“People ask me all the time, ‘How do you deal with your son having autism?’ He is not labels, acronyms, or disorders. At home, he’s just Finn. He’s the only him I’ve ever known. Amidst the chaos, he is my calm.”
‘I loved him when he had words, and when he lost them. Through the sleepless nights, endless screaming, and walking in circles. I loved him even when he couldn’t say, ‘I love you.’: Mom to son with autism urges ‘all you need is love’
‘I called my husband. ‘I have to tell you something about our boy.’ He wailed and cried like I’d never heard before.’: Mom recounts son’s leukemia journey, ‘I don’t take his life for granted’
“I watched them stick a needle into my baby’s chest, and tried to pretend it was fun and not scary. I slept weeks in the hospital, constantly checking if he was okay. He charmed all the doctors and nurses, his little bald head dancing.”
‘I took a big, deep breath. ‘So she was born yesterday?’ We were meant to meet her.’: Couple adopts baby born on late daughter’s birthday, ‘She gave me courage’
“Blake died one week shy of 11 months old in her daddy’s arms. ‘She is one day old.’ I told him she was born the day before, on Blakey’s birthday. ‘Wait, what? Are you serious? Well, let’s go get her!’ She seemed so tiny.”
‘Don’t get too attached. I’m going to get her back.’ I was naive. As I sat with her, the tears began to flow.’: Mom of 5 loves foster daughter ‘in all the ways I love my own’
“I had a dream I was holding a new baby like she was my own, but I didn’t give birth to her. I woke up and saw a picture of a newborn on Facebook. I knew it was her.”
‘I felt the right side of my face go numb. ‘I’m sorry, we found some lesions on your brain.’ At just 20 years old, I was in shock.’: Young woman with multiple sclerosis says ‘I have lots of life left to live’
“I awoke to use the restroom. I tried to get up using my right arm, but I couldn’t. Then I tried to stand, but I couldn’t. ‘Catherine, what’s wrong?!’ I couldn’t get any words out. I finally said, ‘I can’t move my right side,’ in between sobs.”
‘Oh God, they can’t lose another mom.’ I found a volleyball-sized growth. I was already their second adoption.’: Woman says adopted kids ‘loved me through’ cancer
“I started to feel ‘off.’ By March, I could hardly get out of bed. They had experienced the loss of not one, but two moms already. Instead of falling apart, they stepped up.”
‘I still remember his face as he stared into my eyes while I puked with every contraction. The little things have helped shape what’s important to me.’: Mom writes inspirational note of hope during pandemic
“I remember the times we’ve brought each other takeout, changed a dirty diaper, remembered to pay a bill, and watched a show together despite a million interruptions… I remember how he hugged me when I cried. The little things… they’re what truly matter.”
‘I see the ‘someone’s sleeping on the couch tonight’ memes. I hear, ‘The more you fight, the more passionate you are.’ It doesn’t feel normal, because it isn’t.’: Woman urges ‘normalize healthy, empathy-based love’
“This isn’t what marriage should look like. In a world where half don’t make it, be different. This life has more than enough for us to fight against, without us fighting our partner. No matter how many movies and memes make it look funny.”
‘I tipped over, slamming my head. ‘I can’t see anything!’ The doctor said, ‘Your life will be less fulfilling now.’: Multiple Sclerosis warrior recounts journey, support from husband
“She asked me to read the top line with the largest print. I told her, ‘I can’t see it.’ I could hardly mutter the words as tears filled my eyes and streamed down my face. My internal panic set in.”
‘You’re not my mom!’ Ouch. Remember, you are not her first choice, but she wouldn’t rather have anyone else.’: Stepmom details the joys and struggles of ‘selfless’ co-parenting
“They’re not yours. You aren’t their REAL mom. You watch decisions made you have no control over, even when you love them as your own.”