“One day they’ll want a shower instead of a bath. One day you’ll realize their car seat is no longer facing backward, and you don’t need that little rearview mirror on the headrest anymore. One day you’ll miss brushing their teeth because now they can do it themselves. Before you even know it, that precious phase will be gone.”
“I didn’t want to be a mother. I knew I couldn’t do this. Parenting involves sacrifice. I have a purpose outside of them, passions and interests that aren’t dependent on them.”
“I let someone else’s highlight reel persuade me into thinking I needed to do more, be more, achieve more, make more. I’ve been so distracted lately by the success of others that I’ve taken my eyes off my own. So here I am, with my 11-year-old SUV, and still going strong.”
“I picked up my phone and thought to myself, ‘Hmm, I wonder what she’s up to.’ I saw an image I thought was a mistake. It was baby number 4. ’Somehow, someway, send that baby to her siblings.’ I knew in my heart we were going to experience this all over again.”
“‘I don’t think he has any real family.’ The nurse looked up and loudly proclaimed, ‘Noah, your new mommy and daddy are here!’ We both smiled as big as we could at the little boy in the hospital bed with the swollen head and adorable chubby cheeks.”
“‘Just stop it! Act normal! I don’t even know this person you’re acting like!’ I was sitting firmly in the ‘acute sorrow, helplessness, hopelessness, depression, and despair’ section. I suffered greatly at the hands of this man, and so did my child.”
“Her whole world had just come crashing down around her. But she just kept reaching out and hugging her teacher. It shocked me.”
“I realized I’d be ‘aging-out’ of care. No one ever adopted me. I had to get a job and work. I needed to save money. I cried. I cried for the sacrifices I was forced to make.”
“He started wearing his winter coat throughout the day and complained he was cold. I noticed he had some swelling on his privates. In my gut, I had a bad feeling something just wasn’t right.”
“Now, listen, I am not a thief… really, I am not. But you see, I needed that bear. I needed this to be the best gift ever. If you are reading this and you had a teddy bear stolen I am sorry.”
