“I wasn’t scared to tell friends, family, or the internet. Only you. I still remember sitting on my bed with mom. You walked in on me crying. I could barely get out the words before you hung your head in disappointment and stormed off. Six months later, you took me to every doctors appointment. Six years later, you, papa, are my daughter’s world.”
‘I’m pregnant dad…’ I was 18. You looked so mad. You two needed each other, even if you didn’t know it yet.’: Teen mom pens appreciation letter to dad, ‘I couldn’t imagine doing life without you’
‘She slipped her small frame into my son’s skinny jeans. It was cute, but sad. My heart broke.’: Woman details mother-in-law’s journey with Alzheimer’s, ‘her mind and body are slipping away’
“In a matter of months, she began to rapidly decline. Mild confusion turned to disorientation. We witnessed her turn into a shell of who she once was. She no longer recognizes us. It has been gut-wrenching to watch her be so unaware of herself and her surroundings, especially for a woman who, in the past, wouldn’t have even entertained the thought of being seen without her hair properly curled.”
‘I would have noticed this ‘orb’ around the boys after I took the photo. It wasn’t there.’: Mom shocked by grandmother’s sign from heaven after promising on her death bed, ‘You’ll see things that will remind you of me’
“Something happened today that gave me chills. To be honest, I’m still trying to take it in. As we were walking back to the car, I spotted this area. ‘This would be the perfect spot to take a photo.’ It looked like the secret garden my grandmother loved. This photo was taken in 100% shade, no sun.”
‘Hey, I have something to show you.’ My grandpa pulled out a cup, her name still on it. It’s been 20 years.’: Grandpa surprises daughter with late grandmother’s keepsake, reminds us to ‘live in the joy of the present’
“This past Christmas, as I was writing everyone’s names on their red solo cups, my grandpa pulled me aside with a grin and reached into the top corner of a cabinet. ‘I dug it out of the trash after everyone left.’ He knew it would be the last time the love of his life celebrated Christmas. Make sure to send that text, make that call, go to that birthday party. Because, sometimes, we don’t know.”
‘I’m Claire. I’m 90. I’m single. And I don’t need no man! Mic drop.’: 90-year-old woman hilariously praises ‘hubby-free’ life, claims it’s ‘the secret to living long’
“I’m a prune, I know. But a living prune nonetheless! I don’t have Alzheimer’s. I don’t use a cane. Yes, I remember what I ate for dinner 3 nights ago. And I don’t have a husband! No, he didn’t die off on me. I didn’t outlive him. He never existed! I’m convinced these leafy greens aren’t the only reason I’m been alive and truckin’ this long!”
‘Others think you’re stupid. They’ll laugh when you flap your arms. But you were created special on purpose.’: Mom of daughter with Rett Syndrome details emotional moment grandma’s love quiets her symptoms
“You see, my daughter’s syndrome doesn’t allow you to touch her face or hands. That day, I saw Ivy on the love seat with granny. They both leaned in, foreheads touching, and granny was holding Ivy’s hands and face! Ivy was SMILING and listening to granny quietly speak. ‘You are special. You are good enough. You are different…on purpose.’ No matter the diagnosis or prognosis, I KNEW my Ivy heard granny and understood.”
‘Instead of packing the car for a fun weekend with grandma, we came here, to the cemetery. This is where we must visit her now.’: Woman loses mom, says we should ‘let grandparents spoil our kids while they still can’
“My mom always reminded me she LOVED being a mother. She’d follow with, ‘But there’s just something SO SPECIAL about being a grandma!’ I drove home crying, thinking of all the times I harped at her for giving the kids too many sweets, or letting them stay up too late, or doing anything that grandparents do. What I would give to go back to those moments and soak them up instead of roll my eyes.”
‘Why is Mami in the hospital?’ She’d turn manic. It was like walking on eggshells.’: Young woman recounts growing up with mom battling bipolar disorder, ‘days without sleeping’
“I always knew there was something wrong. ‘I’m not sick, I don’t need to take medication.’ It would intensify. I had so many questions. Why wasn’t she like other moms? Why were there times she wasn’t there? Why did she sleep so much? Why did her emotions change so drastically? All the built-up emotions from my childhood hit me like a ton of bricks.”
‘I should call CPS and report you.’: Elderly woman scolds mom for tattoo honoring late grandmother
“While grocery shopping, an elderly lady was talking to my boys. She was very kind, saying I had such a beautiful family. We were all smiles, until she noticed my tattoos. ‘Such a shame. You have such nice boys you’re exposing to filth.’ She kept glaring. ‘Tisk tisk. What a disgrace.’ My mouth fell open. I grabbed my kids, and saw her writing my license plate number down.”
‘233 Bossler Street. I’ve written that address hundreds of times. I’ll never write that address again.’ Woman reminisces on unexpected ‘last time’ she’d ever visit her grandparents’ home
“I never made it back because life got busy. I always thought there would be another time. There won’t be. Now, it’s someone else’s home, with someone else’s family.”
