Rebecca Balfe is a former editor for Love What Matters. She resides in NYC, owning and rescuing adorable cats. She is an avid Lupus fighter and advocate.
‘I’m sure it’s just stress.’ I heard these words from doctors who over 15 years couldn’t figure out what was wrong with me.’
“All of these doctors told me they didn’t know what was going on but I could take strong prescription meds to deal with the symptoms. I didn’t just want to deal with the symptoms. I wanted to know the cause!”
How My Ex And I Began Our Peaceful Co-Parenting Journey
“There we were, in and out of court, screaming in the street during drop-off like a Jerry Springer episode. At some point we realized it’s easier to put our differences aside and to co-parent these kids together.”
‘He swipes food off stranger’s plates in restaurants. He likes to wear my Spanx because he loves the squeeze. In the beginning it was a bitter pill to swallow.’: Mom’s non-verbal son with autism has ‘led to my happiest life’
“I went to bed, buried myself under the comforters, and cried until there was nothing left. He would never work at his father’s firm, never give me grandchildren, and would probably never live independently.”
‘Danielle, babies cry. That’s what they do!’ I remember thinking, well it must be me then. This must be ‘normal’ and I’m just not equipped.’
“I wish I could have told my innocent and naive self to buckle up because that was only the beginning. Once we got the diagnosis, I remember foolishly feeling giddy. Like finally we have the answer and now it will be fine. This will all be okay. Like I said, foolish.”
‘There is a chance you will lose all your hair.’ WHAT? Bald spots started appearing. They didn’t know if it would ever come back.’
“There was nothing they could do for me, little did I know that was just the beginning.”
‘We both rolled over in bed. Me: ‘I’m gay.’ Her: ‘I’m transgender.’ Silence. Now what? I’m married. HAPPILY married!’: Couple stays together despite realizing sexual preferences weren’t as they initially thought
“Almost all of Sarah’s ‘stay at home clothes’ were now coming from the women’s department. I thought it was strange. I started to connect a few dots. I spent many nights lying awake wondering, ‘IF this was something… could I stick around? Was I ok with this? Could I still love her?”
‘When I reached down to pull up my tights, I realized my arms and hands were paralyzed. Scared, I said, ‘Mom, I can’t move my arms.’: Young woman describes life with a rare autoimmune disorder
“I experienced a sudden, excruciating headache in the middle of ballet class. Only 24 hours ago I’d been learning at school like any normal day. How could this have happened?”
‘I got a text from him saying, ‘What are you smiling at?’ And I froze. The hair on the back of my neck stood up.’: Woman escapes abusive relationship to find new love
“When I was 14-years-old I met and dated a 22-year-old man. I’ll just let that sink in for a moment. He would come visit me, all the while living another life, leaving his wife and family behind. He was addicted to porn. Then came THAT morning.”
‘He let out a wail. They received a report of suspicious bruising. Who is going to believe me? I took the boys out to do what we’d always done, now it’s going to cost us.’
“It was midweek when I received a voicemail from the Office of Child Protective Services, obligated to investigate possible abuse. What’s going to happen when a judge has to decide on custody in the divorce?”
‘WHAT DID I JUST SIGN MYSELF UP FOR?’ I made a mistake saying I could foster by myself. What was I thinking?’: Single mom shares foster care adoption journey
“I was at the gym when I got the call. He was a biracial 14-month-old boy. ‘He can’t walk or talk. Are you interested in taking him in?’ I could have easily said no. About 45 minutes later, the investigator dropped him off at my house. Neither of us knew we had just met our forever family.”