The purpose of the post menopausal woman is to flout every social convention by being physically strong, vocally loud about what’s important, mentally and emotionally resilient, and giving zero fucks what the patriarchy thinks about it.
I knew so many people in the homeschool community who followed his advice, including moms toting around cash their families couldn't afford to lose in envelopes, because the envelopes were supposed to help them magically stretch an inadequate family income to cover everything they were in charge of procuring. He's played so many people.
I love that book! I love it so deeply and extremely much, and I recommend the author Katrine Marcal's follow up, 'Mother of Invention'. They gave me both facts and feelings, in the same way as Lyz's 'This American Ex-Wife' did. They live next to each other on my bookshelf.
I just wanted to say thank you for seeing your friends without kids. Because yeah. It takes a village. And I was the out-of-work single childless woman who helped my young-single-mom neighbor get some sleep at 3am when her baby would not sleep without someone holding him and had colic, and I spent a week doing this for her until she was human again. We can’t do it alone.
The purpose of the postmenopausal female is to defend her granddaughter's choice to have and learn how to ride a motorcycle to disapproving parents. "I used to have a motorcycle, too." (-my grandma)
The purpose of the postmenopausal female is to show younger women how the patriarchy has poisoned everything, even their boyfriend, and tell them to never, ever, ever give up their financial independence for any reason, even a man, especially if he's your husband.
What if "What I am drinking" became "What I am enjoying?" Then you could cover books, TV, that spider living her best postmenopausal life between your kitchen windows--whatever is giving you delight. Also, I LOVE Delightenment and Dingularity so much!
Also, I cannot quite quantify the seething rage I feel about the Dave Ramsey revelations. What an absolute turdpole. I hope the former employee wins a huge pile of his ill-gotten money.
My conservative dad refused to work for anyone else and ran two businesses into the ground and bankruptcy, while dumping all manner of misery and extra work on my mother. Eventually she got a job against his wishes as a cook in a major city school system and worked up to be a manager, retiring late in her life. My misogynistic smack-talking dad has gone pretty quiet these days as they survive on social security and my mom’s school district retirement and health benefits. Screw Ramsey.
For me the purpose of the post menopausal female is to rush into the alien’s den by herself (because all the marines have had their asses kicked by said aliens) to save the girl child. I’m drinking vodka. Well not this moment, it’s kind of early. But I always only drink vodka with Coke Zero.
I am developing complicated feelings about Christianity. I come from a Catholic family background, and I consider myself an atheist, but open to the possibility that there is more to existence than our species is currently scientifically aware of.
I abhor what self-described Christians are doing in this country, especially to women, but it goes beyond that. Christian Nationalism is a form of fascism that is one of the greatest threats to this country, and therefore by extension to the rest of the world too.
More than that, organized religion always ends up upholding traditional power structures, benefiting those who have against those who do not. Faiths practiced by a minority in one environment, which can seem radical or progressive, end up oppressive in an environment in which they are dominant (e.g. compare Buddhism in America to Buddhism in Myanmar).
All that said, I remember enough of the teachings of Jesus to know that the two groups he criticized the most were the rich, and those who were ostentatious about being holy. What's happening now is exactly what he said would happen, and exactly what he said to look out for. The latter group in particular made him their enemy.
Viewed that way, everything is turned on its head. 2000 years of being co-opted by power might render Christianity irredeemable, but I can't help being reminded that a true Christian should be the most vigilant against all that is being done in the name of God and Christianity. I don't believe in God, but if I did, I would recognize that those now invoking the name of God the most are the true enemies of God. Somehow that feels like something worth remembering.
So much financial advice is either bad or just by people who were very lucky. I once read an advice book where the guy had not bought new clothes in 20 years. How nice for him to have 1) clothes that were actually long lasting and 2) no changes in his body shape in two decades.
Also I will now forever be thinking about Jesus flipping tables when I drive past the local Methodist church that sells off their parking lot spaces for way above market value during farmers markets. It's still price gouging, even if it's to fund your Bible camp.
The purpose of this postmenopausal female is to ... fuck, who cares! I do what I want. Vance is saying the quiet parts out loud, that's for sure. I'm sorry - I'm just reeling every day from the absolute bullshit that people think and say out loud, expecting to be affirmed and lifted. This postmenopausal female will certainly be connecting these dots for students in the coming years.
The purpose of the post-menopausal woman (note: my gyn decries the use of this term, saying that you're just menopausal forever, until you die, but I will defer to popular usage) is to rule the world, OBVIOUSLY. Because we are calm, intelligent, experienced and know everything.
I felt a welling of emotions when you thanked your childless friends. I am that childless friend/relative who speaks to children as rational beings and loves playing with them. I never really thought about it because as a single, childless, postmenopausal, independent woman, I sometimes feel a little defensive about my life choices - but other people’s kids usually love me, and I appreciate them as tiny humans. Tiny humans, btw, who are going to grow up and I hope do a better job than my generation.
Ha! I love the purpose of the post menopausal woman part. I am post menopausal with NO grandchildren so I'm not even sure why I'm alive right now.
RE: Ramsey. A few years ago I bought my adult children Ramsey's book. To their credit, neither of them bothered with it and I subsequently got rid of the one still in my house (the child, not the book, the child is still here). While I have followed the "snowball" affect, and it worked, it worked because we were no longer paying for the kid's college; thus, we had an extra $2000 a month to throw at that debt. Funny how more money makes that work. Ramsey might have some good advice but it comes in the form of the condescending and judgmental Dave Ramsey.
In that way it reminds me of “Love Languages” in that understanding what your partner likes is good. Understanding why some people feel the need to bring you back something from every trip while you are vaguely annoyed by more crap is good. Then it just gets off the rails.
We did that program back in the early aughts, and the one thing that really worked for us was the IDEA of the envelope system. We still use that, but digitally, on our phones, because there was no way we were letting go of those sweet, sweet credit card cash back rewards.
I've heard from my conservative family members that the US women's medal count shows how America is not misogynistic and doesn't need discrimination laws. I had to remind all of them to thank Title IX, the dinguses
Someone posted about how all of Australia's Gold medals were won by women and the replies from dudes were very supportive of women's athle- no jk, they were all horrible dinguses
The purpose of the postmenopausal female is to remind all y'all motherfuckers that not everything is about you.
This is perfect!!! Love it! <3
hahaha. excellent, asha, love it!
The purpose of the post menopausal woman is to flout every social convention by being physically strong, vocally loud about what’s important, mentally and emotionally resilient, and giving zero fucks what the patriarchy thinks about it.
YES!!! <3
amen!!!
"Beware the male financial gurus who build their empires on the backs of the uncompensated labor of women."
This line makes me think of the book "Who Cooked Adam Smith's Dinner."
I knew so many people in the homeschool community who followed his advice, including moms toting around cash their families couldn't afford to lose in envelopes, because the envelopes were supposed to help them magically stretch an inadequate family income to cover everything they were in charge of procuring. He's played so many people.
I love that book! I love it so deeply and extremely much, and I recommend the author Katrine Marcal's follow up, 'Mother of Invention'. They gave me both facts and feelings, in the same way as Lyz's 'This American Ex-Wife' did. They live next to each other on my bookshelf.
Screw Dave Ramsey however you see fit.
I just wanted to say thank you for seeing your friends without kids. Because yeah. It takes a village. And I was the out-of-work single childless woman who helped my young-single-mom neighbor get some sleep at 3am when her baby would not sleep without someone holding him and had colic, and I spent a week doing this for her until she was human again. We can’t do it alone.
You, madame, are an angel. Holding a squalling baby in the middle of the night feels like exhausted despair.
Thank you. 🙏🏼
The purpose of the postmenopausal female is to defend her granddaughter's choice to have and learn how to ride a motorcycle to disapproving parents. "I used to have a motorcycle, too." (-my grandma)
❤️❤️❤️❤️
Yes, but to also wear a helmet.
The purpose of the postmenopausal female is to show younger women how the patriarchy has poisoned everything, even their boyfriend, and tell them to never, ever, ever give up their financial independence for any reason, even a man, especially if he's your husband.
What if "What I am drinking" became "What I am enjoying?" Then you could cover books, TV, that spider living her best postmenopausal life between your kitchen windows--whatever is giving you delight. Also, I LOVE Delightenment and Dingularity so much!
Toni this is an excellent idea!!!
Also, I cannot quite quantify the seething rage I feel about the Dave Ramsey revelations. What an absolute turdpole. I hope the former employee wins a huge pile of his ill-gotten money.
My conservative dad refused to work for anyone else and ran two businesses into the ground and bankruptcy, while dumping all manner of misery and extra work on my mother. Eventually she got a job against his wishes as a cook in a major city school system and worked up to be a manager, retiring late in her life. My misogynistic smack-talking dad has gone pretty quiet these days as they survive on social security and my mom’s school district retirement and health benefits. Screw Ramsey.
Bless your poor Mom, putting up with him.
For me the purpose of the post menopausal female is to rush into the alien’s den by herself (because all the marines have had their asses kicked by said aliens) to save the girl child. I’m drinking vodka. Well not this moment, it’s kind of early. But I always only drink vodka with Coke Zero.
I am developing complicated feelings about Christianity. I come from a Catholic family background, and I consider myself an atheist, but open to the possibility that there is more to existence than our species is currently scientifically aware of.
I abhor what self-described Christians are doing in this country, especially to women, but it goes beyond that. Christian Nationalism is a form of fascism that is one of the greatest threats to this country, and therefore by extension to the rest of the world too.
More than that, organized religion always ends up upholding traditional power structures, benefiting those who have against those who do not. Faiths practiced by a minority in one environment, which can seem radical or progressive, end up oppressive in an environment in which they are dominant (e.g. compare Buddhism in America to Buddhism in Myanmar).
All that said, I remember enough of the teachings of Jesus to know that the two groups he criticized the most were the rich, and those who were ostentatious about being holy. What's happening now is exactly what he said would happen, and exactly what he said to look out for. The latter group in particular made him their enemy.
Viewed that way, everything is turned on its head. 2000 years of being co-opted by power might render Christianity irredeemable, but I can't help being reminded that a true Christian should be the most vigilant against all that is being done in the name of God and Christianity. I don't believe in God, but if I did, I would recognize that those now invoking the name of God the most are the true enemies of God. Somehow that feels like something worth remembering.
So much financial advice is either bad or just by people who were very lucky. I once read an advice book where the guy had not bought new clothes in 20 years. How nice for him to have 1) clothes that were actually long lasting and 2) no changes in his body shape in two decades.
Also I will now forever be thinking about Jesus flipping tables when I drive past the local Methodist church that sells off their parking lot spaces for way above market value during farmers markets. It's still price gouging, even if it's to fund your Bible camp.
…especially for an organization that pays NO taxes.
Imagine the nerve to hoard land without paying taxes and then charge community members you claim to serve to use that land. 🤯
Straight up grift! Jesus would NOT approve!
I wrote a post on how to recognize bad financial advice: https://marthamenard.substack.com/p/how-to-recognise-bad-financial-advice
I wrote a post on a better way to help poor people than telling them to can more tomatoes (I didn't use that example, but I should have). https://sandrabaringer.substack.com/p/the-cost-of-gas-and-oranges
The purpose of this postmenopausal female is to ... fuck, who cares! I do what I want. Vance is saying the quiet parts out loud, that's for sure. I'm sorry - I'm just reeling every day from the absolute bullshit that people think and say out loud, expecting to be affirmed and lifted. This postmenopausal female will certainly be connecting these dots for students in the coming years.
The purpose of the post-menopausal woman (note: my gyn decries the use of this term, saying that you're just menopausal forever, until you die, but I will defer to popular usage) is to rule the world, OBVIOUSLY. Because we are calm, intelligent, experienced and know everything.
Freedom from hormones is a HUGE benefit! My wisdom grew as my hormones subsided.
Just gotta work on the bone degeneration problem a little bit more
I felt a welling of emotions when you thanked your childless friends. I am that childless friend/relative who speaks to children as rational beings and loves playing with them. I never really thought about it because as a single, childless, postmenopausal, independent woman, I sometimes feel a little defensive about my life choices - but other people’s kids usually love me, and I appreciate them as tiny humans. Tiny humans, btw, who are going to grow up and I hope do a better job than my generation.
Ha! I love the purpose of the post menopausal woman part. I am post menopausal with NO grandchildren so I'm not even sure why I'm alive right now.
RE: Ramsey. A few years ago I bought my adult children Ramsey's book. To their credit, neither of them bothered with it and I subsequently got rid of the one still in my house (the child, not the book, the child is still here). While I have followed the "snowball" affect, and it worked, it worked because we were no longer paying for the kid's college; thus, we had an extra $2000 a month to throw at that debt. Funny how more money makes that work. Ramsey might have some good advice but it comes in the form of the condescending and judgmental Dave Ramsey.
Right? There are certainly bits of good, usable advice in there but you have to sift through so much self-righteousness to get to it.
In that way it reminds me of “Love Languages” in that understanding what your partner likes is good. Understanding why some people feel the need to bring you back something from every trip while you are vaguely annoyed by more crap is good. Then it just gets off the rails.
We did that program back in the early aughts, and the one thing that really worked for us was the IDEA of the envelope system. We still use that, but digitally, on our phones, because there was no way we were letting go of those sweet, sweet credit card cash back rewards.
I've heard from my conservative family members that the US women's medal count shows how America is not misogynistic and doesn't need discrimination laws. I had to remind all of them to thank Title IX, the dinguses
Someone posted about how all of Australia's Gold medals were won by women and the replies from dudes were very supportive of women's athle- no jk, they were all horrible dinguses