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.
‘It was like watching someone meet their soulmate. None of them knew when it would be their last time together.’: Mom says even ‘bare minimum’ back in classroom is a ‘game changer’
“They couldn’t keep their hands off each other. It was something truly special to watch.”
‘She was skinny and riddled with lice and worms. But there was something special about her. I met my soulmate.’: Woman shares unique friendship with chicken, ‘Til we meet again’
“I’ve held her while I’ve cried, and I’ve talked to her about my problems. She started spiraling quickly. She held onto my finger tightly as soft music played. The vet said, ‘There’s a risk, but I have to do this NOW.’”
‘I cannot gain weight. Forget it. I’d rather suffer. Aren’t people who take meds crazy?’’: Woman accepts anxiety medication; ‘I was back to being the mom my daughter knew’
“I saw a psychologist who said my anxiety was way too intense and all-consuming. I would weigh myself twice a day and ask people a million times, ‘Do I look fat?’ After a few weeks, the medication started to kick in. Unfortunately, the weight started to come on.”
‘My daughter cried over a man I allowed into her life. It was one of my lowest points. I trusted too easily.’: Widow shares grief journey and destructive relationship, ‘I am enough’
“He took everything he could, and walked away like we were nothing. He used my daughter to get closer to me. I no longer understood ‘normal.’ Life had to resume, because he said so. I was a widow.”
‘We ALWAYS stop at the toy aisle. People think I’m crazy, asking my 1-year-old if we should buy stuff. But I don’t care.’: Woman says daughter is her best friend, ‘It’s the greatest gift’
“We share lunches and cheers our drinks. We play everything, peek a boo, house, chase, and it’s the highlight of my day. I love waking up every morning, knowing she’s right next to me. I’m not ashamed to admit that she’s my best friend.”
‘Mom, I got 2 shirts! I look SO cool!’ It takes you back to that painful moment. You start to count the days.’: Foster mom describes journey, ‘It will make your head spin’
“I hear, ‘I would never be able to give a child back.’ It’s chaotic and heart wrenching. There are times you want your peaceful home back. Love isn’t always wanting what’s best for someone.”
‘There’s never a shame glance at the chocolate on the wall, or a pile of dishes. Somewhere out there is your band of weirdos.’: Mom thankful for her tribe says, ‘I can’t imagine it without you’
“I said, ‘Intentionally choose who has a seat at your table.’ I didn’t mean your dinner table; I meant the 9 p.m. ‘wine in hand’ crew. No one cares if there are toys on the floor. This crew isn’t here for that.“
‘If something happens, how will he tell me?’ He shouldn’t be ignored. It feels like I’ve failed him.’: Mom of nonverbal, autistic son says ‘it is our job to listen’
“When the day comes you have to take a step back and realize, to others, your child’s speech is unintelligible, and it hurts. Then it hits you hard. Harder than you could imagine. But we can never give up.”
‘Let him take the nap and sleep in late on Saturday. He’s doing this for you and your family. Be proud of him.’: Wife grateful for hardworking husband, ‘one of the last of a dying breed’
“When I ask him how his day was, in which he always replies, ‘hot.’ I can tell by the look in his eyes, he’s exhausted. But, he will be playing with our kids and building new shelves for my classroom without a complaint. You know why? He loves us.”
‘I can’t be the reason your child got sick and died. It would ruin me. There is no EASY answer.’: Elementary speech and language pathologist shares why returning to school isn’t worth the risk
“I’m going to have to tell your kindergartners they can’t hold hands, even though we spend SO MUCH TIME teaching kids to be friends with each other. I’m going to have to tell that shy, little boy who reaches for my hand for some security, he can’t hold my hand.”