“I got the opportunity to rappel and engage with other kids at the same exact location I was told I may not live. The same place I had to relearn how to walk. The same place I had my miracle baby years later, the one they told me I would never have.”
“I couldn’t go out to a fancy restaurant without worrying about cutting my steak or remembering to wipe food dribbling out of my mouth. Anything but staying home and feeling sorry for myself felt impossible.”
“I allowed myself to mourn what I thought our life was going to look like. Then I told myself I needed to move forward because that beautiful brown-eyed girl is counting on me to be her mother. To advocate for her, to fight for her, and to speak for her until she could speak herself.”
“Over the next two years, one man was filling my heart, while another was hellbent on tearing it apart. My ex restlessly continued this stressful family battle full of dirty, malicious, and vindictive tactics worthy of a dark Netflix series.”
“I felt perpetually punished for existing. I was barred from running, then from even walking. I realized if I stayed this way, I would die.”
“Not everyone is going to like you, and it has nothing to do with you.”
“When she was losing weight, it was because I tried to force breastfeeding too long. When she couldn’t bring her hands together, it was because I had swaddled her longer than I should’ve. When she couldn’t crawl, it was because I didn’t do enough tummy time.”
“I felt the right side of my body get heavy. My knee gave out, and a lightheaded feeling like a strong high took over. But I was convinced I must be okay.”
“My heart was shattered the day I was released from the hospital without my son. I prayed my sweet boy would be in caring hands.”
“Even the tooth fairy is part of the mental load I carry. The behind-the-scenes of motherhood that no one sees, only expects. You see, when I say everything falls on me, I mean it.”
