SOME DAYS ALL I’M KNOWN AS IS A MOTHER AND NOT A PERSON WHO HAS AN IDENTITY SEPERATE FROM MOTHERHOOD…. There is something beautiful about being a mother. It is an experience like no other. But with it comes a multitude of changes. Mothers are keenly aware of how important it is to care…
Chicago-based therapist Rachel Kazes has said that a name change can be a powerful tool for survivors—a way to regain control after trauma. When a perpetrator repeatedly uses someone’s name, even hearing it later can feel unsafe. For some, choosing a nickname or middle name becomes a way to create distance and breathe again.…
Whenever I hear the word “only,” I consider it a swear word. Your NICU stay’s length and complexity do not determine your eligibility to be a NICU mother. NICU mommyhood begins the moment your child enters those NICU doors. NICU stands for Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, which means that once your baby enters the…
Your story is YOURS to tell. You get to choose if you tell it, how you tell it, and why you tell it…. Hey there, friends! As I navigate all the thoughts and emotions surrounding this topic, this blog has been a real challenge for me. Because of a few roadblocks, it took longer…
I have two young children, with a third due in May. When representing my children to other mothers, I am very conscious of my words and how I present them. Speaking about my children lovingly and respectfully is crucial for their emotional and spiritual growth. Conversely, how I respond when they act out is…
As a young girl growing up in a conservative Christian household, Joshua Harris’s book “I Kissed Dating Goodbye” significantly influenced my understanding of relationships, sexuality, and faith. Its rigid principles and uncompromising stance on purity culture left an indelible mark on my psyche, shaping my perceptions of love and intimacy in ways that continue…
It wasn’t until October of last year that I finally found a name for the chronic pain that has plagued me for the past five years. During this time, I’ve endured widespread pain throughout my body, chronic headaches, dizzy spells, sleep disturbances, numbness, and unexplained nausea. Unfortunately, my medical journey was marked by encounters…
For years, I carried a burden deep within me, a secret that weighed heavy on my soul and cast a shadow over every aspect of my life. It’s a story I’ve kept hidden, buried beneath layers of shame and fear, but today, I find the strength to break the silence and share my #MeToo…
Many people avoid learning from adoptees because adoption is considered a touchy subject. You are not weak or broken because you were adopted. On the contrary, it can make you stronger. Adoptees are often treated as though their adoption defines them, but it isn’t the reason behind everything adoptees do or think. Despite its…