Real Definition “What is real?” asked the Velveteen Rabbit one day. “Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?” “Real isn’t how you are made,” said the Skin Horse. “It’s a thing that happens to you. When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play […]
The small sign conveyed holiday cheer with block red letters on a small foam core square – similar to those Christmas Light ad signs I’ve seen around town since October. As I waited for the light to turn green, I looked around the intersection, scanned the sign, moved on visually, then did a double take. […]
The holiday season is in full swing and waves of pain and grief engulf the joy of many this time of year. Life adventure brings jubilant events as well as times in the valley of despair. There can be an expectation (often self-imposed) of a Norman Rockwell, “ideal” holiday. Social media doesn’t help – we […]
A Day of Remembrance When people hear my story of infertility, miscarriage, and involuntary childlessness, one common question asked is how they can help a friend, loved one, or co-worker who has experienced a similar loss. In 1988, United States President Ronald Reagan proclaimed October 1988 as “Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.” The observation […]
The close of Summer peeks over the horizon. As sunny, salty days begin to conclude, a hint of Fall is in the air… A new school year is near. Overnight, stores begin to overrun with school sales. Advertising everywhere entices us to purchase of kids clothing and school supplies. Church pulpits communicate prayerful messages for […]
My dear sisters in infertility: This is such a difficult season and time of year, isn’t it? The emotional days leading up to Mother’s Day… Pain Dread Anticipation (not the joyful kind) Avoidance Guardedness…from family, friends, community, church members I KNOW this pain. (https://drjulieshannon.com/ten-years-life/) I experienced many years of active infertility and three miscarriages – […]
The last few years, we Americans have been in the thick of a great divide, a magnitude of cultural upheaval like I’ve never seen. There seems to be little to bring us together. It feels like we have lost any sense of common ground or basic respect for one another. Left against Right. Blue vs. […]
The last several months I’ve seen an increase in stories encouraging women to freeze their eggs to ensure future fertility and give them freedom in their current years with the unspoken understanding that any challenges will be solved by science years down the road. My own story of infertility led me to a great passion […]