The best place to psychoanalyze people is in the bathroom — Hobbies. Everybody seems to have a hobby. But my hobby, my hobby is the best. It’s not like that guy, you remember him? From high school? The one who walked around with what seemed like every book he ever owned clenched tightly in both arms and crammed into the overstuffed…

A trip to a ghetto McDonald’s gets you more than just some fries. “I want McDono’s!” Tyesha yells from the backseat, her high-pitched voice almost a shriek. “Me too!” Travelle pipes in, balling his little hands into two tiny fists and smashing them into his thighs. I glare at them…

Part for five of the bad listener series discusses the different types of judgmental listeners. If you missed part 4 of the series about oppositional listeners, follow the link below. 8 Types of BAD LISTENERS Bad Listener Series — Part 4:medium.com There are different types of judgmental listeners. Some judgmental listeners are judging you. You tell them stories about things going…

Bad Listener Series — Part 4: — In part for four of the bad listener series I discuss oppositional listeners. If you missed part 3 of the series, follow the link below. Bad Listener Series Part 3medium.com Oppositional listeners’ sole purpose in listening to you is so they can contradict everything you say. They are often negative people but sometimes they are…

A Coming of Age Story — It’s the first hot day of the summer. Momma finally let me wear the strapless, short jumpsuit that I’d had to sneak and buy. I’d saved my allowance for weeks — skipping the afternoon snack from Mr. O’Neal’s store that I wasn’t supposed to be having anyway. That sacrifice has…

Part 3 — In part 3 of the Bad Listener Series, the Your-Worries-Ain’t Like-Mine Type of bad listener is discussed. These listeners are a subcategory under Switchers — those who only listen to your conversation in order to find something they can use to switch the conversation to themselves. …

Part 2 — “Most people do not listen with the intent to understand: they listen with the intent to reply.” Steven Covey So, we have discussed bad listener type 1, The Uh-huher, in the first part of the series. If you didn’t get a chance to read it, here’s the link: Bad Listener Series Part 1medium.com Now on…

A Tale of a Teenage Pregnancy — Ended — ***Trigger warning: this story details the experience of ambiguity or regret during an elective termination. It may be difficult for some readers*** The air is suffocating me. The smell of alcohol, antiseptic and cleanliness threatens to smother me as I sit in the cushioned chair, anxious and afraid, sandwiched between…

Part 1 — So begins my BAD LISTENERS’ series. I’m sure we all know one…or some... or a whole bunch of them. And we must be cautious not to BE one. Bad listener type 1: (These may not be in any particular order, but, in my opinion, this is the worst type) The Uh-huher These are people who, well, just don’t listen to others at all. They honestly, don’t care about what’s going on in other people’s lives. …