“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.”
‘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’
‘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.”
‘I’d had 3 babies before, but this was the first time someone asked if I WANTED one of them.’: Mom welcomes baby with Down syndrome, ‘Loving her is the easiest thing I’ve ever done’
“I worried about what life would be like for her, how our family might change, and the struggles she might face. But I knew, despite all of that, she was worthy.”
‘I can’t hear youuuu, I’m deaf!’ Kids mocked me. I started to realize the world wasn’t so kind.’: Deaf woman advocates for change, ‘I’m just as human as you are’
“Some thought they should speak loud and slow, as if I was dumb and incapable. ‘Young lady, I want a cappuccino, you know COFFEE with FOAM?!’ Others tipped me too much and said things like, ‘I admire your strength and positivity.’”
‘Can you spare some milk?’ Her child was having a hard time with formula. My eyes were opened to a whole new world.’: Mom donates breastmilk to those in need, ‘It’s ALL worth it’
“I’d fantasize about calling in sick to work and checking into a hotel just to sleep. I wanted to quit.”
‘The thinner I got, the more attention I received. I decided to quit eating altogether.’: Eating disorder survivor opens up about self-love, ‘I’m at peace with my body’
“I starved myself Saturday through Thursday, only eating six pretzels and half an apple every day. Then Friday came and I’d black out. That was my life. I lived for food.”
‘After watching my daughter fight for her life, I realized I had to fight for our family. I needed to heal.’: Single mom shares daughter’s journey with Down syndrome, ‘We’re growing together’
“My husband had been cheating on me and they were pregnant. I remember thinking, ‘Her daughter will live longer than mine.’ I had to give her the best life.”
‘There’s a woman who posts beautiful things, and the one I come home to, who ISN’T okay.’ He accused me of being a fraud.’: Mom diagnosed with Lupus, multiple chronic illnesses, ‘We’re worthy of living our best lives’
“I was a mother who was too exhausted to mother, a creative who could not create, and a woman on fire to serve, but unable.”
‘Get AWAY! You’re not my mom!’ I couldn’t believe what we’d gotten ourselves into. We were NOT cut out for this.’: Couple embarks on foster care journey, ‘It truly takes a village’
“‘You’re the LAST family on our list.’ They were going to be separated. ‘Can we really handle 2 kids right now?’ We COULDN’T be the reason they were separated. We agreed to ‘try.'”
‘This is CRAZY, but the judge just signed the order to move your son’s sister to your home TODAY. I’ll be there tonight.’: Woman adopts 3 siblings, ‘We became a family of 5 overnight’
“I asked John how he felt about adopting. ‘I just want to be a father, no matter how children come to me.’ We became a family of 5 overnight.”
