One of my favorite websites

If you, or someone you know, have any kind of illness, disease, disorder, syndrome, addiction or ailment, I HIGHLY recommend the website MDJunction.com
It's a great online support group. They aren't doctors, just people like you and me, across the globe, helping each other get through the day.
Disclaimer: I have no affiliation with the website. I am not sponsored by them and I do not get ANYTHING by recommending them.
I just wanted to put it out there. It's a great place to go to know that you are not alone.
www.mdjunction.com

Should pot be legal?

I personally am not going to write about politics. I want to stay away from the political issues of whether marijuana should be legalized or not. I don't want to get into the "war on drugs" with this post. I am merely asking a question to you, the readers. A few days ago Colorado became the first state to legalize marijuana for recreational use and there are several states where it's legal for medicinal use IF you have a prescription.
For me, I tried pot twice in high school but I didn't get anything out of it so I never did it again. If it wasn't going to be fun for me then why risk getting busted over it.
As an adult, I have been very much against pot. In fact, one of my children started using pot as a teenager and we had many epic, world war 3 type battles over it. I was so adamant against it that when he was old enough, I gave him a choice, "quit using pot or get your stuff and get out of my house!!!" He packed his stuff and left.
Now, several years later, I find myself wondering if a little bit of "medical marijuana" would help ease my chronic pain. I suffer from several chronic pain illnesses, migraines and insomnia. I'm still on the fence. I've tried everything the doctors recommend. I've had major surgeries that were supposed to help and didn't. I've had several doctors say, "I don't know what else I can do for you." Seriously, I've tried it all and it's been so bad lately I'm feeling desperate. I've done a lot of research about medical marijuana and I've read all the pros and cons. BTW, it IS legal in my state for medicinal usage WITH a prescription.
I have also read that just because your state says it's legal, the federal gov't still says it's illegal and federal trumps state every time.
So what do you think? Should the federal gov't legalize marijuana? Should it be legal ONLY for medicinal use or should be legal for recreational use as well?

Should I stay or should I go?

Question from Kansas Cowgirl:
Dear Auntie,
I recently found a text on my boyfriend's phone from another woman. At first he said, "she's just a friend" but later he said, "I'm sorry. It was inappropriate and it won't happen again." Apparently he has been texting and talking to her for a month or more. She does not live in our state and they have only met in person when I'm around. Yes, I know this for a fact.
My boyfriend and I live together and run a business together. I am a single parent of two young boys and their father sends very little child support. Our business pays the bills but money is still tight. Our business is at our home so I don't have to pay for childcare.
If I leave him, I don't know what I'll do financially but I don't want to stay in a relationship for financial reasons alone.
My question is...Do I accept his apology and stay or should I bail out now?

Dear Kansas Cowgirl,
I believe in second chances for most things except cheating and abusing. If he has never cheated or given you reason to doubt him in the past, I would give him a second chance. I would however, let him know that this is the ONLY second chance he gets. There's no room for the three strike rule in relationships.
If he HAS cheated on you before this then I say leave now. I know that some relationships have survived infidelity but I am a firm believer in "a leopard can't change his spots".
I understand why you are concerned about finances, when considering leaving, but please do not let yourself become a doormat for a cheater just because money will be tight. There are resources out there for single moms that can help with groceries, electric bills, childcare, rent, etc. Possibly a family member could help out with the kids while you're at work.
I'll try to post a list of resources for you soon but in the meantime check out your state's website and see what they offer. The federal gov't has a resources page as well.
Best of luck Cowgirl
Auntie

I'm here for YOU

You should know, I'm not licensed in anything!! I'm not a doctor and I don't play one on TV. Ha ha! I have been asked to write an advice "column" because for some reason people are always coming to me for advice. 9 times out of 10 they come back and thank me for the suggestions I gave.
I'm a mom of 2 and a Grama of 2. I've been rich, poor, used and abused, married, divorced and everything in between. I was a single parent when my kids were 1 and 3. I'm former military and prior law enforcement. I was married to military and survived 12 deployments with my sanity intact. I can stretch a dollar and pinch a penny with the best of 'em.
I've been through A LOT in my life so any "advice" I offer is from personal experience and research on a particular subject. If I don't know, I'll find out. But BE WARNED...you may not like what I have to say. I'm a shoot from the hip kinda gal. I'll tell ya straight up what I think so if you don't want to hear an opposing viewpoint, don't ask me.
The purpose of this blog is to offer advice, tips, helpful suggestions and more. I want it to be a place you can come to to ask questions and get answers to the every day life issues. A place where people can help themselves and others by offering helpful ideas based on personal/professional experiences.
So grab a cup of coffee, tea, hot cocoa or maybe a glass of wine and let's dig into life together.

Here's a list of topics I plan to cover. If you have other things you want to talk about just let me know.
Marriage, divorce, relationships, parenting, child birth, taking care of ailing/aging parents, crafts, pets, decorating, trash to treasure, cooking for specific health issues, natural/homeopathic remedies, nutrition, chronic illness, women's health issues, budgeting, penny pinching, stretching a dollar and military spouses...I'm sure I'll come up with more.

I'm hoping others will chime in as well and we can all learn something from each other. Keep it clean!! No foul language, no putting people down because you don't agree. Any offensive comments will be deleted. We're here to help and learn from each other. A healthy debate is fine, honest opinions are great but I won't allow bad mouthing or cussing.
I guess that's it for today...
You can email your questions to me at askauntieann@gmail.com
Ciao for now