“She said, ‘It’s an emergency. It’s Knox.’ Looking to the back where he was, all I could see were those bare legs. I had no idea how much this decision would replay over in my head and haunt me.”
‘His brother said, ‘I didn’t get to tell him goodbye today.’ All I could see were his little bare legs, dangling.’: Woman loses infant to SIDS, starts foundation in his honor, ‘Love pushes you to go on’
‘I’m sorry, you were my second choice.’ 2 weeks later, we got an email titled URGENT. They’d changed their minds.’: Family of 5 adopt newborn from birth mother, start beautiful open adoption
“Again, our social worker was on the line. ‘Look guys, I know you’ve been on an emotional rollercoaster. I hate to bring up another question, but the birth mom called us today.’ We took Revere home from the hospital on Valentine’s Day.”
‘When I interview for a job and think I nailed it, only to find out they went with another candidate…I smile and send that person love.’: Mom of 6 says ‘find the good in every little annoyance’
“I used to play the victim. I used to think the world was out to get me.”
‘I notice the lump in my throat getting bigger. I fight back tears as my sons stare at me wide-eyed. I pray God will help me carry all this weight.’: Mom with anxiety urges ‘life is too short, throw in the towel’
“It’s hard to take care of yourself when you’re always taking care of everyone else. I’m struggling to find the balance between keeping it all together without falling apart and realizing when I need a break. I pray to God to help me carry all this weight.”
‘The wild of his heart makes me tired. It’s a constant tug-of-war. Most of the time, if I’m being honest, he’s winning.’: Mom shares realization for parenting ‘wild-hearted child’
“I spend all day clashing with his strong will until the day is over, and I go to bed feeling like a worn down nub. He is bruised knees and outside voices, ninety miles an hour, all day every day.”
‘This is the third time you’ve been here.’ My son witnessed it all. He made a scene. She wasn’t having it.’: Woman thanks restaurant manager, reminds everyone to ‘be kind’
“I thought I knew what I was supposed to do, but it never felt right. I woke up 2 hours early. ‘Why don’t you tell me what you need?’ she said. ‘You had my son as a customer and he witnessed the whole thing.”
‘My name is Steve.’ I left on a high. Six months into our marriage, I stumbled across something on the computer that sent me into a spiral.’: After divorce, couple co-parents as friends
“We were happy, content, and had a healthy thriving marriage. Through all of this, there was a side of Steve and went unfulfilled and wore on our relationship. I stood frozen as Steve’s eyes caught mine. Something had changed. Something was wrong.”
‘I was getting married in a month, they wanted me to have my operation ASAP. I had a panic attack in front of the nurse.’: Woman survives recurring skin cancer, ‘The support has been massive’
“That weekend was my bachelorette party. It was changing shape, getting very painful, and wasn’t normal. She said something I never expected her to say. Should I really put myself through this? It felt like the longest wait.”
‘I don’t see any red flags.’ He began screaming and running into walls. There was an 8-month waitlist. I wanted answers.’: Mom fights for son’s autism diagnosis, ‘My strength comes from him’
“I know you’re not supposed to compare, but I had friends with kids around the same age as Logan and seeing them together was eye-opening. ‘He has a mild delay.’ I couldn’t shake the feeling it was something bigger.”
‘I wouldn’t step out of the house in shorts or skirts because of the scars on my legs. ‘Why me?’ I was tired of crying out to God.’: Woman with rare Ollier’s Disease disorder and Scoliosis finds self acceptance, ‘I was handpicked’
“I became so caught up in trying to appear ‘normal’ I began to lose myself. At the end of the day, I felt like I was living a double life. I would often wear long sleeve shirts or jackets to hide my left arm. I wanted people to look beyond the scars and differences.”