‘He heard I was a birthmother before I ever got the chance to share. He didn’t assume or judge, he offered empathy.’: Teen birth mom shares appreciation for husband’s compassion

Read Raquel’s backstory here. 

“Sometimes amazing husbands are the unsung heroes behind incredible birth moms. They often shoulder a lot and with little recognition or praise.

I think we all have moments in our life that mark a season of growth. Casey was one of those major life moments for me.

He heard I was a birthmother before I ever got the chance to share my story with him.

He didn’t expect. He didn’t assume. He didn’t judge.

He asked. He held space. He offered empathy.

He was the first person to truly acknowledge my motherhood after placement.

No one really knew how to approach me. Truthfully, he probably didn’t either, but he tried and sometimes that’s exactly what we need.

He bought me a Mother’s Day card our first year together. One of those obnoxiously HUGE ones with a heartfelt message that both validated my emotions and offered hope for my future.

He was different and I knew it.

I was head over heels in love.

Truthfully, I still am. The obnoxiously affectionate kind. 17 years together and we still flirt and kiss and gross our kids out.

For a while, before exclusively sharing marriage content for a season, I held back from sharing much about us at all.

I was worried strangers on the internet would assume it was all for show, that no one was ‘that’ in love. That we had some major skeletons to hide.

Inevitably, I decided what they thought was none of my business.

The truth is, much like my children all changed me in different ways, Casey did too.

Not many things in life worth having come easy, but fortunately God granted me some reprieve in my husband.

I wouldn’t be me without him.”

This story was submitted to Love What Matters by Raquel McCloud, of North Carolina. Follow her family journey on Instagram here and her website here. Do you have a similar experience? We’d like to hear your important journey. Submit your own story here. Be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best stories, and YouTube for our best videos.

Read more from Raquel here:

‘I was 14 and pregnant. ‘Can we meet?’ 9 years after she was born, my birth daughter’s family encouraged her to hug me. I didn’t want to let go.’: Woman shares perspective as an adopted child, birth mom, and adoptive mom

‘Your birth daughter would like to meet you.’ I stood in disbelief. I was terrified she wouldn’t love me.’: Woman overcomes fear, ‘I wasted too many sleepless nights’

‘My husband was shaken. I reached my breaking point. The dam broke loose.’: Woman struggling with mental health says, ‘one of the most loving things we can do is take charge of our health’

‘Why do I feel inadequate? I was invited, requested. I’m the birth mom.’: Woman feels trepidation attending birth daughter’s graduation

‘He never asked why we needed the help, he simply said, ‘Things will get better.’: After a miscarriage and husband’s layoff, woman says, ‘Life doesn’t have to be perfect to be beautiful’

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