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 ran barefoot down the street. My little boy was lying in the road. He looked so precious, like he was sleeping. Then I saw the blood.’: 12-year-old suffers traumatic brain injury, ‘He’s our miracle’
“I ran out to the helipad. I could see his sweet little nose, the dimple in his chin. He had dried blood on the side of his face but he looked peaceful. ‘Baby, you’re going to be okay. Jesus is with you.’ I had faith.”
‘We either need to end things or get married.’ I was completely blind to what she was doing. I thought I’d found my forever.’: Domestic violence survivor urges ‘you will find love’
“I was blinded by my affection. I found myself escaping into the stairwell to cry, several times a day for weeks. I purchased makeup to cover the bruises, but it slowly wore me out. I could no longer pretend I was okay.”
‘No one hugged me and said, ‘Congratulations!’ I celebrated silently. I felt like I’d messed up the timeline.’: Single mom navigates unplanned motherhood
“I sat on my bathroom floor alone in my apartment at 3:00 a.m. ‘There’s no way!’ I wanted to smile, touch my belly, and be excited, but I was scared. I spent the entire first trimester worried about what everyone else thought.”
‘We think you have depression.’ I felt like a freak. What would people say? I thought no one could ‘fix’ me.’: Woman becomes mental health advocate, ‘This is my purpose’
“I started skipping classes. My family called me, but I ignored them. I didn’t actually know what depression was. All I knew about it were the cheesy commercials advertising anti-depressants. I felt ashamed of myself.”
‘It’s okay, Mommy, just breeaathe.’ My toddler was mirroring my emotions. I knew we were onto something.’: Mom creates ‘peaceful habits’ during pandemic, ‘Focus on what matters most’
“I felt like I was drowning. I needed to up my self-care game or I’d lose it. We were not the only ones experiencing these challenges. I was definitely not alone! It was time to share the discoveries we’d made.”
‘If it happens, it happens.’ I stared at the negative test. I was right, but it still stung. My body had betrayed me.’: Endometriosis warrior shares motherhood journey, ‘My dream came true’
“There was a HUGE chance I’d never get pregnant. My hands were shaking. I turned the test over. ‘Wait, what?’ After seeing negative after negative, you don’t think you’ll ever see a positive.”
‘We’re the only American family on the block. ‘Dear Neighbors, we’d be happy to see you tonight.’ They took the time to include us.’: Military family finds community during deployment, urges ‘make others feel welcome’
“We air-toasted our warm drinks in one another’s direction and voiced pleasantries across the cobblestones. The soft notes of Christmas music played through those open windows. You have no idea the impact even the smallest gesture can make.”
‘Welcome to toddlerhood.’ She’d lose her voice from screaming and crying so long. I missed seeing her happy.’: Mom of daughter with Sensory Processing Disorder urges ‘you AREN’T crazy’
“She’d bang her head on the walls and bite her fingers until she broke skin. We left playdates early. ‘I’m getting concerned.’ More and more signs popped up. I KNEW this wasn’t typical toddler behavior.”
‘This is the winter of despair.’ It felt like the nail in the coffin. But I was reminded of something. This is an opportunity to make new traditions.’: Mom says ‘This year, I’ll make the magic for my family’
“It doesn’t have to be extravagant or overwhelming. Christmas morning can be a free-for-all, or we can make it last all day. And next year, because of the sacrifices we’ve all made to keep each other safe, we can be together.”
‘Each test was negative. ‘But I did everything right.’ I was so discouraged. My heart was aching for the intended parents.’: Woman details surrogacy journey, ‘It’s all worth it’
“I felt so overwhelmed, like I was going to mess something up, and I hadn’t even started yet. There’s a weight of carrying someone else’s child that’s much heavier than your own.”