“I know. It’s strange, right? I’ve come to believe it is either absolutely crazy or pure genius.”
‘My grandmother always kept a whistle next to the phone.’: Woman shares touching life lesson from grandma, ‘Blow a whistle on anything that disturbs your peace’
Dear Parents, Please Teach Your Children About Diversity
“We unintentionally teach them to be uncomfortable with people that are different.”
‘I’d relax into thinking, ‘I’m finally a mom.’ We’d have a bad day, and I’d sob at my demotion back to ‘just a stepmom.’: Stepmom shares journey, ‘I’m done with the word JUST’
“At 36, I said ‘I do’ to a handsome soldier and his 13-year-old son. I was a mom at last. That’s when I learned the harsh reality of labels. I wasn’t a ‘real mom.’”
‘At your age and with your history, you will miscarry.’ I was an unlikely pregnant 40-year-old, but I knew they were wrong.’: Mom battling infertility welcomes rainbow baby, ‘He is my heart’
“One day, after 4 years of losing battles and babies, I woke up pregnant for the seventh time at 40 years old.”
‘I will NEVER treat my kids the way my parents treated me.’ I was dead serious. The cycle would end with me.’: Childhood abuse survivor vows to be a good mom to son with autism
“Parenting a child like my son requires a mother who has patience, unwavering support, and the resiliency to fight through the tough days. Because of my father… I am that mother.”
‘I dare you to smooch Michelle.’ I promised myself I’d forget that night. I’d committed a terrible sin.’: Ex-Mormon shares coming out journey, ‘Who you are is not a sin’
“I was crushed, realizing I’d committed a terrible ‘sin.’ I was scared my parents would find out and know I’d done something horrible! Instead, I silently carried that guilt.”
‘We need to DO something!’ SO many people were going to be in trouble.’: Woman creates food pantry to help community
“No one should have to struggle for food. Food is a necessity, not a privilege.”
‘She said, ‘You’re the place I can be myself.’ If ONE conversation changed her summer, I wanted to help change someone’s LIFE.’: Foster care advocate urges ‘step up and make a difference’
“What if they want nothing to do with me? What if I can’t help? The first day I met the children I was SO nervous.”
‘Where do you get your energy?’ Apparently, I’m good at pretending. My condition was URGENT.’: Woman diagnosed with Addison’s disease, Type 1 Diabetes, ‘My diseases will NEVER stop me’
“I felt embarrassed, since there was ‘nothing wrong’ with me. I wouldn’t have survived much longer.”
5 Things No One Tells You When You Lose A Child
“As much as I’d like to think my impenetrable brain will hold tight every memory of my son, I can’t even remember what I ate for lunch yesterday. Memories fade.”
‘My husband sat me down. ‘I hate seeing you in constant pain. You’re good enough if you don’t breastfeed.’: New mom embarks on motherhood journey, ‘She’s our fresh start’
“The pain was excruciating. I cried every time I fed her. I felt like I couldn’t provide for my child. It was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do.”
‘Are you ready for another?’ What would we do with a newborn? We knew he was supposed to be with his siblings.’: Couple adopts 4 siblings from foster care, ‘They changed our lives’
“On a yellow post-it, I wrote, ‘7, 4, 2.’ I didn’t know their names, just their ages. My heart desperately wanted to meet them. We didn’t hesitate.”
I Used To Judge People For Being ‘Bad Parents,’ Until I Became A Special Needs Mom
“When I see parents in public places, with their children kicking off, or having a full on meltdown, I now look at it in a different light.”
‘You’re a problem child.’ After 18 years of being taught to hate myself, I received a diagnosis.’: Woman with autism shares self-acceptance journey, finds strength in service dog, ‘She saved my life’
“There were times where I was just too mentally exhausted to cope. I just couldn’t face going outside. Lyra gives me the courage to try new things. She’s more than just a dog. She’s part of my family.”
‘His feet were bare and his toenails were broken on every single toe. He looked at me with tears in his eyes and said, ‘Mama?’: Couple fosters brothers, ‘I knew these were my sons’
“I smiled and it felt like I was looking into the face of someone I’d always known. ‘I’m so happy you’re here. Would you like to come play?’ I knew these two tiny humans were going to change everything in my life.”
‘Mommy, why are you crying?’ How do you explain to a 3-year-old her daddy has passed? I had just shattered her life forever.’: Widow shares grief journey, ‘We’ll make you proud every day’
“I opened the door to two police officers, our baby in my arms. They took off their hats and the world started spinning. It couldn’t be real.”
‘I discovered a hidden credit card and cellphone. My whole world crumbled beneath me. My ‘normal’ family didn’t exist anymore.’: Mom of blended family shares love story, ‘I got my happy ending’
“Every evening, I cried in the shower to hide my pain from my children. Being a divorced single mom wasn’t what I’d envisioned. I refused to believe we couldn’t get a second chance at love.”
‘A baby will solve it all.’ He didn’t want pregnancy to take away from HIS attention. It was the LAST STRAW.’: Woman finds love after abusive marriage, ‘It’s a process, but you WILL trust again’
“He dropped me off in the middle of the freeway while I was 7 months pregnant, and drove away. ENOUGH was ENOUGH. I met a one-of-a-kind man.”
‘Chad is still your emergency contact?’ I’m lucky to be loved by two men. Every day, I’m learning to make room in my heart.’: Widow shares emotional moment of grief, ‘I didn’t give up love, I found more’
“The receptionist had no idea running down the list of ‘catch up’ questions would leave me sitting teary-eyed in the corner.”
‘I’d LOSE MY HEAD and blow up at the smallest situation. Visiting the kids left me feeling blessed to be ALIVE.’: Man seeks help for mental health, starts charity journey
“I burst into tears. ‘What’s wrong?!’ They were so confused. They didn’t know any different than the life they were living. Seeing these children happy inspires me to show more gratitude.”
8 Building Blocks For A Long, Healthy Marriage
“Don’t give up on love. Your relationship is worth the battle.”
‘You’re just NOT trying hard enough.’ I KNEW I was different, but I tried to brush it off. Then something magical happened.’: Woman diagnosed with autism shares journey, ‘I will live a BEAUTIFUL life’
“‘You’re WAY too sensitive.’ They don’t know I am constantly aware of the clock ticking, people typing, colleagues moving, screens shining, lamp shining, them laughing, the radio playing. This world is so LOUD.”
‘You’re YOUNG, what do you have to be stressed about?’ I was living the life of a 50-year-old. I was a caregiver AND a patient.’: Migraine warrior takes care of mom during cancer battle
“When my mom asked me to take a step back from school and work to take care of her during her cancer treatments, I didn’t hesitate to choose my mama. By being a caregiver, I learned how to be a patient.”
‘A bridesmaid brought a pair of angel wings as a tribute to Jessica. The wings flew off the table and left us speechless.’: Cancer survivor honors friend, ‘I think of her every single day’
“I finally came up with the PERFECT tattoo design to honor her beautiful life. 2 months later, my husband pointed to a spot on my breast and said, ‘Right there, that’s new.’”
‘I need to leave. I have to get out of here.’ I felt clammy, trapped. Anxiety was taking precious memories away from me.’: New mom shares journey with postpartum anxiety, ‘There IS a way out’
“I’d be on our couch, totally frozen, unable to think or move. ‘This is a step too far.’ If I was emotionally unhealthy, I wasn’t going to show up as the mom I wanted to be.”