“I thought I knew what was coming. But really, I didn’t. My mouth felt dry and tasted oily, my stomach churned, my scalp prickled and my bones ached. I hovered in a depression for weeks. My kids needed any precious energy I had.”
‘I’m really sorry.’ I had 2 babies at home! I soon wondered how staying alive could feel so much like dying.’: Woman beats invasive breast cancer, ‘All we have is today’
‘Lauren, are you with anyone right now?’ I looked at our GPS and he was still in the same spot. My legs went numb and I dropped.’: Widow finds strength in grief journey
“‘I have ‘extra’ appreciation for you today!’ He jokingly rolled his eyes towards me. I gave him a kiss, told him I loved him, and to be safe. Later, I texted Kev to see if he would be back at the house before me. He didn’t respond.”
‘This is the third time you’ve been here.’ My son witnessed it all. He made a scene. She wasn’t having it.’: Woman thanks restaurant manager, reminds everyone to ‘be kind’
“I thought I knew what I was supposed to do, but it never felt right. I woke up 2 hours early. ‘Why don’t you tell me what you need?’ she said. ‘You had my son as a customer and he witnessed the whole thing.”
‘You didn’t hear the words ‘it’s a boy.’ You didn’t claim your title like most. But you’re tied to that child by something much stronger than blood.’: Mom says ‘you’re more than a step or bonus dad’
“I was wary of you at first. I was sure we’d scare you off. And part of me wanted to—single parenthood had made my list of requirements pretty tough. But you won me over with ‘bring him too.’ You never ever had to be, and that’s what makes me extra thankful you’re ours.”
‘To the kids who TP’d my house last night…THANK YOU. I’m excited to clean up the mess.’: Man has best reaction to neighborhood kids TPing home
“The trees are too bare, the roof has little to no paper, and you left half-rolls sitting on the ground. THIS IS SHODDY TP-ING WORK.”
‘Lie down.’ She held a suction straw to her weak mother’s lips. Mama had been living in the hospital for nearly two weeks.’: Daughter thanks kind and devoted mom, ‘Someone loves her, too’
“During the night of her vigil, I saw my mother illuminated by a crack in the door and holding a suction straw to her weak mother’s lips. Mama patiently reassured Maw Maw time after time that she was fine, that she was safe.”
‘I woke up to dishes in the sink, left by my husband the night before, and I felt a rush of happiness.’: Mom says ‘I’m so thankful for my husband, and even his dirty dishes’
“Years ago, I would have looked at these dishes and got annoyed. I probably would have sent a text saying, ‘Really? You left these here?’ My mindset has changed, and it’s something I wish I had learned a long time ago.”
‘Cookies are not breakfast!’ They’re all crying. One fights me for 10 minutes to allow me the pleasure of wiping poop off his arse.’: Dad hilariously says ‘I’ve had a huge slice of humble pie’ after first ‘paternity leave’
“I hide for a bit. They find me like they’re sniffer dogs and I’m selling pills at a festival. I clear up the crafts, wishing whoever created slime a slow, gruesome death. They’re all crying now. They scream, ‘Daddy we’re bored of this film!’ repeatedly and very loudly.”
‘Should we intubate her?’ She went into anaphylactic shock. As she got better, COVID reared its ugly head.’: Husband celebrates nurse wife, ‘She doesn’t wear a cape, but she wears scrubs’
“Coming into contact with anyone who had a common cold would have killed her. She is not 100% healed, yet day in and day out, she is taking care of COVID positive patients. It’s her calling. Although she does not wear a cape, she wears scrubs.”
‘When the toddler had a pee accident during bedtime rush, you didn’t get frustrated. Instead you turned on weird music, and danced to make me laugh.’: Woman pens love letter to husband, ‘You are the light of our lives’
“You danced your way off to get some cleaner and a towel, and danced back in, and danced while you cleaned it up. Not all husbands and fathers bring joy home like that, like you do for us.”
