“I learned quickly how much society attributes a woman’s self-worth to her childbearing abilities.”
‘I refused to go to church on Mother’s Day because I couldn’t bear it.’: Woman opens up about infertility struggles, ‘It is not a big, bad secret’
‘Scott was in bed Googling autism. ‘This is me, isn’t it?’: Mom urges ‘radical’ acceptance after whole family diagnosed with autism, ADHD
“I was now the only neurotypical person in the house.”
‘I wondered why on EARTH I thought it was a good idea to have a child.’: Woman opens up about postpartum depression, anxiety, ‘Mamas, please know you aren’t alone’
“From a painful pregnancy which had me dealing with a SLEW of crap, to a traumatic emergency C-section 10 days after my due date, I thought the worst was over. But I couldn’t have been MORE wrong.”
‘If I paid more attention, ate healthier, and drank less wine, maybe things would have played out differently.’: Mom details miscarriages, infertility journey, ‘I’ll never take my title of mama for granted’
“Some people think it’s SO easy. They think to get pregnant, stay pregnant, and have a baby is like baking a cake. Sadly, it isn’t.”
‘Where is your husband?!’ I took the kids to a party less than 48 hours after giving birth, newborn in one arm, champagne in the other.’: Mom overcomes affair and alcoholism for her kids
“I earned points by doing things he wanted, when he wanted, how he wanted: cleaning the condo, home-cooked meals, editing his work emails, sexual favors. When I hit 1,000 points, he asked me to marry him. For him, it meant ‘I control you.’”
‘There’s nothing there.’ The tumor was breaking the bone from the inside out, but nobody believed me.’: Woman survives ‘invisible’ nervous system attack, shares mental health journey
“I lost every friend I had. Nobody would speak to me. I dreaded going to school, I just wanted to sleep. I hated myself for the pain and worry I caused my family.”
‘Her birth parents changed their minds.’ The call ripped us apart. ‘She’s coming to pick her up.’: Woman shares journey with infertility, adoption, foster care, urges ‘you will make it to the other side’
‘I woke up and decided to take a pregnancy test. I couldn’t explain it. Almost immediately, two lines showed up. Then, my phone started ringing. I looked down and saw our social worker from our adoption agency was calling.”
‘After just 2 WEEKS, he helped with medication and even cleaned after I lost control of my bladder. ‘I knew this hot mess would fit right into my life.’: Couple shares journey from ‘a Bumble swipe to baby wipes’
“I was ready to write him off, and I didn’t even invite him to the hospital. But he’d already arranged to be there and was right by my side. In fact, he never left.”
‘He has 4 to 6 months left to live.’ Hospice prepared us for the worst, but our faith was bigger than that.’: Woman shares powerful love story through husband’s stage 4 cancer battle
“The day before getting discharged, I thought it was the strangest thing Devan requested for my mom to get him a ring pop. ‘Will you take a walk with me?’ As we are walked through the garden outside the hospital, I see from the corner of my eye a piece of paper. Instantly, my heart started pounding. Tears began pouring down my face.”
‘Why did you even have this child, Kelsi? You’re failing him.’ I heard voices tell me to plan my death or my baby would die, and it would be my fault.’: Brave mom of 4 candidly shares journey with postpartum psychosis
“I’d close my eyes and see myself holding my son’s lifeless body. I couldn’t get that image out of my head or decipher whether it was real or not. I wanted him to have a life full of love and fulfillment, and realized my only escape was to end my life. Stained with tears and folded neatly into my bible, I wrote my goodbye letter.”