“It was Mother’s Day, and I thought, ‘Do I DESERVE to be celebrated today? Do I count as a mother?’ There is an uncertainty and lack of self-validation that you are, in fact, a mother.”
‘If he leaves one day, will he remember me?’ I’m not a babysitter or a caregiver. I’m a MOTHER.’: Foster mom reflects on journey, ‘I wouldn’t trade it for anything’
‘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 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.”
‘Are you ready for another?’ What would we do with a newborn? We knew he was supposed to be with his siblings.’: Couple adopts 4 siblings from foster care, ‘They changed our lives’
“On a yellow post-it, I wrote, ‘7, 4, 2.’ I didn’t know their names, just their ages. My heart desperately wanted to meet them. We didn’t hesitate.”
‘Mommy, why are you crying?’ How do you explain to a 3-year-old her daddy has passed? I had just shattered her life forever.’: Widow shares grief journey, ‘We’ll make you proud every day’
“I opened the door to two police officers, our baby in my arms. They took off their hats and the world started spinning. It couldn’t be real.”
‘I need to leave. I have to get out of here.’ I felt clammy, trapped. Anxiety was taking precious memories away from me.’: New mom shares journey with postpartum anxiety, ‘There IS a way out’
“I’d be on our couch, totally frozen, unable to think or move. ‘This is a step too far.’ If I was emotionally unhealthy, I wasn’t going to show up as the mom I wanted to be.”
‘I’m getting a mummy and daddy?’ I begged God to let me spend his birthday with him. I’d missed seven already.’: Mom shares international adoption journey, ‘He’s ours, forever and always’
“The door swung open. ‘Your husband’s been trying to reach you. You got the CALL!’ I was shaking. We were going to be parents. It was finally happening.”
‘When I figured I’d get cancer at some point, I meant after age 50. I worried the best years of my life had passed.’: Breast cancer warrior urges other survivors ‘life is still a beautiful adventure’
“I grieved my diagnosis, the loss of my breasts. I cried when I shaved my head. I worried as I read the statistics. I thought I’d already had my share of adventure in life.”
‘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.”
