Emily Richey is a graduate of Pace University NYC. She has written and edited for multiple online platforms, including Love What Matters. She spends her free time petting stray cats.
‘I discovered a hidden credit card and cellphone. My whole world crumbled beneath me. My ‘normal’ family didn’t exist anymore.’: Mom of blended family shares love story, ‘I got my happy ending’
“Every evening, I cried in the shower to hide my pain from my children. Being a divorced single mom wasn’t what I’d envisioned. I refused to believe we couldn’t get a second chance at love.”
‘I need to leave. I have to get out of here.’ I felt clammy, trapped. Anxiety was taking precious memories away from me.’: New mom shares journey with postpartum anxiety, ‘There IS a way out’
“I’d be on our couch, totally frozen, unable to think or move. ‘This is a step too far.’ If I was emotionally unhealthy, I wasn’t going to show up as the mom I wanted to be.”
‘I’m getting a mummy and daddy?’ I begged God to let me spend his birthday with him. I’d missed seven already.’: Mom shares international adoption journey, ‘He’s ours, forever and always’
“The door swung open. ‘Your husband’s been trying to reach you. You got the CALL!’ I was shaking. We were going to be parents. It was finally happening.”
‘When I figured I’d get cancer at some point, I meant after age 50. I worried the best years of my life had passed.’: Breast cancer warrior urges other survivors ‘life is still a beautiful adventure’
“I grieved my diagnosis, the loss of my breasts. I cried when I shaved my head. I worried as I read the statistics. I thought I’d already had my share of adventure in life.”
‘I’d had 3 babies before, but this was the first time someone asked if I WANTED one of them.’: Mom welcomes baby with Down syndrome, ‘Loving her is the easiest thing I’ve ever done’
“I worried about what life would be like for her, how our family might change, and the struggles she might face. But I knew, despite all of that, she was worthy.”
‘His entire world was falling apart. Carter turned to him, ‘I’m so glad you’re back. I missed you so much!’ We knew he was right where he was supposed to be.’: Couple adopts son from foster care
“The moment he came into our lives, he and Carter just clicked. We loved him like he was ours. We gave him one last hug before he left. But that’s not where his story ends.”
‘You’re so kind for hanging out with them!’ These were my friends. I wasn’t doing anything special.’: Teen gives back to Down syndrome community, ‘I want to make the world a better place’
“Each year, it seemed I had a friend who looked or acted just a little bit differently than me. I wanted to make sure these children were equally celebrated and welcomed.”
‘We’re newlyweds! We have no idea how to parent a 9-year-old.’ There were a million unknowns, but we said YES.’: Foster parents share journey, ‘We wouldn’t change a single moment’
“We were in the middle of making pancakes when the doorbell rang. And just like that, we were parents. There was no turning back now.”
‘The thinner I got, the more attention I received. I decided to quit eating altogether.’: Eating disorder survivor opens up about self-love, ‘I’m at peace with my body’
“I starved myself Saturday through Thursday, only eating six pretzels and half an apple every day. Then Friday came and I’d black out. That was my life. I lived for food.”
Yes, Having A Big Family Is Awesome — Here’s Why
“But of course, just like any family, there are pros and cons.”