October is Pregnancy & Infant Loss Awareness Month. As I’ve read every post on social media over the past few weeks, I’ve tried to make sense of what I wanted to say. As it turns out, there’s not a whole lot. Sometimes, words fail. However, one thing is clear: to those who have experienced the loss of a child, it’s not just a month.

It’s every moment of every day.

It’s the day you found out you were pregnant.

It’s the Mother’s Day you celebrated without a baby.

It’s your due date.

It’s a Tuesday.

Don’t stay silent about something just because it makes you uncomfortable. Don’t avoid talking about something just because it’s hard. Be understanding, be forgiving, be heartbroken, just be there.

For now, I simply want to thank my babies for existing. Because without them, I wouldn’t be the person I am today.

SMM. 11/18/11

IBM. 6/9/13