When Starting A Family Does Not Go As Planned

By: Lisa Finkbeiner Trying to decide what words and feelings to type and share regarding my personal journey through infertility and loss has been difficult this time around.  My infertility journey began in early 2005 and I blogged in real-time throughout my experience with pure transparency.  It was cathartic to blog about what I was…

Read More

The Life That Is Waiting For Us

By: Brooke Taylor Duckworth When I lost Eliza, I began reading blogs written by other bereaved parents and “baby loss mamas.” I gravitated toward those who were on a grief timeline similar to mine, who had experienced their loss around the same time I had. I also wanted to read some blogs written by women…

Read More

I’m Not The Mom I Dreamed I’d Be

By: Rachael Fast This topic seemed so easy to write about, however, as I sit to write, my mind goes blank. How do I write about something that is all I’ve ever known, as far as parenting goes? My first baby girl, Elaina Hope was stillborn at 40 weeks in March 2011. She was my…

Read More

The Journey of Parenting After Loss

By: Jennifer Haake Parenting is tricky.  You question yourself and every single decision you make. You worry.  You worry about everything.  Are they happy?  Are they emotionally cared for? Am I giving them everything they need to become successful adults? The list is endless. As a bereaved parent with surviving children, the self-doubt and worry are exacerbated.…

Read More

Grieving Honestly: Parenting After Loss

By: Brooke Taylor Duckworth A few weeks ago, I was ushering my daughter out of a crowded waiting room where she had been making small talk with an older woman. I overheard her talking about her little sister. As I opened the door and reached for her hand, she turned to the woman, who was…

Read More

Letters to Hope

By: Robin Busekrus This Christmas, my mother-in-law gave me a journal.  On the front cover there is the word Hope.  My mother-in-law said, “I know how much you enjoy to write.  I thought you would like this for writing about Hope.”   At that moment, I did not know what I would write in the journal.…

Read More

My Dearest Dolly

By: Heather West My dearest Dolly, How do I put into words the many ways you changed my life? There is so much I want to say to you, but I was not granted with the blessing of telling you in person. Instead I am forced to unwillingly put on layers upon layers, bundle up,…

Read More

A Letter to My Daugther

By: Kathleen Berg Dear Valerie, Your Birthday is almost upon us again. This time of year is incredibly hard to get through. It is hard to believe that almost eight years ago you came into this world, were here but two short hours, and were quickly gone. I stared upon your face and only held…

Read More

Dear Hadley

By: Leslie Steele Dear Hadley, It’s been 19 months. 19 months ago we got to meet you and be amazed by you. We always knew you were special, incredible really, but meeting you just confirmed it. Daddy and I switch off between imagining you as you would be here at this age and what life…

Read More

On Love, Loss and Having Babies

By: Anna Eastland It’s funny that what people so often emphasize about babies is how much work they are. How they will take over your life and make it difficult. How they should generally be avoided in order to live a life of comfort and success. But I can honestly say that the hardest thing…

Read More