“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.”
‘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
‘Your sister passed away.’ In a matter of years, I lost half my immediate family. This grief is not linear.’: Woman pens moving grief journey, ‘I live every day with authenticity’
“My cousin showed up at my house. Though her voice was calm when she arrived, I knew in that moment my sister was gone. Her death would be under investigation. She’d been struggling for months.”
‘I used to make breakfasts for kids in footie pajamas. Now, I watch them spread their wings.’: Mom pens touching note to parents with growing kids, ‘They still need us’
“I used to be the one they went to for all the things.”
‘Could I be his family?’ I couldn’t stand how he was still waiting. Sometimes I’d just cry for him. He needed a family.’: Single woman pursues special needs adoption
“There was something about him that stuck out. I read his profile, saved his picture, and sent it to my best friend. ‘Look how precious this boy is!’ I went on with my day. But to be honest, I never really moved on.”
‘My best friend said, ‘You’re too depressing to be around. All you talk about is your pain and sickness. You need to hold it all in, or I won’t be your friend anymore.’: Woman written off by society finds ‘unconditional love’ in chronic illness community
“For 8 years, I couldn’t get the medicine I needed because doctors suggested I was complaining about nothing. They dismissed me with, ‘It’s all in your head.’ I became an expert at denying my own pain. I resigned from my job. Being sick was not something people wanted to hear about.”
‘At 2 years old, they called me ‘Mommy.’ No one ever doubted I was their REAL mother. I wasn’t ready for them to know the truth.’: Mom of blended family says ‘at the end of the day, love is what matters’
“They would ask me about their pregnancies. We shrugged our shoulders and moved on. I was scared to tell them. I questioned if they would understand or not.”
‘I married him at 21. There were red flags. After 11 years of marriage, we began couple’s counseling. The next day, he fell from a ladder at work. I knew he was going to die.’: Young widow gets second chance at love, ‘There is always reason to find hope’
“I was a widowed, working, single mom. We began chatting on a dating app. 3 days later, I accidentally Face-Timed him, fresh out of the shower and no makeup. I panicked and almost hung up, but felt God whisper, ‘See if he answers.’ The moment I saw his face, I knew he was my person.”
‘I have a bad feeling.’ Suddenly, I saw commotion. His diaper had fused to his lower back. I could smell his skin.’: Mom shares 2-year-old burn survivor’s journey
“The fire pit was about 5 feet away. I stood up to get a better view and what I saw would haunt me. I wanted so badly to end his pain.”
‘I’ll take it.’ She was very sick, and he loved her so much. He knew she didn’t have long.’: Man writes touching story of lifelong friend, ‘You will always have a place in my heart’
“I was thinking, ‘No, I don’t want to try to sell them a car. Not in this situation.’ I was just trying to make a wish happen for this woman, and she was smiling from ear to ear.”
‘I see you tired of trying to reason with your child. I see you crying in the bathroom, wishing for an ‘easy button’ to press.’: Mom to ‘strong-willed’ child says ‘there is light at the end of the tunnel’
“There is really no taming the strong-willed child without blowing out their fire. Instead, let us embrace it for the good.”