“I was afraid of being ‘the blind person,’ of being different. I was afraid of being who I truly am.”
‘Growing up, ‘blind’ was a dirty word. Once I accepted it, everything shifted. It turned from a dirty word into a powerful word.’: Blind man embraces label
‘Some days I do morning yoga. Other days I get out of bed, lie straight on the couch, and eat my weight in cheese.’: Mom urges ‘your inconsistencies are a superpower’
“Some days I feel good about myself and what the day will bring. Some days the weight of being a good mom, a good wife, and an overall good person gives me a nervous tummy ache.”
‘With a huge grin, my mom said, ‘Your daughter is an honor student? Well, mine’s a lesbian!’ She was so proud.’: LGBTQ mom shares what Pride means to her
“I felt as if my face was about to melt off. ‘Mom, I’m gay and I have a girlfriend. I think I love her.’ She started howling, deep belly laughing.”
‘My legs suddenly went numb. I clutched the wall in horror, like a child at an ice-skating rink. What was happening to me?’: Woman opens up about anxiety journey
“Everyone else seemed so carefree. I was riddled with worry and didn’t want anybody looking at me. I didn’t want to be the center of attention at my own WEDDING.”
‘While my client rested, I folded a few loads of laundry, cleaned her kitchen, looked after her older kids, and made kale soup.’: Doula reminds us to ‘nurture postpartum moms’
“Much of what I do for my clients is not the role of a postpartum doula. But that’s okay. I’m working to change the way we support new moms.”
‘Sometimes, I hear dads say, ‘I gotta babysit the kids tonight.’: Dad urges ‘kids are a blessing, not a burden’
“I never babysit my kids. They are absolutely my responsibility, and it is on me to be the father they need.”
‘I was told, ‘He won’t grow up RIGHT without a male figure in his life.’ I felt the need to be a perfect parent.’: Lesbian mom shares mental health struggles, urges ‘trust yourself’
“I’d constantly think about Asher getting cancer or being kidnapped. ‘You can’t possibly parent a normal child in a same-sex household.’ I felt like my life was falling apart.”
‘I looked at the doctor, ‘What’s wrong with her exactly?’ She started listing things.’: Mom gives birth to rainbow baby with birth defects, ‘She’s a miracle’
“We couldn’t believe this was happening to our newborn. The surgeons said, ‘We don’t know what we’ll find until we open her up.’ Through social media, people all around the world were praying for our little girl, praying for a miracle.”
‘Dad, I want a job.’ I got to researching. The answer was staring me right in the face.’: Family launches sock business for son with Down syndrome
“Thomas has always played with socks. He’d put one sock into the other and swing them around his fingers for hours. Some children get comfort from a teddy bear or a doll. With Thomas, it was always the socks.”
‘I made a sign saying, ‘This little cubbie needs a kidney.’ I ended up WINNING that night.’: Woman finds kidney donor at Chicago Cubs game, ‘He’s a superhero’
“He saw me and we both waved to each other. It’s a moment I’ll NEVER forget.”