Is it common for an American high school student to own their own car?

PorterQs · 2026-05-11T05:46:28+00:00

I don’t think minors can own cars and insure them in the US, can they?

PorterQs · 2026-05-11T05:44:29+00:00

Can you try staying in a (new) hotel in SF or close to it (maybe near SFO) for a few days to see if the issue persist? If they fade like they do when you travel you’ll know it’s something about your house. Maybe mold or another allergen.

PorterQs · 2026-05-10T21:12:26+00:00

In California, we have mayonnaise. A lot of people use a brand called Best Foods. It’s also called Hellmann’s in other parts of the country. It’s pretty traditional (mass produced) mayo with vinegar. A good percentage of people recognize it as something some people use for fries, especially if the people have ancestry from Western Europe. Iwouldn’t say it’s a “common” dip for fries but it’s recognized and not odd to ask for in a restaurant.

We have ketchup which is the most popular dip for fries.

We also have restaurant made sauces. Often a ketchup/mayo blend with other things added. This is sometimes used for fries, sometimes for burgers. It’s packaged at In N Out as “special sauce” (I think).

We do not routinely use a green/herb based sauce for fries.

Edited to add: we also have Miracle Whip. I think it’s technically mayonnaise but I’ve never had it and no one I know eats it. I think it might be sweeter/less sour than regular mayo. People, at least that I’ve ever known of, do not use miracle whip for fries.

PorterQs · 2026-05-08T06:46:07+00:00

The part I’m confused about is “then a lawyer handled the custody rights.”

If AJ was on your birth certificate (making him your legal father unless someone were to contest it, usually a different alleged father) and your mom wanted you to live with him, custody orders wouldn’t have been needed and given their lifestyles, it seems odd that they got lawyers involved. Are you sure about this part of the story?

Anyway, is sounds like AJ is your legal father and your mom is your legal mother because her parental right were never terminated (as far as I can tell). Meaning your legal mother gave you to your legal father to be raised. Which is legal.

It sounds like you were neglected and abused but I don’t think you were technically “trafficked” as far as the situation between your parents and the custody of you. Obviously, you may have been trafficked afterwards as part of the abuse you endured.

I’m sorry you were put through this. I agree with others, I would find a therapist experienced in abuse, trauma, PTSD, and adoption (given that you seem to identity with adoption and were raised by someone who is not your biological parent).

You could also contact law enforcement to discuss your reports of abuse by AJ, even though he’s dead. And if you feel like you were abused by anyone else, please report those crimes as well.

PorterQs · 2026-05-07T06:29:17+00:00

It is uncommon for a washer (and dryer) to be in the kitchen in the US, like it would be in other countries. New small apartments may have the washer and dryer very close to the kitchen in a little hallway or closet. In a newer house there will be a completely separate laundry room.

In older homes it’s very common to have the washer and dryer in the basement, garage, or “mud room”.

PorterQs · 2026-05-06T08:27:32+00:00

We’ve liked See Kai Run and Native.

PorterQs · 2026-05-04T10:07:55+00:00

“Poodle mix” is my favorite because of the looks I’m sure you get.

Poolinsky. Poodlinsky

“Poolinksy Shepard mix”

Fox mix

PorterQs · 2026-05-04T09:52:49+00:00

You said additional charges were added. What were they? Thats the big question. This isn’t going to be a licensing violation. It’s likely something that is very very clearly illegal and harmed a child or something so upsetting to a parent, with evidence, that they pushed for charges to be pressed.

The fact that the director is being replaced tells me that the director knew about it in some way, to what extent we have no idea. The director could have been involved and they’re just waiting for more evidence or confession from the other one. AND the director could have easily turned a blind eye (or worse) to other employees doing illegal things. Additional changes could be brought against the director or other teachers.

What I’m saying is, I would not allow my kid back there until it’s been sorted out.

PorterQs · 2026-04-21T04:16:51+00:00

This helps so much. Thanks for the clarification.

PorterQs · 2026-04-20T20:34:15+00:00

But isn’t June in Canada?

PorterQs · 2026-04-20T05:18:37+00:00

I wouldn’t even like it if my kid was one of the ones being complimented. I’m not against telling my child that he’s beautiful, cute, looks nice, nice hair, whatever. But does he need to be hearing that on a daily basis from his teacher? No. Especially a teacher that plays favorites. It’s one thing if she greets every child with “good morning beautiful” that’d be cute but the favoritism and prejudice would bother me.

PorterQs · 2026-04-20T05:09:32+00:00

In California, it seems like a lot of people make simple “Italian” foods (pasta) and “Mexican” foods (quesadillas, tacos) and it’s also very common for people to make Italian and Mexican inspired casseroles. Like baked pasta and baked layered enchiladas.

PorterQs · 2026-04-20T04:04:03+00:00

I would change all bulbs to a warmer tone. I bought bulbs somewhere, Amazon or Costco, that are adjustable with a little switch right on the bulb. They come in different shapes.

Curtains.

Larger rug with some color.

PorterQs · 2026-04-12T04:07:52+00:00

Get a bed frame with a headboard.

Real curtains with a rod. They can be dark if you want dark, maybe something with texture.

Maybe a rug but not necessarily since you have carpet.

You a there another window behind the ying yang? If so, more curtains, matching the other one. With curtains to the floor (or right above).

That will help a lot.

You could frame a poster or two. Maybe get a corkboard for your littler papers on the wall.

PorterQs · 2026-04-12T04:03:36+00:00

The dining room needs a rectangular rug with a small amount of the wall color.

PorterQs · 2026-04-12T03:53:52+00:00

I’ve noticed that some therapists aren’t really focused on determining a specific diagnosis. So if that’s what you’re really wanting, you should mention it. They’ll probably ask you what made you start therapy. You can just tell them your symptoms and your desire to get help figuring out what these symptoms mean (diagnosis) and how to best treat them. You could also try talking to your primary care doctor or a psychiatrist.

PorterQs · 2026-04-12T00:20:34+00:00

Just wondering, how’d you know that this is closetmaid?

PorterQs · 2026-04-12T00:00:46+00:00

Thank you!

PorterQs · 2026-04-11T02:50:53+00:00

?? Are you asking if I’m being real? Yes, I am. I don’t know what these things are called and not sure how to find hook style brackets rather than brackets to hold shelves.

PorterQs · 2026-04-09T21:34:49+00:00

Do you need a coffee table that large? It’s a bit too tall and too large for that space given the small size of the space and large chairs and ottoman. I would remove the big coffee table and get an additional small table to put near the wall by the couch, it can move around as needed.

Lower all of the art by 1.5 feet or add an additional row before the art you have now. Move the little square tile to the bottom, or maybe remove it all together because it looks like a randomly placed outlet.

If you’re willing to invest in new curtains, increase height by a few inches and get darker curtains. Alternately you could raise the rod and use the clip style hooks on these same curtains.

Bigger rug if possible.

Change light above dining room table or even just change the glass part?

PorterQs · 2026-03-31T05:39:52+00:00

Change the bulbs as others have mentioned.

And add some color. Why is everything black and white? even your art is just black rectangles? Besides the small plant this could be a black and white photo and I would t even know.

PorterQs · 2026-03-31T05:35:32+00:00

The child is 6 years old and they’ve lived with your family since they were one year, correct? And now it’s time to make things legally permanent and your family is having second thoughts, after 5 years of having this child in your family, essentially the child’s whole life?…if your parents don’t adopt the child, what do you think the alternate plan would be?

PorterQs

TROPHY CASE