u/yoobi2000

Hello! Long time viewer, first time poster here. I (26F) am currently homeless, and I've been living in my aunt and uncle's front yard since mid September of 2025. Their son (28) and my older sister (27) also live with them, but they live in the house. I became homeless after my adoptive mom (87) broke her hip. Her bio daughter convinced her to sell our home without giving me even a month's notice. I had originally made a deal with my mom that I would pay the bills and move out in November (this was in late August) to give me time to build up savings. Her daughter convinced her to cancel that which gave me 2 weeks to find a place.

I had no savings at that point because back in October 2024, I became septic. By the time I had gone to the ER after 5 days of symptoms and excusing them as other issues, my liver and kidneys were functioning at their lowest rates, HR was 137 and nothing below 130 for over 16 hours, fever of 101.5 and BP 78/54 and dropping. I had to be given 2 IV antibiotics and 5 liters of saline. I eventually gained enough strength to return to work full time the next semester, but in January, I discovered a warrant was sent out for my arrest on false animal abuse charges filed by my older sister. In order to get a court date in our small hometown, you had to pay $1,000 "bail", and I didn't have that kind of money. I explained my troubles to the principle of a school I repeatedly subbed at, and she spoke with the sheriff and got me a court date in JUNE. My driver's license expired that February, so I couldn't even apply to any summer jobs until the court date passed. My sister admitted in open court to "being pressured" to file the charges, and NOTHING happened to her. They reprimanded ME for "using the court to handle family squabbles" because my mom allowed her to move in after my order of protection against my sister expired. I had an OOP after winning an assault case against my sister. I had pictures of the bruises and everything, and I was so caught offguard and overwhelmed by everything that I just cried and left the room. So, I had no active employment during the summer, no license, and an animal abuse charge hanging over my head until July when it was officially off my record. Then my mom's accident came. With no other options because I have my cat (4M) with me, I had my sister ask if I could stay with them.

I have access to their wifi, my cousin's bathroom, a small section of their fridge (enough to hold 2 big blocks of cheese), and I have an extension cord that goes to my car to charge my devices so I don't do it in the house. If I time it right, I can wash my clothes in their washer and dryer, but I have to wait until everyone else (including my sister) is done washing their clothes before I wash mine. I wear my outfits 2-3 times each, and I try to make sure to have enough clothes to last me a month since that's how long it usually takes me to get to wash my clothes again.

I have the same scheduling issue with showers. Many times, I will ask repeatedly to take a shower over the course of several days, but I'll end up going 3 weeks without a shower (I wipe myself down in a grocery store disabled bathroom when this happens). At one point, I broke down in tears because I hadn't had a shower in over 2 weeks, but my sister was given priority to take one because she had a shift that night. I work as a substitute teacher during the school year, and I had to cancel an assignment I had the next day because my aunt did not get home until 1 am. I am not allowed to shower when my aunt is not home.

Despite everything, my resentment towards my aunt only started earlier this year. I had called my mom to vent about the shower thing because I was FINALLY approved to take a shower and wash my clothes. Then my sister said SHE had to wash clothes, so she went to start the washer, and my aunt did NOTHING knowing that running the washer lowers the water pressure to the point that you just can't use the shower. My mom ended up telling her bio daughter, and they both got onto my aunt about it. My aunt then got onto me for not coming to her "as an adult" (which is not the first passive aggressive dig she's made at my autism btw). For context, my adoptive mom is my bio great-grandmother. Her bio daughter is my bio grandmother and also my aunt's mom. My aunt cannot stand the idea of her reputation being damaged in her mother's eyes because she is already in competition with HER older sister (Idc how many times she says she was "liberated" by no longer asking her mom for money when she will talk obsessively about the new used car their mom bought her sister).

I didn't go to my aunt about the shower thing because she KNEW I hadn't showered in weeks. I always text her to ask her so I have it on record. Any time I've gone to my aunt about issues I am having with the arrangement, I only ever got one of 2 answers "you need to reframe your perspective on the situation" or "well this is the best you're gonna get". I started getting that second response after speaking up that reframing my perspective didn't make my feelings any less valid.

I was talking with my mom, and she started talking about last winter. We went through 2 big freezes last winter where the temperature dropped to the teens. I had a cold weather sleeping bag and one blanket. I gave every other blanket I had to my cat in the little nook I had made him to keep him warm (believe me, he is fine, this chonky orange boy is built different he actually got a clean bill of health from his vet after his vaccinations in May and is 12 pounds! best believe I feed him well). My best friend lives in another state so she sent me a care package with merino wool socks, knee high fuzzy socks, 2 hats, a scarf, some candy, some hot cocoa mix, and 2 mugs. It was the first time I had genuinely felt cared for in years, but it was so cold, I would use the bathroom for extended periods of time just to feel the heat. I was reprimanded once for falling asleep in the living room and once more when my uncle suspected I had done it again because I was in the house early charging my phone. THAT was when the extension cord was brought out.

Anyways, at one point after my aunt visited my mom and her mom, my sister said "you know Aunt Cherry will let you in the house if it gets too cold, right?" How on Earth would I know that when I wasn't told that?? When I had been reprimanded for being in the house already?? Well turns out, my mom and her mom confronted my aunt about how I was being treated. My aunt's mom doesn't even like me, but she still told my aunt that I was being treated worse than a dog. That's when my aunt told them that she already told me that I could come in if it got too cold for me, something she had never once (and still hasn't personally) told me. She said that to save her ass, which signaled to me that she knew it was cruel to leave me and my cat out in the freezing cold while my older sister and her 2 cats were allowed to be warm. Thing is, she only invited ME in the house, not my cat. My cat is fixed AND vaccinated while my sister's cats are neither yet he was not allowed inside. Idc if she had told me herself that I could come in, I'm not leaving my baby boy to face the cold alone. I'm not giving myself relief not knowing for sure that he was safe in the car, and they all knew that.

If you're wondering why I would even ask AITA over this it's because the dynamic used to be completely different. My aunt and I rarely fought because we rarely talked to each other, but when we did, it was all good. When I sliced my finger and needed stitches, she stayed on the phone with me, so I wasn't alone. She's been there to listen to my talks even when they go on and on. She pauses what she's watching and listens to me which is something my mom wouldn't even do. She's given me coupons to restaurants, and she's fought with my uncle to allow both me and my sister to stay because he has made it very clear that he can't stand us being here much longer. I have so many luxuries that other homeless people don't have, and she lives in a safe city. The last time this city had any major crime was coincidentally from my aunt by marriage on my other side after she unalived my uncle on my "dad's" side (and I'm being so serious, they even mention the safety of the city in her Snapped and Dateline episodes) and got caught unaliving her second husband who shared the same name as my uncle while also having an affair and colluding with the married town pastor. And that was over a decade ago. Now that it's warmer, my cat has a safe area to roam and catch field mice (and the occasional bird since he thinks I'm too weak to hunt). I have so many advantages that others don't because of my aunt, and I don't take those for granted.

She also defended me against the police when her lousy next door neighbor called them and animal control. This hag has called the police on me 3 times for just being here to try and get me removed, and when the first 2 times didn't work, she lied to animal control that my sister and I were mistreating our animals but also that all of the animals were mine (btw imagine claiming that my cat was being malnourished and mistreated when he's 12 pounds at 4 years old, has a GLISTENING shiny and full coat, healthy shed, is fully vaccinated, neutered, AND the only human he approaches is me). When animal control approved my situation (noting that he even looked healthier and happier than cats she's found in actual homes), this hunchback sack of wet cardboard called the police AGAIN. My aunt defended me to them every time and to the building inspector when they tried to claim I was violating a city ordinance because the neighbor had told him my car was a junk car and inoperable (you see me driving it to work almost every day you cup of melted white chocolate and hemorrhoids). I made sure the inspector saw me driving my car when he was visiting the neighbor. We haven't seen him since.

Come September, I will have what I need to secure a used trailer for sale near the town I used to live in. It is already going to be such a rough transition, and I'm trying to think but not overthink who I want to keep in my life. I want to prosper in life so that I can give my cat the life he deserves and to thank him for sticking with me through all of this and always coming back to me. He deserves the world, and I want to be the best of myself to give that to him. I'm even wondering about my older sister because she HAS been trying more since she had to move her dogs in and has gotten more flack. She's been much more helpful as an ally than an adversary, and I don't know if I can just cut her off for being the family's chosen favorite. Having things given to her is just what she's used to. I just know I'm very biased and need outside help.

I do Instacart to supplement my sub pay. A few months ago, I ended up delivering to the projects thinking I was far enough from my hometown that nobody would recognize me (always a laughable thought since these kids find me 2 towns over or even on the road as I'm driving). I completed the delivery and knew kids lived in the neighborhood from the toys around a lot of the homes. I ended up back at this elementary school the following week, and the kid goes "I saw you bringing groceries last week". My instant memory isn't great, but then she says "Remember? You were wearing Lilo and Stitch pants, and you brought groceries to my neighbor" and suddenly it hit me. Because that was the only delivery I made anywhere near the school. Everywhere else was out of district. Now I don't know if living in the project is still something you get bullied for, so I just confirmed it was me and moved on. I was grilled a lil by the other 4th graders because 2 of them had seen me before when I worked at Little Caesars (again, they find me everywhere). They asked me how many jobs I had. Why don't I still work at Little Caesars. If I had all these jobs why was I there with them. Why does a teacher need another job.

ETA: Y'all I am DONE defending myself over the same type of comments. I am NOT IN ANY WAY shaming this student for living in the projects nor do I think she needs to feel ashamed. I am HOMELESS AND LIVING IN MY CAR, so to me, A HOME IS A HOME. I cannot change the title or I would. I do not hang out with minors of any age outside of work, so the only point of reference I had was my own experience as a kid (which was in the same area btw because I was subbing at the very school I used to attend). She did not outright say she lived in the projects.

Please learn to read because I said above that she just told me she saw and described my pajama pants. I only knew it was the projects because that's the only neighborhood within range that I delivered to while wearing that outfit. THIS IS NOT SOMETHING I OBSESS OVER OR THINK ABOUT DAILY!! I do Instacart every day, and I delivered to the neighborhood today and thought of this.

I was more caught off guard by the fact that she saw me and was not expecting her to say that since I didn't see her. Geez.

December of 2024, I was struggling financially more than usual. I had gone into septic shock in mid October that year, and despite going back to work in November, I only managed 4 weeks total of substitute teaching before winter break hit. I nonchalantly mentioned my struggles in a Livestream chat, and my future bestie later privately messaged me offering to help me. I declined the offer (I suck at accepting help), but we still kept talking.

This month marks 1.5 years of our friendship, and I can't imagine my life without them. They are smart, funny, witty, spunky, and passionate. They work hard at everything they do, and they do so much for everyone they care about. They are one of the few lights in the dark and cloudy sky that is my life right now, and I am so very grateful and honored to hold a place in their life and for them to hold a place in mine.

When I was fighting for my life last winter, they sent me wool socks, fuzzy socks, hot cocoa mix, mugs for the hot cocoa, candy, and some cash (with a written explanation of why I couldn't reject the money because they know me too well) as well as a sweet letter. They only told me they were sending the socks. They are my closest confidante, and though they promise I do as much for them as they do for me, there is no way what I offer in our friendship is anywhere close to what their existence means to me. They can turn my days around with a joke or with some tea ☕ 🐸, and they never shame me for the bad days I have (which has happened to me before). They help me see the more sensible and rational sides of things when I'm ready to go scorched Earth.

As a pacifist, I would go to war for them (I wouldn't be any good, but I could buy them like 2 minutes of time. It's the thought that counts). I would donate my kidney to them (remind me to ask them their blood type or that could go very wrong). I would take all of their struggles for eternity if it meant they didn't have them for a month. I cannot thank this community enough for bringing their existence to my attention. I will never know what great deeds I did in my past lives to deserve them in this one.

I will always be here for you and do what I can to deserve your friendship, S!

Ok so, I (26F) have a friend (30sM) who I met about 4 years ago when I worked at the same southern grocery store that he still currently works at. I am an independent contractor for a grocery shopping app that works with that particular store amongst others, so I get to see him often. He is a very kind guy who is very hardworking and cute. When we worked together, he knew I was struggling to make ends meet due to a hand injury, so he constantly offered to buy my lunch. Even though we no longer work together, he is a highlight of my days shopping at the store. We always greet each other with a smile and crack jokes. He has a few nicknames for me that he goes through. Seeing that he's working just instantly lifts my mood and sends the happy chemicals to my brain.

I also worked with his sister and stepmom (stepmom also works at the store) and once was invited to his niece's birthday party, so I am acquainted with his 2 nieces and his BIL as well. At first I thought the happiness I felt was just a normal part of being good friends, that was until I realized I was going out of my way to make sure I checked out in his lane so we could talk. Even if he worked the express lane, and I had 2 orders, I posed the argument "well actually I am shopping for 2 people and I am 1 person so really it's like 3 customers and 30 divided by 3 is 10 which is under the limit", and he would still take me.

Every time I see him, I want to hug him. I genuinely got jealous when I believed he was dating one of the baggers. I have not had such a big crush on anyone for such a long time, and it is UNALIVING ME. I cannot feel things mildly, only passionately. Today, he manhandled some bananas for a customer and I poked at him for it. The bagger made a show of delicately handling the bananas, and I said "See? Liam gets it!" before looking to "Liam" and saying "Colin just wants my score to go down" (we as shoppers have quality scores and service scores that affect the batches we get). And Colin said "I would rate you a 100 out of 100" and I replied "What? I don't get bonus points for being me?" Colin responded "You get 120/100" Was that flirting? Was he flirting? Was I flirting? I genuinely can't tell. Because despite my former chat persona in the livestreams, I genuinely don't know how to flirt or how to read flirting that isn't over the top and obnoxious like I did for the bit.

I REALLY like him and find my crush growing every day. I'm genuinely disappointed when he has a day, even though I see him 5 days a week. However, I don't want to risk our friendship, and I genuinely don't see how anyone can return the feelings of someone who wears the same outfit 3 times before changing, whose face is covered in acne, whose feet are so swollen they have 2 ankles, who looks like a beached whale, and who sweat so much in this heat that my antiperspirant fails so I end up stinking 1/3 of the time before it hits me. How does one make these feelings go away??

I'm one of the regulars that shop at one specific Publix most of the time (though I have gone to other stores and other locations), but I have a day job during the school season so I'm not as seasoned or as close to the others. Now that school is out, I've been able to at least chit chit a little if not help the new shoppers with locating items. I stopped to talk with one of the regulars before accepting an order only to realize I LEFT MY KEYS IN THE CART 🤦🏻‍♀️ I frantically checked the carts in store to find nothing. No keys had been brought to the customer service desk, so I went back to the bench. The regular I had been talking with asked about the carts outside, and I told her I couldn't get my headphones or neck fan wet as it had started raining outside and without hesitation she offered to watch my items for me while she waited for an order.

I know we are technically each other's competition on this app, but it genuinely touches my heart to have someone else who also believes that we should stick together not only as shoppers but as people. This may not be a big deal to some, but it means so much to me that she helped me.

I am 1 year and 7 months out from my sepsis diagnosis. I had been symptomatic of sepsis without putting together that it could be sepsis for 5 days before I went to the ER and ended up in the beginning of septic shock. I don't have health insurance and therefore don't have a regular doctor, but I've only ever gone to the ER when I've been terrified of getting or having sepsis again. I always tell the doctors that I had sepsis less than 2 years ago (and I try to not use too much medical jargon because that tends to make them brush you off as a hypochondriac instead of someone who's had to go to the hospital too many times in life for legitimate conditions). They hardly even react to that, and they seem almost passive like I'm just paranoid and wasting their time. And yeah, I get paranoid about it but not for no reason. I nearly died, and they make it seem like a part of life. Am I just doing too much, or are they just not taking things seriously?

Today, I got to attend the graduation of the students I've known since the beginning of my career. Full disclosure, I was crying before it started as I saw all of the kids in their cap and gowns. I got to scream and whoop and holler for all my kids so much, I later got a migraine, and I'm pretty sure my throat will be sore tomorrow. I got my final hugs and to see their excited faces when they realized I DID come as promised. I got to thank family members for the honor of being a part of their student's journey. It's been so very bittersweet going through my memories of when I first met them vs. them now. I am so proud of every single one of them, and I can't wait for what's to come of them. I know it's not usually a part of the job to get so involved with the kids, but I also sub in my small hometown. I see them outside of school by just going to Walmart (or even a store OUT of town, and I still see them). I will miss these kids so much, but they taught me so much about who I am as a sub so now I can move forward with the next classes. It's been an emotional day, but I can't wait to do this with next year's seniors.

I (26F) have been living in my car in my aunt's yard since late September of 2025, currently working my keister off to get a home for me and my orange tabby Gubby (4M). Gubby and I have made it through a lot together as homeless beings, and before anyone asks, the shelters near me are unaliving most incoming animals because of the amount they keep getting in. I'm not risking Gubby's life when I've been able to take care of him, and I don't have anyone I can just give him to. Most people in my COUNTY struggle to rehome animals as is. Gubby is just fine with me despite our circumstances.

Anyways, about 2ish months ago, my aunt's ratchet crochety next door neighbor Karen (Too-old-to-be-pulling-this-messF) called animal control on me. Initially, the AC worker said it was just a welfare check but later admitted the true nature of the call. For context, I have Gubby while my older sister now has her 2 dogs with her. The caller (who I am 99.99% certain is Karen) made a WILD claim that I was keeping the dogs and Gubby trapped in a van with little food and water with the windows up and implied that not only was I the sole owner of all of the animals, but that I was basically using Gubby as a toy for the dogs to tear apart.

This was Karen's third attempt to have me removed from my aunt's yard. After 2 complaints to the police did nothing (because I'm not a criminal and not breaking any laws), this was her next attempt. I say this with confidence because if it were truly about the well-being of the animals, why did she not call when Gubby and I were facing the harsh winter? Not to mention, Gubby had been an outside cat for MONTHS before this call. He was never trapped in a van (I drive an SUV like come ON at least be ACCURATE with your lies). He is neutered, vaccinated, well fed, and well hydrated (and if I have ice for my water, so will he). I have trained him to avoid all humans that aren't me, so he stays out of the way, and he is a CHONKY boy with a coat that glistens in the sunlight.

One thing about me is that I do not play about Gubby. He is my last remaining baby boy, and I would give my life to protect him. Even animal control said that all of the animals looked to be in better shape than animals they've found in houses and apartments and that none of them were in any distress. We were eventually cleared as technically and legally, our cars are adequate shelter, and they all get outside time. Another reason I know that this was just another attempt to have me removed is that just 2 days after we were cleared by animal control, the police showed up again bogusly claiming I was violating a city ordinance by living in my car in their city. The inspector claimed he would be back in 20 days, and that was almost 60 days ago.

This month came time to update Gubby's vaccines, so of course I took him to the vet. They weighed him and listened to his heart and other organs (Idk cat anatomy like that). My chonky lil 4 year old weighs 12 pounds and is perfectly healthy! The vet told me I was doing a great job (he doesn't know we're homeless), and the receptionist made note of my bond with Gubby because he cried when I put his carrier down to sign in but calmed down when I sat beside him. I know the animal control call was just another desperate attempt to get rid of me because this spandex for brains can't check her fricking privilege, but I'm still so very pissed she would bring my innocent orange preciousness into this, especially because I had never done anything to her. I keep to myself in this yard when I'm here at night, and I'm hardly here. Now when I see her outside, I intentionally stare at her because I know she looks over at me and it embarrasses her every time. Besides that and LOUDLY (but not yelling) calling her a nosy and pathetic b*tch who needs to check her privilege and get a life when my sister and I are near the fence that divides the 2 properties, I don't do anything to her. Right now I'm too focused on getting me and Gubby a home, so I'm sitting back and letting karma take care of the miserable sack of sugar-free lime gelatin.

May her pillow always be hot on both sides, her kitchen covered in fire ants, her skin always dry and broken out, and may she always be out of batteries when she needs to replace any. May her power bill always be excessively high, her faucets always dripping, her dishwasher covered in mold that she never finds, and her sink filled with fruit flies. That is all.

I delivered my last order of the night last night to mansion (at least by Alabama standards) that only tipped $2. I was notified on the app that they had an animal and were instructed to hold it back. When I get there, I swerve because a large dog comes out loudly barking at me, Not the worst thing to happen to me, so I just deliver the one bag of items. I still downvote the order because the dog was unsettling and they were supposed to have held it back. I chose not to block at that time because it was just barking at that point, and I was trying to get back to the store to see if I could get one more order. I instantly regretted not blocking them because the dog started chasing my car as I was leaving while continuously barking. It kept running IN FRONT OF my car so I had to jerk my brakes several times before I got enough clearance by honking my horn to get out. No one came out at any point in time to get this dog, and I know they we home. Their door is glass, and I saw them in the living room when I dropped the bag off. contacted support, and they said I have to wait until I get them again to block them, that there's nothing they can do. We don't get addresses before the order, so we have to just put ourselves at risk if something happens after we've already submitted our response?

The other day I made a post about my biggest struggle as a late-diagnosed autistic adult, but I also wanted to share how I believe my autism helps me. Besides being on the path to breaking generational trauma cycles, being autistic has helped me connect with the youth I work with. I'm a substitute teacher currently, but I've been working with kids in general for about 9 years now. I've always been different, and I knew I would be a different adult. I still color in coloring books (and not the adult kind), still watch cartoons, still love sparkly things, still love my safe foods of chicken nuggets and cheetos, and I'm still figuring out my feelings a lot of times. I know what it's like to be judged, so I allow the kids to open their hearts knowing they are safe with me. It's been healing being able to provide a safe place for the kids I work with, someone to talk to when the school counselor is unavailable but they feel they'll combust if they don't let their feelings out.

I also know that appearances mean nothing after 2 decades of subconscious masking, so I never make assumptions against them. They know they can come to me to vent (though I do remind them at every turn that I am a mandated reporter and must report if they tell me anything that suggests they are a harm to themselves or others). I also have a ton of neurodivergent kids who get excited to see a neurodivergent adult holding down a job. I also sub in a small town, so many of them will catch me in Walmart wearing my bluetooth headphones and comfy clothes! I also share with them what I've learned and give tips on what might help them (but always tell them that every ND brain is just different enough that not everything works for everybody).

I'm not held back by conventional standards and what's expected of me as an adult, so I still watch my childhood cartoons as well as The Loud House, and the elementary schoolers and I will compare which sisters we relate to more. I still watch Power Rangers, and on a free day, I'll play a couple episodes of the seasons from my childhood for the high schoolers. I'm still learning a lot about life myself, and I get genuinely excited when I figure things out or get good news, and I've noticed the "That's Miss ______ for you" smiles when I do the squeal and wing flap combo from some of my kids over the years.

I always have stickers and coloring sheets for those who don't like stickers because I know everyone isn't the same. If a topic they're working on matches one of my particular interests (like Greek Mythology or Space), I'll share the abundance of fun facts I've gathered on it. I've had kids share bracelets with me, Pokemon cards (I play Pokemon GO with some of my graduates), and even snacks. If the kids want some of the lights off or to stay back with me during lunch, I understand those needs. If they just need some time to themselves in the restroom, all I ask is they let me know.

I notice my lunches often look like theirs with PB&J sandwiches, fruit snacks, pouches of apples, some chips, and juice. I DO switch things up from time to time (but if it ain't broke, why fix it?). My safe foods and favorite snacks match a lot of the stuff they like. I cannot tell you the amount of trust that is built when elementary and middle schoolers realize you are just as human as they are. The high schoolers also know I love cheese and PB&Js as my main sources of protein and will collect cheese sticks and sandwiches from the lunchroom for me. I try to handle every work day with kindness no matter how stressful it can get, but I don't think I would be nearly as empathetic and "cool" if I wasn't autistic. I still don't think it's some sort of superpower, but I do think when managed well enough, it gives me an edge over other subs and helps me connect with the kids in a way that a neurotypical adult can't.

Hello. I (26F) have AuDHD. I was diagnosed with ADHD at 19 and ASD at 21. Truthfully, I've been angry at my mom (87, adoptive) for years for non-autism related things, but one of the biggest issues is her neglecting or dismissing my symptoms growing up. She chose to adopt me and my older sister (27) to keep us with biological family back when I was 5 almost 6. I was in court-ordered therapy for 14 years as a condition of the adoption, but my therapy appointments were sparse (once every other month), and it was CBT, nothing neurodivergent specific.

From the age of 2, I struggled with learning to walk. When I was 4, I had selective mutism and would only speak to the handful of people I felt comfortable with, and if anyone tried to make eye contact with me, I would cry. I was a "picky eater". My mom changed her meatloaf recipe twice because I would pick out every individual onion sliver but leaving them out made the meatloaf taste funny. My mom wouldn't season her mashed potatoes because I could feel the expanded pepper sprinkles mixed in. The only vegetables I would even consider eating were potatoes in French fry or mashed form, sweet peas, and corn. I requested meatloaf every night, but my mom kept the menu different to give us variety. I was questioned for years about constantly ordering the same thing from McDonald's.

Making friends was difficult for me. My peers thought I was too annoying and weird. Due to trauma repression, I don't remember a majority of my childhood. I just remember walking around the walking track alone a lot at recess except for the one time I thought a few people were just being nice pushing me on the swings only for them to laugh when I started crying for them to stop because I was too high and scared.

I was often told I was too sensitive and that I put on the water works to get what I wanted (in my brain, if a solution was presented, what would I still be crying for?). As I got older, I started trying more vegetables on my own, but I still couldn't eat a lot of them, and for fruit I stuck solely with apples. I started eating a snack of ritz crackers, fake bacon bits, pickle juice (I despise cucumbers), and ranch. I invented Sloppy Jims as a way to satisfy most of my taste buds.

When it came to doing chores, I would try to start, but I couldn't figure out where to start and too many things would start running through my mind. When it came to dishes, I tried telling my mom I was allergic to dish soap (I still am) and that my mom got the brand that gave me the strongest reaction, her family told me to wear gloves. I tried telling them that I didn't like the feeling of cleaning gloves on my hands, but they said I was just making excuses. I tried telling my mom I needed to have the TV on to sleep or I would have nightmares, but her family convinced her I was trying to get special privileges.

My mom's family convinced her that I was just a lazy, disrespectful, and ungrateful problem child who should eat what was given to her and stop complaining. I will say that I am considered high-functioning, but I feel like that is largely because I was forced to be. I don't want to be angry at my mom anymore. I don't want to hold that anger in my heart, but every time I've tried to explain all of the signs and how her and her family's dismissal of my signs hurt me and screwed me over, she just says she doesn't like "hearing that stuff" and that tried her best raising me and my sister (though often attention was given to my sister because her problems were seen as worse, and they considered me independent enough). How do you let go of the anger?

I took an order that wasn't the greatest deal to start with, but I need to meet a certain goal so I can get approved for a place and not be homeless anymore. However when I get to the address, it is nearly impossible to get in to where they are because of construction going on and even when they make a pathway, it is very narrow, and I would be cutting it close with my car. The pathway was so blocked at first and Google sent me further down the hill these townhomes are on, so I didn't realize that was where their specific home was.

I delivered to what I believed was their door and got in my car where I saw their message that I had delivered to the wrong place. So I end up having to WALK UP THIS STEEP HILL and TO THE OTHER END OF THE ROAD in this wet suffocating heat because we just had heavy rains last night. I make it back to my car (mind you the customer got all of their items safe and in one trip) to find that they removed the tip. And at this point most likely due to everything weighing on me because I do Instacart every day on top of my regular job, I just burst into tears because I did all of that work for $8.

My back is killing me, my lungs are heavy, and my legs are on fire. There was a reason this customer didn't want to risk their car but we're willing to risk mine and they take the tip away why? Because they had to step out of their cushy townhome for 5 minutes? Idk It may just be that I'm mad at my situation and projecting, but I messaged them right before I left saying I hope karma hits them hard for taking away the tip because they know they got their stuff and had even acknowledged it was heavy when they took a couple bags from me. Idk though I could be wrong for even being upset over this.