Kristi Pahr

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.

As a mother of boys, I find this trend disturbing. Yes, we need to build up our girls. We need to empower them and teach them that they are capable and viable and powerful — that they are smart and that they matter. But we cannot devalue our boys in the process.

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

I know how it feels to not contribute financially to the household. I know how it feels to be completely dependent on someone else for my financial stability. I know how it feels to know that if something dreadful and unthinkable happened, I’d be completely destitute. And it’s terrifying.

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

I’m not a TV person. I used to be, but not so much anymore.

I think we can all agree that there is some messed up stuff happening right now.