“I felt perpetually punished for existing. I was barred from running, then from even walking. I realized if I stayed this way, I would die.”
‘You don’t have to punish yourself.’ Blood dripped out of my nose and mouth. I believed I deserved my misery.’: Woman shares recovery journey with anorexia
32 Facts To Remember When People Don’t ‘Get You’
“Not everyone is going to like you, and it has nothing to do with you.”
‘Kids would look at my mother, then at me and say, ‘So, is your dad black?’: International adoptee shares journey, ‘We were meant to be a family’
“If your ultimate goal is to love a child and create a family, it won’t matter when you finally have the child you were meant to have all along.”
‘I spent the first year of my child’s life blaming myself, not wanting my child to have ‘special needs.’: Mom to daughter with Coffin-Siris Syndrome urges ‘you are your child’s best advocate’
“When she was losing weight, it was because I tried to force breastfeeding too long. When she couldn’t bring her hands together, it was because I had swaddled her longer than I should’ve. When she couldn’t crawl, it was because I didn’t do enough tummy time.”
‘He needed the care more than I did.’ My stretcher remained in the hallway. I shed tears when I was alone.’: Stroke patient shares emotional hospital stay during COVID, life-altering diagnosis
“I felt the right side of my body get heavy. My knee gave out, and a lightheaded feeling like a strong high took over. But I was convinced I must be okay.”
‘Alesha’s pregnant and Josh is the father?’ My world stopped. ‘THIS ISN’T TRUE!’ I chose to believe him.’: Bonus mom shares journey through tumultuous relationship to peaceful co-parenting
“I ended up getting pregnant with Josh’s baby in late October. I remember Josh looking at me once we read the pregnancy test and he asked, ‘What will Riley think of me?’ I was completely heartbroken. I couldn’t believe he would say those words to me. What about me, what about our baby?”
‘Is your grandmother’s name Joanne?’ Her mouth dropped. I felt like I knew her my whole life.’: Mom discovers unexpected connection to son’s NICU nurse
“My heart was shattered the day I was released from the hospital without my son. I prayed my sweet boy would be in caring hands.”
‘I realized I missed my period. The word ‘PREGNANT’ appeared. I was just getting over Josh, and suddenly he was in my life forever.’: Woman shares co-parenting journey, sisterhood with bonus mom
“In my eyes, once I gave birth, Josh would see his son and remember the love he had for me. When Josh left the hospital the day Riley was born, it ripped my heart out. This was confirmation that the family I had always pictured was not going to happen.”
‘The tooth fairy was sick last night,’ my husband said to my son. I awoke in a panic. I couldn’t believe I forgot.’: Mom raises awareness about unseen ‘mental load’ of motherhood
“Even the tooth fairy is part of the mental load I carry. The behind-the-scenes of motherhood that no one sees, only expects. You see, when I say everything falls on me, I mean it.”
‘The Mr. in my Mr. and Mrs. wasn’t there at the wedding. And today it hit me hard. Six stupid years later.’: Widow shares brave moment of grief
“I looked around and took inventory of the couples we once knew. The ones we shared drinks with. That we laughed with. That we played pool with. And they were all still doing all of the things, sitting with the people they love. And I was sitting with a memory.”