Bini

The more I read into this, the more I sense a dead-end marriage. I think you've received all the advice anonymous people on the internet can give you. Now it's time to get some real help, someone you can confide in (a professional), and make some hard decisions. Good luck!

I don't see these silly sleep-over games much different from going into a supposed haunted house to see if one can witness a ghost. While, sure, there's people hoping to see an evil entity, I would bet that most people do these things out of amusement and entertainment - I did as a kid.

I could probably come up with a bunch of storylines that would reflect Christian values, or seem to directly reflect the story of Christ and Lucifer. I actually ended up quite enjoying Cinderella the second go around. The soundtrack is most pleasant as well.

I quite like Maleficent but onto topic, I can see where Christians might connect Cinderella to Christianity, though I think many stories can be even if not intended to be so. And yes, did read the article :)

Ahh yes. Natural births are very on trend right now. Really on trend with all my vegan/crunchy mamas. I opted for it first go around but ended up needing cesarean, and you can't undergo c-sec without drugs.

Baptists are a branch of evangelists? Might be getting confused. I have met Baptists and one in particular, was very opinionated, and quite loud about her convictions. This was at a luncheon with mostly Mormons. I thought she was a little brash but I didn't dislike her.

You always have your polar opposites. Pro vacc, anti-vacc, pro-circumcision, anti-circumcision, etc. Ultimately, parents teach what they feel is in the best interest of their kids, whether or not, they're sorely misguided. I haven't ran into anyone that promotes ALL STRANGERS = BAD. I teach my DD about "safe strangers" and "strangers", we also talk about what things should NEVER happen, even with safe strangers.

I think it's good for kids under 12 to see affection, not bedroom affection, but hugs and kisses between loving couples. Not implying that's wgat you meant, just a thought I had upon reading your comment. Still, any affectionate hug/kiss was done AFTER Ms. X taught, so when the studio was in session - she was teaching, period.

Not even that, a peck.

I don't know if this is the cause for how one was raised or not but I came from a family that was loving, however, hugs and kisses weren't bountiful like other families. Public affection was especially rare, even, between my parents. So I grew up feeling similarly, not feeling compelled to hold hands, embrace, or kiss. Even after marriage, I had a tough time with it. But over the years, I have become a lot more receptive to it, and I feel almost like something is missing if I'm not able to show my husband affection while we're out and about doing our thing - whether it's a hug or kiss.

How do you feel about unmarried teachers showing affection for a boyfriend or girlfriend? Is it offensive to you? Would it make a difference if the teacher was showing affection to a spouse? My daughter takes dance and just adores her teacher. Ms. X is a divorced woman with three girls and has been single for awhile. But earlier this year, a mysterious man showed up, and would drop by after she finished teaching. The gossip I heard going around from other dance mothers was appalling. How dare they kiss in front of the girls! Really? They're not climbing and pawing all over each other, he drops in after classes, and they give each other a kiss - mostly it's a peck. I have Ms. X on Facebook and know the two have been dating quite a while now but she had chosen to keep things private. I think some of the mothers are realising this isn't some summer fling, too, especially after Ms. X publicly announced they are engaged :) I am so happy for her, but gees, the gossip and assumptions people have.

I just don't pay much attention to these things. There's so many folks that DON'T contribute their input, and therefore, their feelings are not accounted for. I'm atheist and I get along with my LDS family, friends, and neighbours just fine. Maybe that's because they knew me as a member first, I don't know, but I haven't noticed a difference in treatment at all. As for my view towards Evangelists, I don't know much about them. As long as people are kind and tactful, I tend to get along with them well enough, and if they're not - I zone out and give them little to no fuel to burn.

It's all nonsense to me. I used to be super superstitious but am no longer a believer in the supernatural. Never heard of Charlie Charlie and I don't put any stock into it, just like ouija boards or Bloody Mary.

This is true, too, in my experience. People tend to stick "uptight" and "self-righteous" in there. But whether they are or not, it's still a dig, a dig towards someone who is choosing the road less traveled. I think one of us kids teased my dad about this once, for the very fact, that he is so passionate about Christ and the gospel - could seem uptight and self-righteous to some.

Yeh... I always thought "Molly Mormon" and "Peter Priesthood" were good things, though, used mockingly to describe those that indeed are righteous and unwavering followers of the gospel. I remember in Young Women's, Molly Mormon was a way girls labeled other girls that were seemingly "goody goodies". Just wanted to add that.

This probably misses what the OP wishes to address but I know, from personal experience, that there are LDS who sport BYU attire when in China as an opportunity to bring up the gospel. I've had family that do this when they're in questionable areas.

Tried Cinderella again. Much better from start to finish.

I am interested in the article and will read it soon! As a feminist, I just stand for the right for women to freely choose their path in life, without society shaming. So if a woman chooses motherhood - great! I did after years in nursing - or if a woman chooses career - that's great too! Or if a woman does both - fantastic! I don't believe there's a one size fits all. So, after my breakfast and run, I'll take a read :)

Was a smoker once upon a time. It can be a trying habit to kick. That said, it's possible, but don't let relapses bring you down. It's helpful to surround yourself with support, but if that's not in the cards, make a game plan. There's plentiful quit-smoking resources out there. Even your doctor can help recommend something for you - if Chantix is no longer an option - consider new options. Btw, no LDS is perfect, and most people understand that converts are making lifestyle changes (no coffee/tea, etc.). The WOW was a tough one for me, but I figured it out, eventually :)

The one thing that always bugged me with Church culture, is that so many people believe that continuously putting up with crap and being trod on for the sake of avoiding divorce, is what God intended. Thing is, it takes two to make something work, and if one party sits on their rump or is abusive - you gotta make a choice in what you're willing to live with. Do you stick around, regardless of your emotional and physical well being? Or, do you make the decision to progress, where you are able to grow as an individual and your children, too - in a healthy and safe environment?

The topic of homosexuality never becomes a dead horse around here. From what I understood as an LDS, I agree with Anatess and her thought process, I believe a large majority of people sail in the same boat. Finding attraction of others, regardless of sexual orientation, is not sinful - however - acting upon it when (1) you are married or (2) you choose to engage in homosexual intimacy, then it becomes sin, in the eyes of the Church. So there is a difference.

This is likely way out of the ballpark but I used to envision the second coming as thunder crashing and clouds going grey, causing complete and total chaos, nobody knowing what's happening in the moment. Then a voice speaking, and that voice speaking in whatever language is needed, for the listener to understand. Maybe that voice is speaking instruction? I don't know. The whole thing used to freak me out. Used to.

I'm not sure what to expect second go around but I'm hoping that I can pull off a successful VBAC. Doc won't give me any guarantees at this point, he wants to see how my pregnancy goes, and go from there.

I think the only time religion and politics is well received is when both parties are willing to hear the other side, and not correct or put down the other side. There can't possibly be a civil dialogue if one or both parties are wanting to spout their opinions and spit on each other. In my case, now an ex-Mormon, I tolerate degrees of religious discussion from family and some friends, just out of respect. I will rarely engage, which quickly fizzles the topic out, and just leads to a dead end conversation. I am not interested in debating religion or politics. I am not interested in changing my core beliefs and I am fine with them keeping theirs.

I just don't believe in miracles. I believe something sets a chain of events off, and why it happened is sometimes blatantly obvious, and other times discreet. I also tend to believe that nothing is 100% certain or guaranteed, even if 99.9% of the time the expected outcome is X, there's a percentage chance that it could be Y (the so called 'miracle'). Again, expressing how I feel and not intending to convince anyone, I'm perfectly fine being the minority in this belief.