“I had messages constantly telling me how jealous people were of my life. When in fact, I was just like them. Sitting there, reading their messages in my sweatpants. Battling my own demons.”
‘It all started when I got on Instagram. I became one of those girls. The Insta famous ones who always look amazing.’
‘I am SICKENED this is on a lunch box. ‘Why does my 5-year-old call herself ‘fat?’ ‘Why does my middle schooler stand in the mirror and find her flaws?’ We scratch our heads when we see little girls struggle with body image.’
“See this? This is a picture I snapped today of a little girl’s lunchbox I saw for sale. THIS. This is the reason why. ‘You’re overreacting!,’ you might say. No.”
‘What are you having this time?’ I replied, ‘It’s a girl.’ An excited squeal came out of her mouth. ‘Finally a girl, you must be SO happy.’ I cringed.’: Mom of boys says she would’ve been happy with 3rd son, ‘What’s a little more noise and dirt?!’
“My two boys were there when that woman stopped me. They are always there when someone makes a remark on how my life is somehow saved and better because I ‘finally have a girl.’ They are constantly reminded they aren’t girls.”
‘My closest friends decided to leave me forever. My core group was gone. My heart was broken. New friends? It is terrifying to put yourself out there. Girls can be mean. Women can be vicious.’
“I can prepare and clean my house for 3 hours the 1st few times you come for a visit. But I can only pretend it is usually this clean for so long before you find out the truth. One day you will stop in because you forgot your sweater, and you will see the underwear one of my boys flung on the couch and the dinner dishes piled up from last night.”
‘We went in for the ultrasound to find out the genders of our identical twins after having 2 girls already. The tech asked us what our guesses were. You said, ‘2 more girls.’ I sat there in shock.’
“I knew it would be a boy, as that is all I planned for in life.”
‘I am the mom with two dead daughters. If that sounds harsh- it should. It’s a harsh reality.’
“He may look like an only child- but I can assure you, he’s not. You may not be able to see all of us, but we’re here.”
They said, ‘Anna is pregnant.’ Then they said, ‘So is Renee.’ Partners due simultaneously after infertility struggle
“She reminded us how amazing it was that we were ovulating at the same time, and that we both had eggs mature enough for treatment.”
‘I know, without a doubt, I’ve been called to be a boy mom right here, right now. In this climate, during this time, to this generation.’
“Little girls are being inundated with the message that boys are bad. That men are not to be trusted. That instead of protecting you like they ought to, they’ll be the perpetrator.”
‘In truth, I don’t know how to do this. I don’t know how to be (just) me anymore. I have found such comfort and safety in being a mother.’
“I was married young. I was pregnant soon after. I followed my husband’s career and livelihood. And all I keep hearing is: ‘Well, what are you going to make of this, Wendy?'”
‘Well, Bobbie, that’s just what men do,’ she said to me tenderly. ‘My uncle did that to me too.’
“My eyes grew large as I looked at her and said, ‘No. That is not what men do.'”
