How do you all deal with being asked for your pronouns in every space?

DWD · 2020-09-19T00:00:14+00:00

I like the idea of using she/him just to make it impossible for anyone to have a conversation.

DWD · 2020-08-19T22:52:56+00:00

With a side bonus of “science makes you a terf”

DWD · 2020-08-19T05:40:47+00:00

I had a hard delivery with my son, was in the hospital with contractions for two days straight. Finally he was crowning, and I could feel my body literally (ha ha, yes literally) tearing into pieces. My obgyn told me to push and I cried "Oh God I can't". And she firmly shouted "YES YOU CAN". So I pushed through and tore up my genitals doing so.

Now I don't know if what she did and when she did it would be considered obgyn "best practices". But a simple prompt of Yes You Can and I tore myself apart. The whole birthing experience is very primal, and now whenever I am uncertain of myself I hear her yell Yes You Can in my head and it helps me power through. If I can survive that there is not much to be afraid of in life.

DWD · 2020-08-19T05:28:18+00:00

Others have given good advice re: getting offline more. Pour yourself into a hobby.

But I just want to add - when I was a teenager, everyone told me it was the best time of my life. Now I am staring down 40 and let me tell you, that was some crap.

The crazy changes to a woman's body, the hormones, being under the thumb of your parents, trying to make life decisions, all while dealing with the angsty assholes at school? It was awful. And I can only imagine how much worse it is with covid and the Internet.

I was a cutter, and remember telling my parents that God made me a woman to punish me. But you know what? Life just keeps getting better. I got out of their house, found a great career, started a family, and did a lot of travelling. I have found the rhythm of my body. And I am optimistic about the future.

My advice would be for now, decide not to decide. Tell yourself you will revisit the idea in a year, and give yourself a break from thinking about it. You are powering through one of the most difficult phases of your life right now, go easy on yourself.

DWD