Emily Richey is a graduate of Pace University NYC. She has written and edited for multiple online platforms, including Love What Matters. She spends her free time petting stray cats.
‘Are they ALL yours?’ What do I say? ‘Yes, these 4 are mine, but those 3 aren’t.’ Being a step-parent is THE thankless job.’: Mom discusses ups and downs of being a blended family
“Even after 4 years, my step-daughter will walk right past me to find her dad and ask him for a glass of water. HELLO? I’m standing right here! I matter when it’s convenient.”
‘I’d go to yoga high as a kite. I shared needles with everyone. It eventually caught up to me, and I got sick.’: Yoga instructor celebrates 8 years sober, ‘I manifested my life’’
“My boyfriend broke up with me because I couldn’t stay sober. I got evicted. All my dreams faded away as I got deeper into my addiction. I realized there had to be a bigger meaning to my life.”
‘You don’t have prior experience.’ We weren’t chosen. The ones she trusted most betrayed her.’: Couple struggling with infertility adopts, ‘It’s the beautiful chaos I prayed for’
“We got the call. ‘Why are you even asking? Tell them yes!’ We couldn’t believe it was real! We looked at each other scared out of our minds. Someone taking her would be the end of my world. This was by far our hardest blow.”
‘She was exposed to drugs. No one is willing to take the risk.’ They had no idea when she’d last been fed.’: Mom of 6 adopts foster daughter, ‘We love her completely’
“A couple of months into our surprise pregnancy, we found out there were in fact TWINS in there! We already had 4 littles in diapers.”
‘Are they twins?’ I’d shoot back, ‘Yep, and they’re 3 days apart.’ We’re the family that looks like a clown car.’: Family falls in love with foster son, ‘We learned the meaning of true love’
“By the age of 4, he witnessed his mom beaten within an inch of her life. He didn’t have someone gently tuck him into bed at night. I almost didn’t hit send. I was afraid our comfortable life would change.”
‘You have a daughter!’ We were blindsided. I didn’t have a doubt in my mind she’d be with us.’: Couple describes grief of disrupted adoption, ‘I never stopped loving her’
“The grandparents didn’t want to take care of her and pushed for adoption. There was no way she wasn’t going to be placed with us. I never stopped loving her.”
‘You’re measuring 17 weeks, not 6.’ I went from having a choice to becoming a mom. I was in a dark place.’: Single mom births baby with Down syndrome, ‘I wouldn’t change a thing’
“My test results came back. I started sobbing hysterically as I called my mom. Not only was I traumatized by the fact I was 4 months pregnant, but I was possibly giving birth to a special needs child.”
‘Our 2-year-old said, ‘I’m sick.’ I was sure her grandma could handle it. I wish I would have soaked in those last moments.’: Cancer mom raises money for struggling families, ‘We found a light’
“They were the last minutes I’d be a mom of three healthy kids. I’d never be her again.”
‘My eyes were full of tears for this abused 3-year-old. ‘Let’s do something.’ It was the sexiest thing I ever heard him say.’: Family of special needs child adopts siblings from foster care
“A story came on which almost made me vomit. ‘We have to do something! How can we just sit here with an empty room?’ We didn’t expect to receive THE call.”
‘There’s no mention of this in his records. Could it be?’ We were the only ones who noticed.’: Family helps foster son get autism diagnosis, ‘No one advocated for him like us’
“I cried. It made this momma mad. I didn’t know what it meant for his future and who would care for him.”