“We were at Walmart buying toys. ‘I’m not being ugly. My son has autism and transitions are difficult for him.’ Disgusted, she began hurling insults at me as she hurried away with her daughters.”
‘I just need you to move.’ I glanced up. ‘We were here first,’ I said firmly. She and her daughters stood there like Mount Rushmore — immovable.’: Mom to son with autism talks ‘need for grace’
‘Everything I set out to do in my career was pointless. I held this innocent baby, and I knew there was hope.’: Police officer shares touching encounter that ‘restored’ his purpose
“‘That’s it right there! That’s what I like to see.’ Me interacting as a human and not a police officer, is what the community wants to see. I hadn’t felt that much peace in a long time.”
‘I hadn’t felt her kick. All my wife could say was, ‘Oh God, I’m coming.’ My fears were becoming reality.’: Gay couple battles infertility, births miracle daughter after traumatic induction
“‘I’m not even sure you will get pregnant.’ It felt like the air had left the room. Why couldn’t my body do what it was made to do? ‘If it doesn’t work this time I can’t do this anymore.’ I hit rock bottom.”
‘So we just drove all the way here to not get helped?’ I said ‘uggghh’ loudly enough for her to hear as we walked away.’: Mom stresses importance of owning your mistakes, ‘Those little eyes are watching you’
“I never knew the most impactful apology I would give would be to a complete stranger, but it happened last night.”
‘We need to dislodge the baby. It’s stuck in the neck of your womb.’ The gynecologist took me into a room. I felt physically sick.’: Mom births miracle rainbow baby after miscarriage
“I sat down on the toilet, bleeding. ‘Stay where you are. Do not flush. We’re sending an ambulance.’ As the gynecologist explained how small babies are at this stage, she started to roll my baby between her fingers. I couldn’t believe it. With the shock and upset of everything going on, I said nothing.”
‘The doctor said, ‘She’s bleeding out!’ I couldn’t breathe. I was told it’s ‘anxiety.’: Woman diagnosed with peripartum cardiomyopathy during twin rainbow pregnancy, ‘I’m one of the lucky ones’
“I thought I wouldn’t be here to raise my babies. I remember thinking I was dying as I closed my eyes. I’m one of the lucky ones.”
‘I had visions of these lovely children who would follow the rules. Turns out, these little people don’t really care much about my vision.’: Mom learns important lesson about children, ‘I’m not in control’
“I picked up a million shoes and socks and empty wrappers and stray toys from the floor then washed breakfast dishes and gathered clothes that are sitting BESIDE the hamper to shove into the washer. And my eyes came to rest on the empty toilet paper roll.”
‘I was prepared for the hurts that call for a kiss and cuddle. I wasn’t prepared for the hurts I couldn’t fix.’: Mom talks parenting during trauma, ‘It isn’t something you can navigate, it is theirs’
“I thought I could protect my child well enough. A trusted big person took advantage of them.”
‘BAM. There it was. ‘50% DNA FATHER.’ I knew he was out there, but he had no idea about me. He got the surprise of a lifetime.’: Woman meets biological father 35 years later, ‘He opened his heart and his home’
“There were things about me that just didn’t make sense. I have blue eyes, olive skin, and tan easily. No one in my family has blue eyes; not my mom, not my sister, or my grandparents. I was the vacation souvenir he knew nothing about. Nearly 24 hours later, HE RESPONDED.”
‘Oh, that poor baby! Why don’t you do something with her nappy hair?’ The other kids weren’t allowed to play with me, the ‘little mixed girl.’: Mom to bi-racial family details experiences with racism
“My mom always carried a brush and detangler. She still carries them with her everywhere she goes, 26 years later. I remember sitting on the floor in my living room, my mom meticulously brushing for hours, crying because of the comments. I wanted to be like the other kids. ‘This is just the way it is, honey.'”