“We said goodbye to date nights and weekend getaways. You held my hand through evaluations, IEPS, and doctor’s appointments, and let me sneak a nap when I was too tired to carry on. You loved me when the diagnosis of autism changed who I was.”
Thank You To My Husband Who Chose To Stay
‘I left in the middle of a conversation. It’s OKAY to protect your heart. Get out and DON’T look back.’: Woman pushes ‘unfollow’ mentality, ‘Be careful what you give your energy to’
“One of those weird arguments that happen in online groups of humans brought together by a common sport, a school, or neighborhood. It had nothing to do with the other people and had everything to do with my heart.”
‘I’m not model material.’ I was skeptical. I’ve NEVER seen a supermodel that looks like me.’: Woman with facial abnormality walks in fashion show, ‘Representation matters’
“Not a single girl looked like anyone else. There were girls of all shapes, sizes, races, and abilities. I threw my shoulders back and walked the runway with my head held high.”
‘Just leave it all, sweetie. Leave the mess. It means you were around today, and a little piece of you is still here.’: Grandma shares sweet reminder to ‘never take life for granted’
“How often do we hustle and bustle to pick up our home’s messes? How often do we grumble at our little ones to ‘please’ straighten up? The moment took my breath away, and filled my heart with a bittersweet reminder.”
‘Are they siblings? Where are their parents?’ People ask me point-blank in front of the kids.’: Adoptee turned single foster parent vows ‘I’ll protect them fiercely’
“‘How long have you had them?’ They already know they’re not home. We end up in tears as they struggle with the loss. They shouldn’t have to hear these questions.”
‘They held her eyes open with metal prongs. ‘Your little girl is blind.’ I had to protect her.’: Mom gives birth to 2 albino babies, ‘They were meant to do this together’
“Everywhere we went, people pointed. ’Ew, what’s wrong with her eyes?’ I’d come home angry at the world. ‘I’ll just bubblewrap her and keep her by my side forever.’ She made her own path.”
‘Something’s happened to Drew. We were on our way to the park.’ I thought, ‘He’ll be OK.’ I had to keep my promise to him.’: Woman with CHD becomes advocate after losing nephew to disease
“The doctor said, ‘Time to pray.’ She’d never seen so many tubes in such a little body. They filled with blood. ‘We’re having a problem.’”
‘Will they make it on their own?’ The universal mom ache comes every time we say goodbye.’: Mom says ‘with each goodbye comes a sacred hello’
“Their first steps onto the school bus, that very first sleepover. As she backs out of the driveway with her newfound freedom, memories of a toddler in her car seat and seemingly endless pickups fade. ‘Will they make it on their own?’ The ache is fresh and raw.”
‘You sure don’t look blind.’ It gets old. Every day, I am being robbed of my remaining vision.’: Woman with rare visual impairment urges ‘be kind always’
“When I use my white cane, I am not faking it. I am letting you know I can’t see well, if at all.”
‘When your big kid texts, ‘Can I come home for the weekend?’ you jump at the chance and say a resounding ‘Y-E-S.’: Mom to ‘big kid’ reminds us to cherish every moment
“You run outside like you haven’t seen her in years—even though it’s only been 5 weeks. As she snuggles you on the couch, a lump forms in your throat while memories flood of that little girl spinning in a circle. Every day, you love her more than you ever have.”