https://www.facebook.com/131837973348052/

Kenna Bangerter, San Jose, CA (2025)

07/16/2025

"Easton's mom told him he could adopt a new pet. He had the choice between a puppy dog or a cat. He chose to adopt Tiny, a 10-year-old cat who had just lost his home. Of all the animals, he chose to adopt an overweight, old, shy cat.

Love is blind, as it should be.

On the ride home, Tiny got out of his cage and cuddled in with his new owner and has been stuck to him ever since. Great job Easton, Tiny is one lucky cat!"

~ Exploits Valley

07/16/2025

"Dear Dads,

Don’t wait. Don’t wait until she tells you what to do. Don’t wait until the dishes are piled up. Don’t wait until the kids are so loud that you can’t think straight.

Don’t wait until she looks exhausted. Don’t wait until she’s angry cleaning or quiet yelling. Don’t wait until it’s past dinner time and kids haven’t eaten. Don’t wait until it’s after bath time. Don’t wait until she’s screaming like a lunatic.

She needs you now. She needed you from the moment she woke up, until the moment she went to bed. She needed you to step in the second you walked through that door. She needed you the most when she said “no, I got it.”

She is tired. She is overwhelmed. She’s running this ship alone while you wait to be told what to do. She is hoping one day you don’t await her instructions, and you just do the thing that needs to be done.

Kids need to eat. Kids need to be bathed. Kids make a mess. Kids are loud. Kids get into mischief. Kids need help getting dressed. Kids have assignments, games, practices, and so much more.

Do the thing.

Don’t wait. By the time she asks for help, she’s already submerged in the rough sea of motherhood, gasping for air and hoping for a life ring to be tossed her way. So don’t wait.

Signed,
Tired Moms Everywhere!"

~ Jacalyn

07/16/2025

"Dear Mama,

I don’t remember if our house was big or small or if we rented or owned.

I don’t remember if you had a fancy car, or if we had to take the bus.

I don’t remember if the house was clean and tidy or if it was covered in washing piles and scattered toys.

I don’t remember if my pram was new or second hand or if I had the latest new toy or designer clothes.

I don’t remember if you were dressed up or if your face was bare, it always looked perfect to me.

I don’t remember if you had a lot of money or whether you lived pay check to pay check.

I don’t remember if we went out every day or went on expensive holidays.

I don’t remember how sometimes you got angry or cried or had to walk out of the room to take a breath.

I don’t remember a schedule, a check list or any expectations other than just you.

What I do remember is feeling safe.

I remember your comfort and how you kept me warm.

I remember your face above me when I cried for you.

I remember you would feed me when I was hungry, or tired or in pain.

I remember your smell and how it would send me off to sleep, sometimes at 2:00 a.m., then again at 4:00 a.m.

I remember your smile, it was the first reason I smiled.

I remember how you played with me and got down on the ground with me, before I could get up.

I remember you taught me about love before anything else and how it was my constant.

I remember knowing it was the only thing I ever really needed and you gave that to me, I never had to work for it, I relaxed in it.

Thank you for teaching me that love has no limits, that it’s unconditional and honest.

This is what I will remember Mama.

Thank you for giving me the best memories of all."

~ Life with Harry & Holly

07/16/2025

"18 years ago, a mama kissed her babies goodnight for the very last time.

I imagine that she wasn’t so different from me.

I imagine that she was tired. And spent.

And overwhelmed by the stressors of daily life with a young family to care for.

I wonder if she rushed through baths and scrolled through her mental checklist while she was reading bedtime stories.

I wonder if she breathed a big sigh once she said the final Good-nights and fetched those last sippy cups of water.

I wonder if she murmured 'Love you!' distractedly as she closed the door behind her.

She had no idea what the next day would bring.

That the following morning, she would get on a plane or walk into a building,

And never come back.

So tonight, I’m asking you, mama.

Take a moment.

I know you’re tired. I know you’re at your wit’s end. I know it’s been one of those days.

But take just a moment, maybe after you’ve tucked your little ones into bed. Sneak back in if you have to.

Take a moment to look down at those babies you made. Just look at how beautiful and perfect they are.

Tell them that they are brave and smart and kind and strong. That they can be whatever they want to be and that more than anything else, you just want them to be happy in life.

And tell them that you love them with your whole heart, and you’ll never stop.

Not for an instant.

No matter what.

Because we never know what tomorrow will bring."

~ Emily Solberg

07/16/2025

"Later in marriage when you hit parenthood, you'll realize what you really wish for in your spouse is not big money or a 'six-pack'. A pretty face and a good bank account are nice to have but at the end of the day, there's so much more you should be looking for.

At 3 AM when your child is crying, and your eyes are heavy and your body is weak from postpartum, it will not be how he looks or what he owns that will matter. It'll be the compassion in his heart and the love for you in his soul that push him out of the bed to attend to the child immediately and tell you,

"Go back to sleep, love. I got this."

If I could tell the younger people what to consider in a companion, I would say marry the man who will be the best father for your children. The man who will put you and your little family first, above all else. The man who is as responsible as you are in raising family because you both are in it together. In short, marry the person who will set a standard for a spouse in your children.

Because in all of these, whenever you watch your partner with your child, you'll find yourself falling in love all over again.

Choose wisely, not only for you but also for your child."

~ Amber Crowe

07/16/2025

“Every day after school I always ask all the kids who they ate lunch with and played with at recess, among other questions. Since school started Brooklyn has always mentioned a new friend named Mia.

Today, I had the pleasure of spending lunch and recess time with Brooklyn and the 2nd grade kids at her school. The kids filed into the lunchroom and I got to meet all of Brooklyn's sweet friends. Finally, Mia came to the table and sat down next to Brooklyn and her friends.

What I didn't know before today was that Mia has special needs and is nonverbal. Brooklyn never mentioned it in any conversation we had about school and friends. And to be honest, Brooklyn and her friends included her just as though she was carrying on a full conversation throughout lunch and recess- knowing what she wanted and needed without any words.

When I asked Brooklyn how she knew that Mia needed something, without pause Brooklyn said, ‘I just know what her different sounds mean’.

Words are not needed for friendship, just an open heart full of love.

This momma's heart sure is full today.”

~ Ashley Middleton

07/16/2025

"This kid right here hasn’t had the greatest start to the school year. We’re only on week 2, and I’ve already conferenced with the teacher and principal. He’s done a few things wrong, and then had some backlash come his way that no 8-year-old boy on the planet deserves.

For the past 3 days, I’ve sat outside the school at 3:00 p.m. biting my nails and straining to see him walk out the door. I wanna see what his face looks like, so I can gauge what the day has done to him. When we got home yesterday I resumed my usual line of questioning:

'What happened today?'
'Did anyone say mean things?'
'Did you say mean things?'
'Did anyone play with you today?'
'How are you feeling?'
'Are you okay?'

And at some point yesterday in the middle of bombarding him, I saw this look on his face that said, 'I need you to stop.' And so, I did. And then I decided that sometimes our little humans need the same things we need: they need space. And 20 minutes of silence. And their favorite snacks laid out next to a warm bath. I think sometimes these are the things that speak love to our children louder than our voices.

He was calm for the rest of the night. And this morning when I dropped him off I looked him straight in the face and said, 'You got this.' And he said, 'Yeah....but if I don’t, will you make me another bath tonight?'

And I said “Always.'"

~ Justifying Jane

07/16/2025

“On my flight from Indianapolis to Baltimore I sat next to an unaccompanied minor who was traveling to Baltimore to see her Mother. With Southwest Airlines open seating anyone could have sat next to her, in fact many people avoided her and her boundless energy during boarding. But finally, the couple you see in the photo occupied the two seats to her right.

Within minutes the young girl began chatting and the couple likely realized this wouldn’t be a relaxing flight...and they just rolled with it.

As drinks were being served the couple didn’t even get a chance to voice their requests because they were cut off by the young girl stating, ‘I’ll take water with a straw and so will they so we can paint!’.

And they just rolled with it.

Within minutes the young girl had brought out her Hello Kitty paint sheets and the couple spent the next hour following her instructions- as you can see.

As I type this the man next to her is being covered with Marvel stickers. They are on his ears, in his beard, arms, everywhere. And he is just rolling with it.

Moral of the story: There is good in this world. In fact, there is more good than bad in this world if we just open our eyes to it. There isn’t a script or instruction manual for love. You just have to roll with it.”

~ Josh Haltom

07/16/2025

"By the time I took the picture Carly had gotten upset, (it was past time for milk and nap was interrupted) but I still took this picture, because when exchanges like this happen, they are my favorite moments in the world. This woman works at our local grocery store, I always pick her checkout lane. Even back when I was pregnant-- I chose hers, even when the line was longer. When I was pregnant, I'd talk to her in the few minutes I had. I wanted to know what Down syndrome would mean for my daughter as she got older. What would her life be like? Would she be anything like this woman?

I never mentioned that Carly had Down syndrome until one day out of the blue when Carly was around 6 months old, she wrapped her arms around her and said 'she has Down syndrome.'

'She sure does,' I said.

Today as we were leaving the store, she said, 'I have Down syndrome like her, and I have a big heart.'

'You definitely do have a big heart.' I replied.
'Does she know sign language?' She asked as she pointed in Carly's direction.
'She knows a few signs!'

'When I was a baby I did this one (she signs more) and this one. (She signs please.)'
'Yes! Carly knows those ones!'
'I also know one more for her, I can teach her!' And she signed 'I love you.'

I interacted with a lot of people at the grocery store. There was a woman who scolded me for not having shoes on Carly on a cold day, (she kicked them off), a clerk who was less than interested in helping me find an item, and an impatient person that shoved past because we were following behind an elderly gentleman that was moving slowly when they were in a hurry.

Some people feel like people with Down syndrome don't contribute anything meaningful to society, but amidst all the Grinches today, she stood apart. And just being her, she gave us an amazing gift. A smile."

~ Carly Jean

07/16/2025

"I took this photo at Longwood Gardens during the big tulip bloom. I loved watching the woman in front of me with her daughter and felt moved to quickly snap a photo. What I didn’t realize until I pulled the image off my camera was that coming toward us was a daughter pushing her mother in a wheelchair. It was like these two end points on a continuum were heading toward each other, ready to cross in the middle. We are loved when we are carried, and loved when we are the carriers."

~ Emilie Kleiner

07/16/2025

“Y'all. This gentleman right here is Barry. He paid for my groceries when I realized I left my wallet in Emmy's diaper bag.

The cashier had finished ringing everything up and gave me my total. After I couldn't find my wallet, the cashier and bagger graciously offered to suspend my order and put all my perishable items in a cooler so I could run home to get my wallet.

I explained I live 20+ minutes away and by the time my kids and I would make it back an hour will have passed. It was already 7:00 and we still needed to eat dinner. I succumbed to the fact I would have to put an order in online and pick it up the following day.

Trust me, I realize there are people with actual problems in this world, but at that moment, I felt completely defeated. My husband had just left for Texas and would be gone for two weeks and there was still so much to do at home.

My son, who just got done helping me put everything on the conveyor belt kept asking what was wrong. In my frustration and anger (toward myself) I said through clenched teeth ‘I don't have my wallet; we have to leave’.

Now comes the good part. In steps Barry asking, ‘How much is it?’

I profusely refuse, but Barry's persistent so I tell him my total. He hands his card to the cashier and looks at me and says ‘I've been there before. I understand. My wife recently died and if she were here, she'd want me to help you. So, I'm doing it for her, too.’

It might have been weird asking to take a picture, but he was my saving grace this evening. He's a reminder that there's plenty of good out there.”

~ Becky Loos

07/15/2025

"When I tell someone my mom has Alzheimer’s, the first thing they usually ask is, 'Does she know who you are?'

There was a time when I could confidently answer, 'Yes, she does.’ People always seemed so relieved to hear that. 'Oh, that’s good!'

While it was good my mom still knew who I was, I wanted to add, 'Yeah, but she gets lost in her own house.’ Or, 'True, but she can’t remember how to put on a shirt.'

As the years went by, that question became harder for me to answer. There were days my mom would look right at me and not know who I was. Or, she would look at a picture of me and not be able to tell me who was in the picture. But, there were also days when she knew exactly who I was.

I would tell people that sometimes she remembered me and sometimes she didn’t. Still, people seemed so relieved to hear she had not totally forgotten who I was.

While it was good my mom remembered me at times, I wanted to add, 'Yeah, but she can’t use the bathroom by herself.’ Or, 'True, but she has no idea how to get into a car.'

As even more time went by, I had no choice but to tell people that no, my mom didn’t know who I was. They responded with sympathy and sorrow, many times with actual tears. It broke their hearts to hear this and it broke mine to know there were far worse things than my mom not knowing who I was.

While it was sad my mom didn’t know who I was, I wanted to add, 'Yeah, but she can no longer do anything for herself.’ Or, 'True, but she can no longer walk and she just sits in a wheelchair with her eyes closed most of the time.'

There are far worse things about this disease than my mom not knowing who I am. She doesn’t even know who she is anymore.

She is basically just sitting around, waiting to die. Sounds extremely harsh, but it is extremely harsh. This disease is extremely harsh.

If I had one wish to wish for one thing for my mom to have back, it wouldn’t be for her to remember who I am. That would be the last thing I’d wish for. She deserves so much more.

Now when people ask me if my mom knows who I am, I have a different answer. One that took me many years to learn.

I tell them, 'No, my mom doesn’t know who I am, but she knows ME. She knows my heart and my soul and my love for her. She knows my voice and my presence. She doesn’t know I’m her daughter, Lauren, but she knows that she knows me. She knows I love her and she loves me. She knows she’s safe with me. She knows me on another level. Our bond is unbreakable and undeniable. What we have is so much more important than her knowing my name.'

There are far worse things about Alzheimer’s than my mom not knowing who I am, but there are also far better things.

She knows me.

In a way that no one else does."

~ Life, Love, and Alzheimer's

Kenna Bangerter

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