In October 2016, 2-year-old Rainn Peterson vanished from her great-grandparents’ home in Ohio. After a tireless weekend-long search, a volunteer discovered Rainn sleeping in a field, alive and well.
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In October 2016, 2-year-old Rainn Peterson vanished from her great-grandparents’ home in Ohio. After a tireless weekend-long search, a volunteer discovered Rainn sleeping in a field, alive and well.
“Trying to figure out how to be around your own mom that only remembers you sometimes changes you.”
“When I had my son, people were asking me, ‘When do you plan to go back to work?’ When I told them I had no plans to immediately go back, I would constantly be told how lucky I am. Then when I had my daughter, I was asked again. I was told I should be so appreciative.”
“Thank you for restoring my faith in humanity.”
“We somehow survive on minimal sleep, and just when we reach the point where we think we can’t give any more, we do. We are teachers, healers, therapists, safe places, comforters, givers, lovers, and friends.”
“Don’t think for one second that you’ll be judged by me. Because can I let you in on a little secret? You allowing me into your mess allows me to be more comfortable sharing mine. The messy times? That’s where the real stuff is made.”
“I don’t have that same twinkle in my eye. I can no longer give him my full attention like I used to. My energy goes into playing hot wheels and throwing together loads of laundry. We share half-hearted conversations as we each scroll through stupid Facebook videos at the end of a long day. I pour so much of myself into every area of my life that my husband often gets the drips of what is left. It’s not fair. But I’m thankful.”
“We are expected to work like we don’t have children and raise children like we don’t have careers.”
“They have been unable to find a reason why this happened. I didn’t go out of the country while pregnant, I wasn’t exposed to Zika. He didn’t have a stroke in utero, and there is no gene to blame. We had no idea there was anything wrong before he was born. His whole life has been an emotional whirlwind. I wouldn’t have chosen this for him or for us, but I wouldn’t change it either.”
“Right after I turned 15, I met the absolute love of my life. Apparently, we were never really exclusive. In the summer going into my senior year, I got pregnant. I learned alcohol numbed the pain. After my daughter’s father left without telling me, I started partying more. He had no more fight in him. Days after his 4th birthday, we brought him home on hospice care.”