“Who knows? With a little work, maybe someday you’ll find yourselves sneaking wine into the football game in a Yeti together like real sisterfriends do.”
‘People ask about our relationship. We get weird looks. We crack jokes about it, but we know who we are because we fought like hell to become us.’: Stepmom shares co-parenting advice
‘Here he comes,’ my OB said. The entire room fell into an ear-piercing silence. ‘Are you aware your son has abnormalities?’: Young mom celebrates ‘one in a million’ son born with limb differences
“I couldn’t find my voice. My brain was still processing. She placed him on my chest. He was so warm, so beautiful. As I took him in, the film ‘Wonde’r I’d watched during pregnancy flashed. I’d turned to my best friend and said, ‘I could never be ashamed of my child if they were born special. That’s all the more reason to treasure them.’ Gratitude filled my heart. I was chosen for this.”
‘At 16, I should’ve been going to sleepovers and sweet sixteens. Instead, I was being sold to men, repeatedly.’: Sex trafficking survivor graduates college with honors, advocates for others
“If I can turn my pain into empowerment to inspire others, then there is hope for those who are still stuck in the grips of human trafficking.”
‘The adoption lawyer said, ‘See you in a couple years!’ We both said, ‘No!! This is it!’ Our family of 6 was complete, or so we thought.’: Couple adopt daughter’s sister from foster care, ‘She is the piece we didn’t know we were missing’
“We received a call from our little girl’s bio grandma. CPS had a baby girl in foster care a few hours away. ‘I was hoping you’d be able to take her.’ Siblings are meant to be together. And as much as they needed each other, we needed her too.”
‘We met when we were married to our second husbands.’: Lesbian couple share journey blending families, having transgender child, ‘Find people who accept you as you are’
“My wife is 15 years older than I am, and I’m 15 years older than her youngest son, so the age gap was a bit of an issue. Later, our oldest opened up to us about being transgender.”
‘You will never be anything more than a glorified babysitter.’ I wasn’t sure I could do it anymore.’: Mom shares journey to beautifully blended family, ‘Our family is perfectly imperfect’
“I received a text no mother wants to receive. ‘You won’t be seeing them again.’ Our story isn’t sunshine and rainbows, but love flows freely.”
‘I don’t make twins.’ He accused me of having an affair. I didn’t know it should have been different.’: Abuse survivor finds ‘loud purpose’ advocating for others’ voices
“I began to speed toward the rail. Right before I hit it, I heard a sniffle. ‘This is not how it ends.’ I knew I had a purpose to live for.”
‘Mommy and Deanna, I love you both, and it hurts me when you say bad things.’ Ashamed, we went from enemies to sisters.’: Mom shares journey to peaceful co-parenting
“Our first meeting nearly came to blows. It escalated quickly after that: passive-aggressive texts and Facebook posts (and even people spying for us). Heated meetings and phone calls. Constant jabs and undermining each other. Now, we are stitched together forever through the love of our children, and for the love we have for one another.”
‘How did we get here?’ After 12 years, we turned into unrecognizable strangers. I was 27, a mom to the sweetest boy, and getting divorced. This wasn’t the plan.’: Single mom takes the risk, meets ‘knight in shining armor’ on Tinder
“My friend encouraged me to make a dating profile. ‘Find 3 guys you feel a connection with, give 2 your number, and go on a date with 1… ‘ I found myself driving towards Applebee’s, my heart racing. I just wanted to get ‘this’ going or over with, then my phone rings. ‘Ashton – Cute Tinder Guy’ flashes across my phone screen. Time and my breathing stop.”
‘Can you believe the nerve she has, trying to be friends with me?!’ NEVER did I think this would start a new chapter.’: Coparenting couples urge ‘it’s all in the name of love’
“At first, I was hesitant to like her. I doubted we could co-parent successfully. ‘Can we meet up so we can clear the air?’ She was PREGNANT.”
