“I took note. I thought this was a list of things I needed to abide by. The unspoken rules of motherhood. Secrets I was kindly being told. If I could write a response now, I’d consider adding the following…”
‘I hate grass stains on trousers. Snotty and mucky faces are so gross!’ My parenting pet peeve is that this thread exists at all.’: Mom shares why parenting pet peeves are unfair
Dear Moms Dealing With Chronic Pain—You Are Not Alone
“The general exhaustion of pregnancy combined with the constant lifting and putting down, feeding of a newborn, and hands-on activities of a growing toddler (like potty-training and cleaning up) can make for an exhausted mama.”
‘Dear Moms, I have a secret for you. You can be BOTH.’: Mom shares beauty of balancing multiple roles, embracing multidimensional personality
“You can be both a hot mess disaster one day and a hostess with the mostest the next. You can be both buttoned up at the office and silly with your friends. You can be chill and motivated. A sugar fiend and health-conscious. A wife and a friend.”
This Photo Was Taken The Night We Found Out Our IVF Round Failed
“Do we want a new house or IVF? Do we want to take a vacation or do we want to do IVF? This is our life and I wish I could just wake up from this nightmare.”
I Quit My Job After My Supervisor Guilted Me For Calling Out Of Work Because My Sister Was Dying
“So many employers don’t see us as having full lives outside of work.”
I Cheated On My Husband, And The Fall From Grace Rescued Me From My Toxic Marriage
“But how do you come back from that? How do you rise from such an ugly, demoralizing, and damaging mistake, to finish the work you set out to do in the first place? These were questions the internet did not have answers to when I went looking 4 years ago, as my life imploded around me.”
‘I was told I was going to die. I went from being a normal teenager to a patient in need of urgent care in 2 weeks.’: Woman shares journey with Crohn’s disease, mission to help others
“I lost 56 lbs. in a month. Every time I moved my head, my vision went black, and I was in so much pain. I threw up vomit drenched in blood. That’s when I knew I was seriously ill.”
I Am Not A Bad Mom – I Am A Mom To A Child With Autism
“For years, comments made me believe I was a bad mom. Her diagnosis was heartbreaking, yet validating. Finally, I had an answer.”
‘This is amazing. You did all this?’: NBA star Giannis Antetokounmpo comforts nervous 11-year-old fan in adorable meet-and-greet
“You should never meet your heroes” is a widely known piece of advice, but it’s safe to say Lily disagrees.
‘Anyone know single parents who can’t afford to get their child’s hair done for school?’: Mom eases burden for struggling parents in community by braiding kid’s hair for free
“One girl didn’t speak and kept her head down the whole time. But when we were done, and she saw herself in the mirror, she became a different person. She had the biggest smile on her face.”
‘You made my day.’ Impressed by how hard he worked, I asked to take his photo. He said, ‘Now there will be proof I existed.’: Stranger shares act of kindness for hotel bellhop
“The world is filled with amazing, hardworking Dana’s. When you see one, take a moment to say something. Thank them. Tell them they are doing a great job, and watch what happens.”
10-Year-Old Skips Birthday Gifts, Fundraises Enough To Plant 350 Trees For Climate Change
Most boys would ask for video games or a new toy for their birthdays, but Romario Valentine has a much bigger goal.
Dear Current Body, I Am Still Learning To Appreciate You
“This body is forever mine, full of layers that have built me to where I am now.”
‘I was putting bags in the back of my husband’s truck when I noticed his hard hat upside down on the seat. My eyes filled with tears.’: Wife finds sweet message on husband’s equipment
“I noticed something written inside so I looked closer to see. My eyes filled with tears.”
‘We thought she’d be saved once again. But this time, they had nothing left to offer.’: 8-year-old girl dies of cancer after 4-year battle, 4th relapse
“We were beside ourselves. This couldn’t be happening again. Daniela was scared and had been through so much already with all the chemo and radiation.”
‘I was always the tired mom. I was always the yelling, burnt-out, over-worked, stressed-out mom.’: Single working mom shares blended family’s busy schedule, ‘I’m still figuring it all out’
“I don’t get the laundry done during the day. I don’t get to pre-heat the oven. After the kids are in bed, the house is still a mess.”
‘A text from his mom came: He’s so happy. Hasn’t stopped holding it.’: 5-year-old infatuated with bakery store stuffed bear gets Christmas morning surprise
“Oh, my heart! To say this is what Christmas is all about is an understatement.”
‘Will I be able to have children?’ My doctor looked apprehensive. ‘I cannot answer that.’ I was horrified and anxious.’: Mom shares story with early menopause, miscarriage
“‘You have no eggs left.’ I sat there in disbelief and shock. My intuition was telling me to do a pregnancy test. The test said I wasn’t pregnant but I had those feelings for days. I was PREGNANT.”
‘I am no longer the one he looks for in a crowd, the first person he turns to when things get tough. He loves me, but I also know he loves her more.’: Boy mom urges ‘love him while you are still first’
“Kiss his sweet baby face, linger in those lanky teenage hugs. Drive him to school even when he is grumpy and doesn’t say a word to you. Love on his friends. Sit next to his hospital bed even though he screwed up. Soak up every minute under those Friday night lights. Because one day, you will give him away.”
‘Look what y’all did for my baby.’: Strangers on Reddit help struggling mom make son’s birthday wish come true
“Thank you for making an exhausted and defeated mom who has been fighting like hell for her kids feel loved. Y’all have lifted my spirits tonight.”
My Son With Autism Is The Bravest Person I Know
“Autism is a game of short strides. One day, you look up and realize all the work, all the hope, all the fear, all the worry is turning into something bigger than you imagined.”
‘If I’m good enough for them, I need to be good enough for myself too.’: Mom struggling with body image encouraged by her children’s sweet response
“I immediately felt that familiar heat creep into my cheeks, fueled by embarrassment and disdain at my own reflection. My eyes immediately gravitate toward all of the areas I’m most self-conscious about. The areas I see as anything but beautiful.”
Sometimes, Preparing For Postpartum Isn’t Enough (And That’s Okay)
“We buy the swaddles, swings, ring-slings, nipple balms, perineal soaks. We build this army of baby gear, falsely comforted by this militia of newborn-stage survival stuff. And then the baby arrives.”
‘I hate Bre.’ If you’re a parent, you know how deep those words cut. I was broken.’: Bio, bonus mom shares journey, ‘It’s not easy, but it’s WORTH IT!’
“My friend spilled that he had five children. On the day we planned to meet, my daycare unexpectedly closed. ‘Bring Landry along!’ he said. I knew I had met my future husband and my son’s future bonus dad.”
‘You don’t belong.’ I can’t tell my children I understand how they feel, and it destroys me.’: Mom to biracial, neurodiverse family talks dealing with racism, ableism
“You can be married to a Korean man and have biracial children and still have internal racial biases. You can have a neurodivergent child and still be ableist. I can’t escape my privileges, but I can try to learn and work from them.”