Author: JenniferP

Chicago filmmaker, teacher, and blogger.

#1282: “I want to support my friend without helping him with all his class assignments.”

~ JenniferP

Hi Captain, I am trying to figure out how to still be supportive of my friend continuing on to grad school when I recently had to dropout of my own program due to a lot of different reasons (COVID striking my family, online course-work not being a good avenue for me, extra course-work due to … Continue reading #1282: “I want to support my friend without helping him with all his class assignments.”

#1281: “Every conversation with my mom is an interrogation of my life choices.”

~ JenniferP

How does a gentle reminder about doing your laundry from someone who loves you become an existential struggle? Plus, strategies for changing unhealthy communication patterns that do not rely on *persuading* the other person to change for you. Dear Captain Awkward, What are some good scripts for telling my mother I don't want or need … Continue reading #1281: “Every conversation with my mom is an interrogation of my life choices.”

Formatting Weirdness

~ JenniferP

Update (7/6): Have reached the stage of testing a WordPress.com template for general usability & accessibility to see how I like living with it for a couple of days before customizing font sizes & colors for greatest readability & contrast. Thank you for your patience.

#1280: “Am I a terrible daughter for moving out and leaving my mom to care for my grandma?”

~ JenniferP

Hi Captain, I'm the youngest kid in a South Asian family. I've lived with my parents for four years because I have a career in the arts and have only recently started to earn enough money to pay rent and also, like, eat. I've also stayed with them this long because my frail grandma lives … Continue reading #1280: “Am I a terrible daughter for moving out and leaving my mom to care for my grandma?”

#1279: “My metamour isn’t taking social-distancing precautions and my partner is unfazed.”

~ JenniferP

Dear Captain, My partner (P) and I (both mid-30s, she/her) are happily engaged, and have been living together for a few years now. Things have been great. We’ve both had a lot of trauma to work through, and have been nothing but supportive and understanding with each other as each we’ve dealt with our own … Continue reading #1279: “My metamour isn’t taking social-distancing precautions and my partner is unfazed.”

#1277: “Abuse, agency, and the limits of advice.”

~ JenniferP

Behind a cut for mention of physical and emotional abuse of adult children by parents as well as some frustrations and victim-blaming attitudes that are common in friends and support networks of people who are embroiled in abusive situations. Abusers ruin everything, pretty much. Dear Captain Awkward, I (31, nb, he/him) have a friend who … Continue reading #1277: “Abuse, agency, and the limits of advice.”

#1276: “Setting boundaries when there’s a significant power difference (and you’re the one with less)”

~ JenniferP

Hi Captain, I’m wondering if you have a script for setting boundaries where there’s a significant power differential. Briefly, I’ve recently hired a lawyer who specializes in disability rights to represent me in a human rights case against a corporation that discriminated against me based on my mental health disability. The lawyer is very competent, … Continue reading #1276: “Setting boundaries when there’s a significant power difference (and you’re the one with less)”