“Their parents had been killed, but they all had miraculously survived without seat belts. They were ejected from the vehicle and were badly injured. I thought about them all day. Their sweet, hope-filled faces jumped off of the screen and into my heart.”
“I cursed new and old stretch marks. ‘Only women who are a size 2 can truly be successful.’ My body image dictated how I spoke to myself, even while my daughter was listening.”
“I never got the chance to say goodbye, to tell her that I forgave her. She wasn’t always this way. Reading her journal entries brought me closer to her than I ever thought possible.”
“I didn’t know when I’d see my husband again. I could hear my son crying, but all I could see was the dreaded ‘poor connection.’ My new daughter was screaming and couldn’t communicate. It was just too hard.”
“You’ll rarely see him gush over me on social media. Flowers do not arrive at my office on special occasions for the world to see. He loves in the quiet of holding my hand in his truck while we drive. He loves in quiet by sitting by my side on a porch swing, watching our children play.”
“When I pulled up to the window at Dunkin, I was surprised. In that specific moment, my brain was everywhere, trying to place this puzzle piece where it belongs. ‘ALLEN!’ We both failed to hold back tears.”
“He’s not affectionate. He doesn’t let me cuddle or kiss him. He’s always too busy, too distracted to engage. Last night, I cuddled him while he slept. I smelled his face, heard his beautiful breathing. He didn’t move or push me away. I hope he knows how much I love him.”
“He wiped tears from his eyes.”
“And blessed are the janitors, for we all know how hard it is to clean up after our kids. This is like that except times a hundred, and if they miss a spot, people might die.”
“She is soft and sweet, but when she pouts that lip and pops that hip, God help the soul who tries to change her mind. One day she will be all grown up, and you will hope she comes back to you. Because no matter what, she’ll always be your little girl.”
