#Writing kids

[your-absent-father]

Children in writing: my personal pet peeves

Okay, some might know that I work as an elementary school aid, done it on and off since I was 19, so I have the credits lol. Last december I even got my trade school papers for it. I preface this this way bwcause I have worked with shitton of kids, and will in a future. My background also means that I am very quick to notice when people don't interact with kids that much.

Even the savant syndrome kid is still a kid

One thing that annoys the hell out of me is when the 8 year old smart kid character acts like a 32 year old with all the emotional cababilities it entails. Yes, some kids have an higher intelligence, emotional or otherwise, but in the core of them, they are a kid. They get temper tantrums, they are in awe of new discoveries, they love to play in their own way.

For example, the class I'm in now, we have a kid I will call James. James is raised by his grandparents and it shows in everything he does. He is an old soul, always getting striaght As and almost helping the adults in conflicts. James also giggles as I race with him during recess, he sulks like a kid after not getting what he wanted and laughs really hard at fart jokes. He is 8 even if he has an emotional intelligence of an older kid.

Children are sponges, in bad and good

Speaking of James, he is a great example of children being sponges. This 8 year old, he uses terms like "gosh darn it" or "welp, it is what it is", terms I could see his farmer grandpa using. When he is stressed, he poses like a 73 year old looking at a broken tracktor. You can see his grandpa in him clearly.

I want to say it because a lot of people only write like "I am bad because my dad was bad" characters, even though it isn't that simple moat of the time, and children being sponges could be used in so many different ways, and not just bad.

Kids knowing big words doesn't always mean they are smart

This adds into the "kids are sponges" segment. Lot of kids, especially now, pick up different words, some very difficult, but they themselves don't know what they mean. Just today I had to explain what a dictator meant to a kid talking about North Korea. (That is an other thing too I like to add: kids try to explain with their own understandkng of the world what things they don't understand are)

Children's are adults in progress

Thus is a thing that peeves me the most of all, because a lot of people think children are thing entire different entity than adults. I like to explain it in videogame logic, like as a kid you are doing the first levels and progressing trough. You still the same character at the core of it, you just leveled up and got new tricks up your sleeve. Children are humans, they aren't that difficult to comprehend.

kids with disabilities have presonalities

Omg I am such a passionate person towards this, especially because I am specialized in special ed. It annoys me in no end when a special ed kid's presonality is "ehh they are disabled?". Every single special ed kid I have been with have different personalities and likes and dislikes, if they can't show it to you themselves. I don't think I have met two disabled kids (nor adults) with same personalities, even if they have exact same disability.

In the class I am in now, James's best friend is this kid named Jackie. I don't know Jackie's diagnosis but she can't walk straight, and uses multiple walking aids when her legs hurt too bad. She can't talk very well, struggling with her speak. Still, those things weren't the first thing I'd use to describe her. I'd describe her as a dramaqueen, always ready to complain about something, i'd describe her as a sporty, always running after her friends, even if she is much slower than others. I'd describe her as kindhearted, and clingy as she is always ready for a hug. Her disability is n intergal part of her but not everything.

I could complain about this all day. I have worked with kids and adults with disabilities and they have all been do different from each other (like able bodied people). Maybe another post lol.

Okay rant over.

Tldr: Chldren are humans too. Lol

[phoebepheebsphibs]

Other people: wow you really write kids accurately

Me: thanks i was one once

[karizard-ao3]

Did you base your writing kids on your own experience as a mom? Mason and Adri feel very natural as do their conversations with Eren and Mikasa

It's partially based on my experiences as a parent and on my time working with kids! I was a nanny for a while and also worked at a preschool for several years, besides being the oldest of four siblings. I don't work with kids anymore but my life has been pretty saturated with them. Mason is loosely based on my son, though! That hand holding thing is a real trick he used to try to pull on me and his dad. And Adri's speech impediment is because my son, his dad, and my younger siblings all had speech impediments as kids, so I wanted to represent that. I fear it might come off like baby talk, but I wasn't willing to change it, so 🤷. I think it helps that her speech errors are pretty consistent. Hopefully? I tried to give them rules so it would feel more accurate. Idk.

[the-badger-mole]

if you're still doing the fanfic asks: #20 and #21 please!

20. favorite character to write

A toss up between Zuko and Katara. Zuko's a little easier to write, but I think they're wonderfully complex in ways that didn't get explored enough in canon.

21. least favorite character to write

Children. Young children. I have a hard time writing them accurately. I'd love to have them in more stories, but despite the fact that there are a lot of kids in my family, I have a hard time with kids' voices in my stories. Sesi in Hallmarks of the Season came out alright, but I only used her a few times.

Keep the asks coming!

[suzyq31]

Hi , I have a request for you since you've written fics with harry and Hermione as parents for iris,teddy, jane and ellie, and you have read all harry Potter books so take a quote from any books and describe the characteristics the kids share with harry and Hermione

Hi anon, this is a very interesting ask. I’ve thought of it all day and still feel a bit stumped! I’ve read all the books multiple times, but very few quotes come to mind in terms of how I came up with my characterization of the children. It’s been a few years since I’ve read most of the books , and fanfic has probably been more influential on my interpretation of Harry and Hermione. Along with my own Headcanons I’ve developed over the twenty plus years I’ve been in the fandom. 

While Harry and Hermione’s traits influenced how I wrote the children in my stories, what was of even greater influence was the children in my own life. Particularly with Iris, Jane and Ellie, they share a lot of traits from two of them who I spent the most time with, and whom I love deeply. 

Funny enough I was nannying two boys at the time that I wrote Maybe Tomorrow, and originally planned for Ellie and Jane to be boys. But when I sat down to write, little girls took form instead. Although, Ellie shares a certain amount in common with my 3 year old boy H in terms of intensity 😂. Also Iris’s line ‘real life life’ is a direct quote from my other boy J. 

I also go a lot by the age of the character. Three year old's are quite different then six year old's, hence some of the behaviors you see in Jane versus Ellie. Or young Teddy versus teen Teddy. Same with Iris.

I have a degree that focuses on child development and it’s a huge part of my role at work, so there was no way that wouldn’t influence how I thought of the characters. 

Okay now getting into spoilers for specific fics.

For Iris, I wanted her to take after Harry more strongly in personality. Yet being raised with Hermione she would have developed some of her traits like a love for reading. I wanted her to be funny, strong willed, curious and kind hearted. She is heavily influenced by another child I know who was wise beyond her years, and always asking questions.

In the story ‘Iris’ she’s younger, more confident, outgoing when comfortable. I’ll also say that I’ve been reading a lot of James and Lily/Marauders fanfic. I wanted her to have a bit of his parents in her too (in all their children really). I also think Harry would have been more outgoing and confident if he’d been raised by them. I also think she has a similar dry humor like her father.

When Iris gets older, she’s in those hard growing up years where you aren’t quite as confident in yourself, and anxiety usually flares up more. Hence why she makes some of the choices she makes in Found. She can be impulsive while also is often an overthinker like her Mum, which can make for a messy combination. See any event in canon when the kids should tell an adult and don’t. 

For Teddy, I’ve written him twice now. Or well three times (He’s around 9 in It Had To Be You). His age and circumstances have always influenced how I write him. In Maybe Tomorrow, he’s been an orphan, lost his grandmother and is raised by Harry and Hermione from a young age. He’s also a big brother and he’s the oldest I’ve written him at nearly 14. This all plays a huge part in his maturity level and how he reacts to circumstances. I think he is a mix of all five of his “parents.” He’s got that mischievous streak from Tonks, compassion from Remus, humor, boldness and some mannerisms from Harry, curiosity from Hermione, kindness from Andromeda. In Found and Iris he’s raised by his dad and grandmother, has had different life experiences, and has always been an only child which influences some of his jealousy of Iris (and reminder he’s younger too!)

Now for Jane and Ellie. A quote I loved writing was this one: “What are you talking about?” he asked, his eyebrows shooting up. “They're like your clones, Hermione. Have you heard Jane explain anything, or Ellie’s laugh?”

I think both girls, while looking a lot like Hermione, are a mix of both parents and also just themselves. 

Jane, ah I have such a soft spot for her. I wanted her to feel different then Iris even though they share some of the same qualities and physical characteristics. I also think her personality is affected by the events that happened prior to H/Hr arriving in that scenario. I wanted more of her personality to match Hermione with some of her eagerness to do well. She’s also a character I wanted to connect more to Lily Potter. So I passed on some of my Headcanons about her, to Jane. 

Like all their children she has a stubborn streak, but she’s a bit more eager to please then Iris or Ellie. I think of Hermione in third year being scared of failing at school. She is probably the most sensitive of their kids, which is why the events in the fic have such a profound influence. I’ve worked with a few kiddos dealing with separation anxiety and trauma, which also influence my portrayal of her. 

This was my favorite back and forth about Jane, and highlights the core ways she’s like Harry. 

“Janie. She does look like me a bit but there’s so much of you in her. Her eyes of course, but that’s not it. I—I think it’s in how she is at her core. She sees people—really sees them. There’s a kindness to her that reminds me of you.” 

He didn’t know what to say as she paused before smiling wider. “Also her knees.”

“Her knees?”

Hermione nodded. “Yes, I remember when I met you. You had such thin legs and knobby knees. You were small but with these long, graceful and skinny limbs. Jane’s built like you. Also the colour of your skin—like cream.”

“It sounds much better when you describe it. Not scrawny, pale child, with strangely long limbs.”

Ellie is just fully a three year old. Maddening, but adorable. She does what she wants, when she wants. I think a lot of kids that age do this. She is a force, like many in her family. Also, her silliness and giddiness, I see her getting from the Marauders DNA. She’s also a bit of a mirror for Hermione, who was likely also an intense kid, part of why she adores her, but also makes her the most batty (something I've had experience with myself). She is also the youngest (for now), which I think influences some of her behavior. And now my favorite quote about Ellie:

“Yes, but she’s got your smile. It pulls up at the side like yours does,” she countered. “Also rather fearless as well, and she’s quite strong willed.”

He shook his head. “That’s on you.” At her incredulous look, he relented. “Fine. Both of us.”

She fought with her smile. “Quite cheeky too. I think it’s a tie between her and Teddy for the lead on that—which is all your doing.”

Which I think is the most important thing of all, I can’t imagine any child of Harry’s not being at least the littlest bit cheeky! Also all of their children would have wild hair and be strong forces.

Alright, I’ve rambled enough. If you read through all of this nonsense, you are the best!

[fromcainwithlove]

author’s notes today: hey guys so just a warning there isn’t 100% explicit verbal consent even though they’re both really into it so remember this is FICTION, also they don’t use a condom :((( but in real life safe sex is important!!! please be safe out there everyone

a/n back in the day: kept thinking about ____ stabbing knives through both of _____’s hands to pin him in place while they fucked so here you go lol =P

[acorviart]

not to sound like a boomer, but I need some people to learn how to write emails in a semi-professional (at the very least) format so you're not cold emailing a business/potential employer/any other stranger about formal matters in the exact same way you'd DM a close friend on instagram

the formality/language can loosen up in the email chain once you've established a rapport and you match the other person if they're being less formal, but please don't have the very first email you send a stranger be written in all lowercase ultra-casual sms slang with no greeting or signature and a billion emojis

[wishfulsketching]

I have finally finished season 2 of Arcane and can now enjoy your art without fear!!! They should be happy together 🥺

I take it "they" means zaundads because that is what I've been drawing the most BUT, lets be honest, applies to like 98% of the characters in the show.

They should've been a big happy familyyyy

[starstruckpurpledragon]

but also how verbose the kid is at any give time is totally situational & personality dependent

some kids are gonna be that way with everyone, strangers and people they already know alike. But then there are the shy kids who will talk your ear of because they know and like and trust you, but introduce them to a stranger and they're suddenly hiding behind you, peering around timidly, and using a few word answers as they can get away with. which could mean no verbal responses at all if head nods get the message across well enough

and the rate at which kids warm up to new people varies - some warm up quickly once they realize their parents or trusted adult person in this situation knows the stranger, or they'll warm up faster to fellow kids than adults, or they can tell when an adult is kid-friendly or not better than other adults can so they react badly or surprisingly well to people that might surprise their parents... etc

I do think part of the problem of writing kids is there is not only a struggle to write them talking the way actual kids their age talk, but remembering that kids have very diverse personalities which affect the way they talk and act. So not only are the kids off age-development wise, but when there are multiple kids they seem a bit flat because they're all the same personality wise

It becomes very very evident when an author has never interacted with small children before. PLEASE stop writing 4 year olds with baby voices, I promise you they do not answer in short sentences the way a baby might. They can and Will start monologing

[kaliina-catoe-blog]

Someone asked on reddit: "What is your biggest Fanfic Ick when you're reading?" and I saw a lot of other similar posts asking similar questions... I actually have a couple, but I'm specifically going to rant about my big one.

Children speaking either like full-grown adults or like they're much much younger than they are meant to be.

I was HORRIBLE about this for years, mainly because I wasn't around many kids younger than me (baby of the family). But now, as an adult who has been around children more? Omg. No. Please.

I've also taken some Early Childhood Development (ECD) courses since then, and I excelled in AP Psychology as a teenager- so I might not be an expert but I know the basics now. Honestly? If people who write children just take 5 (five) minutes to read up on the basic ECD milestones for speaking it would correct the issue completely I swear...

Most children start talking younger than you think! They babble and form basic monosyllabic or bisyllabic words by 1 year. (mama, Dada, baba, wawa, up, no, etc) [side note: I personally was talking in full sentences by 18 mo, but I am an outlier the size of Spiders George and should not be counted. I am hyperlexic, this post is about "standard" kids]

By 1.5 (18m) your baby should at least be speaking in basic monosyllabic and bisyllabic words and they'll still babble but usually with more purpose. What would be incoherent might start to sound more like they're attempting sentences. (EG: "Mama, I hab wawa? [Mama, I have Water?]") Technically babbling stage sentences, but they can be more or less easy to understand based on other factors. It is CRUCIAL to speak to your baby at this point especially, and even more important if you're attempting to teach the baby more than one language. Don't use baby voice- actually speak to them. Otherwise, they *will not* learn to say real words in time for school.

By 2 your baby is speaking in sentences! Maybe not always super clearly, but this is a good time in their life to begin introducing them to enunciation and basic language skills. (my examples here: "Mama, I need water, please." "Mama.. Need wawa, pease?" and then you repeat the sentence so they can try to copy your enunciation.) At this point, don't be too strict or you might unintentionally make them *stop* talking. Encourage them to pronounce/enunciate things correctly instead, and praise when they do well.

By 3, they should have a decent grasp on the language basics and should be speaking in full sentences at least mostly. They might still mispronounce things or not fully enunciate correctly. But they have the basics down and are ready to start getting hooked on phonics! (Idealistically, it's even better if you've been showing them educational content the entire time- with minimal screen usage. But like. I've seen Gen Alpha kids and I have Gen Beta cousins and nibblings. I'm not stupid. It's ALL screens. If you want your Gen Beta kid to do better than the Gen Alpha kids have been doing? GET BABY BOOKS. USE THEM. READ TO YOUR KIDS. This is why so many high school students are illiterate! It's because they weren't exposed to literature or basic phonics until they were fucking 6!)

Ahem. By 4, I was reading unassisted both out loud and silently. But normal children should be learning letters and numbers and how to count to 10. Your normal 4 year old should be capable of sounding out small words and should be able to spell their name and your name. I'm serious. First thing you need to teach your kid to read/write unassisted is their own name and your name. Before they start pre-K. If your kid ever gets hurt, or you get hurt? They need to know their name, and yours. It's not that difficult to teach your kid not to call you your first name- but it's hard to find them if they get lost and have no idea who they are or who they're looking for aside from "mama/dada/ren".

By 5, we have reached Pre-K! (or Kinder depending where you are ig). They should be speaking in full, mostly correct, sentences. There is no more "wawa" instead of water. They may still be saying "wah-duh" but they should be beyond "wawa". They should be able to say "Drink" and not "dink" (again, it may be a little more "dwink" but that's normal. If they know the word and can reliably say it and be understood fine? They're doing ok. If they have a speech impediment you're about to find out from their teachers or doctors so don't worry about it yet- or just bring it up yourself and ask them if they believe there's an impediment).

I repeat, because this is the age I see get the "baby talk" treatment the most, your 5 year old character should be capable of speaking in full sentences. FIVE YEAR OLDS ARE NOT 3.

By 6, we start to see a grasp on basic Grammar and spelling ideas- this is the age where some of those rules don't make sense, or are contrary to one another (like the "I before E except after C; unless your Foreign Science-teacher Neighbor, Keith, Receives Eight Weird Counterfeit Weightlifting books in the mail- sent by Feisty Caffeinated Beige aliens" rule... Or the dozen different ones about commas, and which commas are which, and why the fuck we have multiple different types of THE EXACT SAME CHARACTER- All of which go in literally the same place but slightly differently and for different reasons).

Yeah. Age 6 is wild, man. And the way 6 year olds talk? It reflects. This is the age of "Why is fart spelled like a smell?" and "Ren? How did I go in your tummy when I was a baby me?" and the ever-present "I runned-ed really fast!"... They know what the rules are, but they don't actually know how they *work*.

7, and we have reached a great age for conversation! 7 year olds can speak pretty clearly, and while they may still say things like "I runned" instead of "I ran", they do it a lot less... And usually not quite that obviously. This is the age where correcting their grammar/spelling/enunciation is going to be really important! We want to encourage them to come to us with words they can't pronounce in books, or ask how to spell random words that they hear in media/life, and we have to be kind about correcting errors. 7 year olds are soft and sensitive and a little bit whiney. They're still small enough to cry over a skinned knee, and ask for fit-it kisses, and they won't be this small ever again. Yes, the 9000000000 questions a day will get exhausting and annoying and "omgpleaseshutuppleasepleasejustgofindathesaurusandstopaskingme" but then we start to really see the fruits of our labour.

8 years old! They can read, they can write, and they can do basic addition and subtraction - maybe even a little multiplication and division depending on the school/home educational resources. They are finally old enough to be introduced to long multi-chapter books (as in, more than 15-20 chapters) for solo reading! Honestly, I was reading multi-chapter books LONG before 8. But I was also a very hyperlexic child, and a kid that is developing at a totally "standard" pace should be hitting this milestone ~around~ 8. Maybe they're 7.5, maybe it takes until they're 8.5. But 8 is a median age for independently reading long chapter books.

By 9, we are very independent. Almost double digits! That's practically grown! A 9 y/o is going to be so so super excited to do anything alone. They're still going to mostly listen to you, and they'll go to you directly for help/comfort/etc very openly. Enjoy this phase! It is not a long phase. Linguistically speaking, by 9 most kids are pretty much grown-out of minor speech impediments- the ones that stick are actual impediments and it's up to you are your child to decide if/what speech therapy is good for them. Smaller things, like "Dwink" over "Drink" usually go away by this age. More permanent impediments will be much more clear, and they're completely natural! There's no shame in having a speech impediment, and while your child develops a personality and tries to be more independent - it's your job to handle any speech impediments for them. Let them focus on being 9.

10! Double digits already? Wow. Seems like only 500 words ago we were teaching them to tie shoes and spell "duckie". By this point, they're talking pretty much like how you'd expect a 10 year old to talk. They're either going to be a swearer, or not, and that's 80% your own doing. The other 20% is literally everyone else in their life. Peers, teachers, aunts, uncles, rads, etc. (rad being what my nibblings should call me, because I think it's 😁😁 rad 👉👉)

After this point? Just. Keep letting them learn more and more big words. If you've done all of this right, they'll probably love reading! Just nurture that love, and you're set. 11 year olds are cringey- they use weird dumbass slang that adults don't understand, and we use their slang to embarrass them every chance we get. A tale as old as time.

Honestly the next "big shift" in how a kid talks, is puberty. The change in vocal register can mess with the way the speak - and can also make certain Speech impediments worse, so if you're someone whose kid has an impediment, make sure you've prepared them for that. Warn them that vocal changes might make them feel as though any speech therapy they've done is pointless, and work with them to encourage them and help them remember that these vocal changes are not *bad*. Make sure they understand that there's nothing wrong with it.

And then, again, next big change isn't really a change at all. They're ready. They're grown! 18! The most common "change" here is that they might get a little bit too comfortable swearing a lot more than what's appropriate. But they'll figure out what's "enough" swearing soon enough. The important thing isn't whatever might be going on linguistically anymore... You've done it. You have managed to bring an entire human being all the way through childhood and into adulthood. You created a whole entire person! Now sit back, relax, and wait for grandkids or a dog or something... And remember that if you get grandkids, you also get to repeat a large portion of all of the work you just did.

And you also get to know that you made a tiny human! And then that human became an adult all because of you! And they decided to make *another* tiny human!

Ok Ok... I could go on, but Im getting really off-topic. My point is:

Children develop sooo quickly! There's only 10-12 years before they're most of the way grown and beginning to hit puberty. Your 8 year old Dick Grayson should NOT talk like he's 4! 10 year old Dick Grayson is not about to be using words like "Rhetorical question" unless you've given us reason to believe that he is well-read enough (In English) to know what that means. He might understand the premise of "not a questions are supposed to be answered" but it's INFINITELY funnier and more realistic for that type of interaction to play as-

10y/o Dick: "Why do you call yourself penguin?"

Penguin: *starts to answer*

Dick, jumping his ass: "I didn't mean you had to actually tell me! It was-" *pauses to look at his dad* "Batman?"

Batman, amused: "Rhetorical."

Dick: "Yeah! It was Rhetorical!"

*keeps beating up Penguin, who is so confused*

And more!

Your de-aged Danny Fenton that's suddenly 2? Should not be super-conscious and speaking like he's 14. And! Even if he's mentally 14 still, 2 year olds babble mainly because their mouths are tiny and have like. Barely any teeth.

Even I, hyperlexic and learning to ask for things at 18mo, still mostly babbled until I had all of my teeth. [I know this because my mum and I are super close and I recently had to get a full medical history, including me and her doing the math to figure out exactly how old I was at all of my milestones- based on how old my brothers were and where we lived and what surgery/test/etc I was having done at the same ages].

Anyway. So even if he's fully conscious or wtv, he's not speaking like a teenager- he's limited to what he can physically pronounce as a toddler.

Also! In this same vein! Stop forcing the baby talk to be written out completely phonetically.... I'm so so so sick of reading

"An' I tol' mah da-da aaallll 'bout the fishes at da 'quarium" like. Seriously guys. Just. Fucking. Type it.

It makes more sense for a 5 year old to go "I told my daddy aaallll about the 'quarium and the fishes and the cool boat thingy we rided on!" than whatever that hell-fire bullshit is, that just ate the text off the other example.

Kids under 10 especially tend to speak in run-on sentences. They use "and" "like" "Uh" "um" and other filler words. Constantly. Have them say like 6 different sentences, with barely if any pause, and call it a fuckin day lmao. It's more accurate than you probably think it is. My favorite example is my little cousin, we'll call her Amie (real name of my real adult friend lmao, but idk any good fake kid names so) I'll also just call myself Kat for simplicity sake.

Amie(7): "Katkatkatkatkat!"

Me: "What what what what what?"

A: "Come look! I found a cool bug underneath this big ole rock in the backyard it's over by the trampoline and I almost squisheded it by accident but it's ok because I jumped off and then I moved the rock offofit and then I came to get you so you can see the cool bug thingy! Look!"

Me, looking at what appeared to be a huge ass beetle: "Oh, wow! That is amazing! Do you want to put it in a jar so we can show mom? Maybe she'll let us go release it in the woods, so it's safe from the weed whacker!"

A: "Oh yes! Yesyesyesyes! I wanna go find a really cool jar! A big one and we can poke holes in the top but we should probably poke the holes in before we put Jerald in it because that way we don't accidentally poke a hole in Jerald because I think that would be really sad. I like Jerald."

Me: "I like him too, kiddo. Let's find a jar for him to take a nap in until Mommy is back, okay?"

Anyways, that's just an example of my 7 y/o cousin. Be creative! Have fun! Just keep in mind that if you want other people to read it, you have to put a little effort into it. My biggest advice?

Read up on the age you're writing. What grade are they in? How big are they? How does being that size shift how they (literally) see things around them?

Maybe try to go spend some time with younger relatives if you have any! Or maybe go visit a library and go to the kids section for a few minutes to browse- Ive done this to get a physical sense of what a little kid's world looks like from that low lol. I literally went to the library, and shuffled around on my knees for like 10 minutes browsing an empty section of the kids' area. Nobody questioned me, nobody gave a fuck, nobody even looked at me because: everyone will just assume you're there for a kids book. You have free will! Just. Go research what little kids are like before you write them completely wrong and then get pissed off when nobody wants to read your piss poor attempt at writing kids. (I say this with love, I swear, it's just a topic that personally really frustrates me 😅)

Hell, use this post as a giant guide for raising your characters' kids!

Maybe don't actually use it as a real life parenting guide tho. I wrote it in that style because that's just how it made sense in my head lol... I am not a parent, I just really wish I was.

[catmask]

when u go to write a mentally ill person in ur story you are presented two options. the first option is to write your mental illness realistically as you actually experience it with all the ups and downs and people who are like you will resonate with it and feel seen. except every person who reads instagram infographics on mental health that uses the phrase narcicisst for anyone who does anything that crosses them and unironically call themself a dark empath will call you scary and tell you that youre demonizing mentally ill people

the second option is to lie and write inspiration porn for those people to get hard to

[phoebepheebsphibs]

STUPENDOUS new Hide and Seek chapter as always! I adore all the little references and I absolutely love the way you write the characters

I hope you have a wonderful day, and that every response you get to your fantastic chapter brings you joy!

Thank you

[foldingfittedsheets]

Did you know guinea pigs are born just like. Tiny adults? They’re fully cooked. They come out, eyes open, fully furred, ready to do the whole array of guinea pig activities.

I learned this as a child. I was perhaps ten when this story took place. Our female guinea pig was pregnant, but she’d gotten mites and needed a bath. She was wildly pregnant. Bulging at the seams with babies. Ready to burst at any moment because all the babies needed to stay in there long enough to be full pigs. But we wanted to avoid the babies all getting mites and needing baths. We failed, they all needed baths. Mites are a bitch.

We knew she had three babies cooking in there. How did we know? We could feel each individual bulge in her belly. My mom was overseeing the pig bath but I was pretty much just doing my own thing, scrubbing her gently, rinsing the soap carefully.

After the bath our mother pig was not in the best mood. I was carrying her back to her freshly made mite free bedding when she’d had enough.

I was acutely aware that I was holding four lives in my childish grip, and I bore her along as if she were made of precious jewels and spun glass. Balanced in my hands I could feel the bulge of each of her babies slithering wetly around under her skin.

Which is why when she hauled off and sank her teeth into the meat of my hand I didn’t flinch. I didn’t drop her. I bore her as carefully and steadily as if I weren’t now bleeding freely, and I set her gently into her pig palace.

As I drew my hands away I screamed:

“FUCK!!!”

I then turned to look at my mother, who’d been watching the process intently.

I was fully aware that I had just done the worst possible swear directly in front of an authority figure and was very probably going to be punished. My mom was looking at me with a blank expression that I was waiting to turn stormy or disappointed.

“That must have hurt a lot,” was all she said.

She helped me throughly clean and bandage the bite. All the babies were born healthy and sound, looking like someone had used a shrink ray on trio of a guinea pigs.

Years later my mother confided in me that contrary to my belief that she’d be angry for swearing what she’d felt for me in that moment was overwhelming pride that in the face of pain and shock I had refused to let harm befall my little charges.

[easternpine]

Write what you know?

Putting myself back in the headspace of being an eight-year-old girl is giving me mild nausea

[inkskinned]

okay is she being actually immature or is it just a woman over 30 expressing a human experience you find to be immature.

like yeah. at certain ages... let shit go. im not defending the real immature shit. im not defending the karen you're picturing. i worked in retail i hate those people too. (once somebody got mad at me because she didn't like how our winter window decor was a snowman smoking a pipe. i wish i was joking).

but men at 57 will write books about how 17 year old girls are soooo sexy. they will invent worlds where women have to be naked for "armor reasons." they will write songs that treat women as objects. people rush to defend them. meanwhile a woman at 35 will be like "heartbreak is hard, actually" or "i feel betrayed by a friend" or "i am struggling with something emotionally." immediately people will say stuff like this woman is 35 by the way. by the way this woman is SO OLD to be experiencing this. BY THE WAY.

im 31, almost 32. the other day a poet was blasted online because at her "big age", she had written a poem about feeling unloved. top comment was "this woman is 29 by the way." this woman is too old to still be useful, by the way. she has to behave better . maybe if she was a good wife and mother she could stop existing loudly, and the story could continue on without her. this woman has served her purpose, by the way. she's so cringe, by the way. at 29 - so old! - she still hasn't figured out that her existence should be one of shame.

[yeehawpim]