“I wanted to be ‘normal’ like my friends. I started neglecting my health. As you can imagine, it doesn’t take too long to forget about the nasty finger pricks and injections. I had to skip some because of ‘what people would think.’”
‘I was told, ‘Crab meat will ‘cure’ it.’ They suggested I stop taking insulin. My parents worried if anyone would ever marry me.’: Young woman describes hardships of being Type 1 Diabetic in India
‘I drank my coffee and cried, like every day since February 14th. I wonder what her outfit would have looked like.’: On first holiday without daughter, mom says ‘our picture-perfect family isn’t picture-perfect anymore’
“Everyone kept texting and telling us they love us, they are thinking of us, and they know how hard Easter is going to be. If it were up to me, I would have just skipped Easter entirely. Our picture-perfect family really isn’t picture-perfect anymore.”
‘Dad said WHAT?!’ Casey dropped the ball. In less than 24 hours, both kids have been pooped on, bit, scratched.’: Mom says ‘kids are not only smart, they’re calculated’ after family gets guinea pig
“‘Mom, I’ve been thinking about something but please don’t say ‘no’ until I’ve said everything I have to say.’ I ended the conversation with, ‘I need to talk to dad about it.’ ‘But Daddy said yes!’ Apparently, guinea pigs are exempt from this unwritten rule.”
‘What will my child become?’ My differences were thought of as less ‘cool.’ I was the target of bullying, both verbal and physical.’: Man with cerebral palsy says ‘you are more than the struggles you face’
“Once I made my way to middle and high school, things became a struggle. A disability is a difficult diagnosis, yes, but it isn’t the be-all, end-all of your story.”
‘My son’s kindergarten teacher sent out an email: ‘Schoolwork is not manageable for some right now – and that is okay.’: Mom urges ‘you can’t do it all right now, just let the rest go’
“I’m currently on a 5-day quarantine while I wait to get my test results back. I’m locked away from the kids while my husband manages all 3 of them AND works full-time. I felt an enormous weight lift off.”
‘Really? Another mom in the picture? More kids?’ I realized I’d robbed them of some of their favorite things.’: Stepmom realizes ‘every member of a blended family has to be flexible from time to time’
“I would make an effort to hide my bump if we were at school or sports functions. The quips came out of the woodwork. ’They’re crazy! This will be the end of them…’ I tried to involve the girls as much as possible. I wanted them to feel the joy I was feeling.”
‘Many won’t get a last phone call to hear, ‘I love you.’ My dreams of him are REAL.’: Dad has baby boy on brother’s due date
“We welcomed our baby into this world. It just so happened to be my brother’s due date. It’s a moment which sends CHILLS down my spine.”
‘Tonight, I was so tired I didn’t want to even carry my own purse. So, he did. He carried it, just like he carries so many burdens.’: 911 dispatcher says ‘sometimes, all you need is someone who will carry your purse’
“I am an ‘essential worker.’ A 9-1-1 emergency dispatcher to be exact. We’re feeling the change at work, just like all the other front-line people. I wish for you somebody who will carry your purse. Because sometimes, that’s all you really need.”
‘I’m not a good quarantine mom. There are no school charts, no stickers for rewards. No fancy math sheets printed off Pinterest.’: Mom says ‘give yourself grace, you are doing enough’
“There’s been tears, both from the littles and from the adults. There’s been the locking of bathroom doors just to catch a breath, and hiding away in the laundry room for even just twenty seconds feels like a day at the spa.”
‘The military has extended the travel ban.’ I won’t apologize for hating every minute of him not being able to come home.’: Military spouse says ‘today I just want to be sad and that is okay’ after husband’s extended tour
“I am not sure I have ever felt this amount of anger and sadness at the same time. It was the one thing our daughter looked forward to after having prom and graduation ripped away from her. We secretly cry, vent, and scream on the private Facebook pages because they feel like people don’t understand.”