“This time, we said goodbye to three. THREE. Losing one was hard enough, but three? A friend and fellow foster mom texted me and reminded me our kids aren’t ever really ‘ours.'”
‘Want 3 boys? 3, 5, and 6?’ Something was tugging on our hearts, encouraging us to take another chance.’: Mom candidly shares ‘deep love’ and heartbreak of foster care
‘My struggles were passed off because of ‘my Christian upbringing and shy temperament.’ The best way to survive was to fly under the radar.’: Mom diagnosed with autism at 29
“My heart beat violently in my chest and my face prickled hot with anxiety. ‘I think I might actually be autistic…’ It could’ve cost me all I held dear: my husband, my daughter, even my independence.”
I Photographed Twins—One Earthside And One In Heaven—And It Will Stick With Me Forever
“Back in August I took maternity photos for a friend having identical twin boys. Unfortunately, one of those twins only joined us for 24 hours on earth, before leaving to join the angels in Heaven. I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to capture these images for this sweet family.”
When It Comes To Postpartum Moms, The Most Valuable Help Has Nothing To Do With The Baby At All
“While holding a fresh baby might be fabulous for you, it isn’t necessarily helpful for her.”
15 Hilariously Pet-Proofed Christmas Trees To Make You Smile
Indoor pets simply don’t understand why their humans have dragged a giant tree into the house, and it shows.
Dear Special Needs Child, The World Has Failed You
“We returned to IEP world today. I listened for over an hour of how far behind you are. Of how and where you struggle. Parenting was easy from preschool to elementary. There were so many services and supports. Then they ended. Some days I don’t even know the question, let alone the answers.”
This A Cappella Version Of “The 12 Days Of Christmas” Is A Hilariously Beautiful Mess
“Their version of “The Twelve Days of Christmas” is unlike anything you’ve ever heard before.”
‘Is your mommy black and your daddy white?’ I struggled heavily with feeling as if I did not belong.’: Biracial adoptee honestly shares her journey, realities of adoption
“Adoption is a picture of what redemption looks like, but it is also a tragedy. While it is sometimes painful, I am here for a reason, and I intend to make the most of it.”
Disney’s Tear-Jerking New Christmas Short ‘The Stepdad’ Is Reminding Us What Family Truly Means
Disney is known for making emotional animated films that can make even the most stoic adult cry, but their short films pack a powerful punch, too.
‘Love your partner’s family like you want your partner to love yours.’: Wife shares importance of healthy in-law relationships
“If your partner loves them, and you love your partner, love their family. When you stop bringing up petty things about your partner’s family, everyone ends up happier.”
‘How do we fully express gratitude to those willing to sacrifice more than we could ever imagine?’: Wife finally finds the words to thank military members
“What do we mean by, ‘Thank you for your service?’ Is it thank you for writing a will at 18? For sleeping in the sand, underneath a vehicle with a helmet for a pillow? Is a medal enough? A parade? A discount?”
‘In the end, stuff rots, falls apart, breaks. Acts of kindness and love do not.’: Man shares ‘invaluable’ email on meaning of Christmas
“Say only what is in your best heart and leave the b.s. that is day-to-day irritations and judgments behind for this one day. You were made for one thing far more than others: to give and receive love on earth.”
My Nonverbal Son Is Obsessed With UPS, So They Surprised Him With His Own Uniform
“The doorbell rang, and there he stood, brown package in hand.”
‘I walked to her desk, my belly in knots, and proceeded to tell her all my son’s problems, faults, and the things she might struggle with.’: Mom thanks ‘hero’ teacher for helping son blossom
“Mrs. Patton must have sensed my nervousness because at the end, she smiled and touched my arm. She said, ‘Everything is going to be okay.’ My son needed a beacon of light, and she was it.”
‘All I want is to keep his memory alive.’: Mom puts spin on elf on a shelf to teach world about autism after son passes from cancer
“I whispered, ‘I love you, mommy’s best boy ever.’ As he passed away, I promised I’d always talk and educate people on autism.”
Dear Moms, Enjoy The Imperfections This Holiday Season
“They’ll remember if you were happy to spend time with them. They’ll remember how you went with the flow. They’ll remember the warmth of your snuggles.”
‘It’s not easy being green. There’s freedom when we own it, name it, and admit it.’: Mom shares importance of accepting jealousy
“We outgrow a lot of things as we age, but do we ever really outgrow jealousy? There’s a certain freedom in putting our jealously out there and talking it out.”
‘You can miss who you used to be and STILL be a great, loving mom.’: Mom realizes she’s not a different person, but a better version of herself
“I miss being able to go to bed when I wanted. I miss date nights with my husband. I miss eating hot meals. But then it hit me. I don’t miss the OLD ME… I miss the things I used to do before being a mom.”
This Is What Christmas Is All About—And What It’s Not
“A beautiful Christmas doesn’t need much. Sometimes all it takes is two strangers playing a few rounds of cards with you.”
‘One bag of clementines. She cried, and I fought back tears.’: Woman shares the power of giving, urges others to pass on kindness
“I was crying in the hallway. One of my professors saw me and asked me to stay after class. Today, I had the opportunity to pass on that gift.”
‘I was recovering from my date with a guy who rear-ended me, then asked me to dinner. Seeing the potential for a meet cute (and free meal), I agreed.’: Woman recounts hilarious first date with husband
“After 30 minutes of driving down dark roads to a ‘surprise,’ I‘d been convinced he was taking me somewhere to kill me. Just as I was praying to God to let it be swift and painless, the guy pulled up behind a building, put on a headlamp, and jumped in a dumpster. Not the free meal I’d had in mind.”
‘It’s common in toddlers,’ she said. ‘It’s rare he has it at 3 months of age.’ We just wanted our baby boy to be OK.’: Mom shares son’s battle through Wilms Tumor, ‘Every moment is a blessing’
“The short drive to the hospital was filled with anxiety and confusion. Our oldest son kept asking us where we were going, all he wanted to do was play and have fun. I held my tears and started to pray, but I had a gut feeling this was the beginning of a long journey for us.”
‘Motherhood is far from perfect. If we can celebrate that, we should also celebrate the imperfect chaos of parenting together.’: Wife candidly shares the effect parenting has on marriage
“In between watching him become a father moments and newborn sleeping on your chest photos, there’s the passing each other on the staircase in the dark moments and the sleeping in different rooms because one of us should sleep moments.”
‘I chose to have kids. But I am imperfect and eventually use up all my patience.’: Mom opens up about motherhood burnout, ‘Next time you see an exhausted mom, tell her she’s doing a great job’
“Mothers are told we chose to have our kids, so we CAN’T burn out. False. We do burn out. We feel over-touched, overly loved, and overly sensitized to everything.”
‘They saved my life, and I just want to give back.’: Woman answers Santa letters, giving back after community helped her get sober
“This gives me a reason not to give up, to keep fighting. No matter how little we have, there’s always enough to give to someone else.”