“I know you feel like there is no real right answer. I know the what-if’s seem paralyzing and all-consuming right now. You don’t need to justify your decision to anyone. They don’t pay your bills, sister!”
‘To the Mama writing a school intent letter for her children, you don’t need to justify your decision to anyone.’: Mom reminds us ‘there is no right answer’ for back-to-school concerns
‘She wouldn’t take a bottle or sippy cup. The nurse said, ‘That can’t be right.’ Something was wrong. This was my fault.’: Mom advocates for daughter with rare Chung-Jansen Syndrome, ‘Listen to your instincts’
“A voice inside my head was telling me something was up. She wouldn’t eat and couldn’t roll over. The doctor said, ‘She has barely grown in 4 months.’ I felt a wave of grief. I knew I had to advocate for her.”
‘Fat, lazy, worthless.’ Cue an incredibly nasty divorce. Jobless with a cleaned-out bank account, I needed public assistance to feed my children.’: Divorced mom details self-worth journey, ‘Give yourself permission to be all you are’
“I went from a stay at home mom of four to having two boys I loved ripped away from me. I had to apply for assistance to feed my children. He had a ‘committed’ relationship, closer to home, which everyone seemed to know about except me.”
‘Drugs, alcohol, depression, lust… you name it. We were a train wreck waiting to happen! To say it was a bumpy road would be an understatement.’: Couple overcome substance abuse, now have 10 children
“I flagged him down and begged him to get out of the car. He could barely talk. He didn’t make sense. What if he had made it onto the main road? I sat out on the back swing, contemplating what I would say to him. How would I say it? Would I leave? Would he ever change?”
‘When the doctor screamed, ‘It’s a girl!’ I pictured ribbons, bows, and princess movies. Having a daughter is nothing like I thought it would be.’: Girl mom urges ‘it is so very much more’
“It’s repeating her worth to her, over and over (and over) again. It’s reassuring her she is capable, even when others diminish her because she’s ‘a girl.’ It’s reminding her that her body is a vessel to be loved, respected, and adored, not abused.”
‘I don’t know his favorite color. He can’t tell me. I’ve grieved. Imagine not being able to communicate?’: Autism mom describes highs and lows of parenting, ‘He makes me a better me’
“I was in tears during every evaluation. ‘How dare she put labels on him!’ I’m not sure if I was ignorant or in denial. Maybe both. I’ve watched his brother surpass him, and it stings.”
‘I’m here,’ she sobs. More and more it doesn’t make sense. Yet it’s all we have now.’: Woman describes caring for mother with Alzheimer’s, ‘Love doesn’t care if I understand’
“People ask, ‘What did she say?’ My response is usually, ‘I have no idea.’ Her voice whispers in my mind: ‘I’m not in my words, you won’t find me in what I say.’ It’s surprising how little it all matters.”
‘Black women are resilient because we have to be, not because we are stronger than you.’: Woman urges ‘our pain is real, physical and emotional’
“The Strong Black woman stereotype implies we are strong, which should be a good thing, but it often isn’t so.”
‘I’m gay. I’m seeing a woman.’ My mom pulled me into my room and shut the door. There was a concerned, almost hopeful, look on her face.’: Woman urges ‘I wouldn’t change my parents for the world’ after both come out as LGBTQ
“My mom and dad were still married. For the next few months, I kept my mom’s secret. It killed me inside. Then, one day, my dad looked at me, nervously turning a beer in his hand around in circles. ‘He’s my boyfriend, you know?’ My jaw hit the floor.”
‘Want me to hook you up with him?’ Feeling repulsed, I said, ‘Um, no. Why would I want to do that?’ Talk about a mic drop.’: Friend’s advice helps woman leave unhappy relationship, ‘Guard your heart’
“He lied to me more than once. He talked about his ex-wife regularly, and he attacked and criticized my feelings. But at that point, we were already in love. My friend then told me, ‘I just described your boyfriend.’ Talk about a mic drop.”