mother

I had no belief that my babies were in heaven, nor that they would ever be born into this world.

I Don't Believe My Babies Are In Heaven

I had a lot of well-meaning friends and family searching for the right words to say after my back-to-back miscarriages. So many offered solace by guessing at where my lost babies resided in the ether: taken away to Heaven, perhaps forever, perhaps waiting for a better moment— an unknown, destined time these small souls were meant to break into the world. I accepted these comments silently, because they did nothing to comfort me.

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I have two kids and I curse like a sailor. I do not curse at them, but I curse around them. And they know the difference.

I'm Not A Bad Parent For Swearing Around My Children

I have two kids and I curse like a sailor. I do not curse at them, but I curse around them. And they know the difference. I tell them that "fuck" and "shit" are curse words, that they are for grownups to say. I don’t sugarcoat them. But I also do not intend to give up the words that offer me a level of catharsis I can’t seem to locate elsewhere in the English language.

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I remember the way that we always locked eyes whenever I fed him a bottle.

4 Ways I'm Keeping That Special Relationship With My Firstborn

We do our best as parents, but there is no plan or prediction that can determine how your relationship with your children will be, grow, and change throughout the course of our lives. That is one of the most unpredictable things in parenthood.

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“Hormonal changes during and after pregnancy are NORMAL. Mood changes are NORMAL.” Image: Thinkstock

Something Is Finally Being Done About Pregnancy And Postpartum Depression

“All mothers need access to affordable, reliable, and appropriate mental health care,” explains Jenna Hatfield, 34, the Online Awareness & Engagement Manager for Postpartum Progress, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about maternal mental illness. “Too often we see moms slip through the cracks because there’s too much red tape to access care or continue care they’ve sought out. Additionally, under-served moms aren’t always made aware of the care available to them, and that’s simply not acceptable.”

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Even if our situations were similar, we are different people.

My Husband Is A Better Parent Than Me

My husband never, ever drives thru a fast food restaurant because it’s easier, and instead makes it back to the house and gives our daughter something that WILL grow mold if left out too long, unlike the McDonald’s hamburger I would have let her have.

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A letter to you, mom, wherever you are.

A Letter To My Estranged Mother

I don’t know where you are — if you are ok, if you have food, shelter, love. I don’t know what you look like now.

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Nicole Cliffe: Editor, Tweeter, Proud Canadian 

Come, fervent readers of smart, witty blogs.

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