“My large intestine quit on me out of the blue. I fought through the pain until I was no longer able to hide it. If felt like my world was slowly caving in.”
‘I was so bloated people asked, ‘How far along are you?’ If only they knew I was slowly dying on the inside, never able to have another child.’: Chronic illness warrior shares journey, ‘I am FIERCE’
‘The judge skimmed my letter. In less than 5 minutes, we were ushered out of the courtroom. I felt powerless.’: Foster mom advocates for child welfare, ‘They need people to fight for them’
“My knuckles were white as I gripped the steering wheel. I was fighting back tears. My 6-year-old foster child sat in the backseat, oblivious. The system was failing him and no one cared.”
‘As I laid eyes on her for the first time, they quickly pointed out everything ‘wrong’ with her.’: Mom ‘blindsided’ by daughter’s Down syndrome diagnosis, ‘I’m no longer afraid’
“Her beautiful, almond-shaped eyes, the way her tongue rested gently on her bottom lip, and her tiny pinky with the slightest curve. I was in shock.”
‘Everyone thinks you’re free once you leave an abusive relationship. It’s not true.’: Woman shares self-love journey after abuse, ‘I’m stronger than I thought’
“You have to stay strong, every day.”
‘What’s so special about this photo?’ It’s just an egg on top of toast, you may wonder. But to me, this is the best photo in the world.’: Mom celebrates parenting win after sons’ act of kindness, ‘I’m raising boys not defined by gender stereotypes’
“I often wonder if we are doing this whole parenting thing right. Then, Saturday morning happened. I am raising sons to be men who are not defined by traditional gender stereotypes.”
‘There’s NO WAY insurance will cover this. Order a self-test kit off Amazon.’ I BEGGED the doctor to refer me.’: Endometriosis warrior details chronic illness journey, ‘I know my body best’
“I left her office crying, but this time tears of joy. Someone FINALLY believed me. Someone finally was going to help me figure it all out. Someone was going to help me feel better.”
‘Are you a mom?’ she abruptly asked. I wasn’t prepared for this question. Yes, I get too attached. Yes, I cry when they leave.’: Woman fosters 8 kids, ‘They will always be my babies’
“A 3-year-old girl pushed right past me like she owned the place. ‘I’m going to call you mom.’ The length of time doesn’t matter. Their pictures still hang in my house, their laughter and cries echoing in each room. They will always be my babies.”
‘Bleach can cure anything, Katie. Don’t you want to cure your son?’ What I thought was a ‘moms tea party’ turned into a dark autism bleach cult.’: Mom stresses ‘beauty of autism’ after cult discovery
“I was ready to gain mom friends who also had children with autism. Little did I know as I walked into this beautiful suburban home at 9 a.m., my entire world would change. I remember hearing, ‘What do you have to lose?’ I sat frozen with tea in one hand, my mind racing into panic mode. Something was not right about this tea party.”
‘My screams woke up the entire sorority house. ‘My dad died 7 months ago. She can’t die too!’ At that point, the rest of my life began.’: Young woman shares grief journey, ‘My parents would be proud of me’
“I saw missed calls and a voicemail from my aunt. ‘You need to get home now. Be strong.’ I called my mom, but she didn’t answer. That’s when I got scared.”
‘She’s just my stepmom.’ I wasn’t on the daycare list. To this day, I’m left off emails because I’m not a ‘primary’ parent.’: Woman navigates blended family life, ‘I’m more than JUST a stepmom’
“I may not be the primary parent but I do pick-ups, drop-offs, school plays, birthday parties. I go to her sporting events. I do homework. I get her hair cut and her nails done. My resume is impeccable.”