Women's ways of solving problems.

If you think that when I passed the exams and got my license, all my problems were over, you are wrong. Problems arose often, considering that I drove a car every day. My husband, when I passed my driver's license, said, "It's nothing. Try to handle the maintenance of the car. I didn't want you to learn to drive, and I'm not going to take care of your car." Because the driver has to do it himself.

I was offended, of course. Then I got angry and said to myself, "I'll figure it out somehow, I have to prove to him that I can." Besides, what could be the problem?

Pretty soon it turned out that I didn't know how to fill up my car, and I had to go to gas stations with gas station attendants. I didn't know where the button to open the tank was. They helped me at the gas station (I endured the laughter).

I complained to a friend and she said, "Put on a pink dress and pretend to be a silly doll" at gas stations and car repair shops, which is what I always do. I looked at her surprised and incredulous.

What do you mean, stupid? I'm smart. A friend said "it works." So I bought a pink dress (that's a silly women's dress to me) and wore it to go out on the town. "Don't forget the silly look", said the friend, "no glasses. I decided that if I wore bright colors, I'd look sillier.

Pink scarf, stilettos, the look is complete. I was driving and I was afraid that the car would go bad and I wouldn't fix it, my husband used to scare me about it all the time.

And I started to hear whistling after a few days. The thing is that I did not buy a new car, as I was sure that I would definitely crash it. And then the whistle!

I didn't tell my husband (what's the point?), and went to the car service in my pink outfit. With a silly look I said that there was a "whistling" in the car. And the master looked at me with the expression "what can I take from her, she has no mind at all" and started to look at the car.

It turned out that the belt "on the alternator" had dried out and stretched. The foreman was sure of his diagnosis. And reassured me "buy it and we'll install it right away". What do you mean buy? Where and how to choose it?

Enjoying the fact that he clearly surpasses me in knowledge, the master said that there are no belts for my car, but you can pick up a similar one in the store and gave me a belt in my hands. That means I have to buy it without a car, I can't drive.

I mentally wished the master that his wife would give him tights in his hands like that with the wish "buy tights with the same number of dans". And I went to the nearest store. In the store, happiness was waiting for me from the queue of men at the cash register.

Seeing my unhappy pink visage with the belt "on the alternator" in my hands, everyone started to help me. A discussion ensued as to which one to choose for my mini car. I could see that my friend's method was "working".

I began to breathe easier, and I started to play the image of a "silly blonde" more confidently. In the end, the men chose me a universal wrench for the car (I didn't have one), and happily, with a new belt in my hands, I went to the car service. Further shots of the winner: "they change my belt", and "I'm going home with a victory".

I confidently came home and my husband asked "how was your ride?", "what's with the silly dress?". I carelessly said (I wrote down the phrase in advance): "I actually changed the belt on the alternator today.

And this is my new favorite dress

My daughter is being bullied at school. She is a very sensitive girl and socially awkward at times, and she is an easy target. It breaks my heart to see her fading before my eyes. She's such a bright and kind girl, but her classmates' cruel behavior towards her has been devastating. Because of the constant laughter and humiliation she faces, she’s now certain she is not like all the other kids. They made her think she is “weird” and ugly wearing her glasses. They tease and mock her just for fun. I worry that their verbal attacks will escalate into something more violent.

I've tried to follow the process suggested by the school. I've had a long conversation with her teacher about the bullying. It was frustrating and useless! I feel like my concerns are being dismissed. The teacher's suggesting that my daughter is overdramatizing and that she provokes other children. I simply can’t believe it! We’ve also been to a school counselor, my daughter visited him every Monday and Friday for a month. What’s the point of all this if her classmates keep calling her names, and the teachers do absolutely nothing? What’s the point of cameras and all those extra protection measures? I told her that she can stand up for herself and be mean to all those who tease her. She just can’t be mean. I told her to ignore them, for I know that children get bored and stop once there’s no reaction. But I see that it gets to her. Perhaps it’s my fault that I never prepared her for a constant fight.

She cries every other day when she gets home from school, and she got ill three times since the new year, which I can only believe is the result of this bullying. I really doubt she’s making things up. I just know that my daughter is not overreacting, and it's unfair for her to be made to feel that way. I’m at a loss for what to do to protect her. I feel helpless. Any advice is welcome.

Being from a broken home I believed everything that was happening at home was because of me like if I wasn't born my parents life would have been way different.Till some days back I hated myself so much that I thought what's the point of living such a pathetic life. In 28 yrs I never understood what happiness and peace was because more than ups I only witnessed down's in life that lead me to believe that I am a complete failure, because of me my family couldnt witness good days .For years I had been in trauma ,not being able to tell anyone what I was going through and how I was feeling , thinking no one would ever understand and I will be stuck here life long... Exactly a month back I realised I can't take it anymore leading to severe anxiety and depression.For some days I took therapy felt a little better but as I had to take break for months from work I couldn't afford therapy,had no option so decided to actually experience life once.I went through the root cause of why I felt the way I did realized it was just my thoughts and situations at home which made me believe so ...I journaled,cried for days, accepted all the emotions associated with it , opened all the wounds, dressed them realised they were just wrong beliefs which had nothing to do with me,forgave myself and my loved ones and healing gracefully.I have finally accepted everything and started loving myself...just feeling on top of the world.I thank God for letting me go through this and making me realise how beautiful I am and life is .So my readers I do understand what you are going through its tough but never lose hope till u find the way out through this tunnel... no one is alone... you all are loved and blessed with the gift of life..utilize it to the fullest and never let your thoughts make you believe that they are fact....take that power away from them and give it back to u...Hope it inspires you to smile always ,never give up live your life to the fullest and thanks for the support...

Honestly? I'm exhausted. I'm exhausted from the constant, uninvited intrusion into my personal space. I don't understand the point of catcalling. Never did. Some mornings when I’m just out for a walk, it's the same scenario. A car passes by and I hear a whistle or a comment. Or some dude will comment on something about my body or my make up (if I wear a look that day). It's not flattering, it's not funny, it's just plain triggering at this point.

I work as a barista and I love my job so much. What I don't love is the walk home in the evening. It's as if I am on display, and every passerby feels entitled to comment on my appearance.

I remember one particular incident that still makes my skin crawl. I was walking home late one evening, my headphones in, trying to walk as a fast as possible. A man leaned out of his car window and shouted something that I could barely make out over the music. I ignored it, as I usually do, but he shouted again, louder this time. I felt a cold shiver run down my spine. I felt threatened, and all I wanted to do was get home safely. Thank god I did and nothing bad happened.

People say it's a compliment, but it's not. It's an assertion of power, a way to make me feel small and vulnerable. In my own neighborhood, I should feel safe, but these unsolicited comments make me feel anything but that.

I've tried different strategies to cope with it. I've worn headphones to drown out the noise, I've changed my route home, I've even tried confronting the catcallers, but nothing seems to work.

I wish people understood that I am not an object to be commented on. I'm a person, with feelings and a right to move through the world undisturbed. I'm not sure what the solution is, but I know one thing for sure: I'm tired of catcalling and I will never get it.