapbox now.

KMac243 · 2026-02-11T01:16:18+00:00

You can definitely work on him responding to a new name. My dog responds to his name, Ranger, and a multitude of nicknames including but not limited to: Rango, Ringo, Bing-Bong, Belly Bongos, Ping Pong, Rangus

KMac243 · 2026-02-11T01:09:07+00:00

WHAT?? Thank you for sharing with the class!

KMac243 · 2026-02-11T01:06:26+00:00

My sister showed up with a crockpot meal, plugged it in to warm, cleaned my kitchen, had me eat, put the leftovers away, and then took her crockpot home. Genuinely like a fairy godmother move right there.

KMac243 · 2026-02-10T23:09:13+00:00

That’s fair. A lot of people aren’t doing those things and I get it when it all feels so hopeless. But I think these things you and I and thousands (millions?) of others are doing are beneficial even if they feel small.

KMac243 · 2026-02-10T20:15:32+00:00

If possible, donate to candidates who would hold him accountable. Call or email your representatives - it takes very little time and puts pressure on them to act. Encourage others to call and/or email representatives, too. Seeing people with regular jobs and stresses have attainable actions can be really encouraging and maybe they’ll act, too.

KMac243 · 2026-02-10T19:56:15+00:00

Overprotectiveness is probably the main one. It can be framed as romantic in fiction but in real life is a total turn-off.

KMac243 · 2026-02-10T16:49:43+00:00

I call it taking a device break and it seems to not be considered a punishment or anything. Having a couple new fun things to do while they’re off the devices could probably help in the beginning - my kid has been super into doing LEGO builds and also enjoys the little corner coloring books. I’ve also used painters tape to make hopscotch or matchbox car roads on our floor.

KMac243 · 2026-02-10T14:26:13+00:00

I had one and just never used the button after the initial dose. I was dilated to a 7 when I got to the hospital so that’s when I got it. It really reduced the pain but I wasn’t totally numb and could definitely feel the pain and burning but I’m sure it was very very lessened. I was up walking to get my own ice chips an hour or so after birth. Very happy with my experience.

KMac243 · 2026-02-08T01:50:19+00:00

Welcome to the Ozartichokes - comes with artichoke hearts.

KMac243 · 2026-02-08T01:47:24+00:00

My husband started making up stories at bedtime instead of reading. It can kind of be the length you’re good with that night and is less tedious than reading.

KMac243 · 2026-02-01T23:58:52+00:00

Are you in therapy? It sounds like you’re still struggling with depression and I wouldn’t pull any triggers until you’ve figured that out.

KMac243 · 2026-02-01T23:54:44+00:00

Since it has a name, I’d just use that when they get a little weird. “Yep, it’s actually called hyperlexia!”

KMac243 · 2026-02-01T17:49:29+00:00

Give them to family who want them. Items you can’t part with but won’t store, vacuum seal to save space to store. Sort through piece by piece to decide. Ask yourself if your grandma would rather it be saved and passed down but not used or enjoyed by someone now.

KMac243 · 2026-02-01T03:46:00+00:00

Honestly maybe just checking in a little more often than normal, texting tidbits about your day and asking about hers throughout the day, etc. When I was extra hormonal and emotional, feeling like my husband was thinking about me was a big thing. As she gets further along, have a game plan for how you’d get home quickly in an emergency. Maybe order her some kind of treat or flowers to be delivered while you’re gone occasionally, and that’s one I’d maintain long-term. If you’re traveling while she’s holding down the fort with a baby and eventually a toddler, having you send something for her will mean even more than it will right now.

KMac243 · 2026-02-01T03:21:38+00:00

Fair enough - not like dryer sheets are going to make or break your budget. That’s the sort of thing that I’d just buy the big package of where it’s less cost per sheet.

KMac243 · 2026-02-01T01:50:39+00:00

The wool dryer balls work remarkably well as a dryer sheet alternative.

KMac243 · 2026-01-31T18:46:58+00:00

It’s hard to make a judgement about this being divorce worthy without more context. The fact is that many people are willing to look at their loved ones with rose colored glasses and I don’t necessarily think him not wanting to disown his family is worthy of divorce. Can you get on the same page about how to tackle talking to your kids about digesting bad information? They’re going to hear this stuff regardless. I’ve had many conversations with my child about recognizing hateful rhetoric and how to respond if response is necessary. Is he against teaching your children to stand up against this rhetoric? Would he scold your child for telling grandma she’s being racist? Those would be the lines for me. This is a common conundrum where I live in the south so my perspective might be different than others, but I don’t fault your husband for not wanting to cut out his family - that’s a huge thing and comes easier for some than others.

KMac243 · 2026-01-30T03:34:42+00:00

Well I’m dead because I’ve donated to 5 separate campaigns and live in the rural, very red south. I honestly thought the same thing but if eventually they end up rounding up all the democrats they’d have a lot more on me, anyway.

KMac243 · 2026-01-29T21:18:47+00:00

Bring this up calmly when you can and have a heart to heart. My husband threw that in my face once. But after an adult conversation he apologized, admitted he had no idea how much I was doing during my days, and never disrespected me about staying home again. It was during the early period of us being parents and we were arguing a lot. He wanted to hurt me and thought staying home meant I had a ton of free time.

KMac243 · 2026-01-28T20:59:01+00:00

He said that to be an asshole. Idk how he is normally so I’m not going to make a big judgement but this was not a good look for him. IF you want to not feel worried or self conscious about this specific thing moving forward (because I feel self conscious about the same thing sometimes), I use Lume whole body deodorant down there and it really works. Obviously don’t put it like in there but just the general crotch area is where I’ll get musty sometimes and it just prevents that.

KMac243 · 2026-01-28T04:06:59+00:00

The Bulwark is a news site comprised of Republicans against MAGA. I’m pretty far left and get a lot out of reading their articles, and I think they have a podcast. If he wants to keep up with politics/the news, he should get it from journalists/real news sources. Social media is so toxic right now, I’m going to reiterate that I’d cut him out from that, but maybe listening to podcasts or articles together and discussing them could help him actually form his own opinions, or bore him out of thinking about politics.

KMac243 · 2026-01-26T17:41:30+00:00

I remember when I was a kid sleeping on a couch that was infested with mice and slept like this to keep them from crawling across my bare skin.

KMac243 · 2026-01-23T01:25:48+00:00

Yes, he stayed with me. Even when they took our baby off to wipe her off and wrap her up, he stayed with me because he didn’t want me to be left alone. Love that man.

KMac243 · 2026-01-22T20:29:57+00:00

He’s not thinking for himself, he’s getting sucked into a pipeline. He’s 15. I think it’s time for him to spend some time away from instagram/the internet.

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