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: 576479


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

ok so my older sis is 15 years old. she is getting her lisence next month. yesterday my sis was doing the laundry when she put her clothes in she didn't realize that her permit was in the back pocket! so then when she was putting them in the dryer she just realized she left it in the back pocket of her jeans that she JUST WASHED!! so then she takes out the permit. there it was all weird feeling, and all wrinkly. (kinda like cotton) to get another permit u have to pay $35!! SO PLEASE help me and my sis make up a story that my parents will believe so they won't find out it got ruined cause she washed it!! (link)
How about the truth? Its a perfectly
legitimate mistake. I am sure
your mom has done something similar
in her clothes washing career. :)

Really no story you make up is going
to change the outcome. So don't make
something up. Just tell it like it
happened.


one day my mom said we were going to this wedding the wedding wasn't for 2 days but all the guests came and talked and stuff we brought my friend and his mom to it his dad was going to come later it was fun we were haveing a good time and i saw my friends dad staring at me all of a sudden i didn't like the way he was looking at me so i got up and went a away then i saw him continuously stare at me i felt uneasy but it was time to go home at the wedding i was out with the boys watching them play football and i saw my friends dad there coming continously over(staying at a distance) and staring at me i thought maybe he was mad at me and didn't like me because he never talks to me then when i was waiting to get my food he looked like he wasn't looking at me but he was! i saw his eyes and he kept that up even when i was eating then i decided to move to outside with the boys then i went back in for some punch and back out to go the boys and there he was! he came towards me and i opened the door for him and he stared at me going out...i am now having nightmares and everywhere i go people mention about him or somthing relating to him it is driving me nuts! what should i do? do u think he is a "weirdo" and in bad weird or what? (link)
He was obviously staring or looking at
you in a way that wasn't normal. If you
feel uncomfortable then always follow
that instinct. They are rarely wrong.

Discuss this with your mother and ask
her advice. I know it may be hard to
talk about but tell her it made you
nervous. Next time you have to be at
a gathering where he is present, she
can watch and see what she thinks.

In the meantime stay clear away from him.
Friends dad or not there are some strange
people out there. Do not confront him alone
or go anywhere near him. It may have been
nothing to worry about but do not take
that chance.


Okay, well Im 17 and going on the birth control pill but I don't know how to take it. Im going on Levlen ED pills and its a 21 day with 7 inactive. How do i take it? Is there a calender I could use with the coloured days of when to take and stop? Also, Im planning on going to my boyfriend's house in 13 days so is there any way i can delay my periods by then?? (link)
If you haven't gone to the doctor
for your pills yet, don't worry.
You will be told how to take them.

You will take them for 21 days.
have 7 days off, during that time
you will have your period. Then
you start all over again.

They come in a packet separated.
No calender needed. You will
need to have taken your pills
at least 30 days, in most cases,
before you can have sex without
using another form of protection.
Remember the pills do not protect
you against STDS.


last night i had sex with my boyfriend and for the first time in like three weeks. I'm almost positive that he wouldn't cheat on me but i guess i don't know i'm really confused and kinda scared. Sorry for graphicness but i was pleasuring him orally and i felt these weird little things on him.. and i was just like what ever which was stupid but yeah. Now i have them on the opening around my holes and they burn... they look kinda like little taste buds or something.. is this an std or what? (link)
Since we are not doctors and no one can
tell you for certain, you need to see
your doctor or go to your local health
department. The health department is
the most affordable, many times free.

I know you already know this but it can't
be said enough. YOU come first. ALWAYS
make sure you are protected. The only
persons history you know for certain is
your own. No matter how much you feel
you can trust them.

Make it a rule from now on.
No Condom, No where near me!
Don't buy into that "If you loved me",
"Its only for a minute", "I'm a virgin",
or "I've been tested" BS.

You can't be to careful. Some STD's
Like AIDS and herpes are forever.
Don't panic but go get checked.


so did i tell you before we even became friends..i had this slight thing that i wanted to be in a relationship with him..but i knew that was a bad thing..and i never told him about that..since i found no reason to do that..since that would just mess our perfect shot to be friends.

well now i wish they hadnt broken up..ever since they did..i seem to be wanting to be in a relationship with him more and more.

i think im gonna slam my head into a wall soon..i dont know what to do. i obviously cant talk to him about it gah. =[ (link)
Well you can talk to him about it but wait
until he is over his ex. Let the friendship
grow first and it may just come naturally.


you know i,m sitting here telling you this...and i cant believe what i,m doing !because i always think that my problems nobody should have a burden to listen to them!ihave been living like this since i can remember since i was 3 or 4 and i always tought and felt that i be better off dead then alive,....i'm 36 now and married and have 3 beatiful kids and amazinly a great beautifull wife of 16 years of marriage ,...and i canot understand why sometimes i dont want to live!..........right now they era visiting her family in la and i,m having thoughts of suicide and i,m crying like a little baby and i believe and god but can not understand why he hasnt taken this pain away....... (link)
Have you talked with a doctor?
It sounds like you are depressed.
You know you wouldn't be better off
if you were dead. You are sad your
family isn't with you right now and
that is just aggravating the depression.

Please talk to a medical professional
about this. Your regular family doctor
will do. Doesn't have to be a specialist
of any kind unless your doc refers you to
someone else. I have known many (my mom
included) who were helped tremendously
by taking a simple medication.

Good luck.



My daughter is a great kid straight a student a a rising sophmore in college.
She started dating her boyfrined at 16 and recently moved in with him as a 19 year old. Her boyfriend has talked about marriage almost from the start. Before this relationship she was not even sure she wanted to be a mom certainly not for awhile.

She has a scolarship thatis based onher grades and portfolio and wants to graduate first n her class. We give her some money in addition to that so she wouldnt have to worry about eating out and we wanted her to enjoy her youth .We bought her a car and pay for all her other expenses.

She recently got a job and is working alot probably to help with the rent(she has an option to have a free dorm room included in her scholarship which she is declining next year if she staysin her boyfriends apt.

he is really a nice guy but I feel like he is way too serious my daughter is very pretty and has a heart of gold.

I dont want to alienate her and have never had to punish her before (that I can remember)

we were permissive parents .
I just want her to reach her full potential and I dont want to be facilitating this relationship. If they started dated five years from now after they finished school and were working I think I wouldnt object to the relationship

My husband is going to talk with her...something we should have done earlier I expect.

Do you have some unbiased advice. We are also worried he will not land a "good job" he is stuggling but hoping to become an engineer but I am not sure he will be able to finish his degree

He is a nice boy but insecure in the relationship which is lkely why they are living together.

What can we do as parents.she knows we dont approve in the level of seriousness already we have talked abut that before

I cnat believe she moved in with hm his mom as cosigned the loan...she adores my daughter as well. I expect his mom knows how we fell and wouldnt approve of living together..should I call the mother she is a single parent (link)
I think as hard as it will be you have to
do some very hard things. Your daughter will
have to as well.

Sit her down and both you and your husband
should let her no that you will no longer pay
for extras. I know, I know, its hard to do.
BUT, she feels she is an adult so lets give
her all those responsibilities that go along
with that. She is 19, an adult and makig her
own decisions.

Let her know you like her boyfriend. That
is not the issue. However, if she has moved
from your home and into his, he will have
to help her with the needs a parent doesn't
help a "married" child with.

Car, Insurance, school supplies, food,
clothing and all other needs are no
longer your responsibility. They belong
to the adult child and her significant
other.

Just be calm about it. Very matter of fact.
She can secure her future, use the dorm
and be a student or she can be a struggling
student with a live in lover and adult
responsibilities. You aren't cutting her
off, she has choices to make. Lets hope she
makes the right ones for her. Either way
she will do fine.

It probably can't hurt to talk to his mom
though I don't know if she will cooperate.


What do you think about the children who come to this site, at the ages of 12-14 asking sexual questions? Questions that aren't educational, yet nasty, disrespectful, and questions which tell their age? Are you comfortable as adults answering them or would you rather them not be able to ask those type of questions on this site?

The morals of our youth today really concern me. For the most part, it's not 100% about the question, it's about the words they chose to use while asking it. This is why there are so many STD's, AIDS, teen pregnancies today. It saddens me that some of the questions deal with anal sex, oral sex, size of penises, except they use the D word and P word. I had no idea of what some of these things even meant to begin asking when I was 13? What are some of your opinions and feelings on this subject? seriously & are you as older teens, and adults OK with answering those type of questions from these children that think they are grown and have no idea of what it's like to be grown in the real world? (link)
We are not going to promote teen sex.
We should not be telling them how to
perform sex acts.

However, just because the questions
aren't educational, doesn't mean
your answer can't be. Give them info
on being responsible without being rude
about it. Just don't go into detail
on how to give a BJ or HJ or how to
masturbate. Ask your partner is a
good enough answer (If you are to
embarrassed why you doing it).

Writing an answer that is "do this,
then do that, And don't bite...LOL.
(DUH)Just looks and sounds disgusting
to me. And very juvenile.

If the question has made it past
approval then file an abuse report
and request it be removed. We do
let one by now and then to see
how they get handled. Most of the
time they are handled very poorly.

I am old and it bothers me that
the young ones are asking about
some of the things they do.

I'm not comfortable answering
and usually won't unless I see some
really bad information being given.
I don't really want that sort of
thing on my column.


can you use hair removal cream for legs and stuff on your vagina as long as you don't get it like inside or around it? i hate shaving that space because it gets stubbly and really uncomfortable. i'm not really a fan of waxing either, any suggestions?

thanks =] (link)
NO! Your bikini area skin is much more sensitive.
Using leg hair remover will cause some really
nasty burns that can be painful and sore for days.

I have worked in doctors offices and seen some
really bad results from doing that so PLEASE,
use a cream made for bikini area.


i thought of that..but i think advicenators is faster. haha

they should get a IM/chat message thing for advicenators..besides the chatroom..hah (link)
I don't think the site will ever get any kind of messaging. Though I think a new, improved site
ran chat may be looked into in the future.


i will, i will. for now my current goal is to let go/find a way past the fact i think my mom is starting to dislike him =[

erhh..

we should find a way other than advicenators to chat, we practically have conversations on a advie column..which isnt that against the rules of advicenators? lol (link)
My email is on my column. Feel free to email me.


hopefully who knows.. he was after her for 2 years.
he's a wreck right now. :-\
and i had so much to tell him today..and i couldnt tell him..
im like gsdjsagdj =[

erh oh well i can wait. (link)
Let me know how the party goes.
Hope he is feeling better by then.
It will take a while but thats ok.


yep yep. well it hurt when my mom said hes seems like an asshole.

but today i was saw him..and he was all -_-
but in a way it seemed like he was ignoring me compared to everyone else.
idunno..but it hurts a bit...im new to this whole "were not best friends" thing..and gah yeah.

plus even if they didnt break up i would have gave him space anyways..i planned on to begin with after we hung out today..but its all okay i suppose.. were going to a graduation party in 2 weeks..he'll be better then..i think? i hope..who knows...the party is the day before what should be their 7 months :-\ (link)
I should think he will feel better by then.
Lets hope so!



I need help. So my dad got remarried like 5 years ago. Well, my stepmom is kinda cool. She really tries to be nice to me and my sister and i like spending summers there. Well, id like to be closer to her but my mom all she does is talk bad about my stepmom. She is always making nasty comments about her and my dad. I love my dad and my mom and my stepmom and I want a relationship with all them. How can I get my mom to stop talking about my Dad and stepmom? Ive told my school councelor and she told me that its really bad to say hateful things about the other parent to the kids. I told my mom this but she does it anyway. I need advice (link)
I agree with LOL. You have to really
let your mom know that you don't like
her talking bad about your dad and
step mom.

Tell her you realize they aren't her
favorite people, and thats ok. You aren't
asking her to like them. But your
relationship with them is different.

If she doesn't hear you after talking
to her again, then walk out of the room
when she starts in or simply don't
comment at all on her remarks. Sooner
or later she will stop, I hope. :)


soooo its been 2 weeks today that we have been friends.
and he and his gf just broke up..
and i sensed something wrong the last week or so with them..
he wasnt always happy when we were were around each other..and it always happened right before he saw her or right after he saw her..anyways tomorrow he was suppose to come over for this sandwich my mom was going to make back in december but he couldnt come over, he IMed me earlier saying he didnt want it, he didnt mean to be rude..and that he just wants to be left alone, no buts or had to's, no IMs, calls or texts. and i already knew what he wanted he didnt have to say it..but it hurts since...i was always there and now im like...yeah..i have to watch knowing he isnt okay..and idunno..i told my mom he wasnt gonna come over..and shes all why..and im all "he broke up with his gf" and then shes like "then he we can just drp it off" and im like "yeah he doesnt want it" and then shes all "maybe hes turning into an asshole..too.." and it made me cry knowing she just said that...everyone is saying he is an asshole..and he isnt..and idunno...i cant escape this...

it hurts to see him not okay.
knowing i cant be all "im here whats wrong?"
and its hurts trying to walk away from him like this...
idunno why im crying..there are so many reasons why..and i dont know the exact reason or is it because of all the reasons..erhh....:-\ (link)
Wanting to be alone for a while is normal
when you break up with someone. I know
your first instinct is to want to help.
He was polite about it so respect his
wishes for a while. Give him a week or
two to get back to normal. I don't
think he is being an asshole this time.

Give him a little time and all will be fine
soon. :)


I have 2 questions in 1. how do you know when a male has hit puberty? and, what age does a male hit puberty? (link)
This will answer all your questions and more.

http://www.coolnurse.com/puberty_stages_guys.htm


My boyfriend is constantly putting me down, saying that I am fat, and stupid, and he calls me names all the time like b*tch and c*nt. This makes me cry all of the time. And when he sees me crying, he calls me a baby and says I need to grow up. He says he cares about me, but caring means that you help me feel better when I am upset, instead of yelling at me like he does. I can't leave him because we have a 1 yr old son together and plus, if I did leave, I have no where to go, and I can't afford anything. I want to kill myself, but I won't because of my son. Does anyone have any advice for me? (link)
Having a child together is not a good
reason to put up with abuse. How long
before he starts calling him names and
abusing him too?

There is help out there.

If violence is a concern, you should
consider staying at a local domestic
violence shelter until you can find
somewhere else to live. Domestic
violence shelters can provide a safe
place to stay, as well as legal assistance, financial assistance, counseling,
help finding a job, and help relocating.

Here is a number that may help you with
what to do. The National Domestic Violence
Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE.

Keep in mind that abuse doesn't have to
leave bruises. Emotional abuse is just
as bad and leaves you feeling like you do
now. Depressed and feeling you have to stay.
You don't. Call the number above and if
they can't help, they can sure tell you
who can. Good luck. :)


im fourteen female, and soo many people in my family have lived through or died of cancer, nineteen died that i know about. my mom thinks i have cancer but shes not freakin out or anything, is she just tryin to keep me calm. im leaving on vacation in two days and i really dont wana get it checked out before i leave so i worry about it all vacation, im going through alot, and when i go im getting checked out for bipolar, depression, restless leg syndrom,stomach problems notjustlilproblems and i say adhd but my mom says i dont but every possible thing leads up to it. plus im trying to help two of my best friends out their both suicideal n iv been through it everyone else is makin it worse, and iv been getting heartbroken by the same jerk so many times, we were bffs, and everyone i love dies when i get close to them D:
i just dont wana ruin my vacation, im loosing it i dont feel good at all so many things are happening to me and i cant even cry, i might sound stupid but i just wana go somewhere with my family if its the last time. sooo should i get checked out about cancer, its a very big mole that was a speck when i was a baby but it has grown so fing big and it looks cancerous?
but what else could i do for the rest of the stuff typed up there too? please help me on any of it or all. i refuse a phsycologist or any of thoes people. iv had a very hard life mainly the mental side of it. but i just wana live happy and forget all this, im also leaving alll my friends for highschool next year, i can be the friendliest person ever if im ina good modd but im such a botch if im not. please help me, i need many opinions (link)
Not all moles are cancerous. They are very
common to have. My husbands family has had
a lot of cancer deaths as well. The best
prevention is yearly physicals to catch it
in its earliest stages where it is more
curable.

So, go to the doctor. Ease your moms mind
as well as your own. It is probably harmless
but why put it off with your family history?
You will be able to enjoy vacation a lot more knowing you are fine. Getting all your problems
under control will help you to enjoy your
vacation so much more. :)


ok, so my friends and i went to this club on a teen/all ages night. we're 17. my boyfriend who's 18 didnt want me going bc he says that me dancing with other guys is a form of cheating. i disagree with that. i can understand if me and some other guy were groping all over each other or kissin or whatever, but i dont think dancing with someone else is cheating. even if i do grind/dance with another guy, my boyfriend is the only one i care about and want to be with. he said he understands that, but he still doesnt like it. i would never have it in my heart to cheat on him, or anyone else. in your opinion, is dancing a form of cheating? (link)
Personally, I don't think its cheating.
We can all tell you that, but in the end
the only opinion that matters here is what
your boyfriend thinks. He isn't right, but
if he thinks its cheating he will be mad
regardless of what we say.

If you think you will doing a lot of dancing
without him, it may be best to re-evaluate
having him as a boyfriend. He probably
won't see it any different and its going to
cause problems. :)


how long do you have to wait after starting the pill until you don't have to use another form of contraceptive (like condoms) anymore? or i guess i'm asking how long until the pill is fully effective? (link)
Most doctors will advise 30 days,
regardless of packet information.
This is to make absolutely sure
you are protected. :)




read advice get advice make favorite read feedback advicenators

<<< Previous Advice Column
Next Advice Column >>>

eXTReMe Tracker