“I don’t really know my dad. I’ve heard more stories from others than I’ve heard from him. I’d go weeks without talking to him, months without seeing him, and we’ve always lived in the same town, only miles apart. When it all fell into place, I knew he would be my biggest fan.”
“She holds back tears as she looks at the disassembled crib leaning against the wall. She sits in the audience with a tissue in her hands, and the proudest smile on her face. She sees that baby up on stage in a cap and gown, and she wonders where the time went. Her heart beats with a mixture of pride and pain.”
“I never reached out to anyone for help in any way — whether it be a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on, or just some advice, support, and borrowed strength. I know many reading this have been there as well. We are not so different.”
“Surgery isn’t sexy. A man by your side going along with your crazy ideas because he loves you so much…that is sexy.”
“To the woman who cried herself to sleep last night because the fridge is empty 3 days before payday. To the woman so unsure where life is going that fear keeps her awake at night. To the woman who woke this morning and it was her ‘day one’ for the 52nd time since New Year’s Eve, but she won’t stop fighting for it. To the woman who encourages other women. You are all doing it. Every single woman.”
“The ones who grab the extra pack of crayons for them at the restaurant. The friend who will playfully rock your toddler while you finish your cup of coffee. The ones who welcome them with a big smile that says, ‘I’m happy to see you.’ You don’t deserve to feel like you’d be better off staying home.”
“Within seconds of feeling the weight of my babies against my chest for the first time, my heart was made to love them. It was an unexplainable love at first sight I thought was only reserved for mothers who gave birth to their children. And now, a decade later, science is proving what I’ve always known in my heart.”
“I was told it was just ‘growing pains.’ I felt the pain with every bend of my knee. Hours later, I heard people crying around me about a ‘missing leg.’ I tried to open my eyes. The pain is still so vivid.”
“Gag me with a spoon, right? I wasn’t sure it was true. I mean, who would leave this fine specimen of the male species? He asked for my number and we agreed to meet for coffee. It was snowing, pretty hard. This guy offered to drive over an hour in it to see me. This was a big. freaking. deal.”
“I totally cried. As my mom told them, I hid behind my tea mug (it was a pretty big mug) because I didn’t want them to see me crying. I thought I was strong enough to not. Of course, my dad then joined as well and stated, ‘Yeah, I’m straight, I like women.’ We all laughed as he looked at my mom.”
