Aight girl-

Foreign Cuisine-
How to Eataly - Oscar Farinetti - We made the most AMAZING brisket meatballs and a super simple yet completely delicious red sauce out of this book
Around My French Table - Dorie Greenspan - Where the Cornish hens and gougeres came from.
Real Korean Cooking - Maangchi - Korean Fried Chicken. We've made them twice now because they're so good and can't wait to do more.
Mexican Everyday - Rick Bayless - Learned how to make perfect guac from this book and so far we've made these v tasty chorizo/mushroom/potato tacos. The recipe is SO cheap and SO voluminous that we had it as a taco filling, a quesadilla filling, and we're making a hash with it for brunch this morning.
Every Grain of Rice - Fuchsia Dunlop - We haven't tried anything out of here yet but there are sooooo many good-looking recipes in here.
Entice with Spice - Shubhra Ramineni - Likewise, haven't made anything out of here yet but looking forward to trying it all out soon.
Jack's Wife Freda - Dean & Maya Jankelowitz - This is actually a book from a restaurant that my fiance and I LOVED when we last visited NYC. It's got a lot of fusion recipes. Mediterranean/Israeli/South African/etc. Really unique flavors and also v comfort-food based. We're making rosewater waffles out of this book tomorrow!


Baking-
Rose's Baking Basics - Rose Levy Barenbaum - This book is incredible. She has tons and tons of step-by-step photos which is SUPER helpful. We made the dark chocolate caramel tart out of this book, but pretty much everything in here looks amazing.
Modern Baking - Donna Hay - I mean... There is some INSANELY decadent looking stuff in here. We haven't tried any of these recipes yet but I can't wait to!


Misc-
Cook Like a Pro - Ina Garten - It was really hard to pick just one Ina book but I liked most of the recipes in this one. She has this ridic recipe for a dijon mustard chicken that is INCREDIBLE. Also, this bitch knows how to cook some veggies. Big fan of this one.
The Food Lab - /u/j_kenji_lopez-alt - I just love this guy, tbh. We've made a really fantastic beef tenderloin out of this book and an incredible red wine sauce to go with it and of course, his famous roasted potatoes which are now my holy grail recipe for roasted potatoes. This book is like a science textbook only instead of boring stuff it's FOOD science, which is my favorite kind.


Those were all the ones we purchased ourselves (though technically Eataly was a gift BUT we love it and plan to use it often.) We have other cookbooks in our stable that we've received as gifts, which is what resulted in my fiance and I deciding we wanted to embark on this journey. We kept being given cookbooks and never doing anything with them. But man, do people love it when you send them pics of stuff you cooked out of a book they gave you. If people give you cookbooks, use them!! It will make their day to see it's being used. Here's what else is on our cookbook shelf-


The Forest Feast Gatherings - Erin Gleeson - This is a vegetarian book my fiance's mom gave us a few years ago for Christmas. We have a bunch of veggie friends (and friends with a lot of different allergies) so we turn to this book to have a few things that are edible by all of them when we have them over, as we often do. This book has a really delicious salad that has pomegranate seeds, pear, and hazelnut that is out of this world good. I also got my HG salad dressing from this book.
The Salad Bowl - Nicola Graimes - Another gift from my fiance's mom. Is she trying to tell us something?? Honestly haven't looked much into this book yet but it sure is pretty.
The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook - Dinah Bucholz - This was a gift from the assistant in my office. Everyone in my office knows me as the Harry Potter girl because I have a lightning bolt tattoo, haha. We haven't made anything out of this yet, but we probably will have some sort of epic feast with recipes from this book when GoT starts back up later this year.
Talk About Good - Louisiana Lafayette Junior League - My boss gave this to my fiance and I as part of an engagement gift. My fiance went to school in New Orleans. It's primarily New Orleansian/Cajun food. Haven't made anything out of it yet, but we are looking forward to it.

And that's what's on our cookbook shelf for now.

edit also omg thanks for the gold!! <3

6 is a pretty common age for having questions about these things! Don't worry.

My stepson started asking me questions when he was late 6 and early 7. He went with a more direct route - he just asked how babies get in the mommy's tummy - and I was very casual and upfront about it. My parents were very open with me and they basically answered any question we had, from "how does the sperm get to the egg" when we were little to "what's a blowjob" and "what's an orgasm" when we were in middle school. So I just did the same - I answered his questions without being silly or embarrassed and let the conversation grow from there. (Some of this I am c/p-ing from a previous thread because it's long, sorry!)

I never had "the talk" as a kid and have not gone that way as a parent. My basic philosophy - which was also my parents' - is that if you ask a question, you get an answer. That answer is accurate and true, but not necessarily completely comprehensive. When my stepson asked, "What makes a baby?" I talked about sperm, and eggs, and how the daddy has the sperm and the mommy has the egg, and when the two meet, it is the beginning of a baby. He then asked how the two meet, so I talked about penises and vaginas, said the man and woman get so close to each other that the penis goes into the vagina, and the sperm come from the penis and travels to the egg, etc. After that he surprised me by going a completely different route and asking about the word "sexy" and if what people mean when they say "sexy" is that they want to have a baby, and I said it can be really confusing, because lots of times people don't use the right word for what they really mean. Like, in songs, people sometimes say "sexy" when they mean "pretty" or "smart," or if someone says a car looks really sexy, they obviously don't want to have a baby with a car - they mean it looks really cool. We thought of some times that people have used the word sexy and brainstormed words we thought they might have been able to use instead, to be more clear. etc.

Some weeks later he heard someone talking about an accidental pregnancy in a TV plot and he asked how you could accidentally get pregnant. I said that people don't only have sex to make a baby - sex also feels good and that it is something that grown-ups do when they love each other very much, sort of like a very intense and intimate way of hugging someone. And so sometimes people have sex even if they don't mean to have a baby, but sex can always lead to a baby, and that's why it's important to not have sex until you are really a grown-up and you have met someone you love very much.

That sort of thing. I find that answering the question but not necessarily going in with complete and total disclosure from the get-go opens the door for a more conversational tone - an ask-and-answer format rather than a one-directional monologue - and also lets the kid decide how far the talk goes. Basically I leave room for silence and reflection in the conversation, instead of just filing the awkward space with more words. I think that few kids who ask where babies come from are necessarily interested in hearing about orgasms, accidents, birth control, STIs, whatever. Like, after I explained sex, I honestly never would have even thought to talk about the word "sexy" and its various uses in pop culture, but OF COURSE that was something my stepson already had a budding familiarity with, and so of course he was fitting this new information - what sex actually means - into that context. If I had just done a Wikipedia monologue he might never have gotten a chance in the rhythm of the conversation to ask about the word "sexy," and we never would have had that super awesome talk. For that reason I can't imagine just having "a talk" - I think that kids start being ready to hear some of this stuff so young, and then are ready to hear other parts so much later, that I can't imagine talking about it all at once - it would be way to early or way too late either way, and just miss the point entirely one way or the other. Usually in my experience if they are ready for more information, they will innately hear that my explanation only answers their question by making them think of more questions, and they will prompt me to keep going by asking the next question. If they do not "hear" the next question in themselves - the next how or why - then I usually figure that they are just not at that point yet. Sometimes I prompt it a little bit if I sense that they may be shy but if they don't bite I usually let it be.

This all, of course, relies heavily on the fact that your kid will ask you and not just google. To initiate the conversation yourself and prompt questions, books can be great. I am a huge fan of It's Not The Stork, which explains everything accurately - from bodies, to girls/boys, to puberty, to boys/men and girls/women, to sex, to fertilization, to gestation, to birth. There is also a section on adoption and non-traditional families, and a section on good/bad touches. It is not silly but it is also not clinical or embarrassing; it is illustrated but not dumb or condescending. It's actually the first of a three-part collection - the next two books are aimed at older children and have more detailed information - but this one is written for kids as young as 4 and IMO is totally appropriate for kids that young so it's a good one to start with.

We also have A Child Is Born, which has some truly amazing pictures of embryos and unborn babies at various stages of gestation. My step-son's interest in sex came heavily from a baby-interested place - sex, bodies, etc were just the explanation, for him - so this book is a total favorite; if your son is coming more from a body-curiosity place it may not be as relevant to him, but I know that the book gets a lot of flipping-through in our home so it's worth considering. It also has some pictures of the women that the babies are growing in, which can help contextualize the "boobies" that your son may be curious about.

When it comes to "tough questions," whatever they are, I try to always control my reaction and make it a casual conversation. No stammering, pet names, giggling, etc. We joke sometimes but only if it's a joke we would normally make - I mean, like, no laughing as you're explaining it, but also don't just turn into a robot. It's surprisingly easy and liberating to talk to a kid frankly about sex and bodies, I think, because a lot of times once they sense that you are not embarrassed to answer, they are not embarrassed to ask, and that can be a really sweet thing to see.

tldr: You have tremendous opportunities. There are tools to help you move forward more easily.

---

Just to be sure I'm understanding, how accurately does the following describe your situation?

• you've experienced lack of compassion, reliability, and accountability with family members;
  
• you continue to live with family for cultural, religious, and financial reasons;
  
• your family isn't emotionally healthy or emotionally supportive;
  
• you haven't found a role in society that you enjoy yet where society sufficiently supports to your lifestyle through compensation;
  
• you haven't gathered a reliable and consistent circle of friends yet;
  
• you believe you're not good enough or deserving enough to have your needs, desires, and dreams satisfied;
  
• you believe that your circumstances won't change, no matter what choices or actions you take, no matter what time, energy, money, and other resources you apply to change your situation;
  
• you believe that enduring suffering is the rational choice since influencing change is impossible;
  
• you experience depression plus loneliness in terms of companionship, friendship, and romance; plus,
  
• you dream of photography, writing, and travel.
  
  ---
  
  It sounds like your circumstances are difficult. At the same time, your current situation is a sign of your incredible wisdom and persistence; you've achieved a lot in a short period of time. You have tremendous potential to move beyond your current circumstances, onto a path where you can meet your needs, experience the things you desire, and pursue your dreams. Most notably, the following:
  
  
• you're in a sufficiently/minimally healthy and safe place with free housing and meals;
  
• you're aware of your struggles and exploring potential solutions;
  
• most people earn their bachelor's degree at 22; you have a Masters degree at 23;
  
• most people are in significant debt, not just college related, at age 23; you have $11k in savings; and, most importantly,
  
• your have incredible wisdom and persistence, very powerful foundations to make change;
  
  ---
  
  Do you have a life coach or mental health therapist? It sounds like you might experience learned helplessness.
  
  ---
  
  Have you explored meditation and mindfulness? It might be helpful to either read, listen to, or watch content related to meditation (to quiet the internal negative voices) and mindfulness (to embrace natural suffering of life while inspiring experimentation to use your experiences, talents, and other resources to improve the world around you as much as possible, not only for yourself, but also for others around you). Regardless of your religious and spiritual beliefs, meditation and mindfulness might offer many useful perspectives and habits that are compatible with most (if not all) religious and spiritual communities. Perhaps just start with listening to Acknowledging Suffering by Gil Fronsdal, which is part of The Twelve Steps to Freedom series while your mindlessly browsing the 'nets. Or, Suffering and the End of Suffering Series - Talk 1, Talk 2, Talk 3, and Talk 4. Note the concepts that resonate most with you, then explore those using a variety of mindfulness and meditation resources, perhaps including the following:
  
  
• Common Ground Meditation Center Audio Library
  
• Dharma Seed Audio Library
  
• Thich Nhat Hanh Dharma Talks Blog/Audio
  
• Amaravati Buddhist Monastery Audio Library
  
• Audio Dharma
  
• Shambhala Meditation Center Audio Library
  
• Awake in the World Podcast
  

• The Daily Meditation Podcast
  

  
  

  ---
  

  
  

  Have you read Tao of Pooh written by Benjamin Hoff? Imagine you are a block of wood. Would it be better – more compassionate, more wise, and more persistent — to shape yourself to fit into the world as it is, or find a place where you naturally fit in as you are, or a little bit of both?
  

  
  

  ---
  

  
  

  Have you read the book The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom written by Don Miguel Ruiz? It suggests that simply doing 4 things will help to slowly improve your life and the world around you, perhaps not day-to-day or week-to-week or even month-to-month, but fairly noticeably from year-to-year, and certainly over an entire lifetime.
  

  
  

  ---
  

  
  

  Have you taken the Myers-Briggs personality test? It may be helpful to better understand your personality type and natural tendencies. Granted, personality tests are not 100% accurate. But, even if they are only 80% accurate, having some awareness about your personality and tendencies may be helpful for discovering the best path available for your life's journey. Sufficiently valid and reliable (and most importantly, free) versions of the test can be found via 16Personalities, Truity, and Humanmetrics. Once you identify your personality type, you can learn more about that type on those and other websites. Note that characteristics that resonate most with you. Ignore the ones that don't.
  

  
  

  ---
  

  
  

  Have you identified strategies to make the most of your limited time, energy, talents, finances, and other resources with your unique circumstances given the world around you? What are your strengths and weaknesses? What opportunities and threats/challenges exist in the world around you? How might you apply your strengths to the world's opportunities as your unique empowerment strategies? How might you apply your strengths to the world's threats/challenges as your unique improvement strategies? How might you apply your weaknesses to the world's opportunities as your unique assistance strategies? How might you apply your weaknesses to the world's threats/challenges as your unique avoidance strategies? For example, in a table like this with 3 to 5 bullet points in each of the 8 main sections (i.e. not the upper left-hand corner box):
  

  
  

  External / Internal | Strengths to Maximize | Weaknesses to Minimize
  

  ---------------------|:------------------------:|---------------------------:
  Opportunities to Maximize | Empowerment Strategies | Improvement Strategies
  Threats / Challenges to Minimize | Assistance Strategies | Avoidance Strategies
  
  ---
  
  What are your core values? What do you believe is the purpose of life, in general, or better yet: the purpose of your life, specifically (especially if you've identified strategies to make the most of your limited time, energy, talents, finances, and other resources with your unique circumstances given the world around you)?
  
  ---
  
  Have you explored how you might build a decently-paying job or career in light of your limited time, energy, talents, finances, and other resources with your unique circumstances given the world around you? Have you read Business Model You: A One-Page Method For Reinventing Your Career written by Tim Clark, Alexander Osterwalder, and Yves Pigneur? Or, explored ["how might I get started as a travel blogger or photographer?"](https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+get+started+as+a+travel+(blogger+OR+photographer)
  

I don't know a lot of titles for the youngest ages, though the Junie B. Jones and Magic Treehouse books are favorites of my mother's elementary-aged students. Speaking of magic, you can't go wrong with The Magic Schoolbus. Oh! And Where the Wild Things Are.

As suggested by /u/jpop23mn, the Berenstein Bears are great books for young readers (I loved them so much as a kid), and Dr. Seuss is classic.

For middle-schoolers, I recall enjoying Maniac Magee (though I don't recall much about it), lots of Bruce Coville's monster books, the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series, and one of my favorites, The Phantom Tollbooth. My sister enjoyed the Warriors series (and still reads them now as a college student). Then there's classics like Where the Red Fern Grows and Bridge to Terabithia, though those books cover some difficult subject matter (death).

Ghost stories are much beloved, and if you can find folklore and fable specific to various cultures, you can learn about other cultures while enjoying a good story!

Some other fantastic books to have around are The Daring Book for Girls and The Dangerous Book for Boys, both of which teach all kinds of fantastic information and skills while also being entertaining. I especially urge you to get the Daring Book for Girls if you have a daughter, because it not only teaches useful skills like changing tires and woodworking, but it also teaches about strong, independent, successful women through history. It promotes independence, self-esteem and self-confidence, which (in my opinion) are vital to any young person's upbringing, but especially women, since so much of the media and society seems bent on making women insecure, dependent and subservient. (Please excuse my politics.)

The Chronicles of Narnia are fantastic, if you don't mind that they're a religious allegory. When I was a kid, I read them for fun, and didn't give a damn about the religious aspect. (I'm agnostic.) Another good series is the Dark Materials series, though some parents avoid it because of Pullman's anti-religious sentiments. Again, I didn't care about that, I just enjoyed a good story.

Hopefully, with a big enough selection of books, your kids will be able to choose their own books by high school. But it's still nice to keep around some young adult and adult novels for the kids to explore. The Dragonlance novels are fantasy novels set in a D&D-inspired world, but this setting has more of a chivalric, idealistic mood, which is good for young adult readers as well as adults. You've also got the Harry Potter series, which is kind of a given...

The challenge is finding adult novels that are appropriate for your kids. If you are trying to avoid exposing your children to certain ideas before a certain age, then you'll have to personally read and consider each book before you put it on their shelf. If you're the kind of parent who allows their kid to read what they want to read, doing your best to answer their questions and put the stories into context, then it's a little easier. If your kid reads Jurassic Park, they're going to be exposed to an awful lot of violence, but they're also going to learn some fascinating scientific information as well. Crichton's books are science-fiction with a strong scientific background, so they're educational as well as thrilling, but they've got adult themes that might be better for more mature readers. (That being said, I was reading them at a young age.)

I hope this is a decent start. There are lots of good lists online, too. I'd suggest checking out GoodReads and various Amazon lists. Just remember that it's up to you to choose what you want your kids to be exposed to.

Edit: As a male, I have a distinct lack of experience with books aimed at young females. I would like to think that a good book can be enjoyed by boys and girls alike, but some books have more of a gender-focus than others.

>I'm interested in reading the avengers or the guardians of the Galaxy, as they were my favorite marvel movies, but I get that I might want to start with the individual character's stories rather than jumping straight to the team up. Is there any series in marvel's line up that are must reads?

If you've seen the movies, I don't think you need to read individual stuff before you read a team-up book. There are some things different between the comics and the movies, but they're much more similar than they are different. The Avengers series by Jonathan Hickman that's currently ongoing is really good, here's the first collection: Avengers by Jonathan Hickman vol. 1: Avengers World. For the Guardians, the 2008-2011 series by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning is considered the best. Start here: Guardians of the Galaxy by Dan Abnett and Andy Lanning: The Complete Collection, vol. 1.

>I love the x-men movies, although Even the little I've read about the comics on other sites has got me confused, since there are some that can hold goddesses or something, does that have something to do with their mutation?

There are no X-Men that hold goddesses. Storm was worshipped as a goddess when she was younger, but she's not actually divine. There are a few mutants who also have supernatural gifts/abilities, like Magik and Pixie, but they are not a result of their mutations.

>Some mutations I get like ice powers and fire, but then there are some that can bend reality? Can a mutation allow that?

Mutations can allow anything the writers decide to allow. Storm controls the weather. Nightcrawler teleports. Mutations have nothing to do with reality.

If you want to read some good X-Men stuff, I recommend starting X-Men with Grant Morrison's New X-Men. It's good stuff, and it's easy to get into. There's three volumes, starting with this one: New X-Men vol. 1. After that, you should pick up Astonishing X-Men by Joss Whedon, which is really good and picks right up where New X-Men leaves off. There's four volumes, starting with this one: Astonishing X-Men vol. 1.

>Captain america certainly appeals to me, since I am, well, american, and Thor also seems like a badass, but I'd really read anything from marvel, as all their superheroes seem great.

>Also, all the dead pool panels I've seen here are hilarious, but I don't know much about the character.

Here's some good starting points I recommend for Marvel heroes:

• Captain America by Ed Brubaker vol. 1: The Winter Soldier
  
• [Thor: God of Thunder by Jason Aaron vol. 1: The God Butcher](http://amzn.com/1846535336
  )
  
• Deadpool by Gerry Duggan and Brian Posehn vol. 1: Dead Presidents
  
• Iron Man by Matt Fraction vol. 1: The Five Nightmares
  
• Indestructible Hulk by Mark Waid vol. 1: Agent of SHIELD
  
• Hawkeye by Matt Fraction vol. 1: My Life as a Weapon
  
• Black Widow by Nathan Edmonson vol. 1: The Finely Woven Thread
  
  Now, I would recommend checking your local library first, they may have a lot of these available to check out. I'd also want to let you know that Marvel has a digital subscription service called Marvel Unlimited which has every comic I just mentioned available to read for $10/month or $70/year. It's a real good deal.

Congratulations on reaching a compromise between the two of you. It's a great start.

There are lots of resources out there to learn about world religions. Many are tailored to educating children. There are sites with interactive activities, like this for example:

http://www.hindukids.org/index.html

There are sites that have lists of books to look into reading, I'm sure there are DVDs out there too. Think 'Living Scriptures' for non-LDS. One example might be:

http://www.buddhistchildrensbooks.com

Amazon even has books geared towards kids that introduce world religions, such as:

http://www.amazon.com/What-Do-You-Believe-Publishing/dp/0756672287

Hit up Google and start searching for kid-friendly ways to introduce different paths and belief systems. I'm not sure where you live, and I know you mentioned that you don't want to start going to another church regularly, but Utah has a large number of non-Christian worshippers. There are a few beautiful Hindu temples in Utah (one in South Jordan, another in Spanish Fork), a few Buddhist temples (SLC for example). There is even a strong Islam presence in Utah. If you're trying to avoid worship maybe check into activities or events each community has which are open to the public.

Where ever you live, just start with Google.

Your children are young enough that I'd imagine your time could be spent just teaching ideas that encourage them to think for themselves. You could choose to talk with them about being spiritual instead of religious. Its a great thing when you're discussing religious concepts with kids - you don't have to know the answers they may ask. It's a great time to introduce ideas such as "Some people believe... others believe... but no one knows for certain. What do you think?" The fact that Daddy doesn't know the answer reinforces the concept that these are all mythical/philosophical concepts instead of hard truths.

Talk about being grateful for ___ in your life (such as being grateful for our health, grateful for the ability to have food) instead of thankful (which often refers to thanking god for things). This can also lead into discussions that not everyone in the world enjoys such things we may take for granted.

This website has a few great ideas of things to do with children to teach spiritual ideas instead of religious traditions:

http://www.parenting.com/article/teach-spirituality-kids

I think you're on a good path in that you want to teach your children to learn about other ways of doing things. It can only benefit them. Good luck!!

> Is the "All New, All Different" Series still considered a good starting point for beginners? Bisides ANAD theres Marvel NOW! and Marvel Legacy (which confuses me even more)

• 2012—2015 Marvel NOW! is a relaunch initiative for some ongoing titles (not all). There were multiple "waves" with renumbers, new stories, etc.
  
• 2015 Secret Wars (event comic that [SPOILERS?] creates a new universe with parts of Earth-616 "main" universe and parts of Earth-1610 "Ultimate" universe)
  
• 2015—present All-New, All-Different Marvel involved renumbering every ongoing title, but there was still a mix of new stories and continuations.
  
• October 2016—present Marvel NOW! 2.0 is a continuation of most Marvel NOW! stories with some new ones.
  
• September 2017 Marvel Legacy begins with a special 50-page one-shot comic (like DC Universe: Rebirth) after the current Secret Empire event concludes. Instead of annoyingly restarting at #1 again, most titles are reverting to "legacy" numbering (e.g. The Amazing Spider-Man #789). There will likely be a mix of new stories and continuations of ANAD Marvel stories.
  
  IMO, it's all needlessly convoluted, confusing, and, despite having the intention of drawing in new readers, it sometimes does the exact opposite.
  
  > Do I need to read all the past runs/entries of a series to understand whats going on? Or should I just pick the most recent Run for a series. And do newer Runs explain what happend in past Runs?
  
  Good writers will always refresh/recap important events, but the occasional unexplained reference might slip by. Some stories are more self-contained than others, but then you have less connections to the larger shared universe that so many love. The traditional beginning-middle-end story structure is more familiar (i.e. feeling compelled to read every character's origin first), but it's not required to enjoy a story. You've likely seen movies with non-linear narratives or the sequel movie is actually a prequel. We didn't know Darth Vader's origin until WAY AFTER his first appearance.
  
  Unfortunately, not all comics are high-quality productions, but they might contain the important plot points needed to understand other comics. I don't recommend reading a bunch of poor-to-mediocre comics just to "complete" the larger story. It's almost always never worth it considering how many other great comics there are that you could be reading instead. In this case, I'd just Wiki the bad stuff.
  
  > Is Ms. Marvel 2015 a continuation to the 2014 series?
  
  Yes. The renumbers (#19 --> #1) are just annoying publisher practices to draw in new readers.
  
  All that said, here's my usual copy/pasta for new readers:
  
  MARVEL STARTER GUIDE
  --
  ---
  
  How to Get Into Comic Books (13:40) | Patrick Willems
  
  Consider your intent/commitment. Think about your favorite stories/characters from TV, movies, games, books, etc. Do you seek quality storytelling or encyclopedic Marvel knowledge? Plan to collect? What time/resources are available i.e. how many comics could/should be read before burning out?
  
  Don’t try to read everything—there’s too much. Forget about “catching up”, continuity, universes, and timelines; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Older comics can be an acquired taste for modern audiences, so first appearances/early origins may not be the best starting points. Creative teams change often, characters get re-worked, and origins are re-told (e.g. I never cared for Hawkeye until Matt Fractions’ run).
  
  Pick an interesting character/team and seek their “greatest hits”. Don’t get stuck “preparing”, just start reading. Focus on well-received, relatively self-contained, and complete stories. You may encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character/event—just ride along (Wiki if necessary). Remember, there are so many other great characters and publishers to explore, and not all comics are about superheroes.
  
  Where to buy (US):
  
  
• Digital: Marvel Unlimited, Comixology, e-library (e.g. Hoopla - free), webcomics (free)
  
• Print (collected editions): instocktrades, ISBNS, library (free)
  
• Print (singles): midtowncomics, mycomicshop, DCBS
  
  Modern Marvel characters/teams:
  
  
• Alias (Jessica Jones) | Brian Michael Bendis
  
• Avengers | Kurt Busiek
  
• The Ultimates 1-2 (Avengers) | Mark Millar
  
• New Avengers | Brian Michael Bendis
  
• Avengers / New Avengers | Jonathan Hickman | Hickman 2
  
• Black Panther | Christopher Priest
  
• Captain America | Ed Brubaker
  
• Captain Marvel | Kelly Sue DeConnick
  
• Daredevil | Brian Michael Bendis
  
• Daredevil | Ed Brubaker
  
• Daredevil | Mark Waid
  
• Deadpool | Joe Kelly
  
• Doctor Strange: The Oath | Brian K. Vaughan
  
• Fantastic Four / FF | Jonathan Hickman | Hickman 1
  
• Guardians of the Galaxy | Abnett, Lanning, Giffen, et al. | Cosmic
  
• Hawkeye | Matt Fraction
  
• Immortal Iron Fist | Brubaker & Fraction
  
• Inhumans | Paul Jenkins
  
• Iron Man: Extremis | Warren Ellis
  
• Invincible Iron Man | Matt Fraction
  
• Marvels | Kurt Busiek
  
• Moon Knight | Warren Ellis
  
• Ms. Marvel | G. Willow Wilson
  
• Planet Hulk | Greg Pack | Hulk 1
  
• Punisher Max | Garth Ennis
  
• Thor | Jason Aaron
  
• Ultimate Spider-man | Brian Michael Bendis
  
• Vision | Tom King
  
• New X-Men | Grant Morrison | X-Men 1
  
• Astonishing X-Men | Joss Whedon | X-Men 2
  
• Uncanny X-Force | Rick Remender | X-Men 6
  
  /r/Marvel sidebar for more info.
  
  Events/crossovers can be fun and/or tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major plot points.
  
  Modern Marvel events/crossovers:
  
  
• Avengers Disassembled | Brian Michael Bendis
  
• Secret War | Brian Michael Bendis
  
• House of M | Brian Michael Bendis | X-Men 2.5
  
• Annihilation | Abnett, Lanning, Giffen | Cosmic 1
  
• Civil War | Mark Millar
  
• World War Hulk | Greg Pak | Hulk 2
  
• Annihilation: Conquest | Abnett, Lanning, Giffen | Cosmic 2
  
• Messiah Complex | Brubaker, Kyle, Yost, et al. | X-Men 3
  
• Secret Invasion | Brian Michael Bendis | Dark Reign 1
  
• War of Kings | Abnett, Lanning, et al. | Cosmic 3
  
• Messiah War | Kyle, Yost, Swierczynski | X-Men 4
  
• Dark Avengers / Utopia | Bendis, Fraction, et al. | Dark Reign 2
  
• Siege | Brian Michael Bendis | Dark Reign 3
  
• Realm of Kings | Abnett, Lanning, Reed | Cosmic 4
  
• Second Coming | Kyle, Yost, Fraction, et al. | X-Men 5
  
• Fear Itself | Matt Fraction
  
• Schism | Jason Aaron, Kieron Gillen | X-Men 7
  
• Avengers vs. X-Men | Bendis, Brubaker, et al. | X-Men 8
  
• Infinity | Jonathan Hickman | Hickman 2.5
  
• Secret Wars | Jonathan Hickman | Hickman 3
  
  Discover your preferences and let them guide you. Do you like: old/new comics? Specific genres? Literary/natural narratives? Cartoony/realistic art? Familiar/weird concepts? References/self-contained? Social/political commentary? Family-friendly/explicit content? Optimism/pessimism? Have you noticed that a specific artist/writer consistently makes comics you like? Follow these instincts.
  
  Suggestions to improve this guide are welcome.
  
  
  

> Does this mean I need to be more comfortable with myself?

Yeah, this is a lot of it. I think for some people with a lack of confidence in themselves or comfort with who they are, they tend to over-focus on their partner and making them happy. Doing good things for your partner is great, but relationships aren;t supposed to be just mutual exchange of nice behaviour. Its a joint project.

To participate in something jointly you need to feel a certain level of self confidence and belief that you are a good person.To give an example, those that have low self esteem often feel their s/o is too good for them and when the s/o realises ti will end. THose with a little more belief in themselves see their wonderful s/o being with them as a sign that they are doing (some of) the right things.

You sound like a good guy, you care for your wife, you want to understand. Thats good! Build ont that! Don't turn into an arrogant idiot, but take a little credit for the good things in your life.

I guess that might be what she means.

Personally I learned to 'love myself' (no pun intended) aged about 13 - i had a tough time and was being bullied pretty badly. Ultimately my response was to change my situation radically to one where I could be myself. I chose to believe I had value and deserved to be somewhere i could be myself rather than agree with the bullies that i had no value. You can learn the lesson many ways but I think this is part of it .

Lastly, some eastern philosophy worked well for me. This is quite a nice intro, told via Winnie the Pooh (don;t laugh, it works).

Lastly show your wife you are making an effort. Tell her you asked random internet people! get her to help you think of ways to tackle it. Go to a meditation class together. Believe you deserve her help as well as her company!

Good luck!

I know some of these have already been mentioned, so just consider this a second vote for those titles. Also, my list skews heavily towards sci-fi/fantasy, because that is what I tend to read the most of.

By women, featuring female protagonists:

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

The Female Man by Joanna Russ

Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey

Lavinia by Ursula K. Le Guin

The Circus in Winter by Cathy Day (It's not entirely fair to characterize this as a book about women; it's really a set of interconnected stories featuring both male and female characters. On the other hand, many of the most memorable characters, IMO, are women, so I'm filing it in this category anyway. So there!)

The Protector of the Small Quartet by Tamora Pierce, beginning with First Test (Really, anything by Tamora Pierce would fit the bill here. They're young adult novels, so they're quick reads, but they're enjoyable and have wonderful, strong, realistic female protagonists.)

These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer (Heyer wrote really fun, enjoyable romances, typically set in the Regency period, though These Old Shades is actually Georgian. This one is probably my favorite, but they're really all quite wonderful. Not super heavy stuff, but don't write her off just because of the subject matter. She was a talented, witty writer, and her female protagonists are almost never the wilting "damsel in distress" type - they're great characters who, while still holding true to their own time and place, are bright and likeable and hold their own against the men in their lives.)

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle (Another young adult book. And, again, I think it's worth noting that L'Engle's books almost always feature strong and interesting female characters. This one is probably her most famous, and begins a series featuring members of the same family, so it's a good jumping off point.)

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi


By men, featuring female protagonists:

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle (This is another one that is perhaps not a perfect fit for this category; the titular unicorn is female, but the book is as much about Schmendrick the magician as it is about her. However, there's also Molly Grue, so on the strength of those two women, I'm classifying this book as having female protagonists.)

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Coraline by Neil Gaiman (It's a children's book, but there's plenty to enjoy about it as an adult, too.)

By women, featuring male protagonists

Jonathan Strange and Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke

The Left Hand of Darkness by Ursula K. Le Guin

Hi Pendred!

Your idea is quite thoughtful, and man are there alot of elements to your plan!

While reading your post I wondered if this might work for the scavenger hunt:

Have seven professors write the letters for the hunt. (Dumbledore, McGonagal, Snape, Flitwick, Sprout, Firenze, and Lupin. There;s other professors that would work too, but these are just my personal top seven.)

Maybe have each item being found for each letter, be one of the Horcruxes. You could get a cool old gold thing for the Hufflepuff, a wicked ring, a diadem that your lady could actually wear, a black diary, etc. (Goodwill & other thrift stores are your friend,)

Personally, as a fan of the series since childhood, I always wanted to go on a horcrux hunting quest. That might be a fun thing for your lady too!

SNACKS! Great idea. There is an unofficial Harry Potter Cook Book to help you with that. Homemade butter bear is amazing!
http://www.amazon.com/Unofficial-Harry-Potter-Cookbook-Knickerbocker/dp/1440503257

Also what do you think about the theme park in Orlando?
https://www.universalorlando.com/harrypotter/
Many Potter fans are dying to visit there, who knows maybe it would be a cool place to go?

Oh and I have one last idea. Based on the list you made, I see a format that might fit your event.

1. Scavenger hunt
   
2. Wizarding World Dinner!
   
3. Super Awesome Proposal Time.
   
   Good luck with your planning!
   I took interest in your post, because its can be fun to plan such nerdy, personal surprises for your loved one. For example, I recently did a Mars/Constellations space theme thing for my boyfriend. Totally worth the effort! ^_^
   
   Cheers!
   -Freyja_Dragon
   

I don't have kids this old yet but honestly. I'd sit down with her and have a good talk..she's at an age i think where she's just feeling insecure slightly clingy and attached to you (possible abandonment issues from dad?) and terribly ignorant about things within sexual nature.

she's 13 so i think its time you talk about sex with her in terms of how it's something adults do. How those toys are for you and that it doesn't mean you need a man. Humans just have basic needs and theyre totally healthy, sex is healthy not disgusting just as long as you are careful with your partners and friendships are healthy too and that if she loves you she will have to accept that you need friends in your life and not just her though she'll always be number 1. How she needs to stop being so nosy and just trust you as momma and respect you more. You need to bring this stuff up as well with her therapist assuming she still goes to one. And i agree with other people this isn't healthy. You two need to have hobbies, friends and time for yourselves, boundaries and rules definitely need to be set in place, she can not keep trying to regulate what you can and can't do like she's YOUR parent, and you need to stop feeling apologetic over it. I think the only good thing i see is that she feels comfortable enough to ask you things, thats great! Because most kids wont talk to their parents at all and ask their friends instead. So make sure when you talk to remind her that you love how she can come to you to talk about anything and that's why no matter who comes and goes from your life and hers that you'll always be there for her.

Also i plan on getting these for my daughter when she's older around your daughter's age, she's still a little one though so itll be a while :)
https://www.amazon.com/Feelings-Book-Revised-Keeping-Emotions/dp/1609581830/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1609581830&pd_rd_r=MTHPR5XD5SZTD38JZA7X&pd_rd_w=KEPlY&pd_rd_wg=hBtsI&psc=1&refRID=MTHPR5XD5SZTD38JZA7X

https://www.amazon.com/This-Normal-Revised-Questions-Answered/dp/1609589068/ref=pd_sim_14_3?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1609589068&pd_rd_r=TX19F1WHG257VDCE3WF1&pd_rd_w=wNkUa&pd_rd_wg=9GR1i&psc=1&refRID=TX19F1WHG257VDCE3WF1

https://www.amazon.com/Care-Keeping-You-Younger-Revised/dp/1609580834/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1516748967&sr=8-1

Honestly, maybe just talk to him about it being natural to want to look at porn (as you have) but also explain that it's very rude to do it on other people's devices and explain the issues of viruses/pop-ups. Then I'd have a quick talk about how porn portrays sex being unrealistic/respecting women and partners etc., and just tell him if he wants to look at porn it's fine but he should keep that all in mind and do it in private and only go to trusted websites (maybe show him a few, explain that he should never actively download anything, that he should use adblockers, that he should never give out a phone number or credit card numbers to access porn as that will charge money).

I think that it would be okay to change your phone password (and tell him you are doing that so he is not tempted to use someone elses' phone again) but adding locks on your doors and cameras seems really extreme and to me sends the message that you don't trust him to modify his behavior or control himself. It also seems like an invasion of his privacy and not the right way to send a message about respecting others' privacy. Would you have liked to know that your parents used cameras to watch you? A white noise machine seems ideal if you want to keep your sex quieter, though. Honestly, I grew up in a small house and had to hear my parents have sex, so he might be hearing it whether he wants to or not.

A few mags might be okay, but maybe he should just have the chance to have some private internet time now and again on a device that has good anti-virus software. You can teach him how to clear his browser history or use incognito mode as well to protect his own privacy. Also, maybe he is into men and doesn't want to look at female models, and if that's the case, giving him those mags will alienate him further. If he has some free reign to find his own porn then you avoid that.

The author Robie Harris has some GREAT books that vary by developmental stage that address sexual health and reproduction issues; I believe "It's Perfectly Normal" is the one that addresses masturbation in a really healthy way.

>Thank you for your response yes I would like to read the python book.

Here's the book. If you know where to look you can find it for free digitally but I won't link that.

>The vpn does protect me from prism right it’s just individually directed nsa targets that it doesn’t protect?

This is an interesting question wrt Proton specifically. If you use their Swiss servers only, in theory it should protect you from PRISM, because the NSA has no power in Switzerland and they're not a member of any intelligence sharing agreements (e.g. Five Eyes) either. So there's no reason to think the NSA is gonna be passively wiretapping over there.

If on the other hand you connect to a US server, I can pretty much guarantee you that whatever data centre the endpoint server is in, the NSA has access to it through some form or another.

The same is likely true on, say, a UK server because we know the UK is the major partner with the US in the Five Eyes. In fact the official name of the agreement is the UKUSA Agreement. This means they share intelligence very closely, so GCHQ will have a UK data centre tapped and share that info with the NSA.

Assume the same if you connect to any server in Europe as well. They're all part of intelligence sharing agreements with the US. Germany and the Netherlands are especially bad for this.

Oh and Canada yeah they have data sharing shit as well.

So if you really want the best chance of avoiding PRISM, use only Proton's own Swiss data centre.

>I just don’t want all my non criminal data being collected by the government or corporations. I’m not doing anything criminal.

Exactly. Or frankly things the crooked state calls criminal even though they need harm no one (e.g. smoking weed).

>Also what are your thoughts on solid and Inrupt?

Looks like another company's go at the same idea behind Swarm.

I like that so many projects for a decentralised internet exist. It shows there is a market and big interest from serious people.

However why is a for-profit company developing such a thing? That's the question I always ask myself with corporate backed projects like this. They realistically can't charge for access, which leaves some type of monetisation based on data. Otherwise where is the revenue coming from?

With the Ethereum project I mentioned there is no company, it's just a pure community open source project.

>I’m interested in these things to realease a platform or encryption software to sell, make a business as I think privacy is the new era of the internet.

Well they all have SDK's so you can develop on top of the platform. They're also open source so you can contribute directly to the development.

>However if VPNs don’t do that and Tim Berners lee is already developing a new internet it might just be a waste of time.

Really the current internet was not designed to become what it is today. The WWW will be replaced eventually. By who and with what are the big questions.

>Also have you heard of guardian firewall for the iPhone? Is it a waste of money?

Not worth their prices at all. I also question why they have a free VPN. A VPN is not free to run so again... where does the money come from?

If you want to block trackers and ads etc from your internet connection look at Pi Hole instead. I use this both locally on my WiFi, so anyone who connects automatically uses a local DNS server that blocks ads, trackers, malware, etc. You just need a spare computer or to buy a Raspberry Pi and set it up. Don't pay $9.99 every month. Pay $30 once and set it up yourself.

You can also use a VPS to set up the same thing in your own VPN that you control. It would cost you only $4 or so a month.

I was also an early bloomer, and grew pubic and underarm hair around her age, although didn’t menstruate until 11 or 12. I was especially sensitive and embarrassed about it, since my 2 closest friends were years behind that. Three things come to mind:

• I’m sure it’s only a little bit of hair and will be that way for a while, so there shouldn’t be any issues with bikini lines this summer, or maybe next summer, but keep an eye out for it. My mom bought me full coverage boy short bikini bottoms, which were popular at the time, and it covered everything. For gymnastics and swim team, my mom helped me use Nair a few times since I wasn’t shaving my legs yet and wasn’t comfortable with a razor. Luckily it takes a few years for it to grow into your bikini line though.
  
  
• Underarm hair will be arriving soon, if not already. I was especially fortunate to have black underarm hair even though I was blonde everywhere else. It was even hard to hide in winter because of gymnastics so I switched to long sleeve leotards. For the summer months, my mother would cut it using small cuticle scissors in the bathroom. Then I used nair until I was ready to shave. Body odor sticks to hair so make sure she’s aware of that.
  
  
• Start thinking about switching to a female pediatrician if you don’t already have one. I was much more comfortable talking with my doctor when I switched from an old man to a younger female doctor.
  
  Writing this, I’m realizing how well my mom handled this situation. At that age I was very sensitive and my biggest fear was that I was growing up and leaving my friends behind. I felt left out of being a kid. “Why me,” kind of questions. My mom said everything was secret between her and I and she wouldn’t tell anyone -even my aunts, my dad, or my brother.
  
  The book, The Care and Keeping of You is great. I liked to be able to have a book to look through and learn without being embarrassed. This was before internet.
  
  Lastly, one thing that helped me embrace my changing body was a skincare routine. I loved having all my products. It was just face wash and moisturizer, but it made me feel super cool. Try something gentle like Cetaphil or Cerave, and nothing that says “acne” if she doesn’t need it.
  
  
  

If you're looking for standalone Spider-Man check out Spider-Man Blue. Great story that remasters the Silver Age tales of young Pete and his classic crew, but framed with the tradegy of future Pete recounting this tale.

Other Marvel recommendations:

Truth: Red, White, Black - Haunting tale of the history of the Super Solider formula. Robert Morales draws a lot on the real-life history of experimentation on black soldiers; the references he gives at the end of the volume are good reads themselves.

Marvels - An Alex Ross classic that explores the history of the Marvel Universe as seen by an ordinary photographer, right up until the end of the Silver Age. Gorgeous art and spectacular writing that pays homage to all the big Marvel beats.

X-Men Legacy (Marvel NOW) - 4 volume series that follows David Haller aka Legion, as he struggles to maintain a grip on his chaotic powers while finding his legacy in the wake of his father's death (dad being Charles Xavier). Great exploration of someone dealing with mental illness, touching first love, awesome action and humor. Great series that does not get bogged down in X-Men continuity.

Honorable Mention: Mini Marvels - Small gag comics that occasionally ran in Marvel comics some time ago. Cute art with beats that poked fun at the the current state of the Marvel U.

I have a B.S. and M.S. in math, and am currently working on my PhD...here's my shot at your questions:

>1) At what point in your studies did you come to know about your limitations and abilities?

I didn't really have any struggles through my bachelor's, but as I got further into graduate studies I definitely had some hard classes and had to work much longer and harder to understand things than I ever had.

>I read about "Maryam Mirzakhani" two days ago. Do you think that you have a chance of producing worthy work in the future?

I don't think I'll ever win a Field's medal or be anywhere near the level of intelligence of someone like Maryam Mirzakhani, but I don't let that keep me from enjoying the journey. I know that I'll do something worthwhile, even if it's not groundbreaking.

>2) How did you choose your specific graduate program? I'm confused about what I should start with.

I was confused about what area to work in also, until I began studying for my comprehensive examinations (we have to take 3, each in different areas). I found that I really enjoyed studying the logic material, and I wasn't even too worried about the exam because enjoying the preparation made me well prepared. I just wanted to keep learning more. Just pick something that you find really interesting. It doesn't have to be "your area" for the rest of your life...you can always try something else later.

>3) How did you develop your critical thinking skills that are needed in following through with proofs and ideas?

The only way to get better at proofs as to do a ton of them. I had to get reamed pretty bad on some proofs at the beginning of grad school before I really got it...and I still have a long way to go. There's is always something to be improved upon.

There's a great excerpt from The Number Devil that sums up my feelings about proofs exactly:

"Have you ever tried to cross a raging stream?" the number devil asked.

"Have I?" Robert cried. "I'll say I have!"

"You can't swim across: the current would sweep you into the rapids. But there are a few rocks in the middle. So what do you do?"

"I see which ones are close enough together so I can leap from one to the next. If I'm lucky, I make it; if I'm not, I don't."

"That's how it is with mathematical proofs," the number devil told Robert. "But since mathematicians have spent a few thousand years finding ways to cross the stream, you don't need to start from scratch. You've got all kinds of rocks to rely on. They've been tested millions of times and are guaranteed slip-resistant. When you have a new idea, a conjecture, you look for the nearest safe rock, and from there you keep leaping--with the greatest of caution, of course--until you reach the other side, the shore."
...
"Sometimes the rocks are so far apart that you can't make it from one to the next, and if you try jumping, you fall in. Then you have to take tricky detours, and even they may not help in the end. You may come up with an idea, but then you find that it doesn't lead anywhere. Or you may find that your brilliant idea wasn't so brilliant at all."

I know you said your not a fan of "puzzles" but in particular there is a very interesting one I liked as an math undergraduate that I think is very accessible understanding wise to non-stem majors and gives a hint about what the field of topology looks like. We has a sub in one of my math classes cover this once when he didn't properly get the material he was suppose to teach sent to him.

The Bridges of Königsberg it's puzzling at first but with the right guidance, I feel that even someone who has no background in math can grasp the answer and understand how it works as well as how it's solution is found.

Touching on some math history is also a possibility. The history of how numbers developed can be interesting and applies to everyone since everyone learns about and uses numbers in their life. Seeing the natural progression from natural numbers to integers to rationals and finally to reals throughout history is really cool if you ask me. And learning about some of the "crazy smart" math people in history can really make math feel every so slightly more relevant and relatable because you realize that it was real people who invented this abstract "math stuff" in a sense.

There is also the applications of number theory and modulo arithmetic stuff to encryption. At first doesn't seem super relatable to non-stem people but I've run across two more relatable problems in my classes. The first was the Luhn algorithm which can be used to check if certain identifying numbers like credit cards or social security numbers are indeed actual credit card or social security numbers.

The second (which I don't know if it is actually how it works in real life) is the idea of using modular arithmetic to preserve CD/DVD information despite scratches. If your CD for example has the numbers 101 and you get a scratch through the "" part of the cd, how does the cd player know what was there? Well you can add up those three digits and take them mod 2 and add the answer to the end of your string as a 4th digit. So 101 becomes 1010 because 1+1=2=0 mod 2. Now if the cd is scratched the cd player can check the 4th number and go "Oh ok, all three numbers have to add to 0, so my lost digit must be 0!" and your cd still works!

Those are a couple of random interesting problems/topics I've run into in my higher level math courses that I think are accessible for non-math majors and interesting.

EDIT - I also just remembered that I've been reading a lot of books about the importance of understanding math and statistics lately (Proofiness and Innumeracy if your interested) and I think it's a very important skill for anyone who is not so inclined towards math. Being able to understand numbers in a real world sense and be skeptical about data we see in the real world, is a powerful skill for building knowledge and avoiding biased information.

https://www.amazon.com/Care-Keeping-You-Younger-American/dp/1609580834/ref=nodl_

This book was a godsend when I was going through puberty. It taught me everything I needed to know about hormones, periods, bras, hygiene, emotional changes, etc.

It’s about $5-7 on Amazon and it was an amazing resource when I was growing up.

I would also recommend looking into the way her school approaches sex education. Some schools still take a religious or abstinence-based standpoint which can contain factually inaccurate or less than helpful advice.

I would make sure she understands what healthy relationships look like; how to use her voice if she needs to say no to something, and has the comfortably to come to you if she is in a situation she needs to get out of (I.e. picking her up if she calls to leave a party).

Make sure she has the information or training to practice proper self defense, and feels empowered to listen to her inner voice to stand up against peer pressure.

Make sure she has someone to talk to about body image and has a healthy relationship to food. Being in sports or other personal growth building activities can help immensely in building confidence in young women.

Most of all, make sure she knows that you love her, and are there for her. Give her ideas for someone to talk to if she needs a woman to ask questions to about embarrassing topics.

I also highly recommend keeping the following in her bathroom: tampons, lube (for said tampons, the first time using can be painful and scary), pads, wet wipes, condoms, and emergency contraception. The latter might be saved for when she’s a bit older, and if you aren’t comfortable purchasing these things for her, I strongly recommend taking her to planned parenthood when she is ready so that she can make safe and informed decisions about birth control.

Best of luck!!!

All of this is up to you ... one option might be to try to explain, and to look for support.

Be mindful of your safety in case, try to look for support, try to have resources in place etc.

In any case looking for support may be a very good idea.

Sometimes the kind of explanation can play a role with acceptance.

Some cis people need to understand there are others out there who feel opposite to how they feel. Its called trans for a reason.

Some people think its just an idea that could be suppressed or whatever. Giving a biological explanation may help understand that its nobodys fault, its not just imagination and people do not do this for ulterior motives, and its not contagious.

And it may help understand that a) it does not go away and b) its not the fault of parents upbringing or whatever.

One fear people often also have is they or others could catch it somehow, and that it needs to be contained. Explaining its a birth condition could help see that its nobodys fault and that people really feel different than others who do not have this condition.

Some people compare it to epilepsy, which is along the same lines of brain studies. Decades ago others also presumed all kinds of things. its now accepted its biological.

It has recently been flagged by the UN as medical condition for a number of those reasons. And in international standards it was deflagged from being mental and flagged as medical condition a while ago. As said, its nobodys fault and it does not randomly spread or whatever. And people usually only want to live in the role of the gender they identify with, and blend in.

Some people make a comparison with a twin : decisive for the body are hormones and with the correct setup people can be like their male or female twin, with still the same sense of humour. A few things may be different but its still possible to have fun together regardless.

And a number of things from this post and the links there might be helpful. There are explaining resources there and hints concerning looking for support.




And a few things from this and this post might help you too.

There is a vid there with unobtrusive things that can be done for motivation, there are hints concerning presentation, starting with neutral styles first, there are hints concerning looking for a gender therapist in case, and there are also hints concerning looking for support there.

And looking for support may also be a good idea. PFLAG might also help with relatives.

And if there are no disturbing influences, children can be more accepting than adults.

Some people explain like a can : they are the gender they identify with inside (can) and are about to change the outside ( labels etc).

I know of someone who tried to explain to a kid. Someone else in the room just said : they regenerated ( a Dr. Who concept). The child looked in awe. If the concept is known, it may be easy to explain.

/r/transparents is for Trans parents. There are Facebook groups for Trans parents as well. See https://www.facebook.com/groups/1515829028742767/ , https://www.facebook.com/groups/1501185016619557/ , and https://www.facebook.com/groups/QTPPgroup/ , amongst others.

As book you may like Red: A Crayon's Story. https://www.amazon.com/Red-Crayons-Story-Michael-Hall/dp/0062252070




hugs

You can do lots of projects by following instructions on instructables. That is a good way to start to see if you really like electronics. Eventually, you'll want to really understand what is going on and figure out what is really going on. Getting rid of the "black boxes" requires a bigger investment of time and money, but it is worth it if you really like electronics. It frees your creativity and increases the satisfaction you get from completing a project.

If you want to learn about electronics, this is THE book you want. This is the best tip I am giving you. Seriously. https://www.amazon.ca/Make-Electronics-Learning-Through-Discovery/dp/1680450263/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1468868697&sr=8-1&keywords=make+electronics

When you buy your first soldering iron here is what I suggest: 1) get a dicky one like for 10 bucks. 2) be frustrated because it's a pain in the butt to work with and you keep getting cold solder joints 3) buy a Hakko 888d for around 100$ 4) be happy and enjoy your long-lasting love story with your Hakko. (the first 3 steps can be skipped if you're not too tight on money and confident about wanting to pursue electronics as a hobby).

Really for data logging you'd be better with a NodeMCU (microcontroller with integrated wifi chip). But I really don't suggest you start there. Learn to walk before you try running. That is, go with an Arduino if your impatient to get cool results , or even better, learn your basics in a practical and fun way with Make: Electronics.

I understand why you are weary to ask for specific books, but there are some books that are important to the marvel universe or comics in general which would be pretty safe bets.

For Instance:

• Marvels, which is the history of the marvel universe through the eyes of a reporter for the Daily Bugel. Shows events from the Namor and the original Human Torch, to Captain America, to the X-Men, to Spiderman, to Galactus. Really cool depiction of the marvel universe.
  
• The Infinity Gauntlet, Thanos tries to take over the universe. Very well recieved event that the 3rd and 4th Avengers movies will be "based" on.
  
• Secret Wars, much older than the other books so much campier style, but it was (I believe) the first big crossover book from any publisher. Its also where spiderman gets the black suit that turns into venom and great moments throughout.
  
• Annihilation (All three books), Was a relaunch of Marvel's Cosmic line and sets up for all of the cosmic books for many years to come. Very cool book. Can read with no prior knowledge whatsoever.
  
• Watchmen, Good book, very important to the comic medium itself. Published by DC but not set in that universe.
  
• The Dark Knight Returns, Again published by DC but very important to Batman and comics in general. And who doesn't love Batman.
  
• Any charcter has at least one trade that is good standalone and is important to the character, but without knowing your preferences I can't recommend specifics
  
  Even if these arn't your absolute favorite books, they are relevant to the history and there is a pretty high chance that you will want to read them at some point.

1. I drew penises and vaginas on ALL of my pictures at the same age. I don't know if what she's drawing is actually a penis... She may actually be attempting to draw a vagina (or a "butt"). Just because it looks like it's sticking down from the body doesn't mean anything - children are awful at drawing perspective. They tend to draw symbolically.
   
   
2. Looking at the picture you shared: http://imgur.com/TntSokl I do not see anything to be concerned about. What I see is an intelligent child who is interested in ALL the parts of the body - nipples, belly buttons, and hey - she's got the correct number of fingers on almost every hand! How awesome is that?
   
   
3. Your childminder needs to chill. If she makes a big deal about it, your daughter will become MORE curious, and you're going to have her drawing "penises" on everything in sight. Nothing engages kids more than a strong reaction.
   
   
4. It's high time you actually taught your daughter something about the human body - male and female. She's interested in anatomy, and she's young enough that conversations about this haven't become terribly awkward yet. Seize the moment and teach her! Ignorance won't protect her, and good solid information will help satisfy her curiosity and make it a lot less likely she'll innocently do something awkward and embarrassing (like ask a little boy to drop his pants, so she can see the differences).
   
   Your local library is full of wonderful books you can share with your daughter. One of the best is:
   
   It's Not the Stork: A Book About Girls, Boys, Babies, Bodies, Families and Friends
   
   As for your other concerns:
   
   It's normal for a child her age to want to sleep with their parent. Allow it, or don't allow it, as you choose. It's not symptomatic of anything, other than the fact that human beings need to be trained to feel comfortable sleeping alone. You're not hurting her, no matter where you decide to have her sleep.
   
   And her mirror writing is also very, very common in ambidextrous and left-handed children. Just keep (gently) encouraging her to use her right hand, and eventually she'll stop. It's a cool party trick, nothing more. My son is a lefty, and used to do the same thing.
   
   

1.[A cobalt blue mixer for all of your baking needs.] (https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KSM150PSBU-Artisan-Pouring-Shield/dp/B00005UP2Q/ref=sr_1_13?ie=UTF8&qid=1525043431&sr=8-13&keywords=blue)

2.[Nothing says summer like sunscreen!] (https://www.amazon.com/Banana-Boat-Performance-Spectrum-Sunscreen/dp/B00B81XR1Y/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1525043593&sr=1-5&keywords=sunscreen)

3.[ A hot dog slicer in the shape of a dog.] (https://www.amazon.com/Banana-Boat-Performance-Spectrum-Sunscreen/dp/B00B81XR1Y/ref=sr_1_5_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1525043593&sr=1-5&keywords=sunscreen)

4.[ I'd love to gift this record player to someone simply because it is awesome!] (https://www.amazon.com/Victrola-Bluetooth-Suitcase-Turntable-Speakers/dp/B076JV6ZM8/ref=sr_1_3?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1525043902&sr=1-3&keywords=record+player)


5.[ I think that everyone should read the complete harry potter series for an adventure that will last.] (https://www.amazon.com/Harry-Potter-Paperback-Box-Books/dp/0545162076/ref=sr_1_11?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1525044043&sr=1-11&keywords=harry+potter)

6. A nifty book of christmas songs for the low price of 0.99

7.[ A fancy dog bed, so your dog can rest comfortably!] (https://www.amazon.com/Best-Friends-Sheri-OrthoComfort-20x20x12/dp/B008GQV004/ref=sr_1_16?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1525044898&sr=1-16&keywords=dog+bed)

8.[ These llamas don't really have a use, but they are stinking cute!] (https://www.amazon.com/NOVICA-Llama-Couple-Ceramic-Statuettes/dp/B01M01J4XL/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1525045051&sr=8-6&keywords=llama+statue)

9.[I think everyone should watch wonder and realize that it is totally okay to be different.] (https://www.amazon.com/Wonder-Julia-Roberts/dp/B07894ZBDN/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1525045156&sr=8-4&keywords=wonder)

10.[ A lifestraw would surely come in handy during a zombie attackas you are still going to need uncontaminated water to drink.] (https://www.amazon.com/LifeStraw-Personal-Emergency-Preparedness-LSPHF017/dp/B006QF3TW4/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1525045256&sr=8-1-spons&keywords=lifestraw&psc=1)

11.[ This yoga mat will totally help me achieve my fitness goals for this year!] (https://www.amazon.com/Sivan-Health-Fitness-2-InchExtra-Exercise/dp/B00UXXF734/ref=sr_1_17?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1525045361&sr=1-17&keywords=yoga)

12.[ Add on items can be the worst or the best. Whatever your opinion on them you are going to love this hair mask!] (https://www.amazon.com/Garnier-Fructis-Strengthening-Treat-Minute/dp/B074V4TGW9/ref=sr_1_3_a_it?ie=UTF8&qid=1525045564&sr=8-3&keywords=garnier%2Bhair%2Bmask&th=1)

13.[A harry potter funko for those in love with the world of wizards and magic!] (https://www.amazon.com/Funko-Quidditch-Harry-Potter-Figure/dp/B010OOSBMK/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1525045675&sr=1-1&keywords=harry+potter+funko)

14.[A cabinet set for the low price of 13000. What a deal!] (https://www.amazon.com/Chinese-Rosewoo-Noodle-Cabinets-Acs1500/dp/B004WLU2LA/ref=sr_1_1?s=furniture&ie=UTF8&qid=1525046163&sr=1-1&refinements=p_36%3A1000000-99999999)

15.[ A shark anatomy model that will show you the inner workings of your favorite aquatic species!] (
https://www.amazon.com/Vision-Great-White-Shark-Anatomy/dp/B001YIT1YI/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1525046239&sr=8-5&keywords=shark)

16.[ This is honestly the best candle ever! Who doesn't love the smell of fresh apples?!] (https://www.amazon.com/Yankee-Candle-Large-Jar-Macintosh/dp/B007FSDIJA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1525046342&sr=8-1&keywords=apple+yankee+candle)

18.[I think a nice journal would be helpful for writes to jot down their ideas quickly.] (https://www.amazon.com/Tree-Life-Leather-W-Cord/dp/B00A5T35JY/ref=sr_1_4?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1525046405&sr=1-4&keywords=leather+journal)

19.[ For some strange reason I am currently obsessed with pins! There are so many different ones, but I think this is my favorite one!] (
https://www.amazon.com/Night-Owl-Paper-Goods-Sloth/dp/B072KLVW8B/ref=sr_1_3?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1525046480&sr=1-3&keywords=enamel+pin)

20.[ I mean who doesn't want a tacocat on a hamburger in their bathroom?!] (https://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Bathroom-Space-Shower-Curtain/dp/B01834W4H6/ref=sr_1_13?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1525046532&sr=1-13&keywords=Cat+in+space)

My friend who was getting into Python recently asked me about the same thing, I've made some research and this was what I came with. Just for the record, I'm personally a book dude - can't really focus much when learning from Udemy courses and stuff like that, so I will only cover books:


First book:


Python Crash Course by Eric Matthes
Very solid position for beginners. The first part of the book covers Python's basics - data types, lists, functions, classes, pretty much everything you need to get a good grasp of Python itself. The second part of the book includes three practical projects, mini-game, data visualization and an introduction to making web apps with Django. From what I so, it's a pretty unusual approach to beginner friendly books, since most of them avoid using additional libraries. On the other hand, it's harder to get bored with this book, it really makes you want to learn more and more once you can actually see the effects of all your work.


Automate the Boring Stuff with Python by Al Sweigart
Best alternative if you want to spend 0 bucks or want to dive all into projects. Even though it covers basics as well, I still recommend to read it, even if you have done Python Crash Course before, even just for the sake of all those projects you can make to practice your Python. He also has a Youtube channel where he has a loooot of Python content and sometimes does cool things like streaming and helping people make their code better, really cool guy, be sure to check his channel!


Second book:


Writing Idiomatic Python by Jeff Knupp

Very solid book, filled with examples what you, as a Python developer should do, and what you shouldn't (and why not). Sounds like not much, but it is actually a lot of useful knowledge that will make your code shorter, cleaner and better.


Effective Python by Brett Slatkin

A bit easier to understand and easier to approach than a previous book, but still has a load of knowledge to share.


Third book:


Fluent Python by Luciano Ramalho

One of the best Python books overall, covers all of the things that previous books could have missed or didn't have time to introduce. My personal favorite when it comes to books for advanced Python developers.


All of those recommendations are my personal opinion, so if anyone has anything to add, I will gladly listen to any comments!

Some help:

Maybe Yes, Maybe No (LINK)

by Dan Barker

In today's media-flooded world, there is no way to control all of the information, claims, and enticements that reach young people. The best thing to do is arm them with the sword of critical thinking.

Maybe Yes, Maybe No is a charming introduction to self-confidence and self-reliance. The book's ten-year-old heroine, Andrea, is always asking questions because she knows "you should prove the truth of a strange story before you believe it."

"Check it out. Repeat the experiment. Try to prove it wrong. It has to make sense." writes Barker, as he assures young readers that they are fully capable of figuring out what to believe, and of knowing when there just isn't enough information to decide. "You can do it your own way. If you are a good skeptic you will know how to think for yourself."

Another book is "Me & Dog" by Gene Weingarten.

And Born With a Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story : Books 1, 2, 3

Here Comes Science CD + DVD

The Magic of Reality by Richard Dawkins

Bang! How We Came to Be by Michael Rubino.

Grandmother Fish: A Child's First Book of Evolution
Grandmother Fish, free in PDF form online

Also:

Greek Myths – by Marcia Williams

Ancient Egypt: Tales of Gods and Pharaohs – by Marcia Williams

God and His Creations – by Marcia Williams

"I Wonder" by Annaka Harris

"From Stardust to You: An Illustrated Guide to The Big Bang" by Luciano Reni

"Meet Bacteria!" by Rebecca Bielawski

See also Highlights for Children - this has materials for younger children.

Atheism books for children by Courtney Lynn

"It Is Ok To Be A Godless Me", "I'm An Atheist and That's Ok", "I'm a Freethinker", "Please Don't Bully Me" and "I'm a Little Thinker" etc.

Courtney Lynn has a couple more for grown ups as well.

Grandmother Fish, free in PDF form online

A child's first book of evolution.

15 Holiday Gift Ideas for Secular Families

Bedtime Bible Stories by Joey Lee Kirkman - for mature teens only

Coming up: TINY THINKERS is a series of books introducing popular scientists to children, by telling their stories as if the scientists themselves were kids!

First off - don't be quiet around your baby when she's sleeping!! Let her get used to the noise, then she'll sleep through anything!!. That's one of the best pieces of advice I got. :-)
Think back to the stuff you loved doing as a child and remember to try that when she's old enough. I've had great success with my son doing that. One of my favourite memories is buying a big bag of those plastic army toys, you know the cheap plastic ones? you get a couple of tanks and jeeps and a load of soldiers. Started playing with those with my son when he was 3 or 4 ish, man that was so, so much fun. Usually some teddy godzilla would come in in the end and destroy both sides. Then we modernised it a bit by filming little stories on my phone and using special effects apps to blow things up. He loved that!!

Ask her questions, I get a great kick out of that. Specifically, when she asks you about something, ask her what she thinks, it's a great way to connect with your kid and get an insight to how her mind works, it'll also help her develop a questioning/reasoning mindset, for example: "Pappa, why is the sky blue?", "I'm not sure, why do you think it's blue?" - You won't believe the answers you'll get, it's so great. Then explain how it actually works, and if you don't know, get her to a computer and start googling that shit.
While she's small, let your kid get dirty. I mean seriously, playing in mud, jumping in puddles, eating dinner or ice-cream with her hands - the bigger the mess the better.

Minecraft - Play Minecraft!!
On a more serious note, start teaching your kid the very basics of sex education when she's about 7 or 8, seriously, any later than that is getting old. My son is 10 now and I got him this book. But you don't want her growing up not knowing, I hear people saying 12 or 13 is the time to talk about that stuff, but that's way, way too late. if you start with the basics at 7 or 8 then by the time she's 10 she'll be comfortable enough with the topic to be able to come to you and her mother with questions. You can get a book like that and read it with her.


Outdoor stuff - do outdoor stuff. Forests, beaches, join clubs together, scouting, fishing, things like that. We joined an orienteering club together, man that's so much fun.

Man, kids are awesome, have fun!

Edit: Hugs - never ending hugs!
Edit 2: Cooking, don't forget to cook with her.

Much of it comes from Puritanical roots. Perhaps things are different now, but when I was young, Judeo-Christian households carried a certain amount of shame associated with sex, sexual organs, and discussions about them.

More shame and discomfort also comes from society trying to paint every man as some kind of molester. This may even be the biggest factor. This is nothing more than internalized misandry that men must overcome for the sake of their daughters. But internalized misandry it is. There is also external misandry. When shopping pre-K schools for my daughter, I asked if there were any male teachers (as I prefer a balance). I was told by a female teacher that it would be considered a "safety risk" by many parents. I wanted to tell her that sexual abuse convictions of female educators have tripled in the past decade. But I noped right out of there and found a better school. That said, this is what dads face on a daily basis.

As men, it is very easy for us to internalize such blatant misandry. My example is simply one of many that we face each week. Luckily, I did not have the same amount of religious programming as my peers. I just had to face society's anti-male pressures. I can see it being more difficult for my peers who were raised in parochial schools and deeply religious homes.

It takes a mindset to say "Fuck em. This is my daughter and I am her father. We can talk about our bodies. We should talk about our bodies. There is nothing wrong, shameful or dirty about it. "

I was the first to comfortably broach the subject with my daughter. I taught her to wipe and why there is an order of operations. She would happly sing the "Down in the front, up in the back" song that I taught her. Ask her why? "So I don't get Mr. Germ and Mrs. Bacteria in my buh-gina..." Fucking hilarious! And that's exactly what the topic needs, right? A bit of child-like levity.

What has also helped me is to use books from cultures that are not ashamed of the body.

The "where did I come from" question was addressed at 2-3 years old with this one. There are some other Japanese books we used, but I cannot find them online.

Body functions

Undergarments

When they get older this one is more appropriate.

I have to admit, the more you read and talk with them about the subject, the easier it gets. I also got kids' anatomy books to go over the various systems. Using clinical terms helps remove discomfort as does talking about genitals in terms of our pets ("Sada the dog has testicles because he is a boy dog. Men and boys also have testicles just like Sada".)

Regarding inappropriate touching, I find that fathers are probably better at explaining boundaries as we are usually the ones who are more adept at setting clear and consistent boundaries for our children through fatherly discipline. Once we were comfortable discussing the body, it was easy to discuss inappropriate touches. We checked this book out from the library. Good concept, mediocre execution. This one was much better and enjoyable.

These books (and subsequent discussions) helped us set a baseline and standard in the younger years builds trust that moves on to the adolescent and pre-teen years. One of the men in our Dad's Group has a teenage daughter. He was the one who taught her daughter different ways of dealing with her period (cup vs pad vs tampon). He has a wonderful bond with his daughter that was set quite early. That guy has been a great influence on all and has helped many of us remove the shame and stigma around approaching the female body.

A few random factors.

- I grew up in a multi-generational house that had at least 2 girls and women at any one time.

- I have also had plenty of girlfriends and serious (cohabitating) relationships. One girlfriend had ovarian cysts, one girlfriend had very unusually rough 7-day periods. Of course, we discussed these things together.

- I probably found my parents' copy of "The Joy of Sex" at a bit of an early age, too.

- I was the first class in my state to have sex-ed in school. This is when I was living in America. It was very controversial, as we started as 5th graders. Many parents protested this (again, American Puritan roots).

All of these things demystified female genitals and has helped with my comfort with discussions around the female body.

A bit of a ramble. But it breaks my heart to see fathers allow terrible people to drive a wedge between them and successful parental relationships with their daughters. I am skeptical of university studies, as most seek to paint men is a negative light. Perhaps this study will be no different. But maybe this post might help some dads with their discussions and relationships with daughters.

I'd keep it limited to play makeup at home right now. How other people will see it, and how her peers will see it, are definitely part of the reason.

At that age they're starting to move toward more important relationships with their peers, who may not have any real perspective on makeup yet and won't necessarily know how to treat it or react.

Even if we don't present makeup as related to sexuality or believe it should be sexual, what other people think and do about it just isn't under our control.

Here an adolescent psychologist explains his view that "makeup should be granted to girls on a case-by-case basis and that moderation is important. The reason? Appearances can be misconstrued by peers and adults."

Self-consciousness is also a good reason to hold off on real makeup until later. Here is some research about how early makeup can affect self-image. It's great that you're teaching her healthy self-esteem to counter the social and media pressures.

It looks like other commenters already gave some good suggestions for play makeup options. There are also a number of books out there about healthy grooming that could be fun for her and fun bonding experiences too! The Care and Keeping of You is pretty popular. (edit typo)

Huh. Funny bunch of parenting recommendations on here... ಠ_ಠ

Are you interested in early stage development or later ages? There's a ton of stuff out there on both.

Anyways, it's not a book, but definitely start here, it's an awesome article: http://www.quora.com/What-is-the-evolutionary-benefit-or-purpose-of-having-periods/answer/Suzanne-Sadedin?share=1


Aside from "What to Expect when you're expecting" - which is the standard guide - you should definitely check out the Mayo Clinic book. They're the source for medical information of all kinds.


Then there are a ton of books. Seriously, most folks just google "parenting books" and then pick out whichever ones seem to suit them - and by suit them, I mean "which books seem most likely to tell them to parent how they want to parent", so. Beware looking for things which will reinforce your own preconceived (ha! conceived, it's a pun... never mind) ideas on what you should and shouldn't do.

Mostly, just use the basic baby books - they're ok - and get the kid to an age where you're not as afraid it's gonna die in its sleep, and then start doing fun stuff. Like reading to it - the biggest things with babies is that you touch them, hold them, play with them, spend time and attention on them. That's it. That's all they want. Food, clean diapers, and every single scrap of your attention all the time.

Oh yeah, and definitely immunize the little monsters, you don't want to be that person who lets the measles loose in your school and has to deal with the parent of the kid who went deaf from it.


I've been sending books to my sister's kid for ages, so I'll include some links... oh shit, Amazon's gonna be recommending all kinds of pregnancy books to me now because I searched for that Mayo clinic book. Crap.

So I've been sending all kinds of books. Like, books on zen, books on Native American stories, books on everything. Fantasy, mystery, whatever. But books on actual development - meant for kids, but might be interesting to see what people are recommending for kids: The Care and Keeping Of You

The Care and Keeping Of Your Emotions


Aside from all that.... a lot of books are written to say simple things. Be constant with kids and don't give into tantrums, be firm, be reasonable, don't be wishy washy, don't be mean, don't get upset if you can help it, and kids aren't sweet innocent things - they're pretty much psychopathic utter assholes until you teach them not to be.


Other interesting books:

The Boy Who Was Raised As A Dog


Born For Love

What's Going On In There? First 5 Years

Red: A Crayon's Story

>A blue crayon mistakenly labeled as "red" suffers an identity crisis in this picture book by the New York Times–bestselling creator of My Heart Is Like a Zoo and It's an Orange Aardvark! Funny, insightful, and colorful, Red: A Crayon's Story, by Michael Hall, is about being true to your inner self and following your own path despite obstacles that may come your way. Red will appeal to fans of Lois Ehlert, Eric Carle, and The Day the Crayons Quit, and makes a great gift for readers of any age!

>Red has a bright red label, but he is, in fact, blue. His teacher tries to help him be red (let's draw strawberries!), his mother tries to help him be red by sending him out on a playdate with a yellow classmate (go draw a nice orange!), and the scissors try to help him be red by snipping his label so that he has room to breathe. But Red is miserable. He just can't be red, no matter how hard he tries! Finally, a brand-new friend offers a brand-new perspective, and Red discovers what readers have known all along. He's blue! This funny, heartwarming, colorful picture book about finding the courage to be true to your inner self can be read on multiple levels, and it offers something for everyone.

1.) Something that is grey.

2.) Something reminiscent of rain. It always rains when I go camping

3.) Something food related that is unusual. Tiramisu wafer cookies. Better than sex.

4.) Something on your list that is for someone other than yourself. I have a whole wishlist for other people. My boyfriend, gramdma, mom, dad, and little brother.

5.) A book you should read! Clearly. You should have read these already because they are the best books evar.

6.) An item that is less than a dollar, including shipping Not on my wishlist

7.) Something related to cats Leopards are big cats.

8.) Something that is not useful, but so beautiful you must have it.

9.) A movie everyone should watch at least once in their life. Because it's the best trilogy of all time.

10.) Something that would be useful when the zombies attack. To whack them in the head and the use the pick to smash their brains out. And it's foldable so it will fit in a backpack.

11.) Something that would have a profound impact on your life and help you to achieve your current goals. I'm a student and I practically live in the library most of the school year. I need a laptop because the computers at school are SO outdated.

12.) One of those pesky Add-On items.

13.) The most expensive thing on your list. Your dream item. PS4! I need this because I love to game and I really, really need Kingdom Hearts 3. Like really.

14.) Something bigger than a bread box.

15.) Something smaller than a golf ball.

16.) Something that smells wonderful. This is the BEST SCENT EVER. It smells like marshmallows, fire burning, and vanilla.

17.) A (SFW) toy. Grown-up toy!

18.) Something that would be helpful for going back to school.

19.) Something related to your current obsession, whatever that may be. Harry Potter is always an obsession.

[20.) Something that is just so amazing and awe-inspiring that I simply must see it. ]()

[Anything that has my real name on it.]()

Anything made in Oregon. This is a bit of a stretch but bear with me. The Bourne Triology preceeds The Bournce Legacy. Which starred Edward Norton who also starred in Fight Club. A movie based off the book who was written by none other than Chuck Palahniuk who is from Oregon & resides there.

I'll be back to finish this!

fear cuts deeper than swords

I recently went through the something like this... But with my eight year old. I was stunned. Mortified. I found searches like, "8 year olds having sex," "naked 8 year olds," etc. He was introduced to online porn through an eleven year old family friend/cousin over the summer. I bought a book that is more geared to tweens, but we went through it and had THE talk.


I explained to him that ONE - if he wanted to talk about sex, he needed to talk to a trusted adult, like his father or me, an aunt or uncle. Talking with other kids, even older ones like this eleven year old cousin, isn't going to get him anywhere because they probably haven't had sex. They won't know what real sex is like between real people that are having it.

TWO - looking up porn on line isn't always going to be REAL SEX. In fact, is mostly not real sex. The people who are filming and putting their sexual acts online are actors and are not showing what real sex can be between real people when you're really having sex.

TWO B - you can't trust all the stuff that's posted online. Some people put stuff online without permission, and that can be illegal. Also, anything involving children or even a teenager under 18 in a sexual act or being naked is ILLEGAL. You don't know with 100% certainty who is over a certain age or what was posted or filmed with permission. Because of that, it's important to not search for pornography or naked photos online, especially at his age or of people of his age.

He took it pretty well, albeit he was very nervous and embarrassed and extremely ashamed. I told him he wasn't at fault, because he didn't know better, but now he does. And just because he knows about this stuff doesn't give him the right to talk to ANY OTHER KIDS about it. I told him that if talk happens (especially among little boys his age and in the coming years) that it's best to let them know that he already knows about it and he already talked about it with his mom, and that his friends should do the same if they are curious. I told him that parents are very protective of what their kids know and don't know when it comes to adult topics and that it's not our job or place to interfere with other families practices.

Here's the book if any one is interested: It's Perfectly Normal: Changing Bodies, Growing Up, Sex, and Sexual Health (The Family Library) https://www.amazon.com/dp/0763668729/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_TkkDwb8HKXWK1

It really goes in detail about a lot of things - sexuality, birth control, puberty, masturbation. It wasn't exactly an easy read for a mom and son team, but we got through it! He even felt comfortable enough to tell me about crushes and a kiss he had during a field trip. Also comfortable enough to ask about my birth control methods (felt my nexlplanon implant) & questions when I'm on my period when he sees tampons in the trash - that little punk.

Late to the party here, but Our Family Tree and Life Story are both great evolution books for kids, as well as Born With a Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story and the subsequent books in that series. Older Than the Stars and Big Bang!: The Tongue-Tickling Tale of a Speck That Became Spectacular are both good ones about big bang theory. For world religions/different beliefs, try What Do You Believe?, The Kids Book of World Religions, or maybe a collection of writings from different religions such as A Child's Book of Blessings and Prayers; a book like What Is God? or About God might also prompt some good discussion.

source: scientist who teaches 5-6 year olds every sunday at a Unitarian Universalist church

(if you have a UU church nearby, might be worth checking out - they can be a great resource for atheist/agnostic/multi-religion households trying to make sense of these issues!)

You're in luck! I think you'll find more than enough self-taught programmers both in this subreddit and in the industry. Programming is a valuable skill to have in just about any field, so kudos to you for taking the initiative to learn.

If you want to learn Python, but don't have much/any programming experience, I would highly recommend Python Crash Course from No Starch Press; It will teach you everything you need to get started, and will give you plenty of exercises and projects to get some hands-on practice.

If you're planning on using Python for any scientific applications, you've picked a great language for it. Python has sets built in, and has some great libraries like numpy, scipy, matplotlib, and jupyter for more advanced operations and data visualization.

After you're comfortable in Python, I would recommend learning R, which is language designed specifically for use by statisticians.

Good luck!

First of all I should say that I'm no expert in these things, but I'm sure other people will be able to make other suggestions.

>I plan on installing Linux as my OS (technically my first time)

If you're more used to Windows then the UI will be fairly easy to get used to, but the biggest change will be the command line. This is a really powerful but complex tool and I think the best way to get used to it is really just to dive in and use it as often as possible. MagPi have a book for it (Conquer the Command Line) to get you started, but if you wanted something more comprehensive I've spent some time reading The Linux Command Line and found it really helpful.

For Python I think I started out with Code Academy, but mostly picked it up as I went along. I'm currently reading Python Crash Course and I think it is pretty decent, although most people seem to recommend Learn Python the Hard Way (note the tiny link near the bottom of the page to read the book for free).

At the end of the day the most important thing is to take baby steps and take them often: when you've kept at it regularly for a few weeks it becomes a lot more easy.

1. Now this is a goblet worthy of a queen. And honey you should see me in a crown.
   
   
2. Every witch should look her best. These face brooms should help me out!
   
   
3. Sure, the hat completes my look, but this will make sure that the hair underneath is just as fabulous.
   
   
4. Sure, this may not be much of a stretch as far as explanations go, but how much more fitting could you get? (PS - It was even on my wishlist before today!).
   
   
5. I would be HORRIFIED if my chest were to look like just any one I could have snagged at Amazon-Alley. This will ensure that I can customize it to be completely unique!
   
   Bonus: This is one classy cape. I have to look my best when I'm off campus!

For Marvel Comics

How to Get Into Comic Books (13:40) | Patrick Willems

Consider your intent/commitment. Think about your favorite stories/characters from TV, movies, games, books, etc. Do you seek quality storytelling or encyclopedic Marvel knowledge? Plan to collect? What time/resources are available i.e. how many comics could/should be read before burning out?

Don’t try to read everything—there’s too much. Forget about “catching up”, continuity, universes, and timelines; it's all very confusing, even to creators/fans. Older comics can be an acquired taste for modern audiences, so first appearances/early origins may not be the best starting points. Creative teams change often, characters get re-worked, and origins are re-told (e.g. I never cared for Hawkeye until Matt Fractions’ run).

Pick an interesting character/team and seek their “greatest hits”. Don’t get stuck “preparing”, just start reading. Focus on well-received, relatively self-contained, and complete stories. You may encounter the occasional unexplained reference/character/event—just ride along (Wiki if necessary). Remember, there are so many other great characters and publishers to explore, and not all comics are about superheroes.

Where to buy (US):

• Digital: Marvel Unlimited, Comixology, e-library (e.g. Hoopla - free), webcomics (free)
  
• Print (collected editions): instocktrades, ISBNS, library (free)
  
• Print (singles): midtowncomics, mycomicshop, DCBS
  
  Modern Marvel characters/teams:
  
  
• Alias (Jessica Jones) | Brian Michael Bendis
  
• Avengers | Kurt Busiek
  
• The Ultimates 1-2 (Avengers) | Mark Millar
  
• New Avengers | Brian Michael Bendis
  
• Avengers / New Avengers | Jonathan Hickman | Hickman 2
  
• Black Panther | Christopher Priest
  
• Captain America | Ed Brubaker
  
• Captain Marvel | Kelly Sue DeConnick
  
• Daredevil | Brian Michael Bendis
  
• Daredevil | Ed Brubaker
  
• Daredevil | Mark Waid
  
• Deadpool | Joe Kelly
  
• Doctor Strange: The Oath | Brian K. Vaughan
  
• Fantastic Four / FF | Jonathan Hickman | Hickman 1
  
• Guardians of the Galaxy | Abnett, Lanning, Giffen, et al. | Cosmic
  
• Hawkeye | Matt Fraction
  
• Immortal Iron Fist | Brubaker & Fraction
  
• Inhumans | Paul Jenkins
  
• Iron Man: Extremis | Warren Ellis
  
• Invincible Iron Man | Matt Fraction
  
• Marvels | Kurt Busiek
  
• Moon Knight | Warren Ellis
  
• Ms. Marvel | G. Willow Wilson
  
• Planet Hulk | Greg Pack | Hulk 1
  
• Punisher Max | Garth Ennis
  
• Thor | Jason Aaron
  
• Ultimate Spider-man | Brian Michael Bendis
  
• Vision | Tom King
  
• New X-Men | Grant Morrison | X-Men 1
  
• Astonishing X-Men | Joss Whedon | X-Men 2
  
• Uncanny X-Force | Rick Remender | X-Men 6
  
  /r/Marvel sidebar for more info.
  
  Events/crossovers can be fun and/or tedious. They are most appreciated by readers well-versed in relevant continuity. Generally, the best non-event comics integrate these seamlessly or avoid them entirely (notwithstanding editorial/executive mandates). Regardless, you may want to familiarize with major plot points.
  
  Modern Marvel events/crossovers:
  
  
• Avengers Disassembled | Brian Michael Bendis
  
• Secret War | Brian Michael Bendis
  
• House of M | Brian Michael Bendis | X-Men 2.5
  
• Annihilation | Abnett, Lanning, Giffen | Cosmic 1
  
• Civil War | Mark Millar
  
• World War Hulk | Greg Pak | Hulk 2
  
• Annihilation: Conquest | Abnett, Lanning, Giffen | Cosmic 2
  
• Messiah Complex | Brubaker, Kyle, Yost, et al. | X-Men 3
  
• Secret Invasion | Brian Michael Bendis | Dark Reign 1
  
• War of Kings | Abnett, Lanning, et al. | Cosmic 3
  
• Messiah War | Kyle, Yost, Swierczynski | X-Men 4
  
• Dark Avengers / Utopia | Bendis, Fraction, et al. | Dark Reign 2
  
• Siege | Brian Michael Bendis | Dark Reign 3
  
• Realm of Kings | Abnett, Lanning, Reed | Cosmic 4
  
• Second Coming | Kyle, Yost, Fraction, et al. | X-Men 5
  
• Fear Itself | Matt Fraction
  
• Schism | Jason Aaron, Kieron Gillen | X-Men 7
  
• Avengers vs. X-Men | Bendis, Brubaker, et al. | X-Men 8
  
• Infinity | Jonathan Hickman | Hickman 2.5
  
• Secret Wars | Jonathan Hickman | Hickman 3
  
  Discover your preferences and let them guide you. Do you like: old/new comics? Specific genres? Literary/natural narratives? Cartoony/realistic art? Familiar/weird concepts? References/self-contained? Social/political commentary? Family-friendly/explicit content? Optimism/pessimism? Have you noticed that a specific artist/writer consistently makes comics you like? Follow these instincts.
  
  Suggestions to improve this guide are welcome.
  

oh my gosh. placeholder so i can work on this after my kids get to bed. excited! <3 you guys and your contests! I'm back!!

Morthy demands

• I'd probably feel pretty posh in this wool slouchy hat but i don't know how it'd make me feel like an englishman. :) ^^Fashion ^^Attempts ^^WL.
  
• I would probably never wear these outside of the house or yoga studio but these yoga pants look amazing! ^^Fashion ^^Attempts ^^WL
  
  
  
• I am lacking in phallic looking items, so this is a bit of a stretch, a salt shaker. ^^kitchen ^^WL.
  
  Akeleie demands
  
  
• Most geeky item : Geek Dad book with projects and fun things to do for my husband and our kids. ^^The ^^Mr. ^^WL.
  
  
• Item which would help me achieve my goal of being a single car household and an active, fun, hot mama is this double bike trailer ^^ActiveLifestyle ^^WL
  
  
• Best item to bring on a deserted island is The Harry Potter series, i have NOT read these books yet, but plan to do so along with my sons when they are a little older. ^^books ^^WL

My son's 7, so my situation's a bit different from yours. But what I did was pick up a copy of "All Cats Have Aspergers Syndrome" (http://smile.amazon.com/dp/1843104814) to start the conversation with my son. He LOVES cats, so this was an easy way to start the conversation. I started talking to him about some of they symptoms I noticed, and how that was a little different than other people. But I also have Aspergers, so I was able to frame it as "other people don't do it, but you and mommy do." We started discussing how he doesn't like to make eye contact, and I asked him if it was easier to look at my mouth (my go-to when having conversations) or my hair line. The conversation built up from there, because he likes to ask questions & learn things. We went over each of the statements in "All Cats Have Aspergers" and he was able to relate them to himself. I did my best to focus on positive statements, letting him know that we're different & that's okay. There's nothing wrong with us.

He still asks me questions about it, and we discuss something about it at least a couple times a week. But the book helped start the discussion.

I hope that helps you out.

I don't know of any UU-specific books, but in the spirit of UU, maybe it's better to offer a variety of perspectives?

• Great Adaptations is a colorful and fun book about evolution and natural selection.
  
• Stories of the Prophets in the Holy Qu’ran is a colorful and fun introduction to the Muslim perspective on familiar (and unfamiliar) stories.
  
• Sitting Still Like a Frog is a child friendly introduction to mindfulness and meditation
  
• What Do You Believe and The Kids Book of World Religions also seem like they might be helpful

My son is 9. We told him last year because he wanted to know why he was seeing his other doctor so much (because the school wouldn't get off our case until we had a diagnosis. Until we got it, we knew already, but had no need for it to be formal).

I got a book called "all cats have aspergers". It's a picture book and it's for kids, but it's really cute and it got the idea across in a simple way.

If you have a decent relationship with him and can talk to him about other things, I say go for it. If not, then maybe find a way to work it into a conversation. We made sure to clarify for our son that this diagnosis was not his end-all excuse for his behavior (when it was bad), nor was it something that he had to view as something "bad"....but rather, it was an explanation for those questions like "why am i different/why do i think/see things so differently" or "why do we have to go about things differently than so&so"...

I hope that helps and I wish you the best of luck. After the initial fun of saying Ass-Burgers, my kid has mostly forgotten about it and just does his thing.

It's taken a while, which turns out to be a good thing. I didn't set out to write a book; I've never wanted to write a book just for the sake of writing a book. When I had enough meaningful and unique experiences to share, I thought it would be good to put together a book.

I considered finding a place to hide out in Alaska right at the end of the trip and write the story then, but I was ready to get back into the teaching life. So when I could I typed out all the journals I'd been keeping on the long trip. It was 1500 pages raw! I then cut out all the stuff that would be meaningless to other people - dreams, encounters that didn't turn out to be that interesting, etc. That process of reading the journals and typing them and trimming them really cemented my memories of the trip. But still, it read like a journal, not like a book. So I stayed in a tent for a week in the Arizona desert and wrote out the story in an oversized art journal. I then typed that out when I got back home, and edited it from there.

The benefit of taking a long time to write the book is that it's much more timeless. I took out all the stuff that seemed important at the time but really isn't in the long run. What's left is the timeless joy of long-term independent travel, the hard lessons anyone who lives on the road for an extended period learns.

Edit: I never answered your question directly. I did the ride in 1998-1999, so I've been working on the book off and on for a long time. Every time I got close to finishing it, the school year would start up again and I'd get busy. The first few times I reread it after putting it down for a while, I'd find sections I couldn't believe I had kept in the book. the last few times I read it I couldn't find anything to take out, and the story as a whole seemed even more relevant than when I first started drafting it. That's how I knew it was ready to share. It really was a life-defining journey, and the book captures that well.

I also wrote Python Crash Course, which is an introduction to programming in Python. That book has done really well, there are 48,000 copies in print and it's been translated into six other languages. The experience of writing that book made it a lot easier to put the finishing touches on this book.