LJ Herman is a former editor at Love What Matters and lives in Colorado. LJ is a concert, ticket and technology enthusiast. He has seen the Dave Mathews Band over one hundred times and counting.
‘He told me he had been married before, and divorced. He now shared 2 children with his ex-wife. Time stood still.’: Young couple share co-parenting, blended family journey, ‘I can’t imagine my life any other way’
“The first time I met their mother, I was terrified. My mind raced with a million possible scenarios of who she was, of how this meeting would go, NONE of which I could see ending well. Hell no.”
‘Tonight, someone tagged my husband in a photo with his ex from 10 years ago. His arm was draped around her, a big smile on his face.’: Wife shares appreciation for husband and evolving marriage, ‘He’s never been happier’
“That photo showed a different time in his life. He looked so happy.”
‘You’re the only one who matters, do it for you. Blah Blah Blah.’ ‘If I hear one more phrase like this, I’m going to LOSE IT. What an absolute garbage thing to say.’
“Wanna know what’s wrong with the world? Crap like that. The word ‘self’ is at the beginning of every single buzz word right now, and it’s a problem. Self-care. Self-love. No, actually, you AREN’T the only one who matters.”
‘Motherhood is really tough.’ You’d think, ‘Well that’s crap.’ Birth was traumatic. As a child of sexual abuse, a traumatic birth can be very re-triggering. I didn’t count on that.’
“I expected to be handed my baby like I was Beyoncé in a floral garden and the heavens open up. Instead, I felt like a potato cake seagulls were fighting over, one stitching me up, one folding my boob like a hamburger to stuff in my baby’s mouth, and one pressing so hard on my stomach I thought she was going to touch my spine. Yep, didn’t count on that.”
‘It’s okay. Get in your car and scream. It’s not going to make everything go away, but you deserve the release. Are the tears coming now? Good, don’t stop them.’
“This feels like the weight of the world because it’s about your entire world: your precious child. Every prenatal screen passed with flying colors. They tell you your child is healthy and whole, and now, they say that very same child has special needs. Here’s how you reclaim your power.”
‘I had to leave. I had to be a single dad to be a better father for my daughter.’: Single dad explains his relationship was ‘vulnerable, beyond repair,’ despite being determined to have a ‘strong co-parenting relationship’
“My girlfriend of 9 months was pregnant. ‘I need to tell you something.’ She slid a card across the table. As soon as I opened it, I saw pink and started tearing up. I was disappointed in myself and embarrassed I was careless. I had always dreamed this moment would be joyous. It was not.”
‘Our son spotted an older man wearing a hat. ‘Retired US Air Force’ was in bold. ‘May I thank him for his service, mama?’ I cried when we sat down. I was exhausted and overwhelmed.’
“‘Of course, honey.’ I smiled to him, stuffing down my feelings of wanting to explode. He smiled and thanked the man, who shook his hand and smiled back. Then, as we asked our waiter to take our bill, he said it was taken care of. Paid for. In full.”
‘This is me in a dress I have NO business wearing.’
“I don’t want you to say, ‘OMG, YOU LOOK GREAT!’ I don’t want you to say, ‘GOOD FOR YOU!’ I want you to know why I’m wearing a dress I have no business wearing.”
‘Mom, is he gay?’ Not really looking up I answer, ‘Yeah, honey he is.’ ‘Mom, I think I’m gay, too.’: 8-year-old daughter comes out to mom
“‘I think so too, hun,’ I said. I’ve known far longer than she has that she’s gay. The entire conversation, one she will likely forget by the time her first girlfriend asks about her coming out story, was just 18 words.”
‘I hear it a lot. Stay-at-home mothers feeling guilty for spending ‘their HUSBAND’S’ money.’: Mom implores working partners to treat stay-at-home spouse as equal
“I’ve heard stay-at-home mothers ask to buy something like they are 15 years old again! Asking for $10 to buy a bra. It’s no longer ours, it’s HIS money. And if he wants to buy $400 shoes, well he can, because he worked.”