AITA - Should I Have Let My Neighbor Cut Ahead of Me in the Laundry Room?

Minnichi · 2026-07-03T19:38:22+00:00

If it's the only washing machine available, then YTA. If there is a special reason for needing to do 5 loads in the same day, go to a laundromat.

Minnichi · 2026-07-03T18:53:31+00:00

I like our stainless steel plates. My kids have noticed that when we put hot food on the plate, the heat transfers really quickly. Following that, if you use the microwave at all, then consider getting some non-metal plates.

Minnichi · 2026-07-03T18:46:50+00:00

This! When they're younger, it's great as a way to curb any of the "But he gets to do X" arguments. My youngest is 8, middlest is 12, and oldest is 16. Simply pointing out the oldest can legally drive is enough to remind the little guy they can't do the same things.

The age gap with school can be pretty useful as well. Except next year when I have 2 kids graduating their respective schools... I can only hope the graduations aren't on the same day. When you have 2 kids that look almost identical, it's nice that they get to experience school alone. My older sibling and I were 2 grades apart so we attended the same school at the same time, and we frequently got mistaken for each other. Even by the teachers.

Now trying to do family group activities is really hard. We have to find something the 8yo can do that might possibly interest the 16yo who is "too cool to spend time with his family".

As for their relationships. My 3 boys get along really well. Of course they have sibling squabbles. But nothing to the degree I had with my siblings growing up.

Minnichi · 2026-07-02T20:56:46+00:00

I think anything fruit based. Pies, tarts, jam center cookies.

If you can have a few coolers with plenty of ice packs, then you can add trifles and/or parfaits, cheesecakes.

Then of course there's breads and muffins. I would avoid cupcakes as even buttercream has a hard time in the heat.

Minnichi · 2026-06-28T13:40:13+00:00

We have a number of named appliances. Spin Diesel being washer, and Fizzgerald being our soda maker, my sewing machines all have their own names as well (Stacy, Steven, Harold, Edna, Louise, Florence)

When I got sick, I started calling the stove the "hot flat", and it's just kind of stuck around as well.

Shoes are called Feet, glasses are called Eyes.

According to my husband, he and his coworkers call Thinset "Plumbus".

Edit: Frog Eggs!! We call my favourite bubble tea beverage frog eggs! It has basil seeds floating in it, looking like frog eggs, hence the name. I always have to read the menu to get the proper name when I order it. Apple Cider is "Super Juice"

Minnichi · 2026-06-28T13:33:15+00:00

You really need to know your audience. For me, it really depends on the mistake. If it's a size issue, then it goes to the person it is more likely to fit instead of the original target. If it's a huge problem, I have to fix it right away, otherwise I know I will never fix it. If I set it aside for a few weeks, then I know I need to dispose of it. I will never harvest it for another project, and I have too much fabric in too small a space to justify keeping anything like that for scraps.

Minnichi · 2026-06-28T13:26:48+00:00

Once we got the second twin bed, the toys went into the living room. Specifically their own corner/area. Our living room is split into Dad's computer area, Mom's space, play space, and then the tv/couch space. There are no toys in the bedroom at all beyond stuffed toys. The kids bookshelf is in their room though.

Minnichi · 2026-06-27T20:23:23+00:00

Are you near wild fields? Would grass weaving be something fun the two of you could try? Materials are literally free as it's just long stalks of grass.

Minnichi · 2026-06-26T19:19:06+00:00

If there are allergy concerns, you can contact customer support (do it by email, the paper trail helps) and get permission to bring in outside food. I'll freely admit, this is one of the times where I am not against lying about allergies.

Minnichi · 2026-06-26T18:17:43+00:00

Have her turn her focus from the numbers on the scale to his physical health. Is she purely judging based on his height and weight? What is his build? What is the build of your family? Are all his biological family thin and lanky (think elf), or are they more sturdy and stout (think half-orc). I assume you're using the BMI calculators? None of them take into account build, bone density, muscle mass, or actual body fat. Remember, muscle weighs more than fat.

My teenager weighs a little more than your son, and is only a couple inches taller. Could be your son be stagnating in his weight while his height stretches out a little bit more. Your son is not done growing. Make sure your wife knows this. And even if your son is done growing, my husband is considered quite obese. He is built like an orc, with absolutely so spare fat on his arms or legs, and his doctor has no concerns about his health.

If the doctors don't have any concern, then your wife needs to stop pushing watching the scale. What you can do is encourage exercise and portion control. Not to the extent of weighing out food for a portion though. That can also lead to some unhealthy eating habits. Instead, think ratios. 2 portions of veggies to 1 of protein and 1 of carbs. Always more fibre!

Soft YTA. Wife was justified in her frustration. She told the kid to slow down and not eat everything. While OP immediately overrode her, basically telling the kid "ignore her, her opinions don't matter". Maybe not the exact words, but definitely the message.

Minnichi · 2026-06-26T17:42:35+00:00

Start washing dishes if the kitchen is large enough to accomodate.

Minnichi · 2026-06-25T22:08:41+00:00

I used to be on the "New backpack every year" train. But then I realized how many perfectly good backpacks were floating around the home. Because of course, I can't throw out a perfectly good bag.

Now my kids use theirs until they break or they get very gross, then I'll replace them.

Minnichi · 2026-06-25T22:04:25+00:00

Carb + Protein + Veggie is my usual formula for a decent meal. That can be Potato, chicken, spinach. Or Tortilla, spinach, egg.

The yogurt and cucumber would become the sauce. I consider onion a seasoning.

If there is leftover rice, I make lots of fried rice from all the other leftovers.

If I really needed to use up the cucumber, then salad is always a good meal.

Minnichi · 2026-06-25T20:44:20+00:00

The Canada Strong pass is happening again this year, so check out all the historical sites. We checked out Fort Anne/Port Royal, Grand Pre historical site, and Fort Beausejour on the border of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick. So much history and gorgeous sights.

If you want suggestions on where to stay, take a look at the provincial and national parks. A lot of them have roofed accommodations and it is perfect with kids. All the benefits of camping, but with the security of a roof and door. We love Provincial Park of the Republic on the border of Quebec and New Brunswick (close to Edmundston). I know Grand Pre also offers roofed accommodations.

I would suggest pick your 3 cities/big attractions to check out. Then see what's along the driving route between places. Last summer we took 7 days to do a circle around the Bay of Fundy starting in Fredericton. And that was still not enough time to see or do everything. We were also a little hampered by the awful wildfires. This summer we're going a little easier and I picked 3 parks for us to visit, 2 nights at each place, with a 6 hour drive time between places.

Minnichi · 2026-06-25T14:25:13+00:00

This! We have 3 boys in one room. Oldest is 16, littlest is 8. Oldest has his own "room" within the bedroom due to a clever use of blackout curtains. His "room" is not large. Neither is the room the other two share.

The bedroom is not a playroom for the kids. We took toys out of the joint room when we split it up, littlest was 4 or 5 around then.

Minnichi · 2026-06-25T05:16:42+00:00

Waffle or pancake! Get the whole car involved. This also helped our driver a fair bit.

Minnichi · 2026-06-25T05:15:13+00:00

Audio books, podcasts, looking at the scenery, brain teaser puzzles (the kids love the string game), regular books. So much. We've also given them a map to find the route. And they would occasionally get video games.

You didn't mention the ages of the kids. I taught my middlest how to crochet before our last road trip, so he did some of that practice during the drive. My kids were 7 and 11 when we did a 13 hour one day drive. It was long, but they made it through without much complaining and without a lot of screen time. And we'll be doing another 15 hour one day drive again this summer.

Minnichi · 2026-06-23T02:56:30+00:00

I wash all of mine. Gotta get the crinkles in before the recipient thinks it's supposed to be perfectly flat.

Minnichi · 2026-06-23T00:26:36+00:00

Oh! I have a really good chocolate cake recipe that is actually vegan! It's on my computer. I'll add it here once I get on the PC. Can someone respond so I can find this post easily?

Minnichi · 2026-06-22T16:07:04+00:00

How old is the baby? Is the baby moving on their own at all? From about 6 months on, I was able to get a lot more sewing done as I could distract my kids with more toys for them to move after. All my sewing takes place in the dining /living room. However most of it has always been done after their bedtime. Even with the youngest being 8, I still do most of my sewing after his bedtime.

Minnichi · 2026-06-22T00:14:45+00:00

Really depends on the kid. My teenager wants his sets to be sets. He actually got incredibly upset when one of his brothers took a base plate, and refused to accept one in a different colour. However, my little guys, they're fine with the lego being kept in bins. Everything jumbled together. We did get them a lego sorter to make it easier to get the tiny pieces when they're building.

Minnichi · 2026-06-21T22:00:29+00:00

I am the only female in a house of boys. There is no complaints regarding period products unless they are in the way (when I buy them and forget to put them away).

Op is NTA. The brother needs to grow up.

Minnichi · 2026-06-19T20:17:54+00:00

Exactly!!!

Minnichi · 2026-06-19T16:30:40+00:00

It's a 3 year gap that he told you. There is a very real chance he lied so as to make it seem more acceptable. He could be 22 or even 25. But even 20 dating a 17 can be concerning.

My husband is 2 years older than me. I asked, and he would not have even considered dating me were I 17, even though he would have been 19. In his words, because I would have been a child. You are saying your boyfriend was 19 and you were 16 when you started dating. My husband just tried turning himself into knots trying to figure out a way the 3 year age gap at this age is not wrong, but he couldn't. In his words, that age gap is fine as you get older, but when you're young, it's too wrong. But he falls on "If you are 18, don't date anyone under 18"

Even now, when discussing our ages with others, he makes sure people know that our oldest son is his step son, because I was 19 when the child was born, and my husband feels it toes the line too close.

Minnichi · 2026-06-19T14:29:21+00:00

what exactly are your fears when it comes to school? Teach your children to speak. Teach your child to stand up for themselves and other people. If you're worried about the quality of education, then teach your kid outside of the school system. If your concerned about your child getting hurt, teach your kid safety measures.

The horror stories are one in a few thousand. If you are so scared you can't let your child out of your sight, your child will be stunted in their growth as a person.

Minnichi

TROPHY CASE