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Friend Says “Of All People, You Should Get Why Someone Would Abort a Cleft Baby”—Dad’s Reply Is Perfect

"My ‘friend’ said, ‘Come on, of all people, you should get why someone would want to abort a cleft baby.’ That shocked me. Why would he think that?"

During a Kitchen Dance Party, Foster Mom Hears Heartfelt Words: ‘I Miss My Other Daddy’

"I felt the tug on my sleeve and looked down to find him standing motionless. His mouth was moving but I couldn’t make out his words. His quiet body in the noisy room caught me off guard. I bent down to find his voice."

“It’s Only a Matter of Time Before Chick-fil-A Serves Me a Restraining Order”: Mom Hilariously Relives Son’s ‘Diarrhea Debacle’ at Chick-fil-A

"Tears-pouring-down-my-face, couldn't-talk-couldn't-breathe kind of laughing. Screaming laughing. So hard that I was sobbing because I couldn't get it together."

Gretchen Schmelzer

Gretchen Schmelzer, PhD, is a licensed psychologist who has worked for twenty-five years with the complex issues of trauma, integration, and behavior change across every level, from individuals to groups to large systems and countries. She has more than a decade of experience working with traumatized children and adolescents in residential treatment and psychiatric units. She is the founder and editor of The Trail Guide, a web-mag featured on gretchenschmelzer.com dedicated to healing repeated trauma and the author of Journey Through Trauma.

The Letter I Wish I Could Write You. Love, Your Teenager.

"I used to know who I was, who you were, who we were. But right now I don’t. Right now I am looking for my edges and I can sometimes only find them when I am pulling on you. When I push everything I used to know to its edge. Then I feel like I exist and for a minute I can breathe."