Rebecca Balfe is a former editor for Love What Matters. She resides in NYC, owning and rescuing adorable cats. She is an avid Lupus fighter and advocate.
‘I won’t sugar coat it. Having a baby is like having 15 shots of espresso. Parenthood is the wildest ride you could imagine.’: LGBTQ adoptive dad shares parenting advice
“I used to watch ‘The Price is Right’ every morning. It was my jam. Today, I absolutely laugh at the idea. I barely have enough time to drink my espresso, much less sip on a mug of coffee for an hour.”
‘I was only 16. I brought my stuffed Eeyore for comfort, a child giving birth to another child. I wanted different for her.’: Mom shares open adoption story, ‘Our families are bound together’
“I saw how her life would look: a single mom constantly working, wishing to provide nicer things, and a little girl wondering why her father didn’t want to be around. Then, the veil lifted. Both myself and the birth parents could complete her life’s ‘puzzle.’”
‘He’s awake!’ ‘I couldn’t move or open my mouth. The doctors only gave me a 5% chance of survival.’: Man recounts near-fatal accident, ‘Show gratitude every chance you get’
“‘He might not make it through the night.’ They told my mom she could choose to pull the plug or let me go on my own. My mom didn’t give up hope, not even for a second.”
‘I have something to tell you.’ I vowed to abstain from sex until marriage. I didn’t think he’d accept it.’: Couple vow to hold off on sex until their wedding night, ‘We have a strong foundation’
“I had a secret of my own. I had to spill the beans about sex. I was so nervous!”
‘I can’t do this!’ I roared like a lion. I was like an animal pacing around trying to find the right spot. I bit Justin!’: Mom recounts ‘other-wordly’ home-birth story
“I was breathing and saying things like, ‘Help me!’ and, ‘I can’t!’ The pain was so intense. When I started to panic my husband grabbed my hands and said, ‘’Meg, the place you’re looking for is here. It’s right here.’”
‘Aren’t we past this?’ Years after his murder, I was holding an unmanageable amount of pain.’: Woman details grief journey after losing husband, ‘I’m letting joy in’
“It has been 5 years since my incredibly loving husband was murdered on our wedding anniversary.”
‘Please just save my wife!’ I slumped over. They did an emergency c-section to save my baby. I wouldn’t stop bleeding.’: Mom survives Amniotic Fluid Embolism during birth, ‘I’m so grateful to be alive’
“‘Something is wrong with my heart.’ I lost consciousness. My husband started yelling in my face to get me to wake up and then he ran into the hallway shouting for a doctor. My nurse hit the code blue alarm. ‘It’s not OK, Kayleigh and the baby, we don’t know.’”
‘Lauren, are you with anyone right now?’ I looked at our GPS and he was still in the same spot. My legs went numb and I dropped.’: Widow finds strength in grief journey
“‘I have ‘extra’ appreciation for you today!’ He jokingly rolled his eyes towards me. I gave him a kiss, told him I loved him, and to be safe. Later, I texted Kev to see if he would be back at the house before me. He didn’t respond.”
‘OH MY GOD! BOMB!’ An old lady was holding onto the banister for dear life. I had to leave her. All I could hear was sobbing.’: Mom recounts surviving 9/11 while pregnant, ‘I’m blessed to be alive’
“‘WHAT IS GOING ON?’ Everyone was screaming. My friend fell and was getting trampled. I worried for my unborn child. When the second plane hit, we ran.”
‘I explained my past. ‘The man took photographs. He was 57 years old.’ I hated myself and turned to drugs.’: Woman with BPD gets sober, changes life, ‘I love how far I’ve come’
“I struggled to talk to the therapist. I explained what I went through when I was 12. I encountered a child predator. Having my son pushed me to find the answers as to what happened.”