Touching
🤧
‘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.”
‘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.”
