“I couldn’t walk like most kids or use my arms. The doctor tried to scare my parents, ‘She won’t survive.’ My mom was frightened when she heard this. She didn’t know if I would have a future or what would become of me.”
‘She won’t have a normal life.’ I realized things needed to change. We shouldn’t be ashamed of our disabilities.’: Woman details journey with Cerebral Palsy, ‘Love yourself always’
‘As I ran from my sleeping kids to snuggle beneath the covers and finally relax, it hit me. The dang chicken!’: Woman’s viral post about ‘mom brain’ is so relatable
“As I lumbered to the kitchen, it hit me. The wet laundry. The check I forgot to write for preschool. The pee-soaked clothes from the accident still in the bathroom sink. I needed a break, and I knew it. But, in the back of my mind, it was all there. Sitting. Waiting. Exhausting.”
‘I’m FINE!’ I heard my son call out. Something very wrong was happening. It was an out-of-body experience.’: Mom of 2 battles PPD, becomes advocate, ‘Motherhood shouldn’t be so hard’
“’I have 2 children under the age of 2. It’s not going to be easy.’ Up with the sun came an abrupt halt and the idyllic mom vanished.”
‘Christmas isn’t going to be the same this year. But through everything, kindness hasn’t been canceled.’: Mom creates ‘12 Days of Christmas Kindness’ to give back, ‘We all need more love this year’
“We played ‘ding dong ditch’ on our neighbors, leaving hot chocolate bombs in our place. We bought extra groceries to donate, shared cookies with strangers, and left an extra-large tip at dinner. If we can be anything in 2020, let’s be kind.”
‘Do I have siblings? Do they think about me or miss me?’ It feels like a part of me is missing.’: Transracial adoptee searches for biological family, ‘I’m embracing my roots’
“I always said I didn’t want to find my biological parents. ‘Why should I try? I have a good life. I have friends, a job, people I love. What if I lose everything?’ I realized I had to accept myself.”
‘You’re just having growing pains.’ I’d dislocate my knee twice a week. My joints felt like they were being ripped apart.’: Woman diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome after 17 years
“My doctor looked me in the eyes, ’You’re not crazy. The pain you feel is real.’ It took everything in me not to cry. For the first time in 17 years, a doctor finally believed me.”
‘You’re young, you have plenty of time to try again.’ I knew I never wanted to be pregnant again. ‘Mommy, when am I going to have a baby sister to play with?’: Young couple adopt after miscarriages, ‘We were meant to find him’
“My husband and I were at a family wedding outside of our local town. I remember going to the toilet with my sister-in-law and seeing blood. ‘This is it, Molly, you can do this because you’ve been preparing to lose her for the last 9 months.’ My husband said to me, ‘I won’t make you go through that again.”
‘I HAD to find something! You need a stocking for Santa!’ I wiped my tears in fear of freaking him out.’: Gay man shares touching Christmas story with husband, ‘It was the beginning of our lives’
“It took years to recover. We packed my car and put all of the gifts in the back. ‘ What if my family was rude to him?’ To this day, it is so vivid.”
‘I hate to tell you this, but there’s a MAJOR problem.’ Darkness. Shock. The whole room disappeared around me.’: Couple has baby with anencephaly, ‘He’s impacted so many lives’’
“Each week we grew more hopeful our boy would live long enough to come home. The moment he was placed in my arms was the truest love I’ve ever felt.”
‘I hope you aren’t stuck-up when you’re slimmer.’ It struck me. I’m a kind person because I’m a kind person, not because I’m fat.’: Woman details body positivity journey, ‘You are worthy’
“When I was 8, my mom bought me a new skirt. It was too small in my waist. For the rest of the day, I walked laps on our front lawn. ‘I can walk the weight away.’ I felt immense guilt about myself and my body.”