riverofempathy

[riverofempathy]

See, I misread it as “Why do you grow, distant white boy?”

my husband has this image saved for whenever i grow distant

[riverofempathy]

do it baked, do it wasted, do it to recall how good freedom tasted

do it drunk. do it high

[riverofempathy]

✨ To be loved is to be changed ✨

I've acquired a creature that stares at you no matter which direction you look at it from

[riverofempathy]

Food. A cruise around the world. More food.

what super expensive indulgence would u get for urself if u suddenly came into a bunch of money?? assume all bills/mortgages paid, all friends helped: what treat are u buying just for u?? for me it would be a quilted lambskin chanel bag in iridescent pink

[riverofempathy]

I love noticing details about people like this! It just confirms that we’re all living our lives on a floating rock, separate but together.

Like, when I visited New York City a couple weeks ago, there was a couple that zoomed through the intersection in an electric wheelchair, the woman curled up in the man’s lap. The pedestrian in front of me watched them until they were out of sight, then turned toward me, and I couldn’t help it; I said, “That was adorable!” And he grinned at me.

It was such a happy moment!!

I love seeing people in public. Was out and about today running errands, and passed by a couple that had to be the most Spanish-looking people I'd ever seen, an older couple in their 50s or 60s, smile-lined faces, happy to be here, both with silver-white streaks in solid black hair. There was a younger man walking behind them, I'd guess in his 20s or early 30s, who looked about right to be their son. The young man was pushing an empty toddler stroller, which made me glance around to see where the escaped kid is.

Then the pieces fell into place when I noticed the last person of the group trailing a few steps behind, a woman with two kids with dark brown eyes and dark brown curly hair, laughing and talking to them in finnish. And that's when it clicked to me, oh! :0 The grandparents are visiting! :D

[riverofempathy]

THIS IS WHAT I’VE BEEN SAYING!!

Chief Swan x Doc Cullen ❤️‍🔥​🎀​✨​

Bella : "They're all very attractive" Charlie: "You should see the doctor"

(some sneak peak from the Twilight illustrated pages I'm doing hehe)

[riverofempathy]

Oh my GOD I’m so happy for you!!

Platonic marriage sounds delightful. I’m somewhere on the ace spectrum, just floating around in a little boat on the genderfluid sea. I may or may not try marriage again (the first time taught me a lot, like what I don’t want) but my absolute favorite dynamic is “soulmates who are not a romantic couple because they don’t have to be; their love is so far beyond that, how dare you try to limit it” and I also adore “this is my partner and their partner Steve; they’re on a date, aren’t they adorable?!”

I just love love. 🥹

the concept of platonic marriage is so appealing ngl. you mean i can marry whoever i want, get tax benefits and a roommate AND i don't have to worry about them thinking i'm unattractive? king shit

[riverofempathy]

They say, “A child needs a mother and a father!”

then pay for bombs to be dropped on families.

They say, “Stop shoving your agenda down our throat!”

then ban books that don’t fit their narrow point of view.

They say, “My son can’t wear a dress!”

but other kids can wear bullet holes so adults can keep their guns.

They say, “Don’t have sex if you’re not willing to face the consequences!”

then let a rapist walk free so they don’t ruin his career.

They are so loud in their hypocrisy, their greed, their hatred, their need for control.

I’m sick of it.

Priorities.

[riverofempathy]

My first partner was like this and I genuinely don’t understand why. We were together 10 years; he should have known I was just being empathetic .

i actually get a bit annoyed with people who get a bit annoyed when people say “sorry” in response to their bad news. “why are you apologizing you didn’t do anything :/” like okay well a) you don’t know that and actually yes i am the secret architect of all your woes and have been this whole time, way to refuse to acknowledge a woman (gender neutral)’s accomplishments. and b) we’re both fluent english speakers so you know perfectly well that “sorry” isn’t always an apology and is very commonly used as an expression of general regret or sympathy. not in this case, because i have been your secret nemesis for years, meticulously plotting your every misery, but, like, in general

[riverofempathy]

Absolutely superb post 😂😂😂

[riverofempathy]

Shit, I was just gonna say my mental problems.

[riverofempathy]

So that’s why he was counting all the bugs.

edward likes taking bella to the meadow because she gets eaten up by mosquitos who then become flying little snackies that edward doubles back for. edward leaps about the meadow snatching them up like a bass jumping from a lake

[riverofempathy]

“They’re just doing that to get a reaction out of you.”

“So you agree. They’re the problem.”

Honestly, if you're a kid and an adult tells you "they're just trying to get a reaction out of you :)" as a response to being told that some younger kid is tormenting you, that should count as full permission to punt that little shit. Like I would never hit a child, but if you're seven years old and a five-year-old is being a cunt at you and adults just tell you "oh they just want to find out what happens if they keep doing that", wouldn't only be fair to let them know what happens if they keep doing that?

Siblings should never be left responsible of raising each other, but if adults have decided that they are allowed to fuck around, wouldn't it only be your right - or even downright duty - to let them consequently find out?

[riverofempathy]

The way this kind of interaction with an adult would have rewired my brain instantly as a child….

When I am appointed to represent a child, my first action is to separate them from their parents and tell them the following things:

1. I am their attorney. I do not work for their parent or the judge or the cops. I don’t care what any of those people want.

2. My job is to listen to them and try and make what they want happen in court. (At this point I make a joke about how most people want me to get them out of trouble but if someone wanted to be in trouble I would do my best.)

3. What they tell me is confidential. It goes nowhere unless they agree to it. (If old enough, I talk to them about mandatory reporters, and how I’m a mandatory non reporter.)

4. I will give them lots of advice because I’ve been doing court for a while and I know a lot about it, and they don’t. It’s all really complicated, and if they don’t understand what’s happening it’s my job to help them figure it out.

5. They will make the decisions. (At this point I usually have to reassure them that I’ll help, I’ll speak for them in front of the judge, and I’ve got their back. It’s scary to have an adult say you’re in charge, most of the time.)

6. I tell them I know it’s absolutely wild to have some stranger come in here and say “hey, you can trust me!” and that I get if they don’t believe everything right away, because I plan to show them through my actions and my words that I’ll fight for them.

7. But nonetheless, I will treat them like a person who can make decisions, because they are living their life and I am not.

I do not:

Pretend to be cool.

Try to be their BFF.

Overwhelm them with detail.

Let their parents in the room until the kid asks for them. (I provide openings for this, and ask if the kid wants their parent to help them remember and understand.)

I want to emphasize I went into this job knowing nothing about how to interact with vulnerable populations, especially children. The training was minimal, and my role means that I can literally walk into a facility and get an unmonitored visit with a minor client one on one.

In my years of practice I have never felt threatened by a child, even one that was “violent” and “unstable.” It turns out just saying “hi, I think you’re a person with thoughts” is wildly successful? Now people treat me like I have special Child Whisperer powers. My powers are that I ask the child what’s up and I’m not scared to say things that are objectively awkward. I know nothing about anything.

[riverofempathy]

🫠

I'm not really disabled. My pain just impacts the clothes I wear, what dishware and utensils I use, what household chores I can complete regularly and which ones I have to let fall by the wayside, which careers I can support myself with, and what hobbies I can pursue. That's all! :) :) :)

[riverofempathy]

To that one guy I used to love

[riverofempathy]

These are my people.