Penelope Trunk Mailbag

What is fun? Is it important to have fun?

Penelope Trunk — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 20:14:09 +0000

My husband and I are not having fun and I am making myself feel bad for that. We are so hard to entertain. We watch a comedian and laugh for a few minutes and then nothing else is funny after that. Is this something we need to get better at? At least I don’t think we’re having fun. We’re just being reliable and taking care of kids and home and stuff. If we don’t hate our life is that good enough?

Should I test my kid for autism or myself?

Penelope Trunk — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 17:59:46 +0000

How do I deal with the fact that I secretly want my kid to be diagnosed as autistic so I can be too without having to seek an adult diagnosis?

How do you deal with your siblings when they can’t see the abuse?

Penelope Trunk — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 11:01:44 +0000

Penelope, I wrote to you recently that I resonated with one of your comments about abuse because it happened to me. I’m constantly working with therapist who has been very helpful. But I struggle to relate in any small way to my two sisters who have always denied the childhood we shared was abusive.

My therapist suggested writing to you asking how you’ve reconciled with relationships with siblings. How have you moved on from the grief & loss?

Boston vs Austin? Relocating from Israel to the US with two kids

Penelope Trunk — Wed, 11 Feb 2026 05:47:36 +0000

We know a lot of Israeli immigrants in the US. But I know they will not teach me about what’s best for my kids. How would they know? They are new to the US also. And our intention is definitely to optimize for our kids.
My husband’s parents immigrated from Russia to Israel when he was 6.
They had no idea how to make good decisions for their kids, and they made many mistakes.
But they did get the school thing right – they sent all kids to the best magnet private school in Haifa – and that decision paved Ilia’s way into the best possible route.

I want to do the same for our kids. We have friends in Boston and Austin. Can you help us choose where to go?

What really is the benefit of a top college?

Penelope Trunk — Wed, 07 Jan 2026 17:37:58 +0000

Why are you so obsessed with kids being competitive and getting into top colleges. How do you even know the schools are so much better? It looks to me like you’re a victim of snobbery and you are paying that forward. I think people throw around the name of the college like it means something but no one really knows what it means.

Diagnosing autism from a YouTube video

Penelope Trunk — Sat, 08 Nov 2025 23:27:19 +0000

https://www.reddit.com/r/MadeMeSmile/comments/1oqas6v/this_farmer_caught_this_owl_eating_his_chickens/
Can you PLEASE tell me what personality type this guy is?

I have a acquaintance bordering on friend who has the same mannerisms and I DO NOT GET what they stem from.

Is my job a terrible fit for me?

Penelope Trunk — Thu, 06 Nov 2025 18:46:58 +0000

My job as a construction project manager in municipal government has to be one of the most ill-suited careers for an INTP… is that right? It sure feels like it, but I’m curious if that’s an obvious yes to you.

Homeschool vs. crappy Ohio schools

Penelope Trunk — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 04:42:49 +0000

My husband is determined that I homeschool them. I have concerns about my capabilities to get them to college, and serious financial concerns. The public schools in our area just have such low scores, and drugs and potential for violence scare me. Especially with my son’s history of involvement with the schools sending him to psych. He has done so well in more sensory friendly environments, and homeschool day programs.

I also have multiple chronic illnesses, and am just so tired. They are doing well academically. None of us have social skills, so that’s a non-issue either way (ha!).

How can I make a smoother transition to parenthood

Penelope Trunk — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 17:31:02 +0000

Hello, I was reading your blog about single parenting and desperately need some advice please. I feel like I’m losing it emotionally and it’s so frustrating.

I have a 1 year old, and his dad just opened a restaurant, and now he’s never around. We just had an argument over the phone today because I told him he has to come see his child and he says he’s swamped with work.

He does pay for rent and we are married. But now I’m here 24/7 with no rest in a small 1 bedroom apartment and I feel like I’ve run out of ideas. His mom helps out at 6pm once or twice a week and takes him over night sometimes.

I need your perspective.

How can you say marry rich and support socialism?

Penelope Trunk — Tue, 30 Sep 2025 17:35:59 +0000

I grew up in poverty and I’ve been married 35 years and I feel blessed to have everything I do. I never thought of marrying rich or having a lot of money. And I’ve never met someone who grew up poor who says they want socialism…And I don’t understand how you can tell people to marry rich and support socialism.