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Q: I have an extremley low self esteem...really low. But people tell me that I'm pretty...I can't believe it...So every time I go somewhere I am upset and thinking that I'm hideous and my self confidence is seriously so low...I don't know...what should I do...

www.myspace.com/rockstolemysoul

That's me...

I don't understand why I have such a low self image...but what should I do about it?

Who says you're hideous?? From the looks of it nobody has told you this outright. & besides, you arent truly ugly until your personality gets ugly. Thats when you should worry. & from the sound of things... you get comments that you're gorgeous quite often ^-^

=Cat

Q: okay i'm 14 years old and my dad has been in jail for about 7 years because he almost shot a guy and about 3 weeks ago i wrote him a letter and now he wants me to write him more and come see him in september and im not sure what i should do because this subject is really hard for me and im not really ready to see him yet but my grandparents keep pressuring me to see him and i feel bad about not seeing him because he's my dad and he probably wants to see me really bad i just dont know what to do because i dont want to hurt anyones feelings but im also not ready to see him yet
what do you guys think i should do ?
thanks

Dont see him... continue writing. Just prepare yourself for seeing him in the future, because you should go see him at some point in time. You just need to be ready to face him. Tell them all you want to wait to make the trip to visit. Your dad seems to be happy enough having you writing to him for awhile. He can wait for you a little longer. Hope i helped!

=Cat

Q: ummmm i was just wondering if anybody can tell me how to use weight im 5'7 an weight 150... i was wondering is it ok if i go on a crash diet just eating whole grians????

i'm 5'7 & 150 lbs too! I just recently lost some weight though by quitting pretty much all junk foods excet for a sanack here & there. I eat mostly fruits, vegetables, whole grain, & a little less dairy than normal. (IMA MILK FREAK!) & milk can be somewhat fattening if you drink too much.

Anyway, just balance it out & get the nutrients you need. & dont go over 2000 calories per day, unless you're really active... in that case i would suggest 2200.

=Cat

Q: skinny=?
a little below normal=?
normal=?
fat=?

skinny=115-
a little below normal=120-125
normal=130-135
fat=150+

It all really depends on your build too. Like how athletic & muscular your structure is, or how petite and frail your structure may be.

=Cat

Q: I really like the Virgin Mary tattoos. I think they look really good. Problem is, I'm a Christian and as you know, the Virgin Mary, is a Cathelect (sp) thing.

Do you think it would be wronge for me to get one even though I'm a Christian?

P.S;; I'm 26 and have other tattoos. So please, don't lecture me about them or anything.

Thanks. =]

Just because you have the tattoo... doesnt mean you're a believer. So no, i dont think it would be wrong. & i dont believe that God or Jesus take those things personally. If some of the people at your church community have a problem with it... i'd ignore them. If God doesnt mind it, why should you, or them for that matter?

I'm "Catholic"(i respect you for trying haha) & i do believe in the Virgin Mother... but i just wondered, are there any Christian churches that believe in the Virgin Mary? because i know there are many Christian churches.

=Cat

Q: 14/f. okay so i've been seeing all of these people suggesting people to use proactiv and that it really works. well i've always considered it and my mom said that if all else fails she'll order it for me. but if i use proactiv and it works, then won't i just have to keep ording it for years and years? because if i stop using it won't my acne come back? i've never had REALLY bad acne, but its enough to be annoying and noticable.

is proactiv worth it?
if i stop using it will my acne come back?
and how long do i have to use it until i can safely stop?

I have quite a few friends who use/have used proactiv. Some like it, some dont. & you wont need to use it forever... but you will need to use/order it during teen years because thats when acne is at its worst. It's kind of a 50/50 for me on proactiv. & you kno you can always just stop ordering it & switch to something else! hope i helped ^-^

=Cat

Q: I have an 8 year old son who will be going into 3rd grade.

He played little league baseball this year and loved it.

He had his first football practice yesterday and he wasn't as thrilled about it. Today when it was time for practice he said he didn't want to go. Then when we got there, 1 hour into it he came off the field complaining that he felt like he was gonna throw up. I was concerned about the heat, it's really unusually hot here in upstate NY. But he looked ok, face color normal and he wasn't showing signs of heat exhaustion so I gave him a drink and made him go back out. Not even 5 minutes passed and he was complaining again. This time he refused to go back out and started crying.

So I took him home early and now he is just fine. I KNOW that he was faking it because he didn't want to play anymore.

My problem is, what should I do?

I don't want to push him into playing football if he really doesn't wanna play. But at the same time, he has only been to 2 practices and I feel like he should give it a fair chance before I let him quit. Plus we paid over $100 for him to be on this team.

Should I force him to play, for at least 2 weeks before letting him quit? Or should I just let him quit now?

Thanks for your help

I know i'm not a parent or anything, but its easier for me to put myself in his place... being that i remember what it was like.

When i was that age, my parents supported me in all that i wanted to try, & willingly let me quit if i decided a week later that i despised it. Everything from gymnastics to soccer. I stuck with soccer for 3 years, but quit gymnastics in 3 days. My mom would always make sure that i was positive about my choice. & i understand that you spent a good chunk of money on this... but i wouldnt force him. When i was that young, i just thought that money was easy to obtain because Mommy & Daddy always seemed to have some.

So force him if you feel it must be done. I mean, who knows? He may end up changing his mind! But if you do want to keep him in it awhile longer... i would say not to force him any longer than 2 weeks. Probably less.

& maybe football just isnt his thing! You could just not force him & let him stick with just little league for the time-being. It's what i would do. If my parents would have forced me, I wouldnt have forgiven easily. Just talk it out with him. Tell him it's all right if its something he wants.

& try to find community teams that dont cost so much. 100$ is awfully expensive for a kids team! hope i helped!

=Cat

Q: Ok. My horse Sullivan might be lame and I was just wondering if anyone knows a way to help heal lamnitis faster and how I can help pass time faster while I cant ride him.
Thanks!
♥♥♥♥Meggy and Sully♥♥♥♥

Well what happened to Sullivan to cause his laminitis? If it's an abcess or some open injury to the hoof, soaking is best. If there's swelling, there are cooling gels & other products to help swelling. Since i dont know Sullivan's real diagnosis, (whatever caused his laminitis) i cant give much more than that. Sorry! Hope i helped!

=Cat

Q: Alright, this may seem a little strange that I'm asking this.. but I have no idea what to wear the first day of school. I start the 9th, next wednesday, in Texas. So maybe you could help by giving me examples of what you'd wear the first day?

Haha! I'm going into 9th too! I dont know if you're a guy or girl... but i'm a girl. On the first day, i usually wear something formal yet not formal. Like some new, nice jeans or capris with a nice t-shirt. I dont like giving the impression that i tried too hard, & i dont like to give the impression that i slack & dont care if my clothes are stained & old. I'm more of the tomboy type girl. I live on a farm. But depending on your style... go with something more on the casual side that looks great too! ^-^ Hope i could help!

=Cat

Q: Ok, I have had two (well, more lke 4 but only 2 lasted a long time) leased ponies/horses in my life. Everybody tells me that it is always a good idea to have my lease in writing but I don't. I lease one from my trainer and one from my family friends and have never had problems with either. I guess I'm just looking for a discussion of the good and bad things about getting the lease in writing.

Getting things in writing is always a better choice to avoid terrible things. A girl i knew owned 3 horses, & only got to keep 1. This was all because her instructor took her other 2 since there was no proof of purchase, or, nothing in writing. A possible reason for this not being a problem to you is that the people you leased from are people you know well & are probably alot nicer, more trustworthy, & honest than my friend's trainer. (she was a grinch... literally)

The only disadvantages of needing everything in writing is the HASTLE! It can be a bit of a pain in the bum.

If you truly feel that these people are trustworthy enough, & you know them well enough... then you dont need to worry about it at all. It really is your choice to make. ^-^

=Cat

Q: hi.
i have had my dog for many years and he's been slowing down and has had a hard time standing up.
my question is..... does anyone know any types of food should i try giving him to get his bines stronger and speed him up a little?
thanks alot!!!!!!!

There are many foods for older dogs that are supposed to help these problems! ^-^ Arthritis is a big factor in older dogs. Your dog may just have some arthritis bothering him (or a weight problem, or both. but you didnt specify about a weight problem) I had a 15-year-old dog named Belle who had terrible arthritis from the time she was 8 till she died about 1 and a half years ago. She was on medication prescribed from the Vets office & we fed her some dog food the vet reccomended. So i guess that the main point of this entire paragraph is to suggest seeing a vet! n_n

=Cat

Q: My mom said that if I live with her while I'm in college, I'm going to have to pay her $300 a month on rent. When my mom told me that, I was shocked. Come on, I can pay less than that to share an apartment with one of my friends. Who could do that to their child right out of high school? She lived with my grandparents free of charge while she went to college. They even bought her a car. She isn't doing this because we're poor, because we aren't.

Anywho, is my mom acting like every other mom or is she just being really selfish? She KNOWS that the job I have doesn't pay much.

I know alot of moms like that. From what i can tell, she's just trying to prepare you for the future. Your mom loves you & should have no need to act selfish towards you. ^-^ On the other hand, she could be... because i dont know your mother personally, nor do i know what she's like. She seems to just want to make things more difficult for you so that you know whats coming when you are completely on your own. As you can see, she had everything handed over to her free of charge when she was young... & she probably had to learn the hard way that life is tough, & you need to put in some hard labor for cash. Hope i helped!

=Cat