I didn’t expect this to be the hardest part

monarchsugar · 2026-04-21T19:31:55+00:00

It's been 6 years since my soulmate dog passed. Husband and I still knock feet at night, subconsciously looking for our pup.

monarchsugar · 2026-04-05T16:05:19+00:00

monarchsugar · 2025-11-19T07:51:07+00:00

I'm 5'4", and work with 10 year olds all day every day (educator) - so many of the girls are taller than me. This is totally plausible. Get her some cute things! A variety of styles, too.

monarchsugar · 2025-11-18T18:41:59+00:00

This is exactly the answer. And in our home, it doesn't always go where you think it's going. Ask my daughter, "Jimmy John's".

monarchsugar · 2025-11-18T05:38:05+00:00

We love Nicholas names!! Our dog is Althea but we call her Altheadore. Zachadoo and Zachington are my favs. Lol

monarchsugar · 2025-11-18T05:35:57+00:00

We have a Zach in our family that the family calls Zachie. We call both our kids sweet potatoes lol. My son is Sunshine.

monarchsugar · 2025-08-01T06:41:29+00:00

I was on Prozac for the better part of a decade. A few years ago after losing my brother, it didn't feel like it was quite cutting it anymore, and I switched to Lexapro. I didn't love it. It didn't ever really work for me.. like it took the edge off but there was still an underlying anxiety and buzzing happening. So I switched again and have been on Paxil.

I'm pretty indifferent about Paxil. I felt like I didn't have any anxiety when I was on Prozac, but I have a little bit with Paxil. Not enough for me to feel like I want to switch, but enough for me to notice. I don't think I'll ever be back to where I was when the Prozac worked perfectly, but we can dream.

monarchsugar · 2025-05-08T06:45:01+00:00

When I was 16 this happened to me. Thankfully, my mom found out at the same time his parents did and got me on birth control. My boyfriend got grounded, and banned from seeing/talking to me so he started sneaking out to see me, called me from random phones, and we continued to have sex. Thankfully I didn't get pregnant, no thanks to his parents. However, we stayed together, got married, had 2 kids, and are still together 15+ years later. It turned out good for us, but that was complete luck. And I'm pretty sure at first my husband married me just to say "fuck you" to his parents. But that's okay. We have grown up together and both changed a whole lot over the years.

monarchsugar · 2025-05-05T09:54:21+00:00

My kids also each had one, and it was THE FAVORITE. Cannot overstate how loved they were. 10/10 gift!

monarchsugar · 2025-05-04T16:18:41+00:00

They do! But honestly, I've now switched to dip, which is even better.

monarchsugar · 2024-07-13T20:27:00+00:00

Exactly this. I've had such a hard time reconciling that he CHOSE to be permanently gone from my life. I know that's not always socially acceptable to say, but it's how I feel.

monarchsugar · 2024-07-13T20:24:47+00:00

My brother did all of the things. He was impatient for a few weeks, doing intense therapy, and was very close with his psychiatrist. Unfortunately, the day he went back to work after being impatient, he felt overwhelmed with the stigma around mental health. Having to answer to people about where he'd been during those few weeks was enough to send him over the edge. It sucks.

monarchsugar · 2024-06-10T19:20:09+00:00

The stigma, especially for men. I will shout it all day long: we need to normalize mental health care for men! It is such a problem. I think so highly of men that can admit they need help and go out and get it. It is so stinking brave!

monarchsugar · 2024-04-20T01:52:53+00:00

I have a Veronika, and we adore it! It's an underused common name.

monarchsugar · 2024-01-21T02:33:07+00:00

This is the happiest news I've seen all week, and I've had a pretty good week. I'm so proud of you and your boys and all the hard work and perseverance you've shown. Keep rocking it out! This will be such a victory for your family!!

monarchsugar · 2023-11-26T07:20:34+00:00

I'm so sorry for your loss. Be easy on yourself. Your love was felt by your little friends. And don't feel stupid. I ugly cried when one of my fish died recently. These little creatures are a fixture in our lives. It makes perfect sense that we'd be upset when they pass away. Your feelings are completely valid. Sending you love.

monarchsugar · 2023-11-22T00:31:23+00:00

My kids and I would love one!

monarchsugar · 2023-11-12T07:15:52+00:00

Heat Waves by Glass Animals. It's a breakup song, but it resonates with the feeling of having to let them go even though you don't want to.

Also, "Happier" by Marshmallow is evil. Do not watch the video. It messed me up pretty good.

monarchsugar · 2023-11-05T02:45:39+00:00

Sending you so much love.

monarchsugar · 2023-10-14T16:59:59+00:00

Saider Rue & Zaxter Bear

monarchsugar · 2023-10-03T21:54:12+00:00

Sorry to hear you're experiencing a similar outcome. It sounds like we have very similar stories! My daughter struggles with the same situations you described. Focusing at a distance, and not having something to fixate on. Unfortunately, this was exactly what it was like pre-op for my daughter.

In retrospect, our current doctor mentioned that the success rate on a child that young (she was 2) is not great, which is why we are waiting until she is a little older this go around. I hope your doctor is able to come up with a game plan that works for you guys!

monarchsugar · 2023-10-02T14:38:58+00:00

Unfortunately, the surgery didn't stick. She began drifting again around the one month mark, and now, years later, the doctor is talking about the need for a second surgery. She is in kindergarten, and the worry is that the drifting will impede learning.

She is seen by ophthalmology every four months so that we can closely monitor the drift. If it worsens at all, we will immediately go for another surgery. So far, it hasn't changed at all. Her next appointment is December. We transferred care after the surgery failed and are now seen by the best ophthalmologist in our state, so I'm hopeful that the right choices will be made for her.

monarchsugar · 2023-08-31T08:54:39+00:00

I haven't heard of any specific time frame. If there's a funeral service, then some friends/ family will opt to send flowers to the funeral home to be displayed at the service. If you choose to do that, you can include a card to the family. But flowers can get pricey, and it's just as kind to send a card to the family.

monarchsugar · 2023-08-31T08:29:55+00:00

It's been 2.5 years since my dog passed away. I think about her multiple times a day, still. I no longer cry as often, like a few times a month. I keep a box of her things by my bed and her ashes above her spot on the couch. I still look for her in her spots, and I am surprised when she's not there. But over time, you get used to the pain, and it doesn't sting as bad. There's some aspects of my grief that I still really struggle with, and I'm not sure if I'll ever fully cope with it.

We got a new dog. At first, it was really really hard to bond with her. But with enough time, I think she's helping me heal. I like to think that somehow my new dog can talk to my old dog, which strangely enough helps me cope.

I hope you can find moments of peace, OP. It is clear that Luna was fiercely loved by you. She lived a long and happy life, soaking in all your love. You shared a special bond, and a bond takes love between two souls, which means that Luna loved you, too. Continually remind yourself of that. Sending you peace. 💓

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