The Kids & Dependents Issue: Emotional Support is a Two-Way Scam

This week on All the Feelings, Pete and Tommy explore the emotional aftershocks of being needed… and then suddenly not. Pete reflects on launching two adult kids into the world and discovering that successful parenting feels a bit like getting laid off from a beloved job—complete with pride, grief, and way too much free time. One minute you’re managing snacks and carpool, the next you’re wondering if your adult child has remembered to eat or just sent you a meme so you’ll stop asking.Meanwhile, Tommy confronts his own dependence issues—namely, a rescue dog named Foster who once had its way on a stranger’s sandals at the beach. It’s an emotional support animal that mostly needs support for being an emotional menace. And it raises the question: how much of our identity is tied to how our dependents behave in public?Also: a theft that leads to a 911 call, a rogue Capri Sun on a soccer field, and the quiet horror of realizing your purpose has been reassigned. If you’ve ever cared too much, let go too slowly, or blamed yourself for your dog’s personality, this one’s for you.Become a Feeling Friend!Help us keep the precinct weird: allthefeelings.funGet early access, bonus content, stickers, and the satisfaction of supporting emotional democracy for only $35 a year. (Or just vote Pete back into office. Either works.)

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