Month: May 2024

There are a lot of hard things about living with Crohn’s disease. Not being able to talk about it might be the worst one.

Imagine being constantly tired, but in a way that even 15 hours of sleep a day can’t cure. Imagine going to dinner, but every time you eat something as simple as a roll of warm bread, it feels like it might’ve had broken glass inside of it.

Then, it’s time to go to the bathroom. Again. Is that the fifth time this hour or the sixth? You’ve lost track. It’s a running joke now — your friends think it’s funny, but nobody really talks about what happens when you step away. Because, really, you look fine. Just tired.

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Crohn’s, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is “a condition of chronic inflammation potentially involving any location of the gastrointestinal tract.” But as defined by myself, someone with Crohn’s, it’s like having food poisoning all the time. The symptoms and presentation are different for every patient, but one thing is the same for all: It’s an invisible illness, and it sucks.

And let’s face it. Talkin’ about your poop is taboo.

A little privacy, please?

Well, unless you’re Krystal Miller.

Stumble over to her Facebook page, Bag Lady Mama, and nearly every post has a reference to doing the doo.

Krystal, who lives in Perth, Australia, has Crohn’s. She was first diagnosed at 15 years old, and by 22, most of her intestinal tract had been badly damaged by the disease. At that point, doctors decided to remove large portions of her large and small intestines.

For the last decade, she’s been living with a permanent ileostomy, a surgically made opening in the abdominal wall that connects the lower intestine to an ostomy bag.

Now, at 32, she’s sharing her daily experiences through Facebook.

Her posts show raw insight into her world. They’re unapologetically blunt, they’re full of curse words, and they’re gaining traction — quickly.

In an interview with Upworthy, Krystal said she expected to have a few hundred Likes on her page within a month or two of launching it, mostly from close friends who knew about her life with Crohn’s. But since it launched Jan. 25, it’s reached more than 13,000 Likes.

“I did expect it to reach Europe and America because I have international friends,” she said. “But I never expected for it to be as expansive as it has been. It’s crazy — I actually got recognized at my local shops the other day!”

Her photos show off her day-to-day life with her two children, Lukas, 4, and Arabella, five months, and her husband, Shannon. Each is filled with her unabashed love for her body.

Scars, bag, and the ostomy itself are all on display in the hopes that she can help remove some of the stigma around Crohn’s and what life with the disease is like.

It’s not a comfortable thing to live with physically or socially. It took years before Krystal was willing to open up about it.

“When I was first diagnosed, I was very uncomfortable. I would be in-tears uncomfortable if someone had to go to the toilet after me. … And when you’re young, it’s embarrassing and it’s pretty f*cking horrific. It’s been slow progress , but I just kind of got sick of caring. Like, who gives a f*ck, it is what it is, I can’t do anything about it.“

She would go to extreme lengths to cover up the symptoms of the disease, especially when using public restrooms. But she credits the surgery that removed her rectum with alleviating a lot of that embarrassment as well. Once her permanent ostomy was in place, many of her symptoms were alleviated, and her experiences with “number 2” became more matter-of-fact than anything else.

“It’s been slow progress , but I just kind of got sick of caring. Like, who gives a f*ck, it is what it is, I can’t do anything about it.”

From there, it became about reclaiming her sexiness and self-confidence, which started with revisiting how she looked at herself.

“When we look at other women, we don’t see the same flaws that we see in ourself. And I’ve had to retrain myself to see myself the way others might see me, to not notice the finer intricacies that I see on myself. Other people don’t see the sh*t that we see.”

But she hasn’t stopped there. She also posts fashion tips for other women with Crohn’s and shares advice on how to dress the way you want while still being comfortable with a bag.

Krystal does have one thing she wants to say to other people who have Crohn’s and other IBDs: It’s not always going to be easy, and that’s OK.

“We have earned that right to f*cking hate the world,” she said. “We are entitled to f*cking be angry and to be sad and to have bad days. If you need to feel sorry for yourself, then feel sorry for yourself. But then pick yourself up and keep going.”

This article originally appeared on 04.04.16

I occasionally get asked by mothers of young children what the secret is to raising great teenagers.

My initial response is that I have absolutely no clue. My kids are who they are IN SPITE of having me as a mother. (The young moms don’t find that answer too helpful.)

Really, the first thing that I will tell you is to disbelieve the myth that teenagers are sullen, angry creatures who slam doors and hate their parents. Some do that, but the overwhelming majority do not. Every one of my kids’ friends are just as happy and fun as my kids are, so I know it’s not just us.

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Teenagers are incredible. They are funny, smart, eager to please, and up for just about anything as long as food is involved. They have the most generous hearts and want desperately to be loved and validated. They are quirky and messy and have the best sense of humor.

So, here is my list of “rules” for raising teens. These are the secrets we have found to be successful.

1. Love them fiercely.

Love everything about them, even the annoying stuff. Love them for their actions AND their intentions. Let them know in word and deed how much you adore them. Daily. Love their wrinkled shirts and Axe-body-spray-covered selves. Love their bad handwriting and pimpled cheeks. Love their scattered brains and long limbs. All these seemingly insignificant details are an amazing, magical process at work. It’s like being witness to the miracle of a diamond mid-formation. All this imperfection is going to one day yield a responsible, serious adult. A loving husband and father. Or a wonderful wife and mother. It’s a privilege to be witness to such glorious growth.

See your teenagers as a privilege, don’t see them as a burden. They’re more perceptive than you can imagine. How you feel about them will be no secret. So just love ‘em.

2. Listen and pay attention.

When they walk in the door after school, you have a precious few minutes when they will divulge the secrets of their day with you. Be excited to see them. Put down the cell phone. Don’t waste this time making dinner or taking a phone call. Look them in the eye and hear what they are saying. Make their victories your victories. Be empathetic. It is really hard to navigate high school and middle school. Don’t offer advice at this time unless they ask for it. Don’t lecture. Just listen. It makes them feel important and valued. We all need to feel that way.

3. Say yes more than you say no.

The world is forever going to tell them no. For the rest of their lives, they will be swimming in a stormy sea with wave after wave of “you’re not good enough” and “you can’t do this” crashing down on their heads. If nothing else, I want to be the opposite voice in their lives for as long as I can. I want to instill in them the belief that they are not limited and they can do anything if they’re willing to work hard enough for it. I want to be the YES, YOU CAN in their lives. I want them to leave my house every day feeling invincible.

4. Say no often.

You need to say no to experiences and situations that will set your child up for harm or unhappiness. Don’t let them go to the parties where they will be forced to make a choice about alcohol at age 16 in front of their peers . Don’t let them stay out until three in the morning with a member of the opposite sex. Be the parent. Set up rules for their safety, both physical and moral. You would think this rule goes without saying, but we have known a shockingly large number of parents who don’t.

5. Feed them. A lot.

And not only them, but their friends too. These bodies are growing and developing at an astonishing rate and need fuel to do so — most of which they prefer to be loaded with processed sugar and hydrogenated-something-or-others. When their friends know your pantry is stocked to the gills with treats, they will beg your kid to hang out at your place. This allows you to not only meet and know their friends, but to keep an eye on your teen as well.

6. Don’t sweat the small stuff.

When living with teenagers, it can be so easy to see the backpack dropped in the middle of the living room as laziness. Or the bedroom scattered with dirty clothes as irresponsible. Instead, and before you open your mouth to yell at them, put yourself in their shoes. Find out about their day first. Maybe they are feeling beaten down, and they just need to unwind for a minute and tell you about it. Ignore the mess for a bit and put your arms around that big, sweaty kid and give him a hug. Talk to him about his world. Find out what he did, wants to do, and dreams of doing. THEN, and only then, ask him to pick it up and put it away.

That being said, do I completely ignore the state of my boys’ bedrooms all the time? No, I do not. But I pick my battles, and I pick the appropriate time to fight them. Once every seven to 10 days or so, I tell them their bedrooms need to be picked up. Which they do happily because it’s not the running loop of a nagging mom. They know when I ask, it needs to be done.

7. Stand back and watch the magic happen.

If you let them, these glorious creatures will open their hearts and love you more fiercely than you could possibly imagine. They are brilliant, capable, strong spirits who bring with them a flurry of happiness. They are hilarious and clever. They are thoughtful and sensitive. They want us to adore them. They need us to adore them. They love deeply and are keenly in touch with the feelings of others.

They are just about the greatest gift God gave to parents.

This article was written by Christie Halversson and originally appeared on 08.20.19

There are creative, romantic proposals, and then there’s this one.

Lee Loechler recently proposed to his girlfriend, Sthuthi David, by taking her to a packed theater to see her favorite Disney movie, Sleeping Beauty. Little did she know that Loechler had spent six months altering the animation of the film’s most iconic scene, changing the characters to look like the couple themselves and altering the storyline to set up his Big Question. And that’s only the beginning.

Watching David’s face during the scene change is sheer delight, as her confused look proves that she has no clue what is about to happen.

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The set-up is great, but the magical moment when Loechler’s illustrated self tosses the engagement ring to his real-life self? That’s when we all toss up our hands and say, “OKAY, man. You win at proposing. Everyone else must bow before you now.”

The whole proposal—the re-illustrations, the heart jokes (David is a cardiologist), and the bride-to-be’s surprise when she finds herself surrounded by friends and family—it’s all perfection. Just watch:

Amazing, right? Lee Loechler set the bar ridiculously high, but even the most cynical among us have to give him props for his creativity.

Reddit users’ responses to the video were hilarious, and reflect what we all feel watching this masterpiece.

“Welp this guy went and did it, theres no point in any of us proposing now he’s out done us all.” – XXLpeanuts

“I was just gonna propose to my girlfriend in the Starbucks parking lot where I first told her I loved her. Welp, that ain’t gonna do anymore…” – mattrva

“I proposed to my wife in front of Disney Castle in Orlando and I’ve never felt less proud about it than after watching this video lol. For real though this is one of the best proposals I’ve ever seen, bravo.” – thenaniwatiger

“I thought I was smooth with my bridge and lilyponds on a blacksand beach in Hawaii….. this guy just went and rewrote theatrical history, broke the forth wall, made a 4th dimensional joke and timed it perfectly, made a highbrow doctors joke, conspired with the internet, and filled a theater with family and friends.” – ooooopium

“Goddamn I am cold, cynical bastard and you just warmed my heart with how hard you just crushed it, my dude. I’ll say it. I am flat out envious.” – Dr_Frasier_Bane

Congratulations and best wishes to the lovely couple. May you truly live happily ever after.

This article originally appeared on 01.09.20

For many, even those that proudly wave the flag of self-love, the sight of that first gray hair is anxiety inducing. That single strand is a harbinger of the doom of our youth. More than one, and you might as well weave them together to create yourself a noose. It’s time to kiss your beauty—and therefore, your value—goodbye.

But what if, instead of marking the end of our glory days, we could see this change as a new chapter with equally glorious reveals? Something worth presenting, rather than hiding?

Back in July 2021, actress Andie MacDowell made headlines for rocking the silver vixen look at the Cannes Film Festival. MacDowell’s hair has always been a defining feature, but previously she had been coloring her raven locks to maintain her signature look. This was at the behest of her managers, according to an interview with Vogue.

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But after her kids officially declared the salt-and-pepper look was “badass,” MacDowell started to see going natural as a “power move.” So she followed the impulse, and you don’t need me to tell you it was a bit of a social media sensation.

MacDowell reflected on how freeing the experience was in a conversation with Interview Magazine. “I feel better like this. Honestly, it’s exhausting to have to be something that you no longer are…I was finally like, ‘You know what? I’m not young. And I’m OK with that..I feel so much more comfortable. It’s like I’ve taken a mask off or something.”’

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Isn’t this a battle so many of us fight? Instead of basking in how far we’ve come, we spend so much effort trying to wind back the clock. And in all the rigamarole of trying to delay the inevitable, we forget that aging is a glorious gift. One that’s not guaranteed.

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Even when we use terms like “embrace the gray,” there’s this connotation that aging is this frightening tidal wave that we simply need to bolster ourselves for. Where’s the grace in that? I mean, yes, as the end of life approaches, it is scary to think about the impending unknown. But the process of getting there? Perhaps not so much.

In the same article, MacDowell reflected that she, too, “hates the word ’embrace,’ because it always sounds like you’re having to accept something, and I don’t feel like that.” I love this viewpoint. Accept it? Why not value it? Let’s come back to the original meaning of the word … and welcome it warmly.

MacDowell continued “We do have something unique to offer. You can’t be young forever, but you can always be considered beautiful, fashionable, and glamorous.”

The cynical voice in your head might say, “sure easy for someone who’s already glamorous to say that.” But MacDowell isn’t the only one who made this discovery. Tons of “real” women have had the same revelation.

Once the pandemic caused salons across the country to close down (coupled with major pay cuts and job losses), a surge of women chose to stop coloring their hair. But—as with many life aspects affected by COVID-19—what started as a forced restriction became an opportunity for reinvention. In ditching the hair dye, many women found that their silver strands were not only tolerable, they were empowering.

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Now you could even say gray hair is “in” and making a comeback tour. And trust, these dames are definitely glamorous. This is not just an experience for A-listers.

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Of course, this movement is not just about aesthetics. There is a bigger idea here. It’s no secret that our society has some deep-seated stigmas when it comes to aging, for women in particular. We place a high value on those “30 Under 30” lists, seek out the strongest retinol to erase all signs of life and stand mouth agape in horror at the first mention of the word “ma’am.” But it doesn’t have to be that way. All chapters of life are precious, and worth celebrating.

I’m a firm believer that glamor is only a result of confidence. And as we grow older, we only become more dynamic, more nuanced, more interesting. If that’s not a confidence booster, I don’t know what is.

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Going gray won’t be the answer for everyone. I certainly don’t plan on trading in my signature red anytime soon. But the real call to adventure is: How can you feel good about yourself at every stage of life? How can you throw away the (false) notion that you somehow lose your shine with every passing year?

As the saying goes, “beauty is truth, truth beauty.” I think we can really see that in stories like these. To age gracefully is to age fearlessly. Radical self-acceptance is gorgeous.

This article originally appeared on 02.25.22

Tiny houses are still a popular choice for people trying to downsize but tiny houses for cats are springing up in one man’s backyard. Barna, thought he was doing a good deed for a stray cat that decided that he kinda liked hanging out in this human’s backyard. The cat would show up but at first wouldn’t eat the food set out for him, that didn’t stop Barna.

The man continued to set food out for the cat. Taking note of the changing weather, Barna decided to take one of his hobbies and build the cat, now named Domino a cozy little house. Building things is a hobby for the man, so he made sure to equip Domino’s tiny abode with a heating pad, light and camera.

Before too long the situation turned into a version of the famous children’s book, If You Give a Mouse a Cookie. Another cat showed up, because of course Domino had a bestie but it didn’t stop there.

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Barna built a tiny two story condo for the two cats to hang out in while still keeping Domino’s original tiny house. The backyard looks like it was made to host furry tenants in a makeshift cat community because more cats indeed showed up. Now the tuxedo cat has several neighbors to hang out with and thanks to Barna, none of the cats look like they’re missing any meals.

“We have about four or five cats who will go in and sleep in the houses,” Barna tells The Dodo. “One night one of the biggest storms of the year hit, I saw that two kittens actually took shelter in the house. That was one of the sweetest things ever.”

Barna has cameras set up inside and outside of the itty bitty kitty community so he can keep an eye on his feline neighbors. The cats’ landlord expresses that he feels gratification seeing his little houses be used by furry tenants. Having a group of cats around probably isn’t too terrible for keeping pests away either so it’s a win for all involved.

Three years after releasing her second studio album, Happier Than Ever, Billie Eilish is preparing to follow up with Hit Me Hard And Soft. Slated for release on May 17, the album won’t be accompanied by any singles, as Billie wants fans to experience it all at once. After the tracklist was prematurely shared by Rolling Stone, Billie shared it herself. During her surprise appearance at Coachella, she previewed one song, “Lunch,” which turned out to be one of her raciest yet — which aligned with her assessment‘ that, “I feel like every time you put anything out, it feels like your nudes leaked a little bit, and I think this one, specifically, is like that.”

Here’s everything to know about Billie Eilish’s new album, Hit Me Hard And Soft.

Release Date

Hit Me Hard And Soft is out 5/17 via Darkroom/Interscope Records. Find more information here.

Tracklist

1. “Skinny”
2. “Lunch”
3. “Chihiro
4. “Birds Of A Feather”
5. “Wildflower”
6. “The Greatest”
7. “L’Amour De Ma Vie”
8. “The Diner”
9. “Bittersuite”
10. “Blue”

Singles

There are no singles for Hit Me Hard And Soft

Features

Like her previous albums, Billie’s upcoming project won’t have any features.

Artwork

Tour

See the tour dates below.

09/29/2024 — Québec, QC @ Centre Videotron
10/01/2024 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
10/02/2024 — Toronto, ON @ Scotiabank Arena
10/04/2024 — Baltimore, MD @ CFG Bank Arena
10/05/2024 — Philadelphia, PA @ Wells Fargo Center
10/07/2024 — Detroit, MI @ Little Caesars Arena
10/09/2024 — Newark, NJ @ Prudential Center
10/11/2024 — Boston, MA @ TD Garden
10/13/2024 — Pittsburgh, PA @ PPG Paints Arena
10/16/2024 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
10/17/2024 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
10/18/2024 — New York, NY @ Madison Square Garden
11/02/2024 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
11/03/2024 — Atlanta, GA @ State Farm Arena
11/06/2024 — Nashville, TN @ Bridgestone Arena
11/08/2024 — Cincinnati, OH @ Heritage Bank Center
11/10/2024 — Saint Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
11/01/2024 — Saint Paul, MN @ Xcel Energy Center
11/13/2024 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
11/14/2024 — Chicago, IL @ United Center
11/16/2024 — Kansas City, MO @ T-Mobile Center
11/17/2024 — Omaha, NE @ CHI Health Center Omaha
11/19/2024 — Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
11/20/2024 — Denver, CO @ Ball Arena
12/03/2024 — Vancouver, BC @ Rogers Arena
12/05/2024 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
12/06/2024 — Seattle, WA @ Climate Pledge Arena
12/08/2024 — Portland, OR @ Moda Center
12/10/2024 — San Jose, CA @ SAP Center at San Jose
12/11/2024 — San Jose, CA @ SAP Center at San Jose
12/13/2024 — Glendale, AZ @ Desert Diamond Arena
12/15/2024 — Inglewood, CA @ Kia Forum
12/16/2024 — Inglewood, CA @ Kia Forum
12/17/2024 — Inglewood, CA @ Kia Forum
02/18/2025 — Brisbane, Australia @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre
02/19/2025 — Brisbane, Australia @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre
02/21/2025 — Brisbane, Australia @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre
02/22/2025 — Brisbane, Australia @ Brisbane Entertainment Centre
02/24/2025 — Sydney, Australia @ Qudos Bank Arena
02/25/2025 — Sydney, Australia @ Qudos Bank Arena
02/27/2025 — Sydney, Australia @ Qudos Bank Arena
02/28/2025 — Sydney, Australia @ Qudos Bank Arena
03/04/2025 — Melbourne, Australia @ Rod Laver Arena
03/05/2025 — Melbourne, Australia @ Rod Laver Arena
03/07/2025 — Melbourne, Australia @ Rod Laver Arena
03/08/2025 — Melbourne, Australia @ Rod Laver Arena
04/23/2025 — Stockholm, Sweden @ Avicii Arena
04/24/2025 — Stockholm, Sweden @ Avicii Arena
04/26/2025 — Oslo, Norway @ Telenor Arena
04/28/2025 — Copenhagen, Denmark @ Royal Arena
04/29/2025 — Copenhagen, Denmark @ Royal Arena
05/02/2025 — Hannover, Germany @ ZAG Arena
05/04/2025 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome
05/05/2025 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome
05/07/2025 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Ziggo Dome
05/09/2025 — Berlin, Germany @ Uber Arena
05/29/2025 — Cologne, Germany @ Lanxess Arena
05/30/2025 — Cologne, Germany @ Lanxess Arena
06/01/2025 — Prague, Czech Republic @ O2 Arena
06/03/2025 — Kraków, Poland @ Tauron Arena
06/04/2025 — Kraków, Poland @ Tauron Arena
06/06/2025 — Vienna, Austria @ Stadthalle
06/08/2025 — Bologna, Italy @ Unipol Arena
06/10/2025 — Paris, France @ Accor Arena
06/11/2025 — Paris, France @ Accor Arena
06/14/2025 — Barcelona, Spain @ Palau Sant Jordi
06/15/2025 — Barcelona, Spain @ Palau Sant Jordi
07/07/2025 — Glasgow, UK @ OVO Hydro
07/08/2025 — Glasgow, UK @ OVO Hydro
07/10/2025 — London, UK @ The O2
07/11/2025 — London, UK @ The O2
07/13/2025 — London, UK @ The O2
07/14/2025 — London, UK @ The O2
07/16/2025 — London, UK @ The O2
07/17/2025 — London, UK @ The O2
07/19/2025 — Manchester, UK @ Co-op Live
07/20/2025 — Manchester, UK @ Co-op Live
07/22/2025 — Manchester, UK @ Co-op Live
07/23/2025 — Manchester, UK @ Co-op Live
07/26/2025 — Dublin, Ireland @ 3Arena
07/27/2025 — Dublin, Ireland @ 3Arena

Zayn Malik’s last album, Nobody Is Listening, came out in 2021. In just a few days, he’s following up with his fourth studio album, Room Under The Stairs, and hoping that his past prediction was misplaced. After releasing the March single “What I Am,” he followed up in April with the tracklist and another single, “Alienated.” The album is mostly written by Zayn himself, who said, “I think the intention behind this album fully is for the listener to get more insight on me personally as a human being”.”

Here’s everything to know about Zayn’s new album, Room Under The Stars.

Release Date

Room Under The Stairs is out 5/17 via Mercury/Republic. Find more information here.

Tracklist

1. “Dreamin”
2. “What I Am”
3. “Grateful”
4. “Alienated”
5. “My Woman”
6. “How It Feels”
7. “Stardust”
8. “Gates Of Hell”
9. “Birds On A Cloud”
10. “Concrete Kisses”
11. “False Starts”
12. “The Time”
13. “Something In The Water”
14. “Shoot At Will”
15. “Fuchsia Sea”

Singles

So far, Zayn has released two singles: “What I Am” and “Alienated.”

Features

As yet, any features that may appear on the album are unconfirmed.

Artwork

Tour

Zayn hasn’t announced any tour dates, but he did announce a special show on the night of the album’s release.
He’ll be performing one night only in London at O2 Shepherds Bush Empire on May 17. You can check out the flyer below.

Tom Brady is making his highly-anticipated move to the broadcast booth this NFL season. In the aftermath of his first retirement from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Brady agreed to a deal with Fox, but he did not immediately join the network after his second retirement, instead choosing to take some time before his new gig began.

Now, Brady is ready to take on broadcasting, and on Monday, he learned his first assignment during an appearance at the 2024 Fox upfront presentation. Michael Strahan joined him on stage and informed Brady that he’ll start the season in Cleveland calling the Browns’ game against the Dallas Cowboys. And after learning this news, Brady seemed to subconsciously make a joke about one of the starting QBs in the game.

“Obviously, having the Cowboys on is a huge draw,” Brady said. “As America’s Team — that’s gonna be a little hard for me to say that all the time, understand they were the competition for a long time. But, in this new role, I know the Cowboys, how important they are to this network. They got great storylines. Come on, Dak Prescott, let’s see if he can finally come through. One of the great defensive players…did that just slip out?”

Brady was unable to finish his thought about that great defensive player, Micah Parsons, because his Prescott line made the crowd bust out laughing. Then, in a show of how big of a deal this is for Fox, Brady and Strahan were joined on stage by Gordon Ramsay and got the green light to drop an f-bomb.

The full NFL schedule is slated to be released this week, and we’ll see if Brady can cook up a joke for all 32 starting quarterbacks.

The Cleveland Cavaliers already face an uphill battle in their quest to beat the Boston Celtics and earn a berth in the Eastern Conference Finals, as the team faces a 2-1 hole in their series against the favorites to lift the Larry O’Brien trophy. That task will get a little more difficult on Monday night, as star guard Donovan Mitchell will not be able to play in Game 4.

Mitchell was listed as questionable for much of the day on Monday, and eventually, Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN reported that the All-Star will not be able to play due to a calf injury that flared up towards the end of Game 3, according to Cavaliers coach JB Bickerstaff.

An injury to Mitchell is the worst-case scenario for the Cavs, as he’s been the brightest spot on the roster by some margin during the playoffs. He’s averaging 29.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 1.3 steals in 38.2 minutes per game while shooting 47.6 percent from the field and 35.4 percent from three. He’s upped his scoring to 31.7 points per game during the three matchups with the Celtics so far.

Cleveland is already going into the game without Jarrett Allen, who has not played since he suffered a rib injury in Game 4 of the team’s first round series against the Orlando Magic.

“Saturday Night Live” is known for its comedic exaggerations that poke fun at real life, but skit about motherhood from SNL Season 44 isn’t really an exaggeration at all.

The skit, called “The Perfect Mother” stars actors Emma Thompson and Heidi Gardner as a mom-daughter pair talking about motherhood. Gardner plays a harried mom with young children, sporting a messy bun and a toy-strewn living room, while Thompson plays her mother, a calm, well-put-together older woman with matching jewelry and loads of sage wisdom.

Gardner asks Thompson how she raised her as “the perfect mother” without losing her mind, and what we see is the stark difference between what Thompson says it was like for her as a mom with young kids—”Every moment was a joy”— and flashbacks of what it was actually like when her kids were little—“Why won’t you f**ing sleep?!?”

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Most mothers will recognize the moments of frustration, angst and general hot-messness that come with mothering young children, and many will recognize the rose-colored glasses an/or denial people often utilize when looking back on the past.

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The skit hit home with people in the comments.

“I know this is supposed to be funny but honestly this is deep,” wrote one person. “This is basically what every mom (and a lot of dads) has to go through and nobody even realizes.”

“And there’s people who see us struggling and shame us for seeming like Moms aren’t trying hard enough to keep things in order.. pfft,” shared another.

“Dude, the giraffe part nailed it. All of this has reassured me that my husband and I aren’t failing as parents and that everyone is just bullshitting,” offered another.

“This may be the most life accurate sketch SNL has done, and one of its funniest. So many memories from my childhood, and my parenthood mirror this,” wrote another.

“This is literally the best most realistic thing I have ever seen about parenting! So flawless. I did not stop laughing the whole time,” shared another.

Seeing the reality of motherhood reflected back on us is refreshing, especially when we do so often hear older moms talk about their child-rearing years as if it wasn’t that difficult. “Momnesia” is a real phenomenon—as the years pass, we start to forget about all the sleep deprivation, the crying and whining, the constant messes, the inexplicable things you never imagined a kid would do and so on. Those hard parts of parenting fade in our memories over time, while the sweetness, the adorableness, the joy tends to get magnified.

Older moms can be helpful sources of practical advice and encouragement, but we have to be aware that they’ve probably forgotten how hard it really was and take what they say about their personal experiences with a grain of salt. On the other hand, perhaps it’s good to know that we will eventually forget a lot of the frustrating parts while holding firmly to the fond memories of our children’s childhoods.