“I eventually started looking in the mirror and hating myself. Why wasn’t I perfect? Why wasn’t I happy now I had lost more weight? So, I continued to lose it. And lose it. And lose it.”
‘My boyfriend said, ‘I don’t want to be with a slob.’ I became fitness obsessed. My wardrobe shifted to gym clothes only. If I went to bed hungry, I was a winner.’: Woman shares journey to self-love after eating disorder battle
‘No one understands me!’ I felt like I was drowning in feelings. I was afraid of losing what I thought was my identity.’: Transracial adoptee shares journey, ‘Families don’t have to look the same’
“I struggled to go to school each year. I’d feel nervous when I was separated from my mom in a new place. ‘I don’t feel good.’ It was my way of saying, ‘I’m anxious.’ I never put a name to those feelings.”
‘What’s wrong now? You’ve got nothing to be sad about!’ I felt like I was the only one going through this. I blamed myself.’: Woman shares mental health journey, urges ‘fight for what you need’
“I was alone. No-one liked me, and I had no sense of belonging at all. I was a very lost teenager in a very big world. It was a difficult place to be in. I didn’t understand I was anxious or depressed.”
‘I used to yell. It was the only way to get his attention. One day, I stopped. I simply whispered, ‘I’m leaving. I’m filing for divorce.’ He barely looked up.’: Woman urges ‘find a life loud in love’
“I no longer yell. I no longer need to.”
‘He flailed around like a salted earthworm. ‘SIT DOWN. GO TO TIME OUT.’ I felt nothing but resentment. He widened his eyes and said, ‘Mommy, I’m scared.’: Mom shares moment of lost temper, ‘I’m terrified of screwing things up’
“His sweet little cherub curls and fat tears streaming down his face, and all I could think was WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME??? My son was scared. Of me.”
‘I don’t deserve it.’ That hate you have towards yourself? The harm you directly cause yourself? That’s on you.’: Woman talks ‘world of difference’ gratitude has made
“People will NOT feel sorry for you if you CHOOSE to beat yourself up.”
‘The manager said, ‘Could you please re-tell me your card number?’ I thought about the disrespect I’d seen this past week.’: Mom advocates for kindness after post office visit
“I was in my local post office sending a package. I realized our soup was missing. USPS. I think I’ll survive without mail for a few days.”
‘What am I supposed to tell my 5-year-old?!’ Now I’m removing my earrings. I was daring him to fight.’: Construction worker’s shocking kindness reminds mom how to ‘drop the rope’ during an argument
“A guy came running at my truck yelling for me to stop. The nerve! My anger hit an all-time high. This was going to end in tears and disappointment from my boy. I was absolutely astonished.”
‘They don’t deserve a dad who’s grumpy and frustrated before the day has begun. Don’t let your grown-up stress steal their childhood innocence.’: Man shares candid reality of being a stay-at-home dad
“It’s day 2 as a stay-at-home dad and I’ve already lost it. Actually, I lost it at day 1.5. I’m not cut out for this.”
‘I CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE! They yell and hit their siblings. It’s an emotional grenade.’: Mom offers advice on dealing with sibling conflicts, ‘It’s up to US’
“Stay calm and rational. Kids need ‘alone time,’ just like we do. It’s the parents’ job to be in charge. It drives me nuts.”
