ask karenR



read advice get advice make favorite read feedback advicenators



I have gone from younggrandma to just yg. Now,
I am using my real name.
I don't think anyone who knows me will have trouble figuring out who that is!


I have been gone a while dealing with things in my own life. I am back now to help once again. Do not expect answers from me that just tell you what you want to hear. Life is to short for nonsense. :)
Website: advicenators forum
E-mail: karenrickel@gmail.com
Gender: Female
Location: KANSAS
Occupation: Homemaker,EMT, ER worker, Medical assistant
Member Since: March 4, 2005
Answers: 10132
Last Update: July 29, 2022
Visitors: 575171


Favorite Columnists
ammo
DangerNerd
SilentOne
adviceman49
Razhie
isis
Xenolan
flare
Erinn_the_bamf
selectopaque
storageanddisposal
more...

ok well me and my boyfriend are both 14 and we had sex (wich is really bad) but now im pregnant and havent told my parents how do i tell them (link)
It will probably be easier if you tell you mother first. I told my mother and it didn't go near as bad as I had imagined it would. Then she can help you tell your dad. You just have to get it over with. It will be a big relief!


I'm 14 and just found out I'm pregnant. I plan to keep my baby as of right now but I haven't broke it to my mom yet. I guess you could say I'm sort-of excited though cause I always wanted to have kids. Anyways I know I'm not alone and that there are lots of people raising babies at a young age. I'm just curious...has anybody here become a young mother? Any personal stories to share about being a young mom? :) (link)
I was a young mother but all people and their circumstances are different.

First, tell your mother about it. It probably won't go as badly as you'd imagine. Once you have done that, feel free to inbox me any questions I might be able to help you with.



why would a self described happily maried woman tease and flirt with a single guy,complain about her husband to him constantly,yet get upset when the guy either made a move or confronted her,then walked away? Why would this woman allow her father in law to feel her up in a public place in front of her husband,friend,and others? Why would this woman engage in prostitution and then try to contact the friend who walked away? What can someone do with such a person? (link)
Stay clear away from her. She sounds like a very confused woman and you don't even want to get in the middle with her or any of her shenanigans.

Let her know very clearly that YOU are unavailable
and stay away. You do not need a friend like this one.


what are the solution of obesity


(link)
The ONLY solution is a healthy diet combined with daily exercise.


Hey im 19/f and i really want to work in the medical field. I was going to become a nurse and i attended my first year of college but i dont have money for this years tuition so college is now out of the question sadly. My friend told me about EMT the schooling is $1000 and thats a little pricey for me. Then i thought about becoming a CNA but people have told me its a pretty crappy job. Is there any jobs that you know of that you dont have to go to college for and are decently priced? Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks everybody and i do rate. (link)
Any type of medical training will be pricey.
I'd suggest you go visit the employment/human resources area of a local hospital. Check and see if they have a program that will pay for you to go to school while working for them. Some do if you'll agree to work for them for a set time afterwards.

See what kind of jobs they have that you could qualify for. Then go back and get the nurses degree!


hun im already in other relationship i love my boyfriend with all my heart but t1his is still happeneing to me (link)
Hmm. You really should be over the ex by now.
Especially if you love your current boyfriend.

Did you get closure when you broke up with your ex?
Is there still something unresolved between you?
Sometimes if you still have questions about why the relationship ended, it can just keep on bothering you until you find out. If you think that is a possibility, see if you can't meet with him and get some answers.

Do let the current boyfriend know what you are doing. You don't want to cause a problem in your current relationship.


im 19/m and gay, me and my ex broke up almost two years ago. i dont understand this feeling i have. if i said i love him i feel empty inside i dont really feel like i do but if i said i dont love him i feel like im lying to myself about it i want this feeling to end

whats wrong with me (link)
You need a new guy. Stop dwelling on this 2 years done relationship. Whatever you may have felt doesn't really matter any more.

Get out and meet new people. You will find a new relationship & when it is love, you won't have any doubts. :)

Best of luck.


do u lose your virginity if you use a tampon? (link)
You do not lose your virginity until you have sex.

Using tampons may indeed break your hymen. Your hymen is a thin piece of skin covering the opening
of your vagina. It is not your "virginity", it is a piece of skin. The piece of skin can be broken and you would still be a virgin. Here is a picture of a hymen. http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Hymen.aspx

The hymen used to be used as proof of virginity.
This was back in the days before tampons were invented and before women were as active in sports etc. Some cultures may still see this as a "prize" of some sort, a "proof" of virginity. But it is not.


can someone tell me why guys are so into boobs? i mean, i always hear boys saying"well i dumped her because she is soooooooooooo flat!" what do middle school kids need to be worrying about that stuff? and why do boys even need to worry about it? (link)
I'd guess they are into boobs because they don't have any. Those who would drop a girl because she doesn't have "big" boobs...are big boobs! :)
Honestly, if they are dropping girls for that reason, they are to immature to even have a girlfriend.

They have no real need to worry about it. They
probably think it makes them seem like studs to
all their friends. All it actually does is show them to be immature idiots.


do guys like it when girls are lightweights, or dont have to drink much to get drunk? or would they prefer them to be able to drink well (link)
I suppose it depends on the guy. The guys I have known or still know prefer a girl who can have a good time without drinking. They don't want a girl
who is vomiting, wetting her pants, flirting and hanging all over every guy or being loud and foolish.


I am 17 years old and have only had sex with my boyfriend of over two years. We have had sex more times than i can count but I've never "had my cherry popped". Is there something wrong with me? My friends have joked around and said "oh he must be too small" Could that be true? I read before that some girls just never have that happen to them that its nothing different but you cant always believe everything you read on the internet... (link)
Many women do not have a "cherry". There are many who do that never experience pain the first time they have sex, they don't have a lot of heavy bleeding etc..The hymen, or "cherry" is simply a very thin (in most cases) skin covering the entrance to the vagina. If you have ever used tampons without a problem inserting them...you most likely have a broken hymen already. Here are
pictures of what one looks like. http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Hymen.aspx

So, if you and your boyfriend have had sex even once, you are not a virgin. Your cherry, if there was one has been "popped". Now, go give the jokers
some facts. :)


I was at a party about a week ago and we were drinking. It was a fun time and there was this guy that was flirting with me all night. He asked me if I wanted to hookup and I said yes.

We ended up having sex that night. I didn't say no or anything but I WAS DRUNK. He had been drinking too but I don't think he was as drunk as I was.

Is this considered rape? I mean, I was drunk so I wasn't in my sound mind or whatever...

16/f (link)
No. If you say yes it is not considered rape.
Drinking at 16 is illegal for a reason. You
have lived through one of those reasons. It
makes you do and say stupid things.

Watch for pregnancy symptoms & get a home test if any develop. In the future, keep in your right mind
at parties. Some guys will take advantage.


Erm,hi first time being here...I want to ask some advice here since no one in real life wanted to help me...You see,i''m 13,female and i'm all what you category are ugly and fat.Sure you must be thinking that 'geez,of cause people hate you because you're fat and ugly' sure sure sure,i get that a lot of times in other websites but i hope here will be a little different.
You see,i maybe fat and ugly but i have brains,i got the 3rd highest score in my class despite my sportsmanship score.I'm an artist too and i don't get mad easily or easily be offended but this problem has gone too far.I've been told by my friends that i'm perfect from their bullshitng lie,they talk at me and make friends with me but when i needed help or when i approach them they would "Shoo shoo you ugly pig,we don't know you".BUT when i don't talk to them they would scream or yelled at me calling me names like an anti-social pig.Seriously,is someone who is ignored by a friend is labeled as anti-social,from what the dictionary said it is not.
And what worse is,they act kindly at me but in own territory,they would plot to make my life more miserable.Just like 3 days ago when they 'accidentally' slipped an un-washable paint on my REPORT CARD.If its anything else i wouldn't mind,but my report card is everything i got in middle school.And what sickens me the most,when i report to the teacher,guess what?The teacher said that i'm the one who in fault!I protest and told him truthfully and i almost cry and beg to him that i am clean and to renew my report card but hell no,the bastard teacher practically took out the ranking list and put a "FAILED" chop on my name!And to think that i studied like mad to get the highest score and now all the hard work is lost,gone like the wind.
I asked my parents for help and drag them to the principal office to make a damned report.Hours and hours of discussing and instead of advising and helping me.The so-called justice principal suggest to my parents to kick me OUT of the school and go find a psychologist.I'm not mad,they are!Seriously,am i that hateful to them?just because i'm a 'pig' doesn't means that i can't change.And so,my parents take actions with the director of the school who thank god who is my uncle.The school agrees to take me in but in one condition that i start failing and be an outcast of the society.Now that got me mad,really mad.Being an outcast in one thing i totally can do but failing my only hope in life in outrageous!...
And so,i'm here sitting on the computer chair just to wait any calls from other school to say that i'm accepted to their education haven. So before i go to any new school,can anyone tell me how NOT to be hated and how to change my physical appearance?
(link)
Well changing your physical appearance is just a matter of diet & exercise. You aren't stupid so you know that already. Just a matter of doing something about it. Its not always easy to get started but once you get in a routine it does get easier. There
are many healthy diet & exercise programs online. He hasn't been on in a while, but will get notice if you want to ask a question...this guy is a fitness instructor & will give you good sound advice if you send to his inbox. http://www.advicenators.com/column.php?u=MikeCFT

As far as getting along with others...Just be yourself. I know, I know that's what everyone says right? But if you want to be happy in life you have to live it as yourself. If you do that and don't go out of your way trying to be someone you're not...people who will truly like you will find you.

Best of luck. :)


seriously, I can't stand him.
he has NO personality, you try to joke with him he takes it seriously & gets mad.

he doesn't get along with my sister & he's completely ruined the relationship between my mom & my sister.

his wife died in 2005, his wife & my mom were best friends before she died. now he's dating my mom, I lost all respect for him after that.

He smokes in the house ALL the time, he knows I don't like it, my mom tried talking to him about it, to try and take it outside but all he said was "I was smoking in the house before she moved in, so she'll just have to learn to get used to it."


My mom used to never drink before she dated him, now she drinks all the time & also smokes.


he's only home for 4 days, then goes back to work for 4 days he works on the ship channel.
when he's home though he hogs my mom all to himself, I asked my mom if she wanted to go walking with me, he was sitting right there & asked my mom to stay home for the rest of the movie, then after that wanted to take her out to drink.


he's rude to both me & my sister & my mom doesn't realize it. my sister went to prom this year she got her prom picture & gave one to my mom, it was a magnetmy mom showed her boyfriend & all he said was "atleast they look half normal" my mom just laughed.

everytime I try to talk to her about how I feel she doesn't listen, she thinks her boyfriends perfect, & she thinks he treats her better then my dad ever did. i've tried accepting their relationship, but he just annoys me soo bad.

He's also super boring to talk to, I was in 5th grade & I asked him for help on my homework it was a simple problem that he could've answered in 2 minutes, NO he goes from talking about my math problem to knots in a boat I didn't get my answer until 2 hours later.


what do I do? I don't want them dating anymore, my mom is really pretty & she's really funny, and he's the complete opposite. she can do way better not just look wise, but personality wise also.

PLEASE HELPPP.

(link)
OK I'll be the asshole.

You may not like this guy but it seems he is making your mom happy. Your complaints actually come off as sounding like your are just jealous. Maybe I am missing something. Lets take it one point at a time.

He has no personality. OK. Your mom evidently gets along with him fine. Just don't joke with him if it upsets you. He isn't your date after all.

Why do you lose respect for a guy who is dating your mom just because his wife and your mom were friends? Were they dating before his wife died? If not I don't see why that would make him a bad person. Your mom probably helped him through a rough time in his life. They both lost a good friend. It was 5 years ago. Life goes on.

Smoking in the house may indeed be rude. Sounds to me as if you all moved into HIS house. Unless
your mom said I won't move in unless you smoke outside... Its his house. Only thing you can do is possibly talk mom into moving out. Its not like they are married.

If you don't like your moms smoking and drinking, by all means discuss it with her. However, keep in mind that she is a grown woman and will ultimatley do whatever she wants.

His hogging your mom is just a ridiculous thing to say. You said your self he is gone 4 days and then home 4 days. It stands to reason he would want to be with her when he is home. While he is gone...you hog her. Its really a bit rude to ask someone to go walk with you while they are in the middle of watching a movie anyway. He was right to tell your mom to finish watching the movie.

Look at some old prom pictures online sometime. People tend to look utterly ridiculous. Be glad the prom pics looked halfway normal. Its a good thing.

Here is what you need to do. Grow up. Accept the relationship. Be happy that he makes your mom happy. Frankly, you will soon be living your life. So, why not be happy knowing mom is happy too? You don't have to be best friends with the guy. You don't even have to like him if you don't want to. All you have to do is show some respect, after it all, it sounds like he is taking care of your family. And just get along as best you can with him. If that means you ignore him some, so be it.

***************feedback edit*********************

YOUR FEEDBACK
You have no idea what you're talking about. I asked a question to get help, not to be told that I need to grow up and that i'm jealous. 1) i'm not jealous, I just find there relationship a bit messed up her boyfriend was my dads bestfriend, and his wife was my moms best friend and then his wife died, in any circumstance its messed up to get with your friends boyfriend/husband. 2) who smokes after a loved one died from lung cancer? Thats just idiotic. 3) my sister isnt ugly, she looked very pretty in her prom picture, he just doesnt like my sister and thats why he said that! 4) I asked my mom to go walking with me first, I think I deserve a little time with her too, especially since they were going to go out that night, I want 30 minutes of her time then he could have her. 5) I dont hog her to myself when he's gone she's got 3 other kids shes responsible for. 6) you really are an asshole & you dont know shit. You suck at giving advice.

MY RESPONSE..........

Believe it or not I WAS being helpful. One day when you are all grown up instead of the selfish little child you are now, you will understand that. People can tell you what you want to hear all day long. That is kissing your ass NOT helping you. I am not an ass kisser. Fact: Your mother and her boyfriend are grown ups. YOU will not change their feelings for each other. If you do not change YOUR attitude, you will continue to be miserable.

1. The whole you can't date so and so's boyfriend/girlfriend is high school crap.
The real world is not high school. The mans
wife is dead. Your mom and dad, sad as it is
are no longer together. So, weather or not you think it is messed up...its their lives not yours.

2. Idiotic or not people smoke after loved ones die all the time. My dad died of lung cancer. I still smoke. Know why? Because even though he was
a smoker, his cancer was caused by the chemicals
he worked with everyday for over 30 years. Just because the government wants everyone to believe that smoking causes all the cancer in the world..it doesn't. Its just another lie to get people to stop smoking. Believe as you wish. smoking is by no means good for you. But if you think people just stop because someone else dies
from cancer...you're living in a dream world.

3. Looking "halfway normal" is a far cry from saying your sister looked ugly. If he said she was ugly then you should have worded your question differently. He made a comment. You, as
I believe is common with you, took it the wrong way and heard what you wanted to hear.

4. You said "asked my mom to stay home for the rest of the movie" If you wanted to go for a walk you should have asked before the movie. If you did she must not have wanted to go for a walk. Thats a mom thing, not a boyfriend thing.

5. If you want her attention that bad then maybe you and the other children should take advantage of his time away and hog her to yourself. Waiting until he is home doesn't seem to work for you.

6. I may be an asshole. Thats ok I don't mind at all. I do however know plenty of shit. Plenty of others have been helped by my advice over the years. Your not liking it doesn't bother me in the least. Know why? Because I pissed you off.
You may not have liked my answer but you heard it loud and clear.

:)

+++++++++++++EDIT 2++++++++++++++++++

I certainly understand your not liking the guy.
You may even have some very legitimate reasons for not liking him. When it comes right down to it though, you will have to at least try to get along with him.

My dad was married several different times. Believe me when I say I understand your not liking the guy. I was lucky enough not to have to live with his wife. My younger brother was so traumatized by the woman that it wasn't until
he was in the hospital dying that my brother talked to him again. 20 years wasted. You don't
want that happening to you.

You don't like him, but it sounds like he does treat your mother well. He may just make her happy. Get along as best you can with the guy.
Take every opportunity to spend time with your mom when he is gone. Give them space when he is home.

Yes, my kids would come first before any man.
Perhaps she thinks she is doing a good job finding some guy who will take care of you all.
Ask her.

Anyway, I do wish you luck. Feel free to drop
by my inbox anytime.


Okay lets say you knew this girl was fourteen dating a sixteen year old boy, if you found out that she (she's now fifteen) let him finger her, gave him a hj and a bj, would you judge her?? they dated for seven months. I think you can see that I'm the girl... haha (link)
You've gotten several answers already and mine really isn't a lot different. I wouldn't judge.

Here is where I am going to offer something a little different. Maybe its because I am an old broad. LOL

Why is it anyone's business what you are doing sexually? Be mature and keep it just between you and your guy. Its nobody elses business. :)


mmkay... so theres this guy that Ive been talking to a lot lately, and he says that Im cute and really nice to talk to. He said that nothing would probably happen anytime soon, considering our age difference, and considering he lives in another state. I know what you're thinking, nothing would ever happen, and this girl should date/like someone her own age. I've tried. I just cant stop thinking about him. Just talking to him puts a smile on my face. He said that in the future, we'll never know what might happen. We might be together. I told him that he didnt have to say that stuff just because I like him. I told him to say exactly what he was thinking. Then he said that he thinks I'm amazing. He's a really sweet guy, and he says that he's gonna wait till he gets married to have sex. (dont ask how that came up) But... I dont know what to do. Obviously, nothing's going to happen anytime soon, but is there any hope for me at all? (link)
He may be nice and he may be sweet. What you need to understand is that most males who prey on young girls always are nice and sweet. If they weren't,
they wouldn't be able to play them so well.

At the very LEAST, this guy is extremely immature for his age. Most 19 year old males are out actively
dating girls their own age. They are not online picking up 14 year olds.

He is going to say ANYTHING that makes this whole online relationship sound legit to you.

My advice is that you really need to look for a guy your own age who can take you out on real dates. Do not waste your youth waiting for a suspicious online relationship to someday happen.



I heard the phone recordings by Oksana Grigorieva about Mel Gibson yelling and being mean. I think there's like 5 or 6 revealing tapes now. Well, I'm wondering if anybody knows if they've been altered or doctored up? I haven't gotten to read anything about that but I'm sure it's been questioned lately since they're new on the Radar site pretty much.

Does anyone know?
And, by "know" I mean have you heard anything about it from TV, News, or internet article?

Kind of curious since I really like Mel Gibson as an actor and would hate for this stuff to ruin his career if it isn't for real...

And, heck, if you don't know...feel free to just give me your opinion then :) THANKS (link)
While I thought they sounded fake too, experts have said they are real. According to the news.

You know Mr Gibson was married to the mother of his 7 children a long time. His career was going well.

He then goes through a midlife crisis or whatever happened and got with a young bimbo and look what happened. Hes unhappy, his drinking is even more out of control and his career is in the shitter.

I don't believe him to be a racist or any of the things the media likes to harp on. I believe, and its just my opinion, that he is a man who made a mistake and now regrets it. All his money can't get his family back together again. What he had was real. He was with his first wife before fame. She loved him for himself & not his money or what he could do for her.

When your life falls apart nothing makes you happy. You hate everybody and are just a miserable person. I don't know if he will ever be the same. I hold out hope though because he is a great actor.


I'm like 98% positive that I don't have a tampon still from about 4 weeks ago in but there's this kind of fishy/gross smell coming from down there and I know it's not a hygene problem bc I use a special soap that's made for down there.....how do I find out what's causing the odor and if I accidently left a tampon in? And how do I get rid of the odor?

(link)
If the odor is just different from what you have smelled in the past, it may be an infection. It
doesn't necessarily mean you have left a tampon in.

However, if there is the slightest chance that you
may have accidentally left in a tampon, you need to see a doctor. Leaving a tampon in for longer than a few hours, could cause toxic shock syndrome
http://www.google.com/search?hl=&q=toxic+shock+syndrome&sourceid=navclient-ff&rlz=1B3GGGL_en___US356&ie=UTF-8&aq=0&oq=toxi

If the odor is caused by an infection, seeing a doctor and getting treatment for it, should take care of the odor. So at least call your doctor and
ask for advice.


My sister-in-laws aunt has a sister with a gay son. He is 18. I have known him since I was 9. He moved away when I was 12. I went 3 years without seeing him. I hung out with him today. We stayed the night at his aunts house. I like him a lot. I am a 15 year old girl now and he is 18. I dont get why I like him. He is so sweet and funny! He is a tad-bit girly. Is any of this normal? (link)
Being IN LOVE with him isn't gonna work. If you start thinking along those lines, you will be hurt.

You like him because he is sweet and funny. Nothing at all abnormal about that. There is no reason you can't be the best of friends. He can give you a guys point of view on things. You can have fun together.

Gay men make great friends for a girl. You feel safe and comfortable around him. You can be yourself. You know he isn't looking to jump your bones. Why you like him isn't a mystery at all.
Just remember you will just be friends. :)


how did you meet? i'm just curious to see what's out there. (link)
I met my husband (of 35 years) in high school.
A teen pregnancy / marriage that actually worked out. Though I am quick not to recommend it today.
It hasn't always been easy. :)




read advice get advice make favorite read feedback advicenators

<<< Previous Advice Column
Next Advice Column >>>
humorist-workshop

eXTReMe Tracker