Kristi Pahr

2016 sucked. If we can’t agree on anything else, I think we can all agree on at least that much.

These women are from all over the world. They are from different socioeconomic brackets. Their assaults took place during different times over the last 35 years. The victims are completely different, but the stories are all so similar. Victims of assault, rape, harassment, coming forward, being brave and telling the truth, and being stigmatized, ostracized, blamed, ignored, ridiculed. People they love, people they trust, people whose job it is to protect them, blaming them for their assault. It’s common. Almost expected. That women are assaulted, harassed by men, is a given in our culture. That women are blamed is standard procedure. Is it really any wonder that the majority of sexual assaults go unreported? Is it really shocking that a woman would want to save herself additional trauma?

When my oldest son was a baby, my husband and I used to talk about what sports he would play.

I have to go shopping tomorrow and I’m dreading it.

Soundgarden was part of something bigger, something that changed everything.

Things as simple as a missed call from an unknown number or someone knocking on your door put me into straight up fight or flight. I really do hide from people who come to my door. Real talk, I have gotten on my hands and knees below a window so they wouldn’t see me. I’ve even hidden in the closet. I know. Whacko.

I have a confession to make. Target, meh. I’m just not that into it.

My parenting mantra is: "Do your best and hope he doesn't turn into a sociopath." And I guess that's really all we can do, because if we're honest with ourselves, I think none of us really know what we're doing.

I’m lazy as hell, you guys. I know it’s true and I’m not particularly ashamed.

I found my first gray hair when I was 12 years old. Twelve. I had gray hair before I had a period.