Irini Orihuela is an Editor at Love What Matters. She graduated from Stony Brook University with a degree in journalism. In her free time, she enjoys photography and hikes.
‘My youngest was praying for a baby. ‘People our age don’t have more kids.’: Infertility warrior shares ‘unexpected gift’ of later-life pregnancy at 46 after 2 rainbow babies, adopted daughter
“I questioned why now? Why after years when I was younger begging for more kids would now be the time to answer that prayer? This year, at the age of 46 and 47, God decided it was time for the shock of our lives.”
‘Our love story began in a castle, but our journey ahead wasn’t a fairytale.’: Couple share infertility battle, journey to international adoption
“Adoption is a calling, not a backup plan.”
How I Learned To Find Peace With My Partner’s Different Parenting Style
“I realized I was treating my husband like a child. It has taken me months to learn to let go and control less.”
5 Things To Consider When Choosing Childcare
“There’s no denying it. Looking for non-family care for your child is tough.”
Trying To Make ‘Mom Friends’ Felt Like High School All Over Again
“Could I really fit in? Where is the ‘Un-showered, I Have No Idea What I Am Doing’ mom club? Sign me up for that.”
Showers Are Not My Self-Care Time
“His brief tonics are usually fine – it happens, he continues breathing and it’s over quickly. I watch for a second, and see the twitching…it’s a bigger seizure. For the first time, I had to jump out of the shower, soaking wet, and get to my child.”
‘I posted online and a man responded with a simple, ‘Needed this.’ It opened the door to the rest of our lives.’: Abuse survivor details meeting love of her life on Instagram
“Jason was in the middle of a divorce. My life felt like a series of breakups. So you can imagine my skepticism when someone wanted to fly down to take me on a date without having met him in person before. But it’s when you stop having expectations that life begins to unfold into the beautiful story it’s meant to become. At least it did for me.”
Some Days I’m Strong, Other Days (Like Today) I’m Feeling Everything That Comes With Infertility
“I’m scared we’re going to run all these tests, do all of these procedures, and find nothing wrong. That we do everything, and still miscarry. I am angry it just can’t work for us. I just really wish this wasn’t our life.”
How To Nourish Yourself While Breastfeeding Your Baby
“Listen to your body and choose healthy, wholesome foods that keep you full and the quality of your breast milk will be just fine.”
Dear Mama: You Are Not Messing Things Up, Parenting Is Just Hard
“You have permission to make a ‘lazy’ dinner. You have permission to use screen time so you can get things done. You have permission to drink a cup of coffee at the kitchen table because you just can’t handle one more second of playing ‘pretend.'”