I was originally going to do a series of photos that were going to inspiring and happy and all sorts of awesome, that post was scraped since I can't lie and pretend that after a year since my first article here on Still Standing things are so much better because they aren't. In some ways they are but others are worse. The last year I've gone … [Read more...]
Mother’s Day, a hallmark event filled with joy and happiness, can be a sad reminder of what some women are not holding in their arms. I’ve spent the past four Mother’s Days hoping and praying that I would be celebrating Mother’s Day with a baby in my arms but here, in the year I turn 36, I have to accept that not only am I not a mother but that … [Read more...]
Guest Post by Natasha Metzler I’ve heard it countless times. "Women, don’t be ashamed of those stretch marks. They mean that you’re powerful and glorious. Your body gave birth. You should be proud." And every time I hang my head in shame. These stretch marks? I have them and I have never given birth to a baby. That time they formed? … [Read more...]
I am five days away from the year anniversary of a D&C. No... It wasn't like walking into the hospital overdue and walking out a day later, having to get into a car with an empty carseat...anticipating the baby that would never sit in it. That was a hell all its own. But it was hell, of that you can be sure. It was not just some … [Read more...]
Since Thanksgiving, my almost 16 year old stepson has been living with us full time. Parenting a teenager is hard, but parenting one that is not yours is even harder. As with all teens we've been having attitude and school issues and issues with chores. One of the issues was the teen thinking he was doing everyyyythiiiiing around the house(remember … [Read more...]
As a teacher, I recently did an activity with a group of sophomores in which the students reflected upon their past year and came up with advice about what they wish they had known as freshman. They had to narrow the list down to the top 10 pieces of advice and later this month they will have an opportunity to share this advice with younger students. I … [Read more...]
If you’ve suffered from infertility I’m betting when someone tells you they want to “plan” a baby around a certain date it’s hard to keep your eyeballs straight. In college, one of my professors was pregnant. I asked her how far along she was and she said she had “lost count” but that she was due about a month after school let … [Read more...]
Apparently having a "Mother Heart" is real. Not because I'm a loss mom but because some one pure of heart and mind said so. A child. A child very dear to my heart told me matter of fact that I'm a Mom. Since I was young I've always had children in my life, started when I was 10 with my first niece and has continued. I have 2 special little … [Read more...]
Time is a funny thing when you are trying to get pregnant. On one hand, time passes quickly. Years and years go by and I think, “I can’t believe three years have passed and I’m still trying to get pregnant.” I’m baffled by how many holidays and celebrations have passed since I thought that this would be my last birthday/Christmas/Mother’s … [Read more...]
We made it! (but not without tears) We made it through another Holiday season. (for some of us, just barely) We made it through the onslaught of holiday pregnancy announcements. (about 10 at my last count) We made it through all the holiday get togethers with the tiny tots opening presents. (will our children ever sit in that … [Read more...]
When I was pregnant with Nora I was worried about how introducing a child into our lives would change the relationship between my husband and me. Nick and I have had a strong loving connection since our first date, after meeting through online dating. We are a perfect match in every way. His calm and [...]
Exactly one year and six months ago, my husband and I said hello and then goodbye to our daughter, Eve. When the doctor told us that she’d died inside of me, I didn’t see how I was going to survive her birth, much less the days and weeks and months of life-without-her that lay ahead. [...]
