“Abandoned in utero, the concept of a father is very sadly not part of her world. The choice for life to be this way was not mine nor hers. But she is loved beyond words.”
‘My 3-year-old’s teacher said, ‘Next week we’re working on F-A-T-H-E-R-S (yes, she spelled it out) day projects. What do you want me to do with her?’: Single mom pens open letter to co-parents
‘Look, the weird kid is back.’ They talked about him as if he was an exhibit at the zoo.’: Mom to son with Goldenhar syndrome says ‘we are more alike than we are different’
“They didn’t know in his first 2 months of life, he came close to death so many times. They didn’t see me standing outside his hospital room, frozen as the medical team performed chest compressions. They knew he was different. They just didn’t know why.”
‘She’d set a bowl of fat-free yogurt in front of me, hand my sister ice cream. ‘No one wants a fat daughter.’: Woman details battle with binge eating disorder, depression
“When my mom and siblings were asleep, I shoveled crackers in my mouth in the bathroom. I ate snack cakes on the kitchen floor. Food didn’t care I was depressed and anxious.”
‘We are the ones up all night with worry while our partners deep sleep beside us. Worst-case scenarios replay from the moment we hear, ‘Get ready, here he comes!’: Mom urges ‘let’s stick up for anxious parents’
“We worry before each doctor’s appointment. We worry when he’s up too high where we can’t see him at the park. We worry we aren’t signing her up for enough activities to help find her passions. And the worry will never stop. It will only increase as they grow older.”
‘The doctor would like to meet you in person.’ My legs shook uncontrollably. I knew.’: Woman ‘freshly diagnosed’ with thyroid cancer urges ‘love matters most of all’
“I sat in the doctor’s office and watched as each person passed me. I wondered who else might be awaiting life-altering news. I vowed no matter where life took me, it would never take me away from love.”
‘People will think you have cancer if you wear a headscarf.’ I lost half my hair in 3 months.’: Woman with alopecia embraces baldness
“There was hair on my pillow. I had to unclog the shower after each use. I’d be cooking and just see hair fall to the counter. I took the plunge.”
The Day I Was Diagnosed As Autistic Was The Day I Became ‘Normal’
“’You know, he is very ADHD.’ What I found blew open my world. I saw my son, but more so, I saw myself.”
Boy Bullied For Cerebral Palsy Becomes Certified Personal Trainer With Mission To ‘Help Others Surpass Roadblocks’
“Every day I knew I was the ‘kid with the disability.’ I had to learn the hard way it takes one step at a time.”
‘I was young, married, and having fun, then kids changed everything.’: Single dad of 3 details navigating life with kids post-divorce
“Life changed, my priorities changed, and we grew apart. Our family may look different, but the most important thing is that we are together and home is anywhere we are at.”
‘My husband asked, ‘Why are you crying?’ It was the first time I’d EVER heard every word to a movie.’: Woman with hearing loss advocates for early intervention
“I told her, ‘I want the biggest, most obnoxious-looking hearing aid possible.’ I was SO tired of telling people I was deaf.”
‘My daughter saw her father strangle me when she was 2. Now she sees her mom being loved.’: Blended family create ‘happy and healthy home’ after narcissistic abuse
“Divorce is sad, but what’s worse is a little girl growing up thinking it’s normal for her spouse to put their hands on her because it’s ‘what Daddy did to Mommy.’ Now, they see love.”
Today My Child Banged On The Door And Yelled ‘Mama’ 67 Times During My Shower
“Being needed all the time is simply draining, and a mother never stops being needed.”
‘My mom bought me pink shoes. ‘Those are for girls!’ When she asked if I’d rather be a boy, I said no.’: Non-binary, autistic person with ADHD shares journey
“When I born, the doctor said, ‘You’re going to have your hands full with that one.’ Even from a young age, I never felt like a girl. I wondered what was ‘wrong’ with me.”
‘I noticed my right arm going numb. After a month, it spread to my whole body.’: Multiple Sclerosis warrior wins 2nd place at World’s Strongest Disabled Man
“I couldn’t work the same or train the same. I wasn’t ‘big Dave’ anymore! I couldn’t even be the same dad to my kids. I felt like I lost my sense of everything.”
‘Thanks for talking about this. I think I need help too.’ It hit me there were tons of others dealing with the same issues.’: Mental health warrior urges ‘stop the stigma’
“None of us had anyone else to relate to – until now.”
‘My mom said, ‘I wanted to hold you and tell you it was going to be okay… but I wasn’t sure if it would.’: Woman with Major Depressive Disorder urges ‘you matter’
“I fought back tears all day. I’d have breakdowns in the back of the classroom. I didn’t talk to my sisters for 6 months while living under the same roof. I’d never felt so alone.”
‘I woke and found this picture on my phone my husband snuck. Normally, I’d get annoyed. But not this time. This was different.’: Mom of 3 urges ‘these are the moments you’ll want to remember’
“Right now, I’m in the trenches. This phase of motherhood, although it can be exhausting and overwhelming, I don’t ever want to forget it.”
‘I see you buying kinder eggs, teethers, matching outfits, and snacks for your babies without question. Skimming the men’s section anytime you go to TJ Maxx.’: Mom urges ‘your cup is worth filling with more than just coffee’
“But guess what mama? Buy the damn rings, purse, massage, shirt, girls trip. Your cup is worth filling with more than just coffee.”
‘The day he left was one of the worst days of my life. He cried, begging to stay. That was the last time I saw him.’: Friends create community for siblings of foster kids
“Not many people understand what it’s like to have your brother or sister leave with almost no warning. We hold that pain alone. It’s important to have a community.”
‘The birth mom said, ‘You can put any name on the birth certificate.’ I planned Alexander, but opened my mouth to say Andrew. ‘Why did I say that?’: Adoptive mom embraces beautifully unplanned journey
“When I saw what the computer, I was not only smiling but washed with peace. Andrew is the patron of women who wish to be mothers! My life clearly did not turn out as I planned – not even close. It turned out better.”
‘Only 2 weeks after Rosie’s due date, we discovered we were pregnant. I had to embrace my beautiful son, while holding Rosie in my heart forever.’: After loss of daughter, mom braves difficult rainbow baby pregnancy
“I felt Rosie’s presence in the room so strongly. I couldn’t see her. But I could feel her. As if my midwife knew what was going through my head, she reassured me, ‘This birth is different. This is your son’s birth. It doesn’t have to be sad and awful, it can be beautiful.'”
‘What are you waiting for?’ I was a single dad, convinced the kids would say no. I was scared to death.’: Single dad with Tourette Syndrome adopts siblings
“I wasn’t sure I’d ever find a person to accept me for who I am, but I knew one day I wanted to become a dad. I had no clue how it would ever happen.”
‘I was this awkward, chubby girl. ‘If I was skinny, none of this would be happening.’: Woman on self-love journey urges ‘to all my little fat girls, keep being you’
“I went into situations thinking, ‘They all hate me.’ I didn’t want to admit I had a drinking problem. I was in denial until I hit rock bottom.”
‘Kids like him end up in wards.’ I thought he was broken. I was SO wrong.’: Mom to son with visual impairment becomes advocate
“The pediatrician said, ‘Has anyone talked to you about Finn’s eyes?’ They were dilated and pried open as I sat in the corner in tears.”
‘If I teach you more English, will you teach me Spanish?’ By the end of the summer, we were wildly in love.’: Woman shares international love story
“Not long after I arrived home, I missed my period. ‘What do you want to do?’ How could I have a child? I was 30, living in a 1-bedroom apartment. Freddy couldn’t even visit, let alone live here.”