65 Comments
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Lisa's avatar

I love corn. I loved this. I cried reading it. What a gorgeous depiction of the heart wrenching beauty that is life.

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A-list🍒's avatar

Hands down, one of the most beautiful pieces I’ve read on this app! Felt every word💙. Thank you for sharing!

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Alexandra Kyle's avatar

This means so much thank you ❤️

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The Island Hopper's avatar

Men like this make magnificent fathers. I know, this grey haired lady is married to one. You will love him even more when you see him lying on the floor playing with a toddler or dealing with the 13 year old that is one snarky eye roll away from putting you over the edge. He will pick up the pieces in ways you can’t imagine, because he’s that guy. As someone in the empty nest phase of a love like this, I promise you the giddy joy of being together is still there. You’ve got this. It’s only going to get better.

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Shae D’lyn's avatar

Reading this now knowing your son is in your arms and Jon is there beside you makes this even more precious. It’s such a beautiful time capsule. It fills my heart with so much joy to feel you so content and so lovingly taken care of. You are such an angel and deserve every morsel of love and happiness this life has to offer. I know that Claude will only bring you closer and deeper into this perfect love. I know he will have the perfect combination of your sparkling eyes and Jon’s adoring gaze and those eyes will look at you with all the gratitude of this blessing of being your miracle. Bless you for sharing this. It makes being far away more bearable. I love you! ♥️

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Kayla Creed's avatar

I remember saying goodbye to this version of us. I was insanely unwell. Frequent sob episodes. One evening we drove out to a pond and sat in the car with the windows down, it was late at night, the moon was out, and we talked about our fears and what we’re looking forward to. But I very much remember grieving and feeling insanely unsure about saying goodbye to the “just the two of us” phase. It’s very real and beautiful.

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Alexandra Kyle's avatar

Thank you for sharing this ❤️ so so sweet.

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Miss Gold's avatar

My wet face thanks you. I'm waiting for my person to be ready so we can finally find each other. Thank you for bolstering my stubbornness on never settling. My Jon is out there. In my lonliest and most hopeless moments I know we'll find each other eventually. Thank you thank you thank you.

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Shelby's avatar

this is beautiful I was sniffling down tears by the second paragraph and gave up the fight and let them flow by the end. sending you and your family SO much love. I hope the birth went smoothly and your getting some sleep and loving new motherhood <3

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Alexandra Kyle's avatar

This comment means so much thank you ❤️ I wrote about my birth story in my essay called “For the Love of Claude”

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Natahna Bargen-Lema's avatar

This is stunning.

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Denise's avatar

This really touched me. Sending you lots of love and strength.

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Lee's avatar

I need this cry. Its refreshing & reassuring.

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mónewa.'s avatar

you painted this story so beautifully, ugh I love corn!

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Hannah M's avatar

Thank you, just gorgeous 🫶🏻

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Amber Ripp's avatar

So beautiful, more of this in the world. Keep sharing please!!

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Emily Brillanti's avatar

This is so sweet. I can’t wait for the follow up! This is how my husband and I feel too and it’s really the sweetest! Excited for you on this chapter, I think love like yours will certainly withstand the impending changes with grace!

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Alexandra Kyle's avatar

Thank you so much. I posted my follow up about four months later in an essay called “For the Love of Claude” ❤️

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Untrickled by Michelle Teheux's avatar

This is lovely. I hope you enjoy motherhood as much as I still do, with 30-plus kids! (Don’t raise them American-style is my best advice. This culture is fucked up so mostly ignore it. Be primal.)

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Untrickled by Michelle Teheux's avatar

Edit: two kids in their 30s … not a bursting brood of 30 babies :)

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Alexandra Kyle's avatar

Phewf! I was genuinely concerned!

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Beauty and ashes's avatar

This is beautiful 😍 I love the part where the whole family is kicking together to get past the reef 😍 this feels much like my little family ❤️ 18 months postpartum and hubby tells me he finally feels he has me back a little bit 😂 not fully still but things feel manageable again ✨

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