“I once read caring for a child with specials is equivalent to caring for an infant. But for years.”
6 Things Special Needs Parents Want You To Know
‘Brothers by chance, friends by choice.’: Mom in awe after sons adorably become instant BFFs
“We were worried when we brought home baby brother that he would be jealous. Turns out, we brought him his new best friend for life.”
‘It was meant to be.’: Deaf man gives neglected deaf puppy ‘forever home’
“The plea read, ‘All of his siblings have been adopted. Even though he may be deaf, he is still an AMAZING little pup with so much love to give.'”
What Hit Netflix Show ‘Maid’ Got Wrong About Child Welfare
“As a seasoned foster mama, here’s the problem with ‘Maid’ that I haven’t been able to shake since watching the show.”
How One Photo Reminded Me Gender Stereotypes Are Not Truth
“This photo of my husband holding his niece was taken 13 years ago. The joy in his eyes holding his sweet little niece melted my entire heart. And I knew he was telling me the truth.”
‘This is a nice place you got here, old man.’: Dad has cutest reaction to daughter’s surprise visit after almost 3 years apart
“Oh my god! Oh my god!”
‘I immediately saw her and was drawn. But there was just one thing: I had two babies.’: Single mom shares LGBT love story after abusive relationship
“Leaving after our last fight was the easy part. I knew I couldn’t let my boys be raised in a home like this. She reignited the life in me.”
‘I couldn’t believe she was here in my arms.’: 39 years after forced apart due to race, high school sweethearts get 2nd chance at love
“We have 39 lost years, but we are looking forward to a really great future.”
‘Scarlett’s 14th birthday came around and no one showed up. A friend told me, ‘I don’t want my daughter to witness a seizure.’: Special needs mom touched by friend’s act of kindness for daughter’s Sweet 16
“This was Cinderella getting to go to the ball and Angela was her Fairy Godmother – she gave my daughter something I couldn’t.”
‘It stings to watch other kids play so effortlessly. I play the ‘what if’ game every. single. day. 6 years later, I am still holding my breath.’: Mom shares candid reality of special needs parenting
“My life will never be what I expected. It is the opposite of typical, nothing like I could have dreamed. But I get to love my child in a way most would never understand. My purpose is far beyond understanding.”
‘I was pregnant for the 3rd time in 8 months. ‘Screw it. Let’s try one more time.’: Mom births two rainbow babies, ‘I’ll never forget my first 3 who made me who I am today’
“We had a ridiculous amount of scans, tests, pokes, and prods. Consensus? Bad luck. We were the anomaly, pregnant for the fourth time in a row.”
‘We have to deliver them quickly.’ They arrived tiny, one very pale and thin, the other red, puffy.’: Mom raises awareness about rare Twin Anemia Polycythemia Sequence
“Both were dangerously ill, but thanks to the team at the hospital, they were well looked after.”
My Hair Stylist Dropped A Truth Bomb On Me, And I’ve Never Been So Motivated To Change
“His words stung in the moment, but I swallowed hard and moved on. The truth is, deep down, I knew he was right.”
‘I should know your name. I can’t believe I don’t. But I’ll never forget how kind you were to my daughter.’: Special needs mom shares hairdresser’s powerful act of kindness
“I remember people were staring at us prior to you calling my daughter, Lola, back. I remember my face feeling flushed, my mom trying to offer assistance, but she was as helpless as me.”
‘It’s positive.’ Only a few weeks shy of 18, she showed me the test with two bright pink lines. ‘I’m keeping the baby.’: Teen mom judged for age proves stereotypes wrong
“When I found a doctor for my pregnancy it was evident he disagreed with me having a baby so young. I’ve had to fight to be treated with the same respect an older mother would receive. I’ve had to show people age didn’t define what a good mother was.”
‘I can wake up and get you there.’ My son immediately started to cry.’: Mom thanks stranger for act of kindness, ‘Our world needs more people like you’
“As my husband boarded the plane, his flight was canceled. He learned Memphis is struggling due to high crime rate. He couldn’t get a taxi at 4:30 a.m. to get to the airport due to workers being fearful of their lives. The thought of possibly missing our son’s game really crushed him.”
I Gave Up Alcohol, And Now I Finally See How Devastating Drinking Culture Is
“In my late 20s and 30s, friends moved from drinking to drugs. When a friend died of an overdose or a car accident, we celebrated them with a toast and a drink. I visited friends in jail and drove them to their court-ordered AA meetings. Careers were derailed by DUIs. Still, I didn’t see it.”
‘He sobbed, ‘What are you doing here?!’: 11-year-old best friends reunite after long separation from move
“You just made my day. I’ve had the worst day ever.”
‘My body kept going, but it felt like my heart should have stopped when Sami’s did. He was the light of our life.’: Couple unexpectedly loses 8-month-old baby; share acts of kindness in his honor
“I started a running streak. I ran at least a mile a day (often more) for 252 days straight without stopping – the same number of days Sami was alive. I wanted a way to consciously think about what that amount of time felt like, to feel it physically.”
‘My friend sent an adoption story as a pregnancy test sat in the cabinet. My chances were 1%.’: Woman births healthy miracle baby through endometriosis, placental tumor
“Out of habit, I took the test. The faintest second line appeared. Were my eyes playing tricks on me? Was this for real? I stood in the bathroom staring at the test for what felt like forever. After 4 years, we really were pregnant! No medication, no monitoring.”
‘I don’t want to be in their club.’ I didn’t want the label, the IEPs, the long-term care plans.’: Mom to daughter with special needs shares journey to acceptance, ‘This secret world is full of beauty’
“I’d beat myself up for comparing her to other kids and try to convince myself everything was okay. I’d comfort myself with those familiar phrases. She was just ‘going at her own pace,’ ‘every kid is different,’ she will ‘catch up.'”
5 Helpful Tips For Preparing To Move With A Child Who Has An IEP
“Moving with a special needs child is no easy feat.”
‘There isn’t a passive bone in her body. I spend my days negotiating any given task. Everything is on her terms, her time, her agenda.’: Mom to strongwilled child urges ‘this is hard, but it is so worth it’
“Sometimes I wonder why she can’t be more agreeable. Why things can’t be easier. Yet deep down, even on my most exhausting days, I know I wouldn’t change her. The world needs her vivacious spirit.”
‘A firefighter is never off duty.’: Seven firefighters rush to save stranger’s life 30,000 feet in the air
“We do this stuff all over the place, but I never thought I’d be doing it in an airplane up above.”
Losing Weight Changed Every Aspect Of My Life
“‘Porky! Porky!’ That’s all I could hear. I was 18 years old at the time and weighed 450Ibs at 5’11.”