u/MissDiagnosedMama

You must join the r/laundry sub if you are not already following it! There is so much great info about detergents and additives that is so incredibly helpful. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

For example, FEBU is an enzyme blend that I found out about in the laundry sub, but it has been amazing for my diaper laundry too! I think all cloth diaper families should be using it.

I also started using citric acid for my rinses based on info I learned in that sub. It helps keep my diapers from getting detergent buildup and makes them super soft.

I have seen older millennials and gen x folks talk about about "woods porn". Was that really a thing? Did you ever find any or hide your own?

Sorry in advance if this is a really dumb question...

I was given a bag of clothes from someone who lives about 12 miles away. When I got home and took the bag out of my trunk, I realized there were several very large black ants crawling around the outside of the bag. The bag had been sitting on their porch for a few hours, so I guess they had ants nearby that got curious.

Anyway, I shook off the ants and took the bag inside and into the laundry room in my basement. As I was dumping the bag into my washing machine a couple more ants appeared that must have been inside the bag.

So now there are a handful of them outside of my house and possibly a few inside my basement. I wouldn't normally mind, but I think they may have been carpenter ants. They were shockingly large.

Should I be concerned that they could create a new colony at my house? Or will they likely die soon without their colony? I'm not against ants in general, but I prefer that they live outside.

My 4 year old is having a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. I'm seeking recommendations for books that may help her prepare for the procedure.

Thanks in advance!

We have two canoes and want to take our two kids floating.

I used to go camping and floating a lot as a child with my family, but haven't been in more than 20 years. I was a kid and not in charge of anything at the time, so I'm a bit clueless about the logistics. My dad was always the planner and he is deceased, so I can't just ask him. Plus I think we always camped on his friend's property near Steelville and his friend shuttled us. That is not an option anymore, so I'm kind of starting from scratch. I have two main questions:

1. Are there shuttle services for people with their own equipment, but just need a ride back to camp after the float? I have found lots of info for rentals, but we just need the ride.

2. Does anyone have location recommendations for eastern/central Missouri for beginners. We are two adults in our 30s with two kids, 4 and 6.

I appreciate any and all tips and advice! I'm looking forward to making memories on the river with my kids just like I did with my family growing up.

Hello neighbors!

We have out of town guests visiting this weekend, and I'm using it as an excuse to finally try Stellar Hog. Is there any insider info or tips that I should know beforehand? Or dishes that we absolutely cannot miss?

Appreciate any insight, so that we can be great hosts and restaurant guests.

There will be 4 adults and 2 kids dining if that matters.

Update: Thank you all for your thoughtful responses and discussion points. You have given me a lot to consider. I appreciate that so many of you have shared your experiences with similar situations.

There has been a second wave of responses [perhaps my post has reached the general public (i.e. less open-minded) outside of this sub] that have assumed malicious intent on my part, and are assuming that I'm trying to trick or manipulate my husband or create a situation that would harm him for my benefit. Some even say that I have cheated and want his permission to continue. That is completely incorrect. I have never cheated and would never cheat.

The entire reason I posed this question is to see how to best handle this situation in a respectful and ethical manner, so that all parties are leading a fulfilling life. My husband and I are both very open-minded people, so I thought it would be beneficial to consider possibilities outside the societal norm of simply separating.

A big thing I'm realizing thanks to some thoughtful commenters is that my husband may feel forced to make a decision that he is not actually comfortable with just to prevent the separation. I think couples therapy with an open-minded counselor that is accepting of ENM and/or non-traditional relationships may be the best way to work through all of this.

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Original post:

Has anyone here opened their marriage, but no longer has a sexual relationship with their spouse?

ETA: I would love to hear from others that have experience with this type of non-traditional relationship dynamic - whether it went well or went badly

I am interested in staying with my husband and remaining partners in running a household and raising our two young children together, but I am no longer sexually attracted to him and do not want to continue that part of our partnership. [Redacted info about my own sexuality as I don't think it's necessary to have the discussion]. I am not interested in seeking new to sexual partners for the foreseeable future.

I want him to have the great sex life that he deserves. The thought of him being in a sexual or even emotional relationship with another person does not bother me at all.

Has anyone been successful (or not) with this dynamic and would like to share some insight?

This discussion assumes he would want to stay in a relationship like this. Obviously I know that he may not be comfortable with this and may simply want a divorce when I bring it up. I'm just curious if something like this has worked for others.

ETA: I'd really love to hear from people who have tried something similar (successfully or not) or have other insights into open relationship dynamics. Disrespectful comments from those who have no interest in discussing the dynamics of an open relationship are not adding anything of value to this conversation and will be reported/blocked.

Volver, Volver from Lucky (2017)