LJ Herman is a former editor at Love What Matters and lives in Colorado. LJ is a concert, ticket and technology enthusiast. He has seen the Dave Mathews Band over one hundred times and counting.
‘We were waiting in Christmas traffic. ‘Look over there. Something’s happening.’ Police cars were parked, lights spinning. ‘That doesn’t look good,’ I remarked. And then I saw them.’: Mom reflects on Christmas sadness
“A tall, muscular man in the center of the flashing chaos. His right arm wrapped around a beautiful, wide-eyed toddler. In the other hand he held a trash bag, stuffed with clothing. ‘Oh no,’ I murmured.”
‘It has to get worse before it gets better.’ Some parents never see ‘gets better.’ We almost didn’t. We almost lost our baby.’
“Helicopter moms – I never understood you… I get it now. We never thought it would happen to us.”
‘I cleaned my house. A solid few hours. I did the tidying thing. The vacuuming thing. Heck, I even did the wiping the finger prints off of every surface thing.’
“Things looked good last night. Someone could ‘drop-in’ and I wouldn’t be ashamed. My house was cozy and my mind was calm. Man, does a clean house make my mind calm. But then the boys woke up in a needy mood.”
‘After spending $13 on low brow tacos, my wife and I went Christmas shopping for our kids. This was our date for the month. This is parenthood. Sexy.’: Dad hilariously grapples with kids’ holiday wish lists
“Our son’s wish list added up to just over $5k. I’ve never wanted to make someone live on the streets until now. Play-doh was on everyone’s list. We won’t be getting any of it because I’d rather slam my head in a car door.”
‘I remember this guy said I had a ‘tight rig.’ I never ate much, I glorified my thinness. I was valued. I was funny, I felt pretty.’
“I met a guy, we fell in love and wanted babies. 3 kids, 2 vaginals, 1 cesarean, postpartum depression, antidepressant weight gain, and life later, this is my rig. I hated it. I would say it was broken. It’s not the person I valued anymore.”
‘Me: Kids, I’m going to go take a quick shower. Child: Can I have a snack? Me: No, I’m going to make dinner. Another child: Can you help me find my pink dragon with glittery wings?’
“Yet another child: Can I tell you about this new game that’s coming out that I really want for Christmas? Me: Yes, after my shower. Walks upstairs. Children follow. Child: How MANY pieces of candy can I have after dinner? Yet another child: So I can get that game for Christmas? Steps out of shower.”
‘This is me, hosting our very first Thanksgiving. I’m cooking in A SKIRT AND HEELS. I’m smiling, even though my marriage was falling apart.’: Woman overcomes family, relationship issues to make room for ‘gratitude’ in life
“So, you’d think I’d look at this picture, look at her all smiley and hiding and ignorant, and I’d be embarrassed. Or maybe sad for what she went through, or even angry, at my husband or my mom, or the world or God, but I don’t feel any of that.”
‘When my kids were babies I fantasized about sleep. In my most desperate times I’d volunteer to be the road the matchbox cars would drive on to shut my eyeballs. I was so tired.’
“Now I’m up until all hours with bigs doing homework, or driving around in my van/taxi all hours. I’m still up at night. You guys there are a million reasons moms aren’t sleeping.”
‘An 80 year old man tried to open something that helped me do strong Kegels, while his wife kept nudging him, telling him to put it down. It’s not a toy.’
“My son sensed he was making me uncomfortable. He does a side eye at me, then smiles at the elderly couple, and says, ‘I’ll go get mommy’s egg surprise.’ He returned with my pelvic floor weight that you use to strengthen your baby making muscles. He starts shaking it right in front of them!”
‘I was supposed to become a wife, but I woke up alone. Today was supposed to be the best day of my life.’: Woman loses fiancé in motorcycle accident, ‘I love you, forever and always’
“I was supposed to wake up, put on my wedding dress, and walk down the aisle to the man of my dreams. I will not get to see the look on Randy’s face at the end of that aisle because a person made a choice NOT to stop.”