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‘Your kids have had more screen time than ever. I need my crap together. I should be doing more.’: Mom struggling with pandemic parenting says ‘throw the shoulds out the window’
“Your wardrobe is pajamas and your greys are down to your ears. You can literally knock a human being out with your boobs swaying in the wind because bras just don’t fit into your daily wear. You’re exhausted. You aren’t on top of things. All you did today was nothing.”
‘If you send me home, I will die.’ The doctor looked me in the eyes. ‘We’re all going to die.’: Mental illness, chronic pain warrior finds peace through therapy, ‘I accept myself as I am’
“I’ve been in a car wreck I shouldn’t have walked away from. I’ve attempted suicide 3 times. I’ve come close to death often. ‘Why do I exist?’ Now I knew exactly why I’m here.”
I Became An Adult The Day My Mother Died
“It wasn’t the day I got my driver’s license. It wasn’t the day I got married or had children. Losing a parent changes you.”
‘One of your babies is behaving beautifully!’ Wait, ONE? I knew it was too good to be true.’: Woman births miracle twins, ‘They survived against all odds’
“In came another doctor, who also scanned his head. Then another doctor and another doctor. ‘His brain is likely to grow out of his skull.’ I tried to hide my bump. I didn’t let myself get attached.”
‘This is the last one I have in me.’ My stomach painfully dotted with bruises, I noticed a voicemail. My breath caught.’: Couple finally chosen by birth mom, ‘My heart is so full’
“We put together a nursery for our ‘some-day’ baby. ‘Someday, it will be our turn.’ After 6 years of disappointments, it did not seem possible. Then the voicemail said, ‘Do this tonight.’ ‘Birth mom.’ ‘Chosen you.’ My breath caught.”
‘Does it REALLY matter if she wears the d*mn earmuffs to school? NO, obviously not.’: Mom urges acceptance of quirks in kids, ‘One day I’ll miss these moments’
“Leopard earmuffs, too big. Take them away and distract with a princess poppy doll. That’s when I see it. A kid walking into school with a mask on.”
‘You’re making it hard. Please leave.’ Tears filled my eyes. This was my doctor I’d known for years. ‘I’m not faking!’: After 23 years, woman finally diagnosed with 3 rare diseases
“I still remember the sound of saline gurgling at the base of my brain. Why does nobody believe me? ‘Finally,’ I thought, ‘We found the smoking gun.’”
‘My friends joked, ‘What if you’re actually pregnant?’ We laughed. At 19, my body was creating a life without my knowledge.’: Young woman details unexpected pregnancy, loss
“I’d been walking around with a big fat smile on my face, telling the world I was going to be the greatest mother for this little girl. ‘You made the right decision, it was meant to be.’ ‘You’re strong for going through this pregnancy.’ Then I felt a pop, and there I was, shaking my stomach trying to wake up my daughter.”
‘I’m the woman, so I do everything.’ TOTAL. CRAP. When I woke up night after night, it was the expectation.’: Woman urges equal parenting, ‘Stop carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders’
“I got bitter and resentful from doing it all alone. I watched my husband’s life change what seemed to be very little as we added offspring. His body stayed intact while I didn’t at all recognize my new shape. The lies had clearly taken over my soul.”
‘I’ve never been a confident person, you know that all too well. That’s why you chose me to be your next victim that fateful night.’: Woman pens letter to her eating disorder, ‘I’m not keeping you a secret anymore’
“You’ve never really listened to me before, so maybe telling you all of this stuff is pointless. Maybe you’re not even listening now. Even if you are, it’s not like you’re going to feel sorry for me after everything you’ve put me through.”
