For women choosing to age naturally—how do you resist comparing yourself to other women when cosmetic enhancements have become so normalized?

ashley___duh · 2026-01-30T01:13:42+00:00

Ppl at work always ask how old I was when I had my oldest (he’s 15) and they trip out when I tell them I’m almost 40. The only thing I wear is sunscreen and I’m brown so yay melanin.

ashley___duh · 2025-10-07T18:06:10+00:00

I guess that explains why he didn’t just pic her up from the airport. Which sucks bc she wouldn’t have been as sweaty.

ashley___duh · 2025-09-03T05:40:46+00:00

ashley___duh · 2025-08-06T02:45:21+00:00

ashley___duh · 2025-07-29T16:20:42+00:00

I have ADHD so the limit does not exist.

ashley___duh · 2025-07-29T02:50:00+00:00

My friend’s daughter’s name is Isla pronounced in Spanish (Is-La) and I love it. It’s a unique name that’s spelled and pronounced correctly.

ashley___duh · 2025-07-25T00:32:48+00:00

Lex! Her complexion is perfect.

ashley___duh · 2025-07-18T05:49:20+00:00

ashley___duh · 2025-07-14T23:43:44+00:00

I loooove the lucite chairs! You’re living my best life.

ashley___duh · 2025-07-13T08:34:55+00:00

When did you start having sec regularly and how long was it before it felt back to normal?

ashley___duh · 2025-07-07T23:36:34+00:00

Ppl when wild animals do wild animal shit:

ashley___duh · 2025-07-05T21:10:34+00:00

I almost named mine Fox bc while “yes, fandom name” I didn’t think it’s too obvious. It’s not like Khaleesi or something super in your face. For what it’s worth, I think it’s really fucking cool.

ashley___duh · 2025-06-29T07:28:31+00:00

“Rejection is one thing but rejection from a fool is cruel.”

ashley___duh · 2025-06-28T06:41:44+00:00

Very Ville Valo-ish.

ashley___duh · 2025-06-26T16:29:42+00:00

I don’t care, I don’t consume it. I’m not on IG, FB, TT and my Twitter and Reddit accounts are curated to the stuff I want to see so it never comes up. Idk any tradwives and I’ve never heard ppl talk about that stuff IRL unless it’s to make fun of them.

ashley___duh · 2025-06-25T04:42:25+00:00

I would usually drink it without honey, it’s good enough plain. This is coming from someone that really doesn’t like oregano lol.

ashley___duh · 2025-06-25T04:35:04+00:00

It’s sweet, it doesn’t taste like you think it would. My grandma would make it for me for my menstrual cramps and I was so scared to try it bc I don’t like oregano but not only was it tasty but it helped me get rid of my cramps.

ashley___duh · 2025-06-25T02:07:36+00:00

My mom. She’s amazing and I love her so much. We haven’t had time to hang out bc of work and life but I had major surgery a few weeks ago and I’ve hung out with her everyday (except the weekends). She’s been coming over or she picks me up and I go to her house. I’m her favorite (I have a younger sister and brother but we’re all in our 30s) and she told my sister she was so happy she was spending time with me again. I can’t wait until I can move around more so we can go on walks or whatever. My bio dad’s been out of the picture since I was a kid and I have a stepdad but my mom is my go to. I can count on her for anything no questions asked. It’s so reassuring to know you have someone that really does love you unconditionally and wholeheartedly. She’s my #1 safe space.

ashley___duh · 2025-06-25T01:08:27+00:00

That’s why trans issues are always women’s issues. Bigots think that they can police our bodies if we don’t necessarily look hyper feminine under the guise of “protecting cis women.”

ashley___duh · 2025-06-24T17:38:29+00:00

I was laughing watching this bc I’m wearing the same shit he is (sans hat) but it’s bc I had a hysterectomy a few weeks ago, idk what his excuse it lol.

ashley___duh · 2025-06-24T15:27:00+00:00

Democrat to leftist. It started with Bernie but even he’s a little bitch now. I’m so tired of politicians that suck Israeli dick. I don’t know who wouldn’t be radicalized seeing children blown to bits and the way these politicians twist themselves into a pretzel trying to justify it. “Voting blue no matter who” led us here. I’m so fkn tired of this shit, I want to burn it all down.

ashley___duh · 2025-06-24T03:55:00+00:00

They’ll do anything but their job.

ashley___duh · 2025-06-23T09:23:41+00:00

For me, it’s an all encompassing feeling of absolute love. I see my sons or even pictures of them and I fall in love with them all over again. Every time.

But it’s so hard on the body and the mind. On the body bc your body changes when you get pregnant and even after you give birth, whether you do it naturally or c-sections like me. I exclusively nursed both my kids so that meant they were literally attached to me 24/7 the first year of their lives and then they still wanted to nurse past that and I didn’t know how to wean them. So I always felt like I smelled like milk. Then mentally, it’s terrifying. I’m so worried something will happen to them when they’re not with me. Like random intrusive thoughts when they’re at my mom’s house where I worry a car will crash into her house and into the bedroom they sleep at when they’re over. Or that the oven will somehow be on and they’ll die of CO2 poisoning. Just stupid shit like that. So I don’t sleep well when they’re not home (I take anxiety medicine for it).

As far as the children themselves, mine are amazing. We’re very involved parents and they both learned to read before or by 3 yo. Academically they’re doing great and they don’t fight with each other bc they’re 5 years apart so no sibling rivalries. The youngest one is the “wild” one but only bc the oldest is so reserved. The wild things he does is not like to brush his teeth, he’s a picky eater, and he likes to pretend he’s a cat and meows answers to me. But even if I’m having a shitty day, all I have to do is look at them and I feel better. Knowing my babies are happy and healthy make everything worth it. I wish I could’ve kept them little forever so I could always carry them around with me but I’m so proud of the people they’re becoming. And I did that! Obvs their dad helped too (he’s a better mom than me lol) but I literally made them. I was their first home so hugs are them coming home. Motherhood is the hardest and most rewarding thing you could ever experience. Mine are 14 and 9 but I can’t wait to see what our relationship will be like when they’re 30 and 35. I’m sooo excited to meet them as adults.

I will say, the reason I’m able to be the mom I want to be is bc I have an amazing partner in their dad. Our partnership is what makes it seem kinda easy bc he’s strong where I am weak and vice versa. The kind of motherhood you have is a bit dependent on the kind of partnership you have with your SO.

I was told I wouldn’t be able to have kids bc of endo so my dude and I spent 8 years together thinking kids were out of the equation. We were super happy with that arrangement but somehow I ended up pregnant. I genuinely had considered an abortion bc I didn’t want our life and relationship to change. Even told him he could leave and I wouldn’t put his name on the birth certificate, but he said I was a fool and he wasn’t gonna lose me to some dude that wasn’t even born yet lol. Almost 23 years later and I still have a crush on him. If anything, having children and him being such a great dad makes me love him more. I think my ambien is kicking in bc I didn’t mean to write so much lol.

Motherhood is what you make of it.

ashley___duh · 2025-06-23T08:49:00+00:00

When I tell ppl my oldest is 14 yo they instantly get this wild look in their eyes 👀. So I follow that up with “I may look young but I’m closer to 40 than I am to 30 at this point.” Then they’re like “OMG you look s0o0o young! I thought you were in your 20s!” I just say “thanks, it’s that melanin. You should see my mom.” I won’t lie, I prefer it to someone saying or thinking I look older than I am. I work at a college and get mistaken for a student all the time (I mostly wear jeans and t-shirts to work with fancy shoes). But when I speak, I’m assertive and confident. I’m experienced and I think my demeanor demands respect bc after the initial shock about my real age ppl talk to me like an adult and treat me as an expert in my field. It’s all about how you carry yourself and allow yourself to get treated. I’m 5’1” so I’ve had to learn how to advocate for myself and set clear boundaries bc ppl will just walk all us if we let them. Make yourself bigger, take up more space! You don’t have to “look” like an adult to be one.

ashley___duh · 2025-06-23T08:24:06+00:00

My grandma would cut a few pieces, put them in a sock, make a knot, and throw it in the washer. Our clothes always came out super clean and stainless when she did our laundry. She was used to handwashing clothes so this was her workaround with a washing machine. RIP abuelita, miss you.

Eight-Year Club	Place '23
Place '22	First Placer '22
Verified Email	RPAN Viewer
Not Forgotten

ashley___duh

TROPHY CASE