For closeted individuals, coming out is a rite of passage in life that LGBTQ+ people never signed up for.
Why is it that anyone who inherently identifies a certain way has to explain themselves to those who are confused and unwavering in their socialized ignorance?
Times have changed and while there have been advances made for LGBTQ+ people to find more acceptance and feel less like an "other," there are still many challenges to overcome.
Even with gay role models prevalent in pop culture, it can still be difficult for gay youth today to come out to a parent who chooses to live in the past and align themselves to antiquated ideals in society that prevents them from loving their child as they are.
But sometimes, the response after opening up to a parent in a vulnerable moment can prove that unconditional love is the best thing in the entire world.
Curious to hear about positive responses, Redditor Expert_Recover3061 asked:
"What's the best response to 'Dad, I think I'm gay'?"
Even those who aren't fathers can give the best response.
Crisis Averted
"In the 90s, when my girlfriend finally told her traditional Italian mom and grandma at 19, they sighed in unison and grandma said, 'oh thank baby Jesus, I was worried that I was going to have to tell you.'"
– DifficultAccident9
What Gran Said
“'I thought you were about to give me bad news! Don’t scare me like that!' - My granny when my uncle came out (in the ‘70’s!). She was decades ahead of her time…"
– LongjumpingCake1924
They're still parents.
The Rules Don't Change
"You still have to wear a condom."
– Ginchy1971
Not The Only Outcome
"Pregnancy isn't the only STD."
– rhymes_with_snoop
Bracing For The Worst
"This was my literal response when my brother came out to me. He’d called me and said he had something urgent to tell me and it had to be face to face. I was a bus journey away and started to panic so I made him tell me over the phone."
“'I’m gay.' 'I know that! I thought someone had DIED.'"
– Suspicious-Brain-521
Protective Dad
"When I came out to my dad when I was 16 I thought he would disown me. He said: 'Son, If anyone ever hurts you for that, I’ll f'king kill them'. In that moment I realized that I had the best dad in the world."
– Winterpegs
These reactions raised eyebrows.
Cryptic
“'So that’s why you don’t like mushrooms'. At least that’s what my friends dad said to him when he came out. We still don’t know what he meant by that."
– narnababy
"One of my friends from high school was gay, and when he came out to his family his Dad literally didn’t look up from his newspaper & told him his sister didn’t need to tell him she was straight so why would he need to explain that he was gay? He’s known him his whole life and already knew that."
"It was cute because he was so worried."
– 0Diamond0
These Redditors realized they had nothing to fear.
Cheers To That
"Well... My dad said 'I know... And I don't care. As long as you are happy, I'm also happy for you.' And then asked me if I wanted a beer or scotch to celebrate that I finally had the confidence to tell him."
– OneMorePotion
The Best Parents
"Our son came out to us a month ago. We already suspected, so it wasn't a shock."
"When he told me I thanked him for telling me, told him that I loved him, then explained that who he wants to tell next and how he wants to tell them is 100% his choice and we will support him however he wants and needs. He gave us a list of people to tell, and by the end of the week he wanted everyone to know."
"Love and acknowledgement and support."
– Feetyoumeet
Most parents these days aren't given enough credit for being understanding–and also having good instincts about their closeted children–as the fear of being disowned weighs heavily on the mind of individuals who are apprehensive about coming out.
A friend of mine told me her 19-year-old son came out to her and her husband. They already suspected and were waiting on him to come out on his terms when he was ready.
Her husband had the best response.
He said:
"Son, I just hope I get to have the first dance with you at the wedding."
People Who Only Became A Parent Because Their Partner Wanted Kids Share Their Experiences
Kids are not the ideal option for everyone. Some people are ideally suited to having kids: they want the experience of taking care of and raising another little person with their partner.
But some people are not suited to have kids together. In fact, some people sort of end up playing secondary parent role because they just can't get themselves fully around taking care of a child.
Redditor GymLadyThrowaway asked:
"Parents who didn't want kids but agreed to have them for your partner, do you regret becoming a parent?"
Here were some of those stories.
A Sad Story
"I am the result of someone who shouldn't have had a child for their partner. My mother had me because my father wanted a daughter after already having a son. Which he got."
"However, my mother blamed me for a lot of things she was unhappy about because of it. She said she never got fat until she had me. That I was a brat who acted just like my father."
"(They split when I was 12) She was only nice to me during their divorce when she used me to do things to get back at my dad. She was a cold person to me in general."
"Not only was it clear she didn't love me, she didn't even like me. However, the sun has always risen and set right out my brother's rear end if you ask her."
"As weird as this sounds, I'm almost grateful for it. She taught me what not to do with my own kids. And I know I'm a better parent than she was for it."-Fun_Recording_4935
Now I Love My Bb
"No, I don't. I didn't have one for my partner per se, but got pregnant surprisingly after he was told he was sterile after chemotherapy."
"I had never wanted kids but he had always wanted more (he had a child from a previous relationship) and was thrilled that I was pregnant. The worst part was that he died from cancer before our child was born, so he never got to meet her."
"But I don't regret being a parent, even though I hadn't thought it was in the cards for me. I've definitely grown as a person as a result and cherish having that part of my late partner still here, doing great things and being a great person".
"She's a terrific part of life and I wouldn't change a thing. But I definitely don't want any more children. I'm definitely a 1 child-parent.
"That being said, I can understand people who do have regrets. Being a parent is neither easy nor is everyone capable of it for various reasons."-ComposerBeautiful875
My Daddy!
"My ex revealed after we had our daughter that even though he said he was on board with being a parent before we started trying to get pregnant, he was actually still massively hesitant at the time. Learning that kind of pissed me off."
"But I couldn't stay mad because he told me that while explaining how deeply he loved being a dad and how much that surprised him. He and our kid are two peas in a pod."
"She's two, and she talks about him non-stop. Everything is 'My daddy!' this and 'My daddy'" that. We're not together anymore, but I don't even mind that my daughter seems to prefer him over me because I never had a good relationship with my dad. I love how invested he is in her."
"That being said, I do know people who regret being parents, so I don't recommend doing what my ex did. If you don't want kids enthusiastically, don't potentially ruin your own life and a child's. It really hurts being the child of someone who doesn't know how to love you."-pendulousfunbags
Children can really turn your life around, for better or for worse.
The Opposite Of What You Thought
"Wow. Great question. I DID NOT want kids. After 12 years of marriage, my wife informed me that was always the plan. I quit research, had the first (daughter) and she had the second (son)."
"She was unable to change her lifestyle for said kids. The kids and I suffered emotional, narcissistic abuse for years. They are my best friends, REALLY kind, smart adults."
"I see ex maybe twice a year. You really never know how things will turn out. I do not regret having kids."-string1969
Love And Like Are Not The Same
"Not exactly the thing you're asking for, but...My husband thought he wanted kids. But he quickly realized he doesn't enjoy parenting."
"He's insanely proud of his kids. He also likes doing activities with them on the weekend, but it's the activities he enjoys more than the company. He doesn't enjoy being a dad, and that will never change."
"Me, I enjoy my kids' company. I like talking to them, helping them through things. I stop and appreciate who they are (right now) because they're going to be totally different in a year, and I will regret missing little things once they're grown up. I love the little shit they do."
"He couldn't care less. They annoy him, mostly. But I don't think he regrets them. He loves his kids, but he doesn't like being around them all that much."-GingerMau
Once Again, Worth The Bull
"Ex got pregnant, claimed she was on the pill. Definitely didn't want kids but that changed when my son was born. 13 months later she was pregnant again, and again said she was on the pill."
"Wasn't sure about another kid with her but it happened anyway. And both my sons have turned out to be pretty good kids and now terrific adults. I even got custody when their mom and I divorced."
"This year for my 60th birthday, they took me on a Route 66 road trip. And a month ago, my younger son had a daughter so now I'm a grandpa. I wouldn't have it any other way. I was absolutely miserable most of my marriage but I'd do it again to have my kids."-scottwax
Angry Babies Make History
"If you had asked me this question during the first year, I would have said 'Yes.' Our daughter was (and is still)...something else. Angriest baby I've ever seen."
"It was like she was getting back at us for taking her out of the cozy uterus. Screamed constantly even when completely taken care of (and with no digestive issues)."
"She'd get upset if we cuddled her, she barely smiled or laughed, wouldn't breastfeed, didn't like toys - all the things that are supposed to stir up the bonding chemicals in your brain weren't available to us."
"Meanwhile, we couldn't list a single thing she liked. Weren't even sure we were on that list. We really had a tough time bonding, as a result. We both spent moments wondering if we'd made a mistake becoming parents."
"She just turned 4. She's still the most stubborn, strong-willed human I've ever met - bar none. She can be a massive pain in the @ss."
"She also has a beautiful, vibrant imagination and a deep capacity for kindness. She's eloquent and can make conversation with anyone, kid or adult."
"She loves music, baking, drawing, doing silly voices, telling stories, building things, and now...hugging. She's f**king amazing and one of my favorite people in the world."
"You get to know this entirely new person. And who they are, what they show you about themselves as they get older and can express it in more complex ways, overwhelms every sh*tty moment."
"And eventually, as you understand more and more about them, you start to have less and less of those. Most beautiful experience I've ever had that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy. I wouldn't do a thing differently if given the choice."-LiterateNoob
But if you lean into the experience of raising a child, you might just find something more deep and lovely than you'd bargained for.
The Saddest State Of Affairs
"Not me, but I know a woman who had a child because her partner (at the time) was pro-life and against abortion. She made herself seem like she was religious etc which was a lie."
"Anyways, it seems like she regrets having that child because she just doesn't give a sh*t. Doesn't take care of her, just let's her play on her cell phone."
"Feeds her nothing but garbage food. Doesn't stay on top of her health, no dr appts or dental appts. The girl has really bad hygiene, matted hair, and has missed so much school she's failing every single class. The daughter notices that her mother doesn't love her."-noorofmyeye24
Legends Only
"My Mrs talked me into it. I never wanted any kids, especially with the state of the world now. Fast forward 3 years and I have a 2-year-old daughter and a newborn daughter."
"They are my world and I love them with all my being. I absolutely don't regret it one bit. My family makes me smile every time I think of them."
"Trick is to set them up for life with knowledge, humility and a decent financial head start. It worries me that it will be hard for them when they're older so I'm currently working my a** off to ensure they have a real good head start in the world. They're awesome. Little legends."-monkeyboyshredshred
A Nudge Or Simply Chance
"Nope. I was always hesitant about having kids. I didn't exactly grow up with positive male role models in my life so I wasn't about to tie myself to a c*nt for the rest of my life by having their child."
"I met my current partner and he expressed his desire to have kids and I told him I was on the fence about it. Eventually I felt I could trust his intentions enough to have a kid with him and so far, so good."
"I love being a parent though, my son is my world and it's incredible watching him grow up."-GreenieBeeNZ
Each and every decision to have a child is personal, and some people may choose, ultimately, never to have or raise a child. That decision is valid.
However, sometimes people need the thing they are the most afraid of. Sometimes, the thing that causes you dread just in thinking about it will become your ultimate life teacher. Having a kid definitely qualifies in that space.
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It really is often not the student's fault when they're acting out. Crazy behavior in the classroom can so easily mirror crazy circumstances at home.
More often than not, teachers learn this lesson the hard way: through parent teacher conferences, phone calls, or other events in which they are unprepared to meet the source of crazy, erratic, or disrespectful behavior.
u/ThatJamesLad asked:
Teachers of Reddit, what are your "the parent is just as bad as the student" stories?
Here were some of those answers.
It really is often not the student's fault when they're acting out. Crazy behavior in the classroom can so easily mirror crazy circumstances at home.
More often than not, teachers learn this lesson the hard way: through parent teacher conferences, phone calls, or other events in which they are unprepared to meet the source of crazy, erratic, or disrespectful behavior.
u/ThatJamesLad asked:
Teachers of Reddit, what are your "the parent is just as bad as the student" stories?
Here were some of those answers.
Training For Klepto College
GiphyElementary teacher here. We had a student who wouldn't stop stealing things out of other kids backpacks. We had caught him on camera and would call the parents and they would just say "no, that's his insert stolen item, we just bought it for him." Then, we get him on a positive behavior plan and create intentional lessons about empathy to others, setting goals to get what you want, the difference between wants/needs etc.
Eventually, he gets enough positive days in a row that he gets released from the behavior plan and receives a free bike as his incentive for good behavior (they were donated to the school by a local bike shop). The next day he tells me his uncle stole it and pawned it. He went right back to his old behaviors and it was heartbreaking.
That's No Parking Space
I had a student last year who was new to the school. Really nice, friendly, shy and hilariously absent minded. He would come to school at least 2 days a week with either his shirt on backwards, inside out or both.
So I wanted to talk to his parents about how his absent mindedness was affecting his learning. Mom shows up at 5. Dad shows up 1hr late. We have a good chat and they get up to go. As I'm walking them out I said I will show you the shortest way to the parking lot.
The dad replies with I didn't park in the parking lot so I said "You can go the same way to the street." He said "I couldn't find the parking entrance so I just drove around and parked on asphalt play area." Sure enough I walk by and his car is next to the play ground.
So it all came together after that.
When It Crosses The Line Of Sad
This one's sad. I was a camp counselor and I had a girl in my cabin with issues. She was attention seeking, kind of a mean girl, and generally wasn't liked by a lot of the camp. I honestly didn't give her a lot of 1 on 1 attention, which is something I deeply regret in retrospect. I only understood the issue because I was bus staff. This was a sleepover camp.
Her session was 2 weeks and her parents had elected for her to take the bus back and they'd pick her up. The bus was early but plenty of parents showed up early they were so excited to see their kids. As we got closer to pickup time, the crowd dwindled until there were just a few left.
A staff member asked for the kids still there so they could make phone calls. All but one were in traffic and on their way.
My camper's parents said no. They said they had two more days of freedom, they wouldn't take her, and said we needed to put up with her for a couple more days. They each said this individually and hung up. Neither responded to follow-up calls. Staff told me to go home and they were left to figure that one out. My parents always hated me, but this was shocking to me. That someone's parents would absolutely refuse to let their 12-year-old into their house.
Mirror Mirror
High school teacher, and we have something called Soft Lockdowns (known as Shelter in Place by some schools) where doors are shut and locked but classes continue as normal. These are pretty common and can be used for anything from a medical emergency (want everyone out of the hallway if someone needs to be cared for, because high schoolers are nosy) to a fugitive running around the neighborhood.
We've been in many soft lockdowns because parents have come to the school ready to hunt down and beat the crap out of a teacher. They usually come in the front office (can't access the rest of the school without someone opening the secured door) screaming, cussing, threatening everyone in the area, you get the picture. Often, they're removed by the SRO and given a criminal trespass citation.
We have a pretty high rate of fights and violence between students. When I see parents acting this way, it all make sense.
Things That Are Normal Where You Live But Crazy Anywhere Else | George Takei’s Oh Myyy
Wicked Smaht
A bit different because this is a positive story!
I'm not a teacher but I TA'd for a freshman chemistry class last year, so college kids but ones that were in high school like three or four months previously. One kid in my section was amazing: scary smart, always got great marks on assignments, asked fantastically phrased questions that the professor loved to answer, was a joy to be around during the lab section because he was so easy to be friendly with; he clearly loved and excelled at the work and enjoyed being in the environment, which definitely extended to the rest of his lab group (they were consistently the most talkative but also got the highest marks on assignments).
About halfway through the semester we introduce a concept that he struggled with a bit so he came to a few tutoring sessions and he was a joy to help 1 on 1. Our third tutoring session was in the campus Starbucks and went late so he had to get his dad to pick him up because his ride to campus that day had already left. His dad came a bit early so he ordered a drink and sat down with us for a bit and I immediately understood where this kid got everything from.
His dad was wicked smart (asked relevant questions in a way that made me think about the material in serious depth, same way that his son did), cracked a couple of dad jokes that made me laugh, and was beyond easy to talk to, to the point where we had stayed an extra 30 minutes beyond what we were supposed to, swapping between going over the material and cutting up. Just a joy to be around from day 1 until the day of the final and the apple clearly didn't fall far from the tree.
Control
I had a student many years ago, call him M. He was a sweetheart in the classroom, never answered back, did as he was told, engaged and interesting. But, outside of class, he wasn't allowed to be around other students, escorted class to class, because he would start a fight EVERY time, and i mean that. I could not wrap my head around it, until Parents Evening.
His Dad was a hulk of a man, mother was sadly deceased. He was clearly abusive. He kept his hand on the back of M's neck, leading him around like that. M looked like he was going to his own execution. Was told later that authorities were involved, but M lashes out all the time because it was the only time he felt he had some control. Would never talk back to an adult because he was just scared of us all. He didn't make it the year before he disappeared, but I still think about him.
The Lies, Margaret, The Lies
I had a student who repeatedly lied about assignments, saying he'd turned them in and his teachers had lost them. As a team with admin present, we conferenced with mom and dad, who deflected and provided excuses that he just "doesn't like school," and, "if my son says he did something, he did it. We value integrity in our family." Three months later some friends of mine invited me to a bar a few towns away to see a band perform. Near the end of the night, I ran into the mom who is out on a date with a man who isn't her husband. From that point on, she wouldn't return any of my emails or calls about the son's behavior. She is now an administrator in another county.
No Devils Here, Son
I teach elementary music but I also assist in before school care. There was one boy (3rd grade) who was sitting at a table with several other students. One girl was attempting to engage with the boy and he abruptly stands up, points at the girl, and screams "YOU ARE THE DEVIL". Obviously at this age there needs to be intervention because you can't talk to other in that fashion or with that language. We always try and talk through emotions rather than explode.
Call the mom and explain the situation. The moms first and only response is "Well, if he called her the devil, she probably is the devil"
Pretty clearly can tell where that behavior comes from.
Buh-what?
Not me, but a friend of mine is a professor at a Christian college. They had a student who wanted to do a topic about how "being gay is a sinful choice" and the only source they listed was their dad. When the teacher said that their assignment needs to be something that has academic backing, the student responded by claiming that their dad is an expert on the "choice of gayness".
I See Myself
GiphyNot a teacher, but am a parent. The story I always think of when I see a question like this is when I had a routine pre report card conference with my son's first grade teacher. She was telling me about how he didn't take some of his school work seriously and sometimes didn't finish it.
As an example, she took out a handwritten book that he had written about penguins as an assignment. It started out nice, with legit penguin facts, and then after the first ten pages, it became a bit silly and then ended abruptly with: "A penguin has never seen a leprechaun."
I started laughing; I couldn't help it. I was doubled over gasping for air, crying from laughing so hard. The teacher obviously didn't think it was funny, and seemed surprised that I was cracking up, but she politely conceded that "maybe it was a little funny." I'm 100% sure that she thought to herself, "ugh that's where he gets it."
She Probably Don't
I called home because a kid was coming to school inappropriately dressed every day. I'm not playing the "girls's bodies are distracting" card, I'm worried because the kid is dressed like she's about to work a corner. Of course I don't put it that way to mom, I just mention the kid is violating the school dress code and start to explain how when I'm interrupted with " You just jealous cause you don't look as good as she do "
This Is What We Call "Awful"
I had these two teenage girls in my class who were best friends, but they started acting really strange around each other. A couple days into this weird behavior I heard a loud commotion outside my classroom. Both of the girls' fathers were having a fist fight right outside my room, and the girls were screaming like banshees. I found out later that one of the girl's dad had been banging the friend and she spilled the beans.
When It's ALL Genetic
GiphyHad a kid in 3rd grade who could not focus. All over the place. ADHD for sure, though it's not my job to diagnose. Mom came in for report card. I couldn't get the mom to focus. Every time I'd start talking about something ("So, here are your son's reading grades... Here's how he did in comprehen..." "How about math? How's he doing in math?" I'd try to redirect her, but she'd interrupt me to go onto something else. After a while I thought whatever, handed her the report card, and told her to contact me with any questions.
Bully Bully
Not a teacher, but I had a kid in class, we were about 10 y\o, and he was a bully, hitting people and stuff. The teachers and the principal were being soft with him, trying to make him correct his ways. At the end of the year we had an activity where the principal talked in front of the whole school. The father of the said kid just came up, head-butted the principal, and sent her straight to the hospital.
No Punishment
It would have to be the mother who was a teacher herself, though not at my school. I got a rough draft from a student (who was 16/17) that was 90% copied directly from Wikipedia, hyperlinks and all. I called the mom and explained he would be receiving a zero for the rough draft assignment as a result of plagiarism. She called a conference to defend it because I never explicitly said they couldn't copy and that he should get another chance because it was a rough draft. Never mind the Honor Code each student signs at the beginning of the school year that explicitly laid out plagiarism and the standard consequence of a zero, I guess.
The Best Of The Best
Ive only seen one positive one so let me add another. I teach high school art, and I had one student who wasn't technically advanced but always was smiling and trying his hardest. He was always cracking jokes to his friends, to the point of where his friends would sometimes be annoyed cause they were the corny kind of jokes. But I was always laughing and he never gave up and keep smiling.
For the end of the year, if the kids took home all the artwork and took photos of their parents looking at their work and showed me the photos, they got extra credit. So he brought in photos of his parents looks at his work and oh my god they were hilarious! His mom and dad looking shocked and amazed in one, put on serious faces and hats and looking sternly at his self-portrait, ridiculous gasps and expressions, the whole nine yards. I laughed so hard! It made so much sense that such a fun loving kid had parents like that, that were willing to joke around for his extra credit.
People Who Grew Up Sheltered Share Which Things Most Surprised Them In The Real World
Growing up with strict parents can be a challenge. Having an early curfew, not being allowed to hang out with certain people, getting grounded a lot- it's a tough thing for a kid to go through. Eventually though, those kids grow up and get to experience the real world, without their parents' constant supervision.
u/SCP-MUTO asked: Sheltered kids what happened/surprised you when you went out to the real world?
Missing out on the best holiday all those years.
GiphyPeople who celebrate Halloween aren't all Satan worshippers damned to Hell.
A life-changing realization.
My first week in college, I was hanging with some new friends in someone's dorm room, and I realized I didn't have a curfew. I didn't have someone waiting by the clock for me to get home.
I stayed out all night and then called my grandma the next day to tell her about it. I was so excited. I think that was my first realization that I really was, for all practical purposes, on my own at last.
That's a tough thing to learn late in life.
I had a hard time picking up on sarcasm. I'd try my best to play it cool while being deeply confused. Sex was so demonized in the house I grew up in, I had no context for what was actually appropriate sexually.
I struggled to discern between sexual jokes, flirting and harassment all blended together into one confusing mess. It was not a fun learning curve.
Adulting problems.
GiphyThings go wrong all the time. My oven recently shattered whilst cooking a pizza for no reason.
I just brought all my groceries with my budget and they were mostly oven based. Now f**ked for about 3 weeks.
Amazing.
When I was in college I was an awkward, sweet, little Christian boy who didn't know how to talk to anybody. Imagine my surprise when one of the first people I met, a big guy with a beard and neck tattoos, revealed he had a vagina.
Cool guy, though.
Wait....there aren't?
If you step outside, more likely than not, you aren't going to immediately be kidnapped, tortured, and murdered.
Still keeps me from going outside. Not a great thing to teach a kid.
What a strange thing to experience for the first time.
GiphyThe first violent video game I saw. I had never seen gore, in real life or even in movies, before. I was fresh out of a private Christian school and finally got invited to my first public school friend's house. She and some other guy friends started playing a zombie shooter game. Every time they killed one of the zombies, I saw blood and brains splatter.
I wanted so badly to fit in but my brain couldn't process something so terrible as entertainment. I felt my stomach turn and felt so physically ill I needed to leave the room.
My friend left with me and was extremely understanding. About a decade later, we're still best friends and we love playing shooters together.
Sh*t happens.
I kinda fell apart. Suddenly I could eat what I wanted, when I wanted, go where I wanted, do what I could afford (man, credit cards suck rocks) and no one was looking over my shoulder making sure I did what I was supposed to.
I'm still digging my way out of the hole I made.
Awwww
God, I didn't even have a slight idea of what sex was until I had sex-ed, I didn't know what catcalling was, and to this day I don't get the most obvious dirty jokes. People still awww at me because of that.
Every kid hates seeing that.
Parents actually argue in front of their kids. My parents never did. And honestly just recently figured out that they weren't absolutely perfect and they had their fair share of arguments. But I never saw any of them.
It disgusts me when 2 parents scream and yell at each other in front of their kids. Just a very s****y example.
That's a whole new level of sheltered.
Not that I was really sheltered, but something similar.
Basically, until I was 6, I didn't go to any kindergarten or meet any kids my age. I used to live with my mom, my little sister, aunt, grandpa and his wife, so there was always someone looking after my sister and I. My everyday life was just mostly playing with my sister.
So since I never talked or even met anyone other than my family, entering school was weird. I s**t you not, I didn't know what friends were. Like, I actually didn't know what "Friends" meant. I just thought that they were dumb talking to strangers and getting familiar with them.
Learned that lesson the hard way.
GiphyI literally burned out the motor on an apartment washing machine because I filled it too full and it blew the motor. It set off the fire alarm and the building was evacuated. I did not do my own laundry until I moved out.
Oof.
No one told me anything about being pregnant. No one told me you could get pregnant while on birth control if you take antibiotics. No one told me you can miscarry or that its quite common. Very traumatic. 0/10 do not recommend.
Crazy, right?
That I was a person apart from my parents. As soon as I graduated high school it was "You're an adult now. You have a job. You can do whatever you want." Etc. That really threw me for a loop because I never really thought I had free will.
A nice surprise.
GiphyNo one "persecuted" me for being a Christian. I was always told growing up that people would despise and slander anyone who was a Christian, and that college would be incredibly difficult and I would have to be a "warrior for Christ."
Instead I made secular friends who helped me dismantle my toxic mindset of fear and guilt, a nice Lutheran guy asked me out, and I had a blast sharing my opinions in an environment that encouraged debate and questions, instead of giving the pre-approved non-answers. I'll be starting my next semester in a few weeks and I can't wait.