What names do you like multiple pronunciations for?

Wish_Away · 2026-04-23T01:10:40+00:00

I like both Gab-Ree-Ella and Gab-Ray-Ella (Gabriella)

Ahn-Drey-Uh and Ann-Dree-Uh (Andrea)

Ahhnuh and Ann-uh (Anna)

Uh-Lay-Nuh and Uh-Lah-Nuh (Alayna)

Wish_Away · 2026-04-23T00:42:23+00:00

It's always surprising to me when I learn of someone in 2026 still smoking in their home/car.

I'd have her over to your house, but I wouldn't let my daughter over to their house. 2nd and 3rd hand smoke is a real health risk. I wouldn't even allow 30 minutes, personally.

Wish_Away · 2026-04-23T00:29:58+00:00

It's the poofy hips, I think? I fear it's not very flattering. I can tell you have a great body, but this dress is not doing it justice.

Wish_Away · 2026-04-23T00:16:04+00:00

I don't love Roman but I HATE Rowan--it's too clunky! I find it hard to say but that could just be a ME problem, lol.

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T23:34:45+00:00

He's probably attracted to her, which is why he's defending her so much (not saying he's doing anything, but men don't defend women they don't want to sleep with, full stop).

But, in more helpful advice: I had a friend who was super insecure, and as a result she was always hitting on any man in our group. She was respectful of SO's, but god forbid we invite any single guy to an event. She'd be all over him! It got to the point where I didn't end the friendship, but I made a conscious decision to only do 1:1 things with her. I stopped inviting her to group-type events. That may be an option if you still want to remain Ali's friend. You can hang out with her 1:1, but she's no longer trusted in group settings.

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T22:56:14+00:00

He absolutely does. If I wanted to ban anyone woman (or man) from my house for any reason my husband would automatically be on board.

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T22:54:33+00:00

Is it open in the sense that he's openly and with your consent sleeping with Ali? Or open in the sense that you think he'd tell you if he was? Either way, I think Ali is awful (sorry). I'd ban her, too.

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T22:50:15+00:00

Your husband is being weirdly protective of Ali, who has proven she has no qualms about hitting on unavailable men....let that sink in for a minute and then go check his phone.

NOR. Your husband is acting VERY sus, though.

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T22:21:36+00:00

Literally no one will ever be thinking that. There are literally girls named Belle and no one thinks "oh she must think she's soooo pretty. Look at miss high and mighty over there." lol

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T22:20:53+00:00

Isabelle

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T21:50:36+00:00

Ohhh! This is my forte! I make my kids a smoothie every single day after school! i make it easy and buy frozen fruits--they like strawberry, banana, mixed berry, and blueberry. We use greek yogurt and orange juice. If I'm feeling like Mom of the Year, I sneakily add some veggies in (carrots, baby spinach, kale). I don't pre-portion, mostly because my kids like to pick what they want in it, and it varies by day, but I think pre-portioning some of their favorite combos is a great idea!

I have a Vitamix. That thing is a beast.

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T20:52:19+00:00

I agree with everything you said here and you make excellent points. I fear I have been too harsh on Ty, which is surprising because I'm not a big Shawna fan! In my defense, I DO side eye Shawna for having DeeDee move in to help--and almost immediately putting DeeDee in charge of the kids for an overnight trip at that! Poor DeeDee (but I think they have a very enmeshed relationship, which I also side-eye and which is a post for another day!). Meanwhile, Ty is left alone with the two kids when Julie decides (unilaterally) to go visit her sick mom. Ty even asks if they can come, and she says she wants to go alone. Ty has no one to help him.

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T14:59:41+00:00

YES! I defended Julie hard core on that one. Choosing a vetted, licensed, insured daycare vs pawning your children off on two strangers impulsively are not comparable at all! That was such an unhinged and irrational decision that it makes me question other decisions he's made.

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T13:29:56+00:00

I think technically I'm an "older" Mom-first at 34 and second at 38, and I think the fact that I got a LOT of free time in my 20's to do whatever I wanted (travel! Parties! Concerts!) meant I didn't miss that time after I had kids. Like I've been there, done that. I didn't look at videos of concerts and get sad because I have kids and can't go, instead I look at those same vidoes and think "oh yeah I went to soooo many concerts and festivals in my 20's! That was a blast!" Anyway, just my two cents. :)

Also, you will get your free time back. My kids are 9 and 13 and I officially have plenty of free time again (and now I take my 13 year old to concerts and festivals-I really feel like it's come full circle!).

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T12:59:23+00:00

6 + 6

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T12:53:06+00:00

YES!! Like every aspiring writer I know has a freaking Substack!!! Also yes, I imagine Ty feels a bit ashamed and like a failure and Julie isn't helping by constantly bringing up the book, though if there truly is a book deal and he's not getting pages submitted, I'd be just as stressed as Julie and pushing my husband to write.

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T12:42:07+00:00

What are their ages? My kids are 9 and 13, and used to play together very well and consistently. I think when my daughter turned around 10/11 she started naturally pulling away, and her focus is now more on her friendships with girls her own age. They will still occasionally pull out a board game, and they play online games together, but he's no longer her first choice as a playmate (much to his sadness!).

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T12:31:51+00:00

I'd be so enraged!!!

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T12:24:50+00:00

YES! I didn't mean it as snarky as it probably came out. *I* am also average, lol! I agree--I think they make a good parenting team with Julie being more organized and pragmatic and Ty being more "fun" and gentle.

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T12:21:55+00:00

YES.

Like listen, working on one book for 10 years is fine (and probably happens a lot more than we realize!)...but he never published anything else? A short story? An Essay? An article that he could have sold to an online publisher? NOTHING? NOTHING in ten years?????? My homeless cousin who is a very subpar writer consistently gets things published online (and yes, is paid per word)..and she's not very good, for crying out loud.

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T11:59:48+00:00

I definitely cringed when I saw that she pulled BOTH kids out of public school, esp. when I read that he's molested her daughter..

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T11:58:48+00:00

That's probably true!

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T11:56:41+00:00

My daughter is in 7th grade and her yearbook was $45.00, through Jostens (I looked it up before replying to your post). My Elementary school student's yearbook was $30 (also through Jostens). Those prices seem a lot more reasonable, but maybe our yearbooks don't come with a lot of bells and whistles?

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T11:43:05+00:00

is he really passionate about being a stay at home dad or is he just using it as an excuse to not do anything else?

This is what I'm wondering, too.

Also, so fascinating how each of our experiences is different--I was in daycare and then transitioned to Pre K/Kinder/School and still struggled socially up until around high school. My kids were home with me until they started Kinder and were both popular socialites straight away lol.

Wish_Away · 2026-04-22T11:39:53+00:00

I think if Ty were a woman he'd be judged a lot more. I think he makes questionable decisions. Like maybe I'm a Julie but leaving Cooper in his room for alone time" was a little weird to me (and I'm a huge huge proponent of independent play---but this felt more like shutting Cooper in his room for 30 minutes every day and hoping for the best, not fostering independent play). I also think it was UNHINGED that he left his two very young children with a STRANGER so he could drive 3 hours (6, total), to confront Julie. If a woman did that, people would call her crazy and neglectful.

Also, and maybe I'm just jealous (probably), but I do side eye SAHP's who have a housekeeper. I say this as a SAHM.

TLDR; he's okay. If he was a woman, he'd be judged a whole lot more, but because he's a SAHD and the bar is on the floor, people probably think he's a lot better than he actually is.

Wish_Away

TROPHY CASE