“I shouldn’t have survived.”
‘My son was born on my birthday, just before I was struck by a truck in a motorcycle accident.’: Single dad, ex-Marine shares recovery journey after near-fatal accident
‘Some day, I will look back in my camera roll, and remember the fullness they have brought.’: Mom shares sweet ode to kids amid chaotic days of parenting
“I won’t remember the unease I felt about the messy house. I won’t remember the feelings of inadequacy trying to pass pajamas as clothing with dry shampoo hair. I won’t remember the judgement I felt about my toddler wearing hand-me-downs. But I’ll remember their charming, unconditional love that perfectly balanced the chaos.”
‘Neither of us were ready to parent. We made an appointment for an abortion, but I was too far along. I was shunned by family for choosing adoption over parenting.’: Birth mom shares open adoption journey
“My top family’s letter was different from all the others. ‘Dear Friend, we wonder if these letters are as hard to read as they are to write.’ It was a way of showing me they recognize I’m still a person and not just a means of them getting a child.”
Dear Moms With A Fangirl Daughter – Please Support Them
“Even if you don’t understand it. Even if you secretly hate their movies or their music. Even if you think it’s silly or a waste of time. I promise you, it will mean so much to her. And when you’re gone, she’ll look back and realize just how lucky she was to have you.”
‘I have deep scars all over. Most are not visible, but they’re there.’: Mom shares journey to embracing emotional scars
“I’ve seen trauma, tears, and sorrow on this path, but I’ve also seen beautiful scenery along the way. Without the bumps in the road, we wouldn’t cherish the good days like we do now.”
‘How many kids do you have?’ For years, this question was a trigger. Like lemon juice in a fresh wound, it stung.’: Birthmother shares adoption grief, making peace with others’ opinions
“Now I allow the other person an opportunity to hear a new perspective, gain a new depth of understanding, or judge me based on what little information they’ve amassed. Either way, I’m a mama to three girls, but one of them doesn’t live with me.”
‘My. Son. Died. I can’t run from that. But I run so no one else has to run this race.’: Mom shares the intensity of grief after losing son to overdose
“Grief is the most arduous race anyone will ever run. You can do this, and I’ll run by your side.”
‘We are at capacity, babe.’ Two months later, Mike asked if I’d gotten her info. We’d never adopted a teen before, we were terrified.’: Family of 11 shares foster care, adoption journey
“She would contact her workers monthly asking if they had found her a family yet. She was desperate for a family to love her and call her own.”
‘Hair loss, depression, anxiety, mood swings, tears, a healing body—it all can await us after bringing life into this world.’: Mom talks about life postpartum, ‘It’s worth any amount of hair’
“We’re all thrown out into the open ocean of motherhood just trying to stay afloat and make our way back to shore alive…but no matter how big those waves are, the open ocean of motherhood is the most beautiful, humbling, and awe-inspiring creation there is.”
‘It’s not a big deal. He’ll grow out of it,’ the nurse practitioner told me. I fought with the hospital to admit him immediately.’: Mom of two special needs boys shares accepting diagnoses
“The excitement and determination were swept away with grief. This incurable disease is marked by developmental delays, atrophy of the basal ganglia and cerebellum, difficulty controlling muscles… and death.”