It’s hard to believe it’s already been 4 1/2 months since we lost our son, Brady John. In many ways, it feels like it happened yesterday. Yet, I feel as if I am 100 years older. I’m sure many of you experience this same feeling of time warp. Over the past few months, we’ve done…
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Donating After Loss
A couple of hours after Mina was born, before I even got to see her for the first time, the nurses in the maternity ward said I should start trying to pump breast milk. They warned that I probably wouldn’t get anything for a few days, especially because Mina was born so prematurely. To everyone’s…
On Ignoring & Facing Grief
I’m a reader. I love how I can fall into a work of fiction and let my mind hang out there for a while, as well as how I can be inspired or learn something new from nonfiction. I’ve been in love with books since I learned to read, and was an English major in…
What does “healing” mean to you?
I wrote a post recently on Letters to Jonah about healing, and about what that word means to me. I feel like it’s important, so I’m sharing it here! In the post, I talked about how I’ll never be “healed,” but there are certain things that I can do that feel like healing – that…
Guest Post: Dealing with Unsolicited TTC Advice
In general, I try not to advise people on things that I don’t have personal experience with. For example, one of my best friends is a type 1 diabetic. I don’t sit there and tell her what she can and cannot eat. I don’t offer her advice on how to maintain her blood sugar. I…
The Road to Recovery
Broken. It all starts with the words “I’m sorry, there’s no heartbeat.” In that moment, I felt my own heart shatter into a million little pieces. I’ve been wrecked – mind, body, and soul. Body. My whole life I’ve faced illnesses, broken bones, and allergies. I’ve had multiple minor surgeries over the last 12 years. Nothing…
Courageous Mothers Community Forum Now Open!
Hi mamas! Joli here. The goal here at Courageous Mothers is to build a community. We love posting articles, but I want this to be a place to come for conversation, too! I want you to come here to find friendship and support from other mamas, all across the globe. So, I’m testing out having…
Book Review: Expecting Sunshine by Alexis Marie Chute
Expecting Sunshine is a new release by Alexis Marie Chute, about her first son Zachary, who was stillborn, and her subsequent pregnancy. You may have heard her name before – she’s a writer for PALS, her blog is called Wanted Chosen Planned, and she creating a documentary, also called Expecting Sunshine. In Expecting Sunshine, Alexis…
People Will Surprise You
I know that I haven’t traveled the road of a loss mama all that long, but I’m sure what I have experienced in my first few months will resonate with other moms. People will surprise you, both good and bad. I have friends and family who have nailed it – sending me thoughtful texts, saying…
Handling Empathy
There’s no doubt that experiencing trauma changes a person. The way it changes you depends on your personality, of course, but I think one thing is certain of all loss – it makes you more empathetic. Before losing Jonah (and my mom), I identified as an HSP – a Highly Sensitive Person. Yep, it’s actually…
The House That Brady Built
This story starts with a home purchase, which is something that a lot of expectant parents start to think about when they find out they have a little one on the way. My husband, Jeff, and I hadn’t been looking for a new place at all until we found out we were pregnant. It quickly…
E.J.G. – a love story
Trigger warning: This post includes infertility, miscarriage, and stillbirth. Also, it is a bit lengthy. My name is Sarah Gatlin and I am a mom to a sweet redheaded angel baby, Everett. This is our story. Well, a part of our story. This is the story of how we fell into a love deeper than…
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