The journey towards parenthood consists of so many pathways, each with their own set of twists and turns, hills and valleys. As I write, the different routes taken and experiences of myself and those around me are incredibly diverse: a single woman who took conception and childbirth into her own hands without a partner; married women who are pregnant with their second and third children; a married woman with a newborn; a lesbian couple looking to embark upon conception with a donor; couples who had to use IVF for the first child only and for their second child only; IVF with singletons and twins; spontaneous miscarriages; an ectopic pregnancy. The range is incredible.
Sometimes, all we want is to be parents. The path may be simple and sweet, or long and arduous. Either way, we learn and grow, and find ourselves full of incredible strength and love. We are reminded again of the power of community and family, and the importance of both reaching out and giving from ourselves. Sometimes, all we want is to add to our family, but the most important step is to appreciate the blessing of the many families we already have.
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