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Daughter Texts Mom “I’ll Be Home Soon” from Burger King Bathroom—20 Minutes Later, Her Worst Nightmare Comes True

"She's my only daughter, my best friend. She was supposed to start her new job today, now she's on life support.”

To the Stranger Who Gave My 3-Year-Old a Bracelet in the McDonald’s Bathroom

"You heard me tell her we had a long drive home and she needed to use the potty. You heard her tell me she was scared the toilet would flush while she was sitting on it."

Daughter’s “Pootergirl” Costume for Picture Day Goes Viral After She Rejects Dad’s Outfit Choices

"She walked up, looked over each of her choices, turned and said ‘POOTERGIRL!’ and well…I couldn’t argue with that answer...”

McKenna Shanholtzer

I'm just a twenty one year old girl who loves too much, hopes endlessly, and writes to bring people a sense of acceptance in our crazy world that can sometimes be difficult. I write to bring a sense of comfort when you least expect it, kindness when you feel no one else has given it to you, and above all; hope. Along with being an aspiring writer, I'm a songwriting major and hope that one day my songs can change lives too. I think it's important in our world for people to accept that it's okay to not be okay sometimes, to look at the small things in life that bring you joy, and to love yourself in every way possible. Happiness can be the smallest of things, so go get your favorite latte, have dance parties in your kitchen to Taylor Swift and re-read novels. Happiness is just that.

13 Reasons Why I Chose Not To Kill Myself

"As I sit here writing this with my green painted fingernails, alive and well, I can't help but cry for the moments when I thought I wouldn't make it."