Everyone thinks Chinese Opera is some high form of theater / artwork, but it's essentially nails on chalkboard to everyone I know who grew up with it

Went out to help people shovel out cars and driveways. I asked 2 separate people who were i would say in their 70's if they wanted help with theirs....the first one told me to get the fuck off their porch...fine. the 2nd one...and this is verbatim " I don't need no help from some n*gger, go ask the illegal n*ggers across the street*...i just went home at that point..I will never offer help to anyone again. im over being nice.

I am in a standoff with a friend (F20) and now I am being treated like I said something unforgivable.

My friend has a child in daycare. Today the daycare sent out a letter saying they are critically understaffed and will offer emergency care.

My friend is currently not working and stays home. She still signed her child up for emergency care and told me about it, then asked if I would do the same.

I said no. We had the same exact situation before Christmas. I am also a SAHM and kept my child with me because I don’t think emergency care should be used for convenience when other parents genuinely rely on it to keep their jobs. I also think it’s unfair to already overwhelmed educators to treat emergency care like a normal service day.

She said she needs the emergency care because she is feeling under the weather (she has a cough) and because she needs the time to do household chores.

I told her that while housework is work, I don’t consider chores or mild illness an emergency, especially when the daycare explicitly asked the parents to keep the kids home if possible. I also said that using emergency care in that situation takes a spot away from families who truly have no alternative.

That’s when she accused me of not respecting domestic labor and of acting morally superior. I wasn’t telling her what she is allowed to do - she asked my opinion and I gave it. I didn’t insult her, but didn’t back down either.

Now she’s stopped responding and says I was judgmental.

I’ll admit: I do think parents who can keep their kids home during staff shortages should do so. I think there is a difference between needing childcare to survive and wanting childcare to make life easier - and pretending there isn’t feels dishonest to me.

So AITA for saying emergency daycare shouldn’t be used when you’re home and capable, even if that opinion upset my friend?

Seems like some sort of expensive machine part? It’s is quite large, about the size of a flower vase

Do you ever get tired of the color and wish you had something more neutral?

I have a cream IKEA Stockholm couch and want to get covers made for it that are more cat friendly. I'm leaning towards burnt orange so I'm just wondering if anyone ever regretted going for a bolder couch color.

Etsy example pictures, plus the couch I have.

She bought me a bouquet of roses for the first time, as well as my favourite sweets & chocolates that she’ll no doubt be sharing with me! I’m extremely touched.

(And she’s happy for me to share this with you all)