They Got Grit.. || Two Hot Takes Podcast || Reddit Reactions

[@aduckofsomesort]

Story 3 is insane. How earth are there adults thinking it’s acceptable for these older children to constantly be waking the baby, screaming in her face and feeling up mother while feeding. The youngest is 8 years old? Definitely old enough to know you don’t do those things and the parents of said 8 year old are old enough to know you don’t do those things.

[@davidharshman7645]

Yeah...it was hard not to picture these kids as 3-5 year olds...

[@hilla3353]

If she was talking like this about kids that are younger (3-4) I'd get it. But 12? He's not a child. And the 8 year old should be able to respect boundaries

[@SunDarling369]

OMG i didn't catch that at first, i think i heard it but couldn't grasp it. I can only grasp this behavior coming from 3-6 yr olds but 12!!! 8 is a 3rd grader and 12 is a middle schooler. That is insane behavior for those ages. They need to be taught boundaries

[@sweetmother2406]

As a mom this story horrified me. Nursing a baby or getting them to sleep is a HUGE struggle!

[@twocathome399]

I just want to say when i started listening to this podcast i realized how toxic my relationship was. i found the courage to leave and work on myself for the first time in my life. Thanks THT crew. you guys help out more than you know ❤😅.

[@clafleur1993]

Love this for you ❤

[@julest9182]

im so very happy for you :')

[@olgafernandez8813]

Congratulations 🎉 leaving a toxic relationship is a lot harder than others think. I'm glad you had the grit 😊

[@TwoHotTakes]

I am so so happy for you!! As someone else commenting points out you have some serious grit ❤

[@wildesttdreams]

YASSSSSSSS!!!!!! you should be so proud of yourself!! you are so strong :) i’m wishing you the best in life 🥹💗

[@Ash-lee-lmnop]

On the breastfeeding mom story: I don't understand why people are assuming the worst about her for not being comfortable with kids in her space while breastfeeding. I wasn't comfortable with my own daughter being right in baby's face when i was feeding him. I breastfed my daughter too but it was still uncomfortable for my big kid to be right there. I asked her to give me some space while i fed him because it made me uncomfortable and she was distracting him. She was only 6 but she understood and gave me space. She needs reminders sometimes but its not an issue. New baby is a big adjustment for everyone and breastfeeding is something else to get used to especially your first baby and even the second one in my experience

[@aduckofsomesort]

Yeah I don’t get that. She never said she wanted them banned from being around her every feeding. She does not want them feeling up her or the baby while feeding. That is completely reasonable.

[@TabbyWithMittens]

I think people want to baby the children a bit. It’s weird because sometimes Reddit says to not to baby them, be harsh, etc. but then you have this story where the children and Dad need to learn about personal space but apparently they shouldn’t learn about that according to them? Like fuck off. Doesn’t matter age or relationship, if she’s not comfortable with someone hanging near her body or her baby then it’s her right. Also feeding in public is different then having kids on you like wtf was that connection? 0-0

[@user-my8uf1yh5m]

I didn’t even allow my OWN children to do the things she was mentioning. I need space when I’m feeding, they know and accept that. I expect everyone to be considerate of baby’s sleep and NO TOUCHING OR GOING NEXT TO BABY’S SLEEP SPACE AT ALL The other parents are weird for allowing this and they suck for not supporting the new mom

[@Dogmilk235]

Exactly!! How DARE she want some privacy ..they clearly don’t value her feelings. It’s also WEIRD asf that the husband refuses to have locks on any doors. I would go CRAZY

[@t.ron314]

I feel like the people who were saying shit like that to her don’t respect, have, and/or enforce boundaries

[@bigelowkaryn]

Story 3 made me mad. How is OP wrong for not wanting her boundaries crossed? This is a great opportunity to teach children about respecting bodily consent

[@stephjovi]

its so odd how reddit goes off on her. A 12 year old boy who is not even her bio son stares at her tits? People breastfeeding in public ususally kinda hid their tit and baby under a t shirt. She`s at home she should be comforrtable and have privacy and don´t need to hid under a blanket or t shirt and just feed freely without anyone staring at her. Plus they constantly try to wake up the baby? Feels like they try to annoy the f out of her and get rid of her and the baby.

[@JayayyKayyy]

Some of the comments on insta did not pass the vibe check for this story.

[@bumbledee3346]

yes yes yes exactly!!! also its such a delicate moment too between the mom and the baby, its a bonding moment and all that uncomfortableness from momma can lead to irritation for the baby, cause they sense a lot with breastfeeding skin contact :/ its just all wrong for the children to come and bother them. and to not listen when she asks her boundaries to be respected... wtf is that... i cant imagine how hard she has it atm, with getting stupid responses from reddit too... i think they have some stepmother fantasy where its always guaranteed that the stepmom is a bad person

[@bigelowkaryn]

@@bumbledee3346 It's truly baffling to me that Reddit didn't support her to the extent that she needed. She's not an evil stepmother, but a woman who wants her personal boundaries respected

[@bumbledee3346]

@@bigelowkaryn exactly! it would suck to be in her position right now :/

[@macimartin294]

Every time Morgan says “that’s a big word for Elmo” it catches me off guard and makes me laugh so hard. Love y’all’s humor

[@kpoplover195]

Fr same tho

[@midgi32]

On the breastfeeding mom story, I feel like something nobody has touched on yet is that the kids range up to 12 years old, and I don't think people are thinking about how OLD that is for this behavior. Literally months away from being a teenager. Hits a little different when you say "I don't want this teenager laying their head on my exposed breast."

[@YoYo_Ma]

💯 For me it's even about the breastfeeding stuff...it's the overall behaviour. Kids will be absolute animals if you let them! Don't let them.

[@LilacBadger]

Ik I’m months late lol but omg I was very aware as a mature 12 yr old n definitely knew what intimacy was and how inappropriate it would be (esp as a lil boy to your step mom) to even walk in while a mom was exposed and feeding, let alone get close to her tits. 😒🙅🏻‍♀️

[@lexiblanton3706]

Literally, in 2 years that boy will be in high school! That’s so not okay!

[@haleywillow2812]

story 5- i’ve worked in a shelter for 8 years and OP is 100% correct. we intake 4000 animals a year, proactively try to return strays to their owners, give people anything we possibly can do they can keep their pet instead of surrendering them to us, constantly waive fees, and run under the adopters welcome model. basically everyone who walks in our door is a yes unless they say or do something to convince us otherwise. we might say “this dog isn’t a good fit based on what you’ve told us you’re looking for, but these other three dogs might be. want to meet them?” and we are still constantly at capacity. there ARE good shelters out there, and we’re working so hard to undo the exact mentality described in this story. it’s so frustrating to hear people turning away from shelters because some old ladies wanna hoard animals and play god while deciding if someone is “worthy” of a pet.

[@TwoHotTakes]

Ugh your shelter sounds so so good and magical! We should take you on a tour of shelters to help rehab.. like Gordon Ramsey does for restaurants

[@MariahA_MA]

​@TwoHotTakes I have worked at a shelter and spay/neuter clinic for 5 years. I absolutely love my job, and the team I work with. When I heard the story about the shelter in this video- I had very mixed feelings. I have a feeling that there is likely more about OP's post that she may not be expressing. We have had difficult "potential adopters" that like to try and take advantage of our adoption process. Many people will lie about their living situations, we have to contact their landlords to check the limitations. People will dump outside instead of returning because they want to avoid the embarrassment or they're to lazy to put in the work to return to the shelter. We've had people that have tried to lie about wanting inside cats, but then plan to have them be outside. Which we re against because cats who have been inside don't have the same instincts and tactics that a feral cat has and subjected to not surviving in the wild. We've had people that declaw their animals after they promised not to and the ended up releasing them outside with no defense- thankfully we got this particular cat back in the shelter and readopted to a better home. We also had cats that have been returned to us after they've been declawed that now have medical and behavioral issues because they are in constant pain- because of this weve had to have surgeries to reconstruct and try and "fix" the mess up created from declawing. We've had people bring dogs that do not do well with other dogs to dog parks- this is a huge issue because they're putting not only other dogs/owners at risk but they are putting the dog they adopted from us at most risk. Unfortunately this doesn't always end well and a dog bite can end up in that dog being euthanized. But the dog may have a load of energy, so certain dogs are required to go to homes with fenced in yards. We have had cats and dogs returned to us that are now seniors. Seniors can be very difficult to adopt. Unfortunately some of these situations are the people that do not have a plan. Now that these animals are older, they may face more challenges with being returned to the shelter. I honestly feel sort of bad for the woman at the shelter. The way that OP spoke to her, in my opinion was uncalled for because i do believe she was likely turned away for more than what she is releasing. People have do tend to avoid explaining the whole story as to why they have been turned away. We have had many absolutely great adopters and volunteers throughout the years I've worked at the shelter. Many people who have given me more faith in humanity even with so many hard cases. I am very thankful for all those who choose to adopt, because I wish I could take all these animals home and knowing that I can't I am thankful for those who have a safe environment for these fur babies. ❤ Those who work in shelters generally want to make sure these animals go to good homes. The animals we work with, we worry after they've been adopted but because of an application process of making sure they're going to a safe furever home is incredibly important to us. We want to make sure people have a plan because pets are family.

[@artsyswarley]

@@MariahA_MA You may be one of the good ones. But there are 100% shelters like the one in the story. I've wanted to adopt a dog for ages but got turned away for the dumbest reason. I'm an excellent dog owner, I've had dogs in the past. I've done hours of research. I live in a home we own. I work from home and can be with the dog all day. We are three adults so no worry about kids around the dog. I frequent my local dog park to go on walks already without a dog. We have a massive yard. The one reason they won't let us adopt is because the yard just isn't 100% fenced in. It's like 90% fenced in, but there is a small section that is not. Why would a shelter let a dog suffer living in a cage instead of being with my loving family just because we have 10% of our yard not fenced in??? I get having restrictions and being safe about who you let take home these animals but that's ridiculous!

[@alisawonka8652]

@@MariahA_MA i agree with almost everything you said, and i imagine it’s hard to get to know just random people and believe they will take a good care of a pet. But i was refused adopting a high energy large dog breed because i lived in apartment. I’m not saying it was wrong on their part, because I understand that most people don’t know their dogs breed and their needs. But i was doing my best to ensure them i can provide the dog everything he’d need because i worked from home and had time for him. I ended up buying same breed i tried to adopt from a breeder and since it’s a velcro breed he would be happier if my place was even smaller. He gets plenty of exercise that at home he basically rests almost all the time. In your opinion what would you recommend a person do who can provide mental/physical exercise needed for a dog shelter claims to be high energy but doesn’t live in a house with a fenced in yard?

[@beccalow653]

Before I bought my most recent dog from a breeder, I turned in dozens of applications (maybe even over 100) to shelters and rescue agencies. I never got a reply from any of them. I live on a small family farm w about 25 acres & work from home. I asked someone one day what the problem was & was told my application was “2 good 2 be true & suspiciously perfect” some ppl told me that there was a long list of people waiting to adopt and I just wasn’t high enough on the list. after almost two years, I gave up and bought my dog from a breeder.

[@robinbayes6159]

Story 7: Justin, from a grown adult who was once this 16-year-old with the birthday cake, it means so much to hear that you’re proud of her and she’ll be okay in life because of her strong character. I teared up hearing those words because it’s the affirmation I never had. Even having that “I’ll find a way to do it myself” mentality, it’s still HARD as a kid to celebrate yourself alone. Luckily, I didn’t have a golden child situation (we were all equally un-celebrated) but I was definitely put down by my parents for thinking I was “so big and capable” but whenever I’d get upset with them, it just “proved I was still immature and haven’t grown up after all these years” (last said when I was 30 years old lol) There’s so many comments I doubt you’ll see this, but you’ll never know how much your words meant to me!

[@TwoHotTakes]

I’m so sorry you had to go through that. Thank you for sharing ❤️ just read this to him. We appreciate you being here so much!

[@robinbayes6159]

@@TwoHotTakes omg you guys saw this! I love this show and how much you put into this. Morgan, from one PhD to another, you're that amazing rare combination of book smarts and street smarts that makes you a pleasure to listen to ♥

[@nikhoovie]

Am I the only one who heard the title of the first story and thought the MIL/husband were trying to give the *baby* away? Very glad that was not the case 😅

[@that.ll_do_pig]

This. I was like WTAF 🤨😆

[@7ShadowMaiden7]

Lol no you weren’t alone 🤣

[@BabyBeansBaby]

I believe it's because the word 'it' was supposed to reference the last noun/pronoun, and the last one used was the baby. However, that's not what was intended. I have an English degree from 10 years ago that I no longer use. Take this with a grain of sand. 😂

[@guadalupesanchez9109]

Definitely what I thought as well 😂😂 I was concerned

[@hannahmazzarella8801]

Yes! I was so heated until I heard the story fully 😂

[@hellraisincraisin]

7 minutes in and I’m already screaming over the fact that yet another MIL deserves nothing more than to be laughed at, then ignored.

[@joisie666]

Story 3: as someone whos pregnant and has a 6yo, I am absolutely not going to allow these boundaries to be crossed, FOR MY OWN CHILD. Absolutely lots of bonding time and I'll probably not hide breastfeeding, but I will not be letting my 6yo put his face right at my chest while feeding. Wow.

[@heather9130]

Pregnant with a 2 yr old. Breastfeeding time is mommy and baby time. I'm not really understanding why she doesn't lock herself and the baby in a room somewhere for feedings? Maybe they live in a smaller space and there's nowhere she can escape to. It sounds like she's touched out but with his kids. Mama needs some space! I wouldn't have moved out though. It creates a very "us vs them" mentality and the kids will pick up on that. Is dad never in charge of the newborn? Make him responsible for naps a few times and see how quickly he gets on the older kids for being noisy. EDIT: Okay there's no locks on the doors for understandable reasons. It sounds like mom has nowhere to go but the hotel.

[@kellyjean1554]

@@heather9130 she said the husband doesn’t allow locks to avoid his son locking himself in a room and hurting himself. I was thinking that too though.

[@heather9130]

@@kellyjean1554 Yeah I should really listen to the whole thing before venting in the comments. I think I would barricade myself and baby for some space though. Can you imagine the noise? Kids are chaos and that's okay, but mom needs to be able to get away. That part about the son hitting himself was familiar. My brother with ADHD used to do the same thing. He would stage these mock battles and end up covered in bruises. We still had locks though, we just weren't allowed to lock our doors without checking with mom and dad first. These kids may need more structure.

[@saekubo3795]

Same. My biological kid was trained to not to bother newborn.

[@mkaverage4773]

The people saying that lady hates her step kids are INSANE…. It’s doesn’t really matter if it’s “bonding” … it’s disrupting the baby & makes the mom uncomfortable & full of anxiety. She is not saying they aren’t allowed near the baby or to ever touch her… these are specific things she does not like & tbh are just inconsiderate or rude. First of all.. If someone doesn’t want you around their bare tits, leave, it it doesn’t matter if you think the reason is silly. Example- If you have s3x everyday buck naked with your husband but feel uncomfortable when he sees you in the shower, you’re allowed to tell him to stay out of the bathroom. It doesn’t matter why. If you are uncomfortable with someone seeing your naked body… they need to not look at your naked body. They are literally teaching the older kids that their desires are more important than someone’s else’s bodily autonomy & comfort. Yeah that sounds dramatic, buts it’s the truth. Nvm all the other boundaries they are learning they don’t have to respect. Secondly, waking up a sleeping baby & yelling at a baby is not bonding. They can see & play with the baby at appropriate times in an appropriate tone. She’s not being unreasonable, she has set a few boundaries. THE PEOPLE saying she’s the asshole are insane & probably have horrible brat children who respect no one. 😂😂 I’m so mad!!!

[@that.ll_do_pig]

Exactly how I felt on the thread so I had to stop reading lol

[@BeckyTheBullet]

Thank you! totally agree.. I'm soo frustrated for her.

[@kaleeclaypool6366]

About the navy nuke story, my husband is a navy nuke and I saw that post a few weeks ago. I couldn't imagine calling him stupid in front of my friends for not having read a book recently. He's so smart it baffles me, he (as well as nearly every other navy nuke out there) are also just way too busy to regularly finish books. That post was wild, she's the asshole for sure

[@Mamabear8654]

Not only that... But her seemingly unaware of how she hurt her husband's feelings. I would NEVER say something rude about my husband in front of people.. or at all for that matter. Having that level of disrespect for your husband is so wild. Maybe I'm strange but I think respect is right on the level of love. You don't love someone the way they deserve if you are willing to insult and embarrass them for any reason.

[@GrungeGalactica]

Yea shouldn’t they be glad that he’s not just sitting round reading literature all day while protecting his country?! Not everyone has the time to read and even if you’re able to carve out the time from your day- I’ve a feeling reading wouldn’t be their first priority. Maybe that’s sad, but there are so many other ways to learn/be entertained.

[@MariaRamirez-nt9jo]

Not to mention the nuclear school is one of the hardest schools the DOD has to offer

[@kaleeclaypool6366]

@MariaRamirez-nt9jo exactly, there's a reason why such a small percentage of the navy go through the nuclear training and why even fewer of them make it through the school. It's academically challenging but it's also just a stressful environment, college is way easier and I have no clue where OP got the idea that the nuclear pipeline was easier. Like I could just choose to not go to college the days I didn't want to or if I showed up late I had pretty much no consequences, my husband showed up to classes 3 minutes late once because he caught a stray dog and was trying to make sure it didn't get hit by a car and he was penalized for 2 weeks with extra hours he had to complete as well as cleaning duties. I have no idea how you could watch someone go through navy nuclear training and still think "yea but its not college so he has it easy."

[@BlueStarBurns]

I'm confused about this. Do you not need a science degree to get into this program? How is he not "college educated"

[@carmellollellogram]

I clicked on this so fast, I surprised myself! Nothing perks up a work day like Two Hot Takes 🙌

[@livcamryn8912]

The mom in story 6 said it nicer than I would’ve. My initial response would’ve been “Oh, I didn’t realize I was their grandmother… I was under the impression I wasn’t your mother.”

[@visenya8]

Story 4: It's not just about how much you read but also what you read. Just about anyone can write a book nowadays and reading it won't make you much smarter. Will here is reading technical manuals. I bet the last book Steve read is a self help book by some random Joe who is not even a real writer. Steve's brain will melt if he only tried to read what Will is reading.

[@ancaci]

exactly, i was also wondering when was the last time Steve even looked at a nuclear reactor in person. But snobs do be snobs.

[@meganb6609]

Nukes are supposed to be the nerds of the navy. Of any navy position to call dumb that is the wrong place to start.

[@arielschott5735]

I'm active duty navy on a nuclear reactor ship. Nuclear school is not only one of the hardest schools in the Navy, but it has the highest suicide rate and dropout rate because it is so mentally and physically challenging.... I hope she realizes she is not the smarter one in that relationship 😂

[@Lololol_n0]

The breastfeeding mom story was CRAZY. I was 8 when my first sibling was born. 10 with the second, & 13 with the third. Never ONCE did I even CONSIDER doing ANY of what those step kids are doing???? How do those kids have no idea how inappropriate & careless they’re being?

[@mads1864]

answer is simple: bad parenting from bio mom and dad I work with 6-7 year olds and they’d never do that

[@MarvelousMarrah]

Sounds like they were never taught boundaries, inside voices, or anything regarding to respecting anyone else when sharing a space.. luckily I’m the youngest of my siblings but when my first niece was born I was tiptoeing when she was sleep, I was 14 and knew not to bother a sleeping baby 😂 we couldn’t even walk hard when my mom was baking a cake..

[@Nocturnium]

No way the shelter story comes out THE DAY BEFORE I start my new job at my local animal shelter lmao I love how passionate Justin got, “she does want the animals to die alone 😡”

[@TwoHotTakes]

Awhh congratulations! I'm sure you'll be at a good one and if not now you can change from the inside hehehe

[@sammyzoller8626]

the birthday story hit sooooo hard. my 18th was last month (october) and i didnt get to do anything for it. the only person who did anything was my boyfriend and best friend. we all went out to dinner and had fun, but my parents told me that i couldnt get anything because they didnt have the money. i completely understand, the thing that really got me was that the day after my brother (7 yo) came home with new clothes and toys. I felt heart broken. i also remember having to also plan my 16 th birthday and my cousin made it all about her bc she was pregnant. i relate with op so much and i am sending her my love and support.

[@jane-annarmstrong6562]

If they are 16 now I bet in two years when she is 18 she will be no contact .. I hope

[@aduckofsomesort]

There’s way too many people who think that just because you aren’t using some thing 24/7 means that they have the right to just take it as their own. And it’s definitely not extreme to move into your own RV to prevent it from being stolen.

[@Heather_Duke]

For the pet shelter story, it's kind of even worse when you look at the comments and she apparently had a list of people she gave of people who could take the cat if something happened to her. She even had vets vouching for these people.

[@minervaramirez7946]

I feel for her, i have the same issue on my city with shelters they wont let me adopt because i am an inmigrant so i represent "high risk of abandonment and maybe tomorrow i willl loose my job and not be able to feed the cat" (really sweet vibes on there) and also one shelter once decline my adoption aplication because when i was asked what food i would buy to the cat i didnt reply with the specific brand that shelter buy that is actually really really extremely expensive and then you see the owner of the shelter complaining about being over capacity.

[@Heather_Duke]

@@minervaramirez7946 The part about them declining your application because the cat food you'd buy is so strange. As someone with pets (two dogs and three cats), I tested out a few different brands of dog and cat foods to see which they liked best. So long as the cat is happy, healthy, and eating shouldn't that be a good thing?

[@juliannaevierivera]

@@minervaramirez7946that’s just straight up xenophobia i’m sorry that happened :/

[@minervaramirez7946]

@@juliannaevierivera And funny or sadly enough that was the first time i experience Xenophobia (i would like to clarify I don't live in the US just in case) but it was crazy because i show them how that was not my first pet not even here i was looking to get a brother for my Cat so he has someone to play, up to this day i still looking but keep getting rejected because as an immigrant they always said "i will leave and abandon my pets" like ¿? I would rather die than do that i don't even go out of the house for long periods of time just so my cay its not alone.

[@Federica_in_the_UK]

⁠​⁠@@minervaramirez7946 I just commented below the same experience of trying to adopt as a foreigner. When it happened I was too young to speak up like OP, I was truly heartbroken

[@Heather_the_Feather]

Story number 7 broke my heart! They deserve better parents! Nobody should feel forgotten or unloved, especially on their birthday ❤️ I wish I could throw them a party!

[@ASMR_MJ]

I just want to say Justin has been showing out these last few videos I’m so glad he’s back to his usual self I’m so glad he’s no longer being the devils advocate for men who have no reason to be excused

[@brittneyriley2648]

lol tea !

[@TwoHotTakes]

literally died when editing and I ask 'can you tell who's got the grit in this one' and he says 'well not the guy..' hahaha

[@ASMR_MJ]

@@TwoHotTakes lmao we missed our no excuses just facts Justin 😭💗 yall killed it this episode

[@merpilsen1842]

I was feeling bad for Morgan because a couple of episodes ago Justin was kinda off and people including me felt different about him, but maybe he was going through something, and I wanted to trust Morgan’s intuition in men lol

[@BillieBob0218]

There was a solid 10 seconds where I thought OP was saying husband and MIL were trying to get rid of the BABY and not the rv💀 5:04 I had to pause cuz I was laughing so hard at myself

[@NoLOVEinFEAR333]

honestly, same lol

[@shynalckhfsgjx4293]

Same I'm like why did OP call the baby an it lol

[@Shortypants403]

Me too!

[@ceciliaalexander8881]

OMG that's all I'm thinking about now 😂 like, yes mom you hold your ground! Lmao

[@unstoppabledoris]

I am filling CARROT CAKE muffins up to bake as Morgan mentions how happy it made her to know alot of people tried the recipe

[@LPSRed]

yes! made some for a little friend dinner the other night & it was devoured!!

[@Kyamusuku]

We need a THT bingo card with everyone’s catch phrases inside jokes and definitely the word “enmeshment”

[@l.g.2888]

😂😂😂 There needs to be a tile for Morgan reciting sayings too.

[@kuehnerthanyou3409]

"COMMUNICATE!!!"

[@user-qx3nx6wj2e]

“THERAPY”

[@berryking8683]

For the birthday story, I have been a victim of this same abuse as a first child. My mom is a narcissistic and neglectful person, my step dad keeps his head down, and my little brother is a golden child. I'm 17 and deeply traumatized and hurt from this abuse and I hate when people say I'm "so mature', because I would trade my maturity and independence for having a loving mom and dad. A lot of people who have faced this abuse are not ready for the real world, because we have no idea what healthy relationships look like, or how to interact with people. This isn't a critique of what was said by you guys, but these kinds of parents cause a lot of mental issues in their children through their neglect. A lot of these parents drive their kids to kill themselves and then they act like the victim. This isn't something that should be praised when it comes to neglected kids, because the constant affirmation of how "strong and independent" we are is a survival instinct. Just food for thought.

[@kuehnerthanyou3409]

I wanted to respond seeing as I was also a deeply traumatized teenager that was called "so mature and grown up" and reassure you that even though youve gone through hell and had to grow up fast, it does get better once youre an adult and you can redo a lot of that childhood stuff that was ripped from you. I'm turning 25 in 2 weeks and Ive been working on healing my inner child for a long time, and mentally I feel younger than I am which is a nice change from my childhood. Once youre able to get out and maybe limit contact with your mom, it will feel worlds better to be free to take care of yourself. Found family is a wonderful thing as well. I'm really sorry about your situation, and I hope it gets easier for you soon. I wish you all the best in the future! 💜

[@AniaSchutzengel]

Just looked at the breastfeeding story on Reddit and one of OP's comments you didn't get to said that her husband will come up to her while breastfeeding making sucking noises and saying "my turn next" and he still doesn't get what the problem is or why she feels sexualized all the time??

[@TwoHotTakes]

OMG NOOOOO. GET THIS WOMAN A LOCK ASAP

[@TwoHotTakes]

I’m so mad I missed that one ughgh

[@BrujaBarbie]

Eww. Divorce. He’s the problem for sure.

[@wendyWERKKZ]

Ew ! I know she said he’s only like this with the kids about this subject and is “big on boundaries” in other areas but it really sounds like with this he has no respect for her being a new mom to a newborn . I feel so bad for her and the ignorant / negative feedback she’s getting. I hope she sticks to her boundaries

[@jordanleighwheatley]

To kill a mockingbird is an American classic for a reason and someone of any background could absolutely choose it as a favorite

[@bethleber6048]

Story 3 is wild. I've worked with kids for years. I've seen FOUR year olds know how to be obedient. The total lack of obedience comes from bad parenting. As a mother, I would be furious if my husband was okay with his kids making my baby miserable no matter how much I cared about them. That's a baby.

[@thepolyneer6242]

For the story with the stepmom with the new baby, I’m so mad for her. I recently had a baby and also have an 8 year old. The 8 year old was loud a couple times on accident, but quickly figured out to quiet down when the baby is sleeping. He was not interested in being near the baby while I was breast feeding, and he’s my biological child. That is beyond weird.

[@kylafish]

the birthday party story made me CRY, especially when morgan said she just wanted to be celebrated😭😭

[@midgi32]

I work at an animal shelter and we have that same question on our applications but that answer would be more than satisfactory! I'm in shock that they would turn them away over that. My shelter is working our asses off having events and promos to get our animals adopted because us and all the shelters around here are so full. Insane.

[@bigelowkaryn]

Story 8 is kind of hilarious to me. His wife quoted an Eminem lyric and now he’s rethinking his whole life 😅😂

[@AmandaFrank21]

Came here to say this😂😂😂

[@bigelowkaryn]

@@AmandaFrank21 I feel like that reference went over a lot of people’s heads 😂

[@amandakay719]

I was hoping somebody else caught this 😂

[@kyracroft751]

I missed it 😅 what was the lyric. That lady is awesome lol

[@bigelowkaryn]

@@kyracroft751 In Em’s diss track called “Kill Shot” he says “I rather be 80 year old me than 20 year old you” 😂

[@carlyolsen]

This RV story will have my blood boiling all day until there’s a resolution

[@kellyjean1554]

Story 3, that woman is going through it. I couldn’t imagine having multiple kids and a newborn at the same time. People being so judgey in the comments make me so sad for her. People do breastfeed in public all the time and some people wear a cover because it’s not comfortable for them. When I was breastfeeding, I’d whip a tit out like I were on National Geographic no matter where I was, but not everyone’s that comfortable. Plus, there are so many people who will judge and stare at you for breastfeeding in public too, so for people to act like she’s weird for not wanting her other kids to hang off her while she’s exposed is so stupid. I hope her husband wakes up and starts supporting her because if there’s one thing I learned from breastfeeding, it’s that stress will 100% kill your milk supply. There would be a lot of resentment built up if she were to be forced to quit breastfeeding early because she’s so stressed out she can’t make any milk.

[@Meldog1851]

Yeah, I was definitely like you and I totally think the kid’s behavior while she’s nursing is normal and sweet. HOWEVER, SHE’s not comfortable with it, she set a boundary, she’s being disrespected, her feelings are totally valid. Perhaps she’d be more relaxed about what the kids were doing while she was nursing if she wasn’t already trying to manage all their other bad behaviors.

[@jackiel94171]

Disagree with meldog here; 8, 11 & 12 are way too old for it to be sweet or cute. These children aren't toddlers, yet they behave like them. Yes, their interest in/wanting to be around the baby is sweet, but the complete lack of respect and empathy for the postpartum MOTHER is not appropriate, which their father isn't guiding them on! Shouting and waking the baby, not listening or caring about how it affects mum and baby? Dad needs to explain newborns are DELICATE and precious!! Which honestly should go without saying if they were taught to have more kindness, gratitude and respect. Mum DEFINITELY has every right to her very reasonable boundaries. She doesn't want to have her stepchildren gawking at her naked breast! They're pre-pubescent/pubescent children ffs, they don't need to be staring at their stepmother's tits. Disturbing mum and baby during breastfeeding is a BIG no-no. I hope this mumma is ok, that's so much stress with a partner who is behaving like an unsupportive asshole. Hope she finds this vid and sees all these comments, Reddit let her down on this one for sure. NTA 🫂❤️

[@Meldog1851]

@@jackiel94171 I think our opinions on the matter are closer than you think, although your vulgarity betrays you. It’s most likely these innocent children are not seeing it as “staring at their stepmother’s tits” but more “visiting their sibling while they eat.” It’s something breastfeeding women have been fighting for for a long time. Breastfeeding is normal and natural. This mom is not comfortable with an audience, and that’s OK. She deserves to have her boundaries respected and have a partner that supports her in that, along with reinforcing that the kids shouldn’t be screaming at or around the infant, or doing anything else that stresses her out or disrespects her.

[@jackiel94171]

Again, assuming they are developmentally typical, the ages of 8-12 are when kids go through puberty, and as much as they could be wanting to 'visit whilst they're eating', they equally could be placing their sexual curiosity here in a way that is misguided. Neither of us can know, but it IS naïve to pretend that they should have the same level of ignorance/lack of awareness as a young child. They are nearing high school age, they have spoken with peers about 'boobies' at school. If you think they haven't, you're in denial about how puberty works.

[@jackiel94171]

Point is, it's not sweet or cute because the breastfeeding mother is uncomfortable.

[@noprogressionisregression6854]

So what I noticed is so many of these are about boundaries. The boundary regarding the woman and the rv, the boundary regarding the new mother, etcetera. Story 3: I am baffled that the step kids don't seem to have any boundaries! I mean the fact that their dad isn't protecting his new baby and the mother is frustrating. I imagine this is such an important bonding time and I think the mother is doing the right thing. Also, it's just another example of a man not stepping up. Can people really need to learn to put their own experiences to the side when commenting. Some of the comments directed at her were incredibly inappropriate.

[@blackroseinbloom]

Even the bio mom like she’s had three kids, she has to have known of this behavior with the 2nd and 3rd kids.

[@jaceylehneis1921]

Story 7: My 16th birthday is in 4 days now and I’m throwing a bonfire for it on my backyard, and feeling like I have to provide for my birthday would be awful. I’m so happy she has that hardworking trait bcs God knows I don’t have much of it. I am so happy you messaged her that I KNOW that will make her day I hope everything goes well!

[@jaszbolis]

I was a foster dog mom for 8 months and got all of my pups adopted ❤ i still check in with the adopters to see how the babes are doing. One of the dogs I actually found one late night roaming in the road. I took her in and brought her to the shelter. Just a few weeks later they called and asked if I would foster. I found her an amazing home and she lives a great life in a mansion now. Finally, I adopted the tripod Yorkie who was my medical foster. I couldn't give him up!

[@hhill_03]

Story 5! Omfg a similar thing happened to me, my mom was looking to get me a kitten for my new place and we got denied by two shelters cause “I didn’t have enough experience with cats”… I’ve had a cat my entire life, thankfully we found a kitten that was a rescued by a family friend who found my little guy in an abandoned barn

[@bosslady88]

Story 3; coming from a mother of 2, that breastfed for almost 2 consecutive years, I would never have had any other children (especially 8, 11, & 12) literally inches away from my breast. Even while nursing, it can b so awkward depending on who's around u... Why try to excuse these kids from invading personal space, whether they're her stepkids, or not? There's plenty of time for bonding and being invasive with their newborn sibling later!

[@sveta_rimsh]

Yeah for sure! They can watch sometimes ONLY if the mom allows and is okay with that.

[@lhochstetler1987]

Im in a situation like the SIL first story and I live with my grandparents right now. They give me so much space. Its definitely not long term but got me out of the bad situation and with the grief, its really nice to have people around.

[@coraladmidin9382]

YESSSS. It's Thursday! So excited. You guys make my workday so much more tolerable.

[@sveta_rimsh]

Story 3: I’m so with the woman and her newborn. It was almost unbearable to put a newborn to sleep (in my case), and I was pissed all the time when someone in the house woke her up accidentally. And here they are doing it deliberately! And interfering with breastfeeding is also not a good idea, it’s such a bonding moment! Moreover, the new mom might be already overwhelmed with the constant attention to the newborn. It’s really fucking hard as it is!

[@hannahm.6394]

Just woke up from surgery so I’ll be watching this while I wait on my food being delivered and to be released ☺️

[@TwoHotTakes]

Ayyy. Rest up and hope you feel better ❤️

[@catT5236]

Hope you're doing ok. I've had a few surgeries for different things, best advice I can give you (which I really wish someone had told me) is 1) have a shower at the hospital before you go because you want to make sure you can safely whilst there's still hospital staff around to help just in case; 2) whoever is picking you up tell them to bring a pillow/cushion seatbelts dig in on places you didn't even realise & having a cushion to protect the surgery site is helpful; 3) ask for supplies to clean your dressing & surgery site.

[@Loveofmisery]

I hope you’re doing well now! I just found this podcast this morning whilst recovering from surgery I had on the 5th! Good luck to us both!

[@redstar1994ls]

Story 4: even if OP apologizes, I don't think the husband will want to hangout with that so call "friends".I understand the husband to be in that room when everybody even your partner laughing 😢 they are bullies.

[@KylaFuller]

Hearing these new moms have to fight for respect from their partners is really discouraging. I want step kids and only plan on having one child myself. I expect my boundaries to be respected. I especially expect my boundaries to be enforced by my partner to everybody.

[@kayceeburris]

Story 8: Morgan, your take on this one is so weird to me 😂 you've suggested divorce over less, and now you're saying hopeless romantic? The guy went and got a whole girlfriend, and now that he's regretful and realized what he's done, you think his wife should forgive him!? He cheated on her, she deserves better than a man who decided he was curious about someone else...

[@TwoHotTakes]

ya know sometimes even the worst people pull at ya heart strings 😂🤦‍♀

[@Mamabear8654]

I'd never forgive a cheater and I don't think anyone else should either. I seriously think finding a person capable of a healthy relationship is very difficult and most of the population needs serious therapy before they have any business having any relationship 😂 I told my husband if anything ever happens I won't be dating again. I will not expose myself to the absolute bullshit out there😂

[@vindifference]

I relate to where Morgan's heart was, I just think it has to remain as a permanent life lesson for OP. I don't think the ex-wife should forgive him, but based on his admissions I do hope that they can co-parent amicably. He has to accept his mistake and the consequences of it, including the sorrow, but I do hope that he betters himself to the point where he can find some other happy relationship, and at the very least be a good father. If he does it well, his ex won't love him as a husband, but at least they could still care and respect each other as a team for their daughters.

[@kikihyde2299]

He said he was a coward and didn't break things off with his wife like he should have, and he's being a coward with his new girlfriend. He didn't actually learn anything from the experience. How long until he cheats on the girlfriend as a way to get her to do his dirty work for him? He's not romantic, he hit the nail on the head the first time. He's a coward. The wife should absolutely move forward with divorce proceedings. She deserves everything.

[@stepha_F]

1:08:54 Yeah shelters suck sometimes. When my Rotti got out they did NOT call me even though my number was in the microchip. My mom found him online in the shelter b/c they posted a video of the dogs that were about to be put down. The shelter’s excuse for not calling was that he was found in an area different to the area registered on the microchip! We had just move, but what if he had been stolen, taken away and then got out!? They charged us over $350 for him back or he would be put down in 2 days😤

[@blackroseinbloom]

Nah I would’ve called the cops and said they were actively threatening to kill the pup they denied giving back per policy. As shitty as it sounds, it’s theft of property. Or alternatively, go in and ask to confirm the pup is mine then once in my arms have a friend outside cause a distraction to get away. Can’t call it stealing if I’m taking what’s legally mine.

[@TwoHotTakes]

WHAT THE F!!! That's why the chips are there bruh So happy you got him back.

[@stepha_F]

@@blackroseinbloom Apparently they’re not legally obligated to call; it’s more of a suggestion/option🙄They also gave us a fee b/c he was dangerous(tried to bite the officer that used a catch pole on him). He had gotten out once before and a dog groomer scanned him and called us, no catch pole so no aggression, some of the officers are just weenies in my area. I’ve even caught a bulldog by snatching him by the collar while an officer was running down the sidewalk after him, catch pole in hand.

[@blackroseinbloom]

@@stepha_F okay, that place sounds extra sketchy now. I’d report them as many times as needed to get them shut down. As much as I never want shelters to close, a good reason is them killing innocent pups for getting lost and their families never knowing what happened in the end.

[@perzephone7482]

Story 3 is insane. As a mother I didn't want anybody around me for first few months. I wanted only my time with my baby. Those kids doesn't know boundaries. Dad needs to step in and be on mother side. She's 100% right

[@morganstormwolf]

I’m a newer listener and I love having story time weekly with you guys. Me and my 3 dogs (Meeko,Cosmo,Buddy) cuddle up and listen to the stories. You are now part of our weekly routine😊

[@puggs_2128]

On Story 4, my grandpa never did any kind of schooling beyond high school, but he LOVES to read. Neither education nor intelligence have anything to do with the ability to read books or enjoy them. And To Kill a Mockingbird is a great choice of favorite book. The friends and wife all suck.

[@lindsaygage9420]

Take a shot every time Morgan and Justin say “100%” 😂💗

[@phenomenalwoman6111]

Story 3: put locks on the door & set boundaries. Have the mother keep her kids a few extra day to give the new mom a little solitude for a few days. Really tho, it would be best for her to go to her mom's house & be taken care of/get some rest, cuz ain't nobody else in that house giving her love & care right now.

[@jessinex1]

As soon as you said the pupper must have had his ears cut off as a puppy, I burst into tears. Nooooo how can that happen. How can someone do that. 😭😭😭

[@TwoHotTakes]

just so fucked up. He was the nicest guy too ugh

[@Chelsea_Mom]

Justin: “I’d move me and the kid in the car!” 🤣

[@megantiffany]

We have a shelter nearby who will give 24 hours to the animals brought in before euthanization. The amount of times a local has lost their animal, saw the animal on the shelter’s page and called for confirmation of pickup, then upon arrival found out that MINUTES before it was euthanized, is astounding. I understand having an adoption process 100% but some shelters truly infuriate me with these situations. I wish I could help every animal out there. Also, I know not ALL shelters are like this and there are so many good people who go above and beyond for these animals and those people are angels and I am beyond grateful for them.

[@puplife7939]

Story2: my sister and I deal with this with my mom and our oldest sister. Our oldest sister is always in a "pinch" and my mom always give her money then can't pay for gas, phone, utilities etc. So she calls my other sister and I to give her the money to pay her bills. I no longer give a penny, it's so hard sometimes, but I need to stick to boundaries.

[@that.ll_do_pig]

I think you may have deleted your other comment about the yelling? Well, I just wanted to say that I'm the same way. I don't think people really understand that some people just have a naturally loud or booming voice. When I try to talk at a lower decibel for awhile, it physically hurts my chest because I'm holding in so much air. Maybe I need to do some breath work to be more naturally quiet but FFS, adhd already feels like a constant battle with my own mind and body, I don't want to add another thing to be constantly mindful of. 🤪

[@puplife7939]

@Da_Bean_Machine I did so many people don't understand and I just didn't emotionally want to deal with any internet hate today lol. But yes it does physically hurt after doing it for awhile which is another reason that lead to me just ending relationships with those that didn't have any grace for me. Everyone wants to be inclusive but God forbid someone is accidentally speaks loudly

[@BabyNazarath]

Someone please throw that girl an amazing sweet 16th birthday party 😢 please!!

[@gnocchipr1nc3ss]

LOVING Justin’s energy on the shelter story. Totally agree with him but it’s so funny the way he describes everything lol

[@eleanors.5398]

Being a nuclear submarine operator for the royal navy has been proven to be the harder test in the word. Will is exteremely smart, he just isn't into reading

[@YouAreBeautiful1119]

Yayy!! So glad this came out in time to listen at work. ☺️ I love your guys’ videos soo much.

[@samijohnson9004]

Thank you for your videos! Morgan and everybody else you all are amazing!

[@TwoHotTakes]

Thank you for being here ❤️

[@beccaquesnel2806]

honestly, the best response for the woman calling her husband uneducated is just hitting play on that Jubilee video about ranking intelligence with the military guy and the girl who is super full of herself with the Ph.D.- please someone tell me they know what I'm talking about

[@Mia-ik2tc]

That was a very good video

[@BrittianyPerkins1]

Story 4: ugh the whole time I was dying for them use the word SNOB for this story lmao probably what Justin was trying to think of

[@kellyhubbard3745]

Having a newborn and breastfeeding can be so overwhelming on its own. It’s so easy to feel touched out just from your newborn alone. I exclusively pumped for my 2nd. My 1st was 2 1/2 and early on we talked about when I’m pumping you can’t climb on me. She understood what that meant and would leave me/my pump alone during those times. Now because she was young I would usually set her up with a snack and a distraction, but at that age that’s expected. Those kids are all old enough to understand that people need privacy sometimes and not to cross that boundary. The dad should be standing up for his wife and teaching these kids boundaries and respect.

[@MinicManor]

I’m so serious, justin MADE this episode for me. Had me crying more than once. What a great guy, really.

[@Clownbunnycosplay]

3: I remember being around eight, and my cousin was a baby, I was super excited and allowed to wake up / get her when she was done with her naps, and it made me the happiest, I never disturbed her when she was asleep,

[@sveta_rimsh]

Yeah! That’s something an 8 year old can understand for sure. My daughter is almost 4, we got the hamster recently, and she totally understands it’s not okay to wake the hamster up, or make loud noises around it, because that might scare it

[@2trickyvicky]

My husband and i love this podcast. It's like a good gossip but healthy. If we're having a bad day we can listen to some dramatic stories and learn something from it

[@Apollo.paul15]

9:52 I would lose my mind, I can't imagine someone trying to give away my things no matter what it is

[@adiegrass1616]

Story 5: I literally got rejected by multiple shelters simply because at the time I was 20, not 21. I financially support myself, share an apartment with an amazing group of cat lovers and grew up with multiple cats. I wasn’t trying to get a young kitten, a super senior or a cat with special needs who needed a lot of time and dedication, just a 3-7 year old cat that could keep me company. I had references to my experiences with cats and even asked my mom to put her name down as the secondary adopter. Nope! Denied! I eventually got my beautiful kitty who I love so much but I’m disappointed that those other shelters couldn’t look past my age. Edit to add: Greenhill Animal Shelter in Eugene OR (where I got my wonderful cat) currently has 60 cats of all ages, sizes and abilities who need loving homes!!

[@caseydixon2001]

This is in response to the “well-read story” I 30F am a trade school girlie. I’m an industrial electrician, and my bf 26M is an attorney. He is one of 6 children and EVERYONE in his family is a doctor, dentist, or nurse. So all extremely well-educated. He knows that I’m insecure about not having a higher education and he is ENAMORED by the work that i do. When i talk about things i work on or when i do handy things around the house (we joke that I’m the handyman and he’s our reference material), he loves it. I’ve caught him telling people how impressive my job is. I can’t even imagine being the guy in this story. You can have a doctorate and appreciate other types of intelligence.

[@kaitfedro3302]

Story 3: You are allowed to have boundaries about who sees and touches your body. You are allowed to have boundaries, even with children. You are allowed to have boundaries, even with your OWN children. Nobody is entitled to being in your space and touching your body without your consent. How anyone is accusing OP of not liking her stepchildren because she is enforcing reasonable boundaries is beyond me.

[@ashleyduckworthyt3224]

It’s snowing 🌨️ outside and I have my cozy clothes on while I work from home and tune in for the grit ❤

[@RayvenLunaNite]

As an adult with ADHD, don't fret. Find something you can focus on that will also bring you Zen. I found it in The Sims. Designing people and homes, living another life and story, it's a great coping tool. Also helps me with my concentration. Love you Morgan

[@abbie_joan]

awee cool!! my Zen has always been baking but The Sims sounds fun too!! kinda want to try it now

[@diamcole]

@@abbie_joan It's so much fun haha! Prepared to get sucked in 😆

[@RayvenLunaNite]

​there are so many packs and add ons, i have a werewolf and vampire sim living together. Whoo boy, not easy.

[@cydl4854]

Sims is my destress and escape from reality. It's nice when life becomes overwhelming to get sucked into a world where you have control. 10/10 definitely recommend. PS baking is also really nice

[@RayvenLunaNite]

@@cydl4854 I get baked and play sims (and have a mod so my sims can get baked, too)

[@njc1304]

I love when Morgan says "borrow" instead of lend!!! 🥰

[@KatieMH]

Story 4: My Dad was a Navy Nuke!! He described it as the second hardest program in the Navy after the Seal!! The standards to get into the program is super high and they take the equivalent of 4 years of college and do it in like a Year!!! Plus they have to do the physical stuff on top of that!!

[@kir32]

The story about the shelter has me so sad for the animals there, cats, especially SENIOR cats, have such a difficult time getting homes. All my kitties were adopted as seniors, and the shelter people were so kind and excited for the kitties to find homes. I definitely didn't have to answer any questions like op, but her answer is completely reasonable.

[@kristinaerickson2353]

I dealt with a dog rescue like that. They came up with any reason to deny an application for a dog. Went through another rescue and was approved immediately. I dont mind them having standards thats a good thing. But, some of these people are insane.

[@adamtucker669]

I had a therapist in 98, when I was 12/13. And I was never blown up.

[@noorahsaleh]

Story 7 I am even more mad/sad for that girl, turning 16!! That’s a special birthday she shouldn’t be celebrating her sweet 16 alone or throwing her self that party!!!

[@CaffeineIVstat]

Re: pet adoptions from shelters. We were told because I’m a wheelchair user I wouldn’t be able to adopt at a lot of shelters. I’m also in Los Angeles.

[@alleyfox9917]

I remember growing up we had a dog that had to be rehomed due to an issue. The shelter we adopt a dog from stepped in and told us per our contract with the shelter when we adopted the dog we had two options. Option one was to return the dog to the shelter where they would put the dog down. Option two was that we had to put the dog down ourselves (what ended up happening). We explained we had a new home with a family member, for the dog to live with on 10 acres of secluded property. The shelter said that if we are rehomed the dog, they would take us to court for ownership of the dog. The shelter I’m referring to was marketed as a no kill shelter as well.

[@bigelowkaryn]

So if I’m understanding correct, they preferred the dog to die than to have a new home?

[@Hawther]

The rescue we got our puppy from asked the question about who would take your dog if you became unable to (disability, death) but they told us that was to help make sure people have had the conversation vs being an exclusion criteria. Agree with the commenter that said a lot of the shelters/rescues seem to be animal hoarding that call themselves a shelter to avoid code enforcement coming after them.

[@moniquecruz7754]

Story 3: NOT AN ASSHOLE! It’s super uncomfortable to have kid right next to you while nursing. Not only that but a 12 year old??! That’s a 7th grader!!! That was my age when my mom had my sister and I never bothered her when she breast fed my sister. That’s just weird.

[@that.ll_do_pig]

Exactly. People trying to make her feel bad and acting like a 12 year old could never be doing it for anything but sweet innocent reasons...no.

[@hcf4kd1992]

​@@that.ll_do_pigWhat other reasons are you implying

[@PandaT3]

Yay!!🎉❤ was looking for something to watch coming back from lunch and then this video popped up!! Thank you Morgan and Justin 🙌

[@shuuzo]

God I read they got grits and I was like wow I haven't had grits in years! And then realized that it wasn't about the food LOL 😭 anyways thanks for the upload as always hehe 🥳

[@sharaythornton5360]

Story 7 is sadly relatable. My mom locked me in the house for my 16th birthday. I can’t remember a single time she threw me a birthday party. Every year after that I have had horrible anxiety for the month leading up to my birthday. (I’ve referred to it as my birthday trauma lol) Just turned 31 on the 20th, and I have not had a single good birthday since my 16th. Even when I tried to throw one for myself. Next year will be completely different, I refuse to be around people who are okay with hurting me on a day that should be for celebrating me.

[@Lovelybug777]

In story 3! She hates her step kids you can tell. Because she wants to bond with her newborn, and wants to breast-feed him peace. How dare she get upset they wake up a sleeping baby. You hear how dumb that sounds??? Because it is! 😂 she just wants her time with her baby! And she needs damn space!! Shot we need space from our own kids! That doesn’t mean you don’t love them! She just had a baby!! Her body went through something traumatic! Let her heal! Let her take care of her baby In peace! You can teach boundaries! I can sing time left on their baby siblings! Baby is eating! Right now! Not right now, baby is sleeping, do you want me to wake you up when you sleep! But when baby is calm, ok let’s talk to the baby quietly, ok baby is up and good, you can play only nicely! JC!! 😂

[@memorizeh3o394]

Morgan, I love this podcast so much. y'all really know how to pick these stories cause I just yelled 8 individual thinkpieces to myself for the 8 stories lmao. keep up the good work!

[@FantazomiXroma]

The commenters on breastfeeding post weirds me out. It feels misogynistic and in the same vein as saying women are not permitted bodily autonomy and boundaries. That she is expected to share her energy, time, space, and body. These kids need to learn about consent and respect, and apparently so do their bio parents….

[@alisawonka8652]

The shelter story is ridiculous. I adopted my cat in 2013 in VA, the only question i was asked was if you go back home (i wasn’t born in US and lived here for a year only at that point) what would i do with him and i said i’d take him with me. I took him home a couple days later. I walked in looking for a kitten and left with a 5 year old boy, renamed him Shady and he lived with me in 5 different states and even more places until he passed 3 years ago. I was devastated. I didn’t know how to live without a pet (i know this is not healthy but i loved him more than anything) but couldn’t get a cat because Shady had my heart, so i decided on a dog breed i wanted and started looking everywhere, all shelters refused me for not having a home with a huge yard, 6ft tall fence etc, so i eventually bought a puppy from a breeder with a contract that states i would give him back to her in case I can’t take care of him anymore. I lived in apartment at the time and this dog couldn’t care less, because of his breed he could live in a closet with me if he needed to since he is the definition of velcro All that said I understand that shelter have to be picky, but i think at the very least you could schedule an interview with people interested in adopting and get a tiny idea of how people are, visit home or something like that but to refuse adoption for that answer is just plain stupid.

[@IsabelRodriguez-we7wm]

Yay just finished last weeks episode now for this one❤️❤️❤️

[@haileypearl7319]

I have a three week old right now too and a six year old (both my biological sons). My six year old (two years younger than the youngest step kid in this story), understands he can’t talk loud to his baby brother, that he can’t be all over me and all up in mine and the baby’s personal space when I’m breastfeeding him, that he can’t wake his brother up when he’s asleep no matter how cute he is and huggable he looks, and just basically understands everything these kids and dad DON’T seem to understand. Like these people need to learn to respect boundaries and learn about personal space and that when someone says “no” about something involving their own body that it means “NO”!

[@olybrown3427]

Perfect timing! Right when I’m about to start my finals 6 page paper

[@nessabug9874]

With the morning I had I needed this upload!!! Thanks guys!!

[@gavinsnapdragon]

Story 3: It’s one thing for the kids to be curious and get in your personal space because they are excited. I can picture my 7 y/o cousin doing something like that. But once they were told to stop, that should’ve been the end of it. Some people may be alright with kids all up in their personal space while breastfeeding, but most people are not. It’s completely reasonable for OP to ask them to stop, even if they weren’t intentionally being malicious. They obviously don’t view OP as an authority figure and the dad is just perpetuating their disrespect. All that being said, I may possibly understand this for an 8 year old, but even that’s a stretch. But TWELVE?? They are way too grown. The situation is just a whole mess. Postpartum moms with newborns are under enough stress AS IS. I would lose my mind if I had to deal with these kids.

[@genevieveprochaska6770]

Story 3: no one recognizing that this woman is a first time mom to a 3 week old! She is postpartum, new to nursing, still physically/mentally/emotionally healing, establishing nursing and a circadian rhythm for the baby, very much in the fourth trimester. Give her space! The kids are certainly old enough for a conversation about respecting boundaries and recognizing the situational need for quiet.

[@genevieveprochaska6770]

Also, if Morgan sees this: you're beautiful.

[@thedatabase677]

Story 4 has me so livid. I'm a reader, but I despise people who think that people who don't read are somehow lesser. In this day and age, it is a hobby. Some people enjoy it, others don't. Some can make time for it, for others there are other things that take priority. What someone does for fun in their spare time doesn't automatically make them better or worse than the people around them.

[@GigiGravesXX]

You guys have me crying , you're going to make amazing parents if you choose to.

[@brunellayanezcamino9117]

Omg, Morgan I’m almost 5 months pregnant and the doggy vids SENT ME CRYING 😭😭😭😭