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Grief and Mental Health

Why Birthdays Feel Different when Your Mother is Dead

Birthdays feel different when your mother is dead. No one makes you feel special the way that she did. Birthdays feel different when your mother is dead. No one starts your morning with a phone call the way that she did. And no one buys you a dozen pink roses the way that she did. […]

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Grief and Mental Health

I Had a Hysterectomy at Age 39 even though It Was Scary

I had a hysterectomy at age 39 even though it was scary.

When I was 18 years old and about to start college, my mother almost died.

She became extremely anemic after experiencing months of increasingly heavy periods.

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Grief and Mental Health Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia Motherhood and Parenting

Dear Mom, You Weren’t Supposed to Leave Me So Soon

Dear Mom, You weren’t supposed to leave me so soon. I’ve had to do everything without you. You weren’t supposed to leave me so soon. I’ve had a miscarriage. I’ve had two babies. And I’ve had two surgeries. I’ve watched my brother fight addiction. I’ve watched my dad remarry. And I’ve planned funerals. I’ve written […]

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Grief and Mental Health

Why My Mother Never Got the Chance to Be an Amazing Grandmother

My mother never got the chance to be an amazing grandmother.

My mother wanted to take her grandchildren to the beach.

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Grief and Mental Health

I Will Never Be the Fun One but I Will Be Your Fiercest Friend

I will never be the fun one. You know that carefree friend you have who’s always smiling and always makes people laugh, even when she’s having a bad day? Wait, does she even have bad days? Yeah, those people are great. They probably get invited to a lot of parties, but they’re not me. Look, […]