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.
‘You can’t replace his family.’ I never wanted to. This family is now part of ours.’: Foster mom celebrates son’s reunification, ‘What a beautiful gift’
“I was threatened by strangers online. ‘You’re not a REAL mom.’ I was told I was trying to steal babies from families. No one warned me about the ache.”
‘SURELY nothing else bad can happen.’ The joy was short-lived. I needed to heal. We made an unorthodox decision.’: Couple adopts while pursuing IVF, ‘It’s been a humbling experience’
“I was SO sure we were going to be picked. It seemed like such a good match. Days later, we got the call, ‘She chose the other family.’ I was crushed all over again.”
‘I’m not cut out for this.’ The world crashed down on me, one backward diaper at a time.’: Woman gives candid account of stepmom journey, ‘It takes time to find your place’
“I met and fell in love with my dream guy. He was all the things I had hoped to find in a partner. But there was a catch. He came as a package deal! I had NO idea how to parent.”
‘Will you take in 3 sisters?’ We had NO experience. They came in like a whirlwind. I panicked.’: Foster mom describes ups and downs, ‘I’d make the same choice over and over’
“He turned around, holding a very sleepy toddler. ‘Is that him?’ I choked back tears, trying not to run toward the child that would make us moms.”
‘My little boy can’t say ‘I love you.’ I get hurt a lot. My friends live unrelatable lives.’: Mom of son with autism says ‘thank you for helping me recognize your beauty’
“Many humans sleepwalk through their lives. I feel the wild euphoria of my child putting on a sock.”
‘I was POSITIVE their parental rights should be taken away. Then I saw the toughest exterior break. I wept for her.’: Foster mom advocates for bio moms, ‘They’re often dealt bad cards’
“We had a sweet little boy enter our family. As I listened to his parents’ stories, my heart softened. Instead of seeing them as monsters, I saw them as people.”
‘We’ve been escorted out of court for our safety from gangs. My heart’s broken, but it’s not about me.’: Foster mom gives candid account of system, ‘It’s not about getting a baby’
“I’ve stood with a mother before a judge so she had someone to support her. I’ve rocked a child far too big for hours until they collapsed from exhaustion. NOTHING can prepare you for the heaviness. This can’t be about you.”
‘A first-time mom, I didn’t know what to do. An old woman spoke out, ‘Oh honey, give him to me!’: Woman recalls stranger’s kindness, ‘Be someone’s silver lining’
“It was our first excursion. I tried to hush him, rock him, to no avail. I was close to tears. ‘Calm your nervous hands!’ In the changing rooms of Target, I learned my first lesson in parenting. ”
‘Mom! You have gray hair!’ I’d pluck them. I believed my best days had passed and felt rooted in shame.’: Woman goes on self-love journey, ‘My beauty is more than my hair’
“People said my 22-year-old daughter and I looked like sisters, and I thought I was giving that up. I decided I was grateful to be the age I was because aging is not a privilege everyone gets.”
‘You’re still holding on.’ We hadn’t let go of our twins. I started having vivid dreams of a baby boy.’: Couple adopt after loss, ‘Our babies are truly watching over us’
“The doctor looked worried. ‘I can’t find a heartbeat.’ I asked, ‘Both of them?’ It had been over 3 years and yet, we still had not let go. Until we got a call about a mom who wanted to meet us.”