“I was six years old the first time it happened. He asked if I wanted to play a game called ‘Truth or Dare.’ By the time I was in middle school, I understood drinking. Suddenly, nothing seemed awful anymore.”
‘Your aunt’s house burned to the ground last night. Andrew didn’t make it out.’ For the first time in my life, I felt free.’: Sexual abuse survivor shares healing journey through sobriety and motherhood
‘Feed organic, limit screen time, support local, attend the seminars, limit sugar, potty train early.’: Woman reminds us ‘in a society that sets us up for failure, we don’t stand a chance’
“So much pressure from a world that wants you to succeed, but sets you up for failure. So much pressure from a society that is always demanding more time, more effort, more of everything you’re already doing, but less of your struggles, less of your complaining, less of your inability.”
‘Mom, will you help me?’ 14 and pregnant, Ava looked more scared than any child ever should.’: Mom recounts daughter’s emotional journey through teen pregnancies
“I cried, ‘I’m here every step of the way.’ When I hold my grandbabies or hear their little giggles, it makes all the hard work and any shame or cruel comments we receive from strangers all worth it.”
‘Collectively, we are going through one of the hardest times in history. Individually, we are all fighting our own battles others know nothing about.’: Burnt out mom urges ‘we can do hard things’
“These moments are here to teach us lessons, to break us down and rebuild a stronger version of ourselves. You are a warrior, you are a fighter, you are a survivor.”
‘Do you know how remarkable it is that you birthed a baby? Despite all of the fear and all of the firsts.’: Mom praises new mothers, reflects on the miracle of childbirth
“Do you know how absolutely incredible it is that every day, just like that, just like you did, people birth babies? Today is someone’s day. And that is remarkable.”
‘Whenever I blow on dandelions, I always wish for a brother.’ Deep down, I knew I had to ask my sister if she’d be open to it.’: Sisters reunite separated siblings in double adoption
“I dreamed of him becoming part of our family. For her and her bio brother to be reunited someday.”
Dear Firstborn, You Will Always Be My Baby
“You aren’t my only anymore, but you were my first. You taught me what being a mama meant.”
‘Today an older kid called my child ‘so annoying.’ TO HER FACE.’: Mom stresses importance of early self-worth conversations
“My kid ran up to me, wholly and heartbreakingly distraught. But I’m not mad at this other kid. Nor do I blame the child’s parents for their kid’s less than kind interaction with mine. I blame myself.”
‘After 6 years of battling infertility and finally getting my miracle baby, COVID-19 almost killed me.’: New mom recounts postpartum COVID, ‘She was the one who kept me going’
“I was saved by a nurse who must have been a mom. I begged her to help me, and told her I have a three-day-old baby at home. She assured me she would get me to my baby.”
‘Mom, Jeremy is doing some really bad drugs.’ Time stopped. I was dumbfounded.’: After son’s fatal heroin overdose, family start non-profit to help others battling addiction
“I started the guessing game: Benzos? No. Acid? No. Mushrooms? No. Bath salts? No. I remember pausing and feeling a chill go through me. Heroin? Yes. ‘Daniel, are you telling me that Jeremy is using heroin?’ Yes.”