“Nope, no one told me how much I would have to give up. But you know what? No one told me how much I would gain.”
‘Nothing is better than this. No wine night, shopping trip, or vacation would be worth the trade.’: Mom shares gratitude for motherhood, despite sacrifices
4 Ways To Prioritize YOU During Your Postpartum Journey
“I won’t be curling my hair, putting on a lot of makeup, showering every day, or having clothes without breastmilk spilled all over them. But I also won’t be beating myself up for missing some unrealistic expectation of having it all together in those first few days.”
5 Simple Tricks For Overcoming Your Postpartum Anxiety
“After years of self-improvement and major progress with my anxiety, having a newborn was the ultimate trigger for it all to come rushing back.”
‘Don’t say anything. You don’t want to be taken from home, do you?’ We hid in our rooms, afraid of the people supposed to keep us safe.’: Child trauma survivor marries best friend, finds meaning of ‘real love’
“All I knew was I was scared of ‘love.’ I didn’t want it. In fact, I wanted to run from it like it was the plague. I wish I could go back and hold myself like I held my siblings. I wish I could tell little Jas that real love was coming. An angel on earth. The most adorable, bi-racial boy with the biggest dimples and largest afro I had ever seen.”
‘I have babies to deliver. Yours is dying, so make it quick.’ She reached in, ripped her out.’: Mom opens up about horrifying medical malpractice causing severe disability, repeat stillbirths
“Had the nurse just called an emergency, had the doctor just put aside that she didn’t like our parental choices… we wouldn’t have to live with this unbearable pain.”
‘I remember not liking my thighs, thinking I should have a flatter stomach, being frustrated with my stretch marks. That’s insane.’: Mom urges others to accept their bodies as they are
“We are constantly bombarded with the idea that we are not enough. I won’t normalize what should not be normal.”
‘A teary-eyed sobbing mess with knots in her hair and ripped skin at her fingernail beds.’: Mom shares emotional open-letter to parents of anxious children
“Sometimes, there aren’t enough tissues for the tears or words for the hurt.”
I Want To Conceive, But I Don’t Want To Keep Trying
“My body is exhausted, my mind feels lost, and my spirit has been continually crushed. Month after month we try so hard, but are still left with nothing more than a handful of negative tests. Yet, I still can’t get myself to give it all up and quit.”
‘This afternoon, we sold our home. This house has seen every high and low in our lives.’: Special needs mom recalls nostalgic memories of ‘safe haven’ in wake of move
“It has seen goodnight snuggles and early morning kisses. It has seen driveway slow dances and random living room dance parties. It has seen our family fall into the world of autism. It has seen my beautiful boy grow up from baby to toddler to little boy.”
‘Sometimes, they need to hear the okay.’: Mom reminds us ‘how frustrating it must be to always have your ideas turned down’
“Instead of no. Not right now. Maybe another time. Sometimes when I realize I’m operating on autopilot, I stop and ask myself, ‘Why am I even saying no? Do I even have an actual reason?'”