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Jenny Albers
How a School Enrollment Form Reminded Me of The Blank Spaces in Our Family
When you lose a baby, there are always spaces in life that remain blank, empty. Your arms and lap. A bed, a crib. A seat at the dinner table, a place on the couch. A spot in the annual family picture. Photo albums, scrapbooks. Boxes on the calendar where birthdays…
I Love You Enough To Not Give You Everything You Want
My daughter sat on the bed, pouting, upset that I wouldn’t take her to the store to get a new toy. “I love you,” I said as I turned to leave the room. “And, I’m sorry that you can’t have everything you want. “Only…
I Took My Son’s Birthday For Granted and Almost Missed It
My son’s second birthday came and went with very little fanfare. In fact, if it weren’t for his big sister reminding us of it every ten seconds, there’s a good chance it would have passed by without much thought at all. We were caught…
The world continues to watch a grieving mama whale maneuver the waters of the Pacific Northwest, while carrying her dead calf for, as of the last report, the sixth day in a row. This sweet mama has captured the attention of people all over the world as they have witnessed…
I came across this image of a grieving whale and my attention was captured by the stunning display of a mother’s love. This mama whale’s calf died shortly after birth, and as I write, she has continued to carry it for three days. She holds on…
If you are grieving the loss of a baby, know that it’s okay. It’s okay to be angry. At God. At the world. At whoever. It’s okay to tear up those pregnancy announcements and baby shower invitations and birth announcements that now seem to…
Confession: These two weren’t the only ones having an epic meltdown. Behind the camera, I was making an even bigger scene than they were. I stomped my foot dramatically, while venomous words dripped from my mouth through clenched teeth. Tears welled up in the corners of my eyes…
There are countless boxes scattered about the house as we prepare for an out-of-state move. And as I scan each room, it’s these two boxes that stand out. Not because they are decorative boxes, prettier than the standard cardboard ones that fill the rest of the…
“Mommy, can I get a bikini?” my daughter asked in a hushed voice, her eyes hopeful. Her swimsuit was tattered and torn and she was definitely in need of a new one. And her question came as no surprise to me as she has recently gained an interest in bikinis…
Sometimes I still can’t believe that I get to parent my rainbow baby. Two years ago today, at just under 39 weeks pregnant, I checked into the hospital for a scheduled induction of labor. My midwife had offered me this option a week or two early as she…