“Jay was a youth minister who had a church in my hometown. Everyone loved him. The only thing I heard was, ‘Don’t ever accuse me of anything ever again.’ I called the cops and grabbed my baseball bat. My shirt was soaked with my sweat and blood.”
‘My little sister came into my room bawling her eyes out. ‘Something is wrong in Mommy’s room. I heard screaming, a thud, and then nothing.’: Son reflects on mother’s domestic abuse ordeal, ‘No matter what demons you’re battling, you can overcome’
‘The invite came three months before the actual wedding date. I waited and waited, but my father never responded.’: Woman says ‘those who love you will show up, you won’t even have to ask’
“I waited and waited, but nothing. Simply because my mom’s boyfriend was going to be there. He didn’t respond to my text, so I called. No answer. The man who my mom would marry a year later, not only showed up, but he danced with me. That is a real dad. Someone who shows up.”
‘We’ll call tomorrow, Daddy.’ He tested positive. She cries big heavy tears for her daddy she hasn’t seen in a month.’: Mom takes full custody of kids while officer dad battles coronavirus at work
“We are divorced but have 50/50 custody. He’s an essential worker in our state prison that has the most cases of COVID-19. And, they’re all in his unit. Last week, he tested positive. 7 days later he was ‘released’ and sent back to work. I see the pain in his eyes every time we go to hang up.”
‘I gave birth while my husband watched via Zoom and cried over the computer. Surreal, I know.’: Woman gives birth to baby boy alone, ‘Even in this crazy time, we are still making memories’
“He might be the most connected 1-week-old the world has ever seen. He had 200 of his nearest and dearest attend his virtual Bris.”
‘We sold our home and belongings. We were given orders to stay at home, except unlike many, home for us is a hotel room.’: Traveling family thanks hospitality workers, ‘No matter what, they take it in stride’
“To the young lady at the front desk that my husband probably scared to death as he ran downstairs at 3 a.m., desperately seeking new bedding: They said SIX feet, lady. Seeing this industry’s willingness to continue serving so many new faces makes them all very, very brave to me.”
‘I found myself sitting on the floor, sobbing. For each scream, he threw his head back into my sternum as hard as he could.’: Mom says ‘Coronavirus gave me the opportunity to reconnect with my son’
“It wasn’t until about two weeks ago when I was on the phone with my mom when I realized that the Kangaroo hadn’t tried to hurt me all day. Coronavirus gave me my son back.”
‘Going for a walk is not a crime. Don’t call the cops because your neighbor isn’t doing what you think they should be doing.’: Woman urges ‘we have to be all in this together’
“Don’t let this come between you. Your stress level is telling you it’s a good idea but in a few weeks your sanity will come back, and you will thank me.”
‘If you don’t come out of this with a new skill, you never lacked time, you lacked discipline.’ I am utterly horrified.’: Trauma psychologist says ‘what we need right now is self-compassion’
“I saw this phrase posted on my local yoga studio. What we need right now is more self-compassion. Not a whipping by some random sign that makes us feel worse about ourselves in the name of ‘motivation.'”
‘He said, ‘Mattie, where I send Hannah, she won’t know the language. Teach her MY language.’: Mother of special needs child finds comfort in faith, ‘Their purpose is greater than their diagnosis’
“She only knew 12 letters, struggled to write her name, and was fighting against a speech and learning delay. I was so afraid of what the next year would bring.”
‘You’re not essential, you just work with animals. That could never amount to helping humans.’: Vet technician says ‘they may not be humans, but we are just as important’
“I work 10-12 hours each shift, spending more time with your pets than with my own child. Remember this next time your pet is sick or breaks a bone and a human doctor can’t help. ‘Aw, I bet you get to cuddle all kinds of puppies!’ My job is not rainbows and fairy tales.”