“My husband and I had a big date night planned for our 10-year dating anniversary. We were on vacation and had reservations for a nice dinner just the two of us. It was supposed to be such a happy day.”
‘TEN years together? And NO BABY?! What are you waiting for?’ We spent our anniversary in a hotel bed, bawling our eyes out.’: Woman battling infertility urges ‘ask how we’re doing, not where the baby is’
‘You’re measuring 17 weeks, not 6.’ I went from having a choice to becoming a mom. I was in a dark place.’: Single mom births baby with Down syndrome, ‘I wouldn’t change a thing’
“My test results came back. I started sobbing hysterically as I called my mom. Not only was I traumatized by the fact I was 4 months pregnant, but I was possibly giving birth to a special needs child.”
‘Our 2-year-old said, ‘I’m sick.’ I was sure her grandma could handle it. I wish I would have soaked in those last moments.’: Cancer mom raises money for struggling families, ‘We found a light’
“They were the last minutes I’d be a mom of three healthy kids. I’d never be her again.”
‘I know it may not feel like it at first, but you were chosen to be a special needs parent for a reason.’: Mom to late son with Down syndrome urges ‘love them a little extra for me’
“Please don’t be scared. On the day you get to meet your beautiful babies, you will have more love than you’ve ever known what to do with.”
‘Where are you right now? If you’re still there, you need to get out! You need to tell your mom.’: Woman finds happiness after years of abuse, neglect
“We went from talking almost every night to talking almost every month. ‘Shelainea, you need to tell your mom.’ The divorce took a toll. She changed for the worst. ‘You shouldn’t be going through my phone!’ I couldn’t believe she was doing this to me.”
‘My OB said, ‘If you’re having feelings of harming yourself or your baby, you need to go to the mental institution immediately.’: Mom urges ‘we need as many postpartum check-ins on mama as we do on the baby’
“A few weeks after my first child was born, I called my OB in desperation. ‘I don’t feel good,’ I said. ‘I’m not connecting with the baby. I’m so tired, I don’t think I can do this.’ The most common gift I received after childbirth was alcohol.”
‘My doctor was disinterested in my health. ‘It’s a circus people disease. You don’t have it.’ I felt defeated.’: Woman diagnosed with Ehlers Danlos, ‘I’m thankful for those who’ve stood by me’’
“Overnight, I woke up ill. I was met with disbelief and put-downs. ‘Girls your age struggle with anxiety.’ I struggled to walk up stairs. I would wake up from a full night’s sleep and need to go back to bed an hour later.”
‘I expected him to tell me, ‘Yeah, I’ve noticed. You’ve got to do something about that anxiety.’ He didn’t though.’: Mom grateful for husband’s love when sharing insecurities
“My husband and I had a day date this past weekend. I predicted he would say something like, ‘Why don’t you try to get a better routine going, be a bit more organized, and plan more?’ He didn’t, though. And then, he went a step further.”
‘YUK.’ You had some rolls on your back showing and your double chin was showing. That’s problematic.’: Woman reminds us, ‘Beauty has nothing to do with what’s on the outside’
“Truthfully, when I didn’t have the rolls, I still questioned if I was ever whole, or worthy, or enough. I’ve got something to say. *AHEM*.”
‘They commented, ‘Should have aborted,’ on my photo. He is living in a world where he’s so othered, people think he should not be breathing.’: Special needs mom responds to ableist bullies
“One day, I hope when the world sees my son, they see Anderson. One day, I hope they see his humanity.”