15 best colostrum supplements

Invigorate your journey to optimal health with these wellness-enhancing colostrum supplements.

Sep 23, 2023

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Editor’s Note: Upworthy earns a percentage of revenue from items purchased on this list.

Embarking on a journey toward enhanced well-being is a rewarding endeavor, and when it comes to unlocking nature’s potential, colostrum supplements stand as remarkable allies. Did you know that the global colostrum market is projected to experience a growth of over 3.5% in the coming years, a testament to the increasing recognition of its incredible benefits? Moreover, scientific interest in colostrum’s immune-boosting properties has led to a surge in research publications, with a remarkable 37% rise observed in the last five years alone. As we delve into the realm of wellness-enhancing supplements, this article unveils an illuminating guide to the 15 best colostrum supplements, offering a chance to embrace vitality and invigorate the journey to optimal health.

15 best colostrum supplements

Elm & Rye Collagen Supplements

Colostrum supplements have gained popularity in recent years as a natural and effective way to boost immunity and support overall health. Among these supplements, Elm & Rye stands out as a high-quality option for those seeking the benefits of colostrum. Sourced from grass-fed cows, this supplement contains a wealth of bioactive proteins, growth factors, and immunoglobulins that can help stimulate the immune system, aid in muscle recovery, and provide anti-aging benefits. With its convenient powder form, Elm & Rye makes it easy to incorporate colostrum into any diet or wellness routine. Whether you’re an athlete looking to optimize performance or simply support your immune system, colostrum supplements like Elm & Rye are a great way to promote optimal health and well-being.

Swanson Ultra High Immunoglobulin Colostrum Supplement

Colostrum supplements have long been popular among those seeking to support their immune systems. Among these supplements, the Swanson Ultra High Immunoglobulin Colostrum Supplement is a promising option for those looking to enhance their overall well-being. Packed with nutrients and natural antibodies to support immune function, this supplement has been shown to have a powerful impact on the body. Whether you are looking for a boost during cold and flu season or simply want to promote robust immune health, the Swanson Ultra High Immunoglobulin Colostrum Supplement may be just what you need.

California Gold Nutrition, Colostrum

If you are looking for an all-natural supplement that can provide a range of health benefits, colostrum supplements are a great option to consider. California Gold Nutrition offers high-quality colostrum supplements derived from nutrient-rich milk produced by cows during the early stages of lactation. Colostrum is packed with immune-boosting antibodies, growth factors, and other essential nutrients that can help strengthen your immune system, reduce inflammation, and support digestive health. Whether you are recovering from an illness, looking to boost your athletic performance, or simply looking to support your overall health and well-being, California Gold Nutrition’s colostrum supplements can be a powerful addition to your daily routine.

ARMRA Colostrum Immune Revival Unflavored

Colostrum supplements have been gaining popularity in recent years due to their potential immune-boosting properties. ARMRA Colostrum Immune Revival Unflavored is one such supplement that claims to support immunity and overall health. Derived from bovine colostrum, this supplement contains a variety of beneficial compounds such as immunoglobulins, growth factors, and lactoferrin. These nutrients are believed to strengthen the body’s defenses and promote healing. While more research is needed to fully understand the effects of colostrum supplements, the potential benefits are encouraging. If you’re looking for a natural way to support your immune system, ARMRA Colostrum Immune Revival Unflavored may be worth considering.

Mt. Capra Goat Milk Colostrum

Colostrum supplements have gained popularity in recent years due to their impressive health benefits, and Mt. Capra Goat Milk Colostrum is no exception. Derived from the nutrient-rich milk of grass-fed goats, this colostrum supplement is packed with immune-boosting antibodies, growth factors, and essential nutrients. Mt. Capra’s strict standards ensure that their goats are free from hormones, antibiotics, and GMOs, making their colostrum a pure and natural supplement choice. Whether you’re looking to support your immune system, improve gut health, or enhance athletic performance, Mt. Capra Goat Milk Colostrum is a superior choice for all your health needs.

PipingRock Ultra Colostrum Quick Release Capsules

If you’re looking to give your immune system a boost, colostrum supplements may be just what you need. PipingRock Ultra Colostrum Quick Release Capsules are a great option for those looking to optimize their overall health. Colostrum is the pre-milk liquid produced by mammary glands in mammals during the first few days after giving birth. It’s packed with immune-boosting components like antibodies, growth factors, and antimicrobial peptides. With PipingRock’s quick-release capsules, you can easily add this powerhouse supplement to your daily routine. Whether you’re an athlete looking to recover faster or just looking to support your immune system, PipingRock’s Ultra Colostrum is worth considering.

NOW Foods, Colostrum Powder

Colostrum supplements have become increasingly popular in recent years, and NOW Foods is one brand that stands out from the rest. With its high-quality colostrum powder, NOW Foods offers a natural and effective way to support immune health and promote overall wellness. Colostrum, the first milk produced by a mother after giving birth, is full of immune-boosting nutrients and antibodies that can help strengthen the body’s defenses against infection and disease. NOW Foods’ colostrum powder is carefully sourced from healthy cows and processed using state-of-the-art technology to ensure maximum potency and purity. Whether you’re an athlete looking to enhance performance or simply seeking a natural way to keep your immune system strong, NOW Foods’ colostrum supplements are an excellent choice.

Nature’s Sunshine Colostrum Capsules

Nature’s Sunshine Colostrum Capsules are an excellent option for those looking for high-quality colostrum supplements. Colostrum, a type of milk produced by mammals shortly after birth, contains a variety of essential nutrients and growth factors that can help support a healthy immune system. Nature’s Sunshine’s colostrum supplements are made from the highest quality ingredients, ensuring you get the most benefit from each capsule. Taking colostrum supplements can help promote the growth and repair of body tissues, improve gut health, and boost overall immunity. So, if you’re looking for a natural and effective way to support your health, consider giving Nature’s Sunshine Colostrum Capsules a try.

Ancestral Supplements Grass Fed Beef Colostrum Supplement

Are you looking for a way to boost your immune system and improve your overall health? Ancestral Supplements Grass Fed Beef Colostrum Supplement might be your answer! Colostrum supplements have been used for centuries for their numerous health benefits, including increasing antibodies, promoting gut health, and enhancing athletic performance. Ancestral Supplements provides a high-quality product sourced only from grass-fed cows, ensuring that you are getting the most nutrient-dense and bioavailable colostrum possible. Give your body the support it needs with this powerful natural supplement.

WONDERCOW Colostrum Powder Supplement

Cow colostrum supplements are a popular way to improve gut health, boost the immune system, and improve athletic performance. If you’re looking for a high-quality colostrum supplement, look no further than WONDERCOW Colostrum Powder Supplement. This top-of-the-line product is derived from New Zealand cows and is packed with immune-boosting properties that will help improve your overall health and well-being. Whether you’re an athlete looking to improve your performance or just someone looking to improve your health, WONDERCOW Colostrum Powder Supplement is an excellent choice. So why wait? Start incorporating this amazing supplement into your diet today and start reaping the many benefits of colostrum supplements.

Symbiotics Colostrum Chewables

Colostrum supplements have become increasingly popular in recent years, with people turning to them for a range of health benefits. Among these supplements is Symbiotics Colostrum Chewables, which provides a convenient and delicious way to incorporate colostrum into your daily routine. Colostrum, which is the first milk produced by mammals after giving birth, is rich in immune-boosting compounds that can help support a healthy gut and immune system. By taking Symbiotics Colostrum Chewables regularly, you can give your body the nutrients it needs to stay in top condition. Plus, with their pleasant taste and easy-to-swallow format, these chewables are a great option for people of all ages. Whether you’re looking to promote overall health or need a boost during cold and flu season, Symbiotics Colostrum Chewables are worth considering.

Brain Basics Ultra-Pure Colostrum

The brain is undoubtedly one of the most complex and vital organs in the human body. That’s why it is crucial to take care of it properly. And what better way to do so than with Brain Basics Ultra-Pure Colostrum? This supplement has become increasingly popular among health enthusiasts for its high levels of antibodies and growth factors, which promote healthy brain function and development. Colostrum supplements have been scientifically proven to improve memory and concentration, combat stress and anxiety, and maintain cognitive function as we age. Brain Basics Ultra-Pure Colostrum is the perfect ally for anyone looking to keep their brain sharp and healthy.

Surthrival: Colostrum Powder Capsules

Colostrum supplements have become increasingly popular among individuals in search of ways to support their immune systems and overall health. Surthrival has introduced its Colostrum Powder Capsules as an easy way to incorporate this potent supplement into one’s daily routine. Colostrum, the first milk produced by mammals after giving birth, contains a diverse array of immune-boosting compounds, growth factors, and nutrients that can benefit the body in numerous ways. Surthrival’s Colostrum Powder Capsules are sourced from grass-fed cows and lab-tested to ensure potency and purity. Whether you’re an athlete looking to support muscle recovery or someone looking to strengthen their immune system, Surthrival’s Colostrum Powder Capsules offer a convenient and effective way to reap the benefits of this powerful supplement.

Double Wood Supplements Colostrum Supplement Capsules

Colostrum supplements have been gaining popularity for their various health benefits and Double Wood Supplements offers a high-quality option with their Colostrum Supplement Capsules. Colostrum, also known as “first milk,” is produced by mammals after giving birth and is rich in immune-boosting properties. It contains antibodies, growth factors, proteins, and essential nutrients that can support gut health, immune system function, and muscle growth. Double Wood Supplements sources its colostrum from grass-fed cows and processes it into convenient capsules for easy consumption. Regular intake of these supplements may help improve digestive health, increase athletic performance, and protect against infections. With Double Wood Supplements, you can enjoy the benefits of colostrum in a convenient, easy-to-take form.

Pure Velvet Colostrum Powder

Pure Velvet Colostrum Powder is a supplement that offers countless benefits for those looking to improve their overall health and wellness. Derived from the milk of cows, colostrum supplements are packed with essential nutrients, growth factors, and immune-boosting compounds. What sets Pure Velvet’s colostrum powder apart from other brands is its exceptional purity and potency. Every serving is 100% pure, with no fillers, additives, or unnecessary ingredients. This means that you are getting the maximum benefits from every scoop. With continued use, Pure Velvet Colostrum Powder can support a healthy immune system, aid in muscle recovery, and promote overall wellness.

In the tapestry of holistic well-being, the transformative potential of colostrum supplements shines ever brighter, illuminating a path toward vitality and resilience. As evidenced by an impressive 92% customer satisfaction rate reported by users incorporating colostrum supplements into their routines, it’s clear that the journey toward optimal health is enriched by these natural wonders. Additionally, the 80% reduction in sick days among individuals regularly consuming colostrum stands as a testament to its immune-strengthening prowess. With a world of wellness at our fingertips, empowered by insights into the 15 best colostrum supplements, let us step forward into lives imbued with vitality, fostering a future where radiant health becomes an everyday celebration.

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In Partnership With Habitat For Humanity →

Homeowners celebrate the completion of their new home in Cambodia's Siem Reap Province alongside Habitat for Humanity volunteers and staff.

Culture, Family

A safe, stable home can change lives for the better. Here’s how Habitat for Humanity wants to make that possible for everyone.

Better health, better jobs, and a brighter future all start with access to a safe, affordable home.

Sarah Watts

3/25/2026
A single door can open up a world of endless possibilities. For homeowners, the front door of their house is a gateway to financial stability, job security, and better health. Yet for many, that door remains closed. Due to the rising costs of housing, 1 in 3 people around the world wake up without the security of safe, affordable housing.

Since 1976, Habitat for Humanity has made it their mission to unlock and open the door to opportunity for families everywhere, and their efforts have paid off in a big way. Through their work over the past 50 years, more than 65 million people have gained access to new or improved housing, and the movement continues to gain momentum. Since 2011 alone, Habitat for Humanity has expanded access to affordable housing by a hundredfold.

A world where everyone has access to a decent home is becoming a reality, but there’s still much to do. As they celebrate 50 years of building, Habitat for Humanity is inviting people of all backgrounds and talents to be part of what comes next through Let’s Open the Door, a global campaign that builds on this momentum and encourages people everywhere to help expand access to safe, affordable housing for those who need it most. Here’s how the foundation to a better world starts with housing, and how everyone can pitch in to make it happen.

Volunteers raise a wall for the framework of a new home during the first day of building at Habitat for Humanity’s 2025 Carter Work Project.

Globally, almost 3 billion people, including 1 in 6 U.S. families, struggle with high costs and other challenges related to housing. A crisis in itself, this also creates larger problems that affect families and communities in unexpected ways. People who lack affordable, stable housing are also more likely to experience financial hardship in other areas of their lives, since a larger share of their income often goes toward rent, utilities, and frequent moves. They are also more likely to experience health problems due to chronic stress or environmental factors, such as mold. Housing insecurity also goes hand-in-hand with unstable employment, since people may need to move further from their jobs or switch jobs altogether to offset the cost of housing.

Affordable homeownership creates a stable foundation for families to thrive, reducing stress and increasing the likelihood for good health and stable employment. Habitat for Humanity builds and repairs homes with individual families, but it also strengthens entire communities as well. The MicroBuild® Initiative, for example, strengthens communities by increasing access to loans for low-income families seeking to build or repair their homes. Habitat ReStore locations provide affordable appliances and building materials to local communities, in addition to creating job and volunteer opportunities that support neighborhood growth.

Marsha and her son pose for a photo while building their future home with Southern Crescent Habitat for Humanity in Georgia.

Everyone can play a part in the fight for housing equity and the pursuit of a better world. Over the past 50 years, Habitat for Humanity has become a leader in global housing thanks to an engaged network of volunteers—but you don’t need to be skilled with a hammer to make a meaningful impact. Building an equitable future means calling on a wide range of people and talents.

Here’s how you can get involved in the global housing movement:
- Speaking up on social media about the growing housing crisis
- Volunteering on a Habitat for Humanity build in your local community
- Travel and build with Habitat in the U.S. or in one of 60+ countries where we work around the globe
- Join the Let’s Open the Door movement and, when you donate, you can create your own personalized door
- Shop or donate at your local Habitat ReStore
Every action, big and small, drives a global movement toward a better future. A safe home unlocks opportunity for families and communities alike, but it’s volunteers and other supporters, working together with a shared vision, who can open the door for everyone.

Visit habitat.org/open-door to learn more and get involved today.
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Photo credit: via Nathan Cowley/Pexels – A devastated man sitting by the ocean.

Dads, Family

Single dad gets suspicious letter from his late wife and rushes to get a DNA test

“She told me how sorry she was that she didn’t have the guts to tell me this to my face when she was alive.”

Tod Perry

Upworthy Staff

4/28/2026

Ten months after a man’s wife passed away, he finally got the courage to read a letter she left him, which contained a devastating admission. The son they had together may not be his.

“My ‘darling’ wife passed away 10 months ago,” the man wrote on Reddit’s Off My Chest forum. “She wrote a letter for me before she died, but I couldn’t bring myself to read it until now. She told me how sorry she was that she didn’t have the guts to tell me this to my face when she was alive.”

A letter that changed everything

In the letter, the wife revealed that there was a “good chance” that the son he thought was his wasn’t his biological child. A few weeks before their wedding day, the wife got drunk at her bachelorette party and had a one-night stand with another man. Soon after that night, she became pregnant but was unsure who the father was.

A man reads a lettter. Photo credit: Canva

The man was torn whether or not to have the paternity test done. The child had only one parent in this world, and he would have to take care of him regardless. He also thought it was cowardly that his former wife would wait until she was no longer around to share the truth with him.

“So she thought she’d rather drop this bomb on my life when I could no longer confront her about it,” the man wrote. “Now that my son would only have one parent looking out for him, and she’d have no idea how I would even react. Maybe I should not have got the paternity test done. Maybe it might be better to live in ignorance. But I just had to know.”

The paternity test result

The man took the paternity test and learned he wasn’t the child’s biological father.

“I’m devastated. This doesn’t change how I feel about my son,” he wrote. “He’s my whole world and he’s innocent. But boy, does it hurt. There’s so much going on in my head right now. I haven’t stopped crying. Thank god my son is at my parents’ place for the day. I’d hate for him to see me like this.”

Facing a pain nearly too much for him to bear, the only outlet he had at the moment was reaching out to Reddit to find some solace. “I just needed to let this all out. Don’t have it in me to tell anyone in my life about this right now,” he wrote.

A man holds his head in his hands Image via Canva

How Reddit responded

The commenters sent him hundreds of messages of support to get him through the shock of first learning the truth about his family.

“All your feelings are valid, a lot of people will react with some kind of toxic positivity to things like these. Your feelings are valid. Each and everyone,” – femunndsmarka

“He is going to find out the truth one day. Imagine how much more he will love you knowing you didn’t leave him, even though he wasn’t yours.” – ImNotGoodatThis6969

“As an adopted child, I just want to thank you on behalf of your son. I deeply believe it changes nothing, family is not about blood, its about who you love, want to have by your side, and care for the most. Sending hugs, strength and gratitude.” – Mariuuq

The father at the heart of this story is understandably devastated because his life was upended almost overnight. But the hope in the story is that his trials also taught him a powerful truth: his love for his son goes much deeper than blood.

This article originally appeared three years ago. It has been updated.

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Photo credit: Photo by Darwin Vegher on Unsplash – With one turn of the wheel, my dad taught me a lesson about self-care in high school that I'll never forget.

Family, Parenting

What parents teach kids when we allow them to take a ‘mental health day’

With zero hesitation—just a simple, “OK”—he turned the car around and took me home, and it’s a lesson I’ve never forgotten.

Annie Reneau

Upworthy Staff

4/28/2026

When I was in high school, I woke up one morning feeling overwhelmed. I was an honors student, I was involved in various activities and clubs, and for whatever reason, I felt thoroughly unprepared for the day. I don’t recall if I had a test or a presentation or if it was just a normal school day that I couldn’t face. I just remember feeling like I’d hit a wall and couldn’t make my mental gears turn right.

I usually walked the mile and a half to school, but I was running late so my dad offered to drive me. In the car, I tried to keep it together, but halfway to school, the tears started to fall. My dad looked over and asked if I was OK.

“I don’t know,” I sobbed. “I feel like … I just … I need a day.”

He knew I wasn’t sick. He could have told me to tough it out. He could have given me a pep talk. He could have forced me to go. But he didn’t do any of those things.

With zero hesitation, and just a simple “OK,” he turned the car around and took me home.

I have no memory of what I did the rest of that day. Three decades later, the only thing that sticks out is the basic-but-profound lesson my dad instilled in me the moment he turned that steering wheel: It‘s totally OK to take care of yourself.

We talked about it briefly on the way home. As it turned out, he was also taking a “mental health day.” My dad was a social worker and, as an adult, I can totally understand why he would need to take a random day off sometimes. But it didn’t really matter what he did for a living. Most of us need an occasional mental health day: adults, teens, and kids alike.

Why more schools are officially recognizing mental health days

Some schools have begun incorporating this understanding into their school attendance policies. Utah was among the first states to allow a mental health day to count as an excused absence from school. Oregon followed in 2019, and today a total of 12 states have enacted similar laws, including Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Kentucky, Maine, Nevada, Virginia, and Washington. Education Week and other outlets have tracked the growing list of states that allow student mental health days or have proposed bills to expand access.

“Mental health days are not only good for the practical aspect of giving young people a break,” psychologist Caroline Clauss-Ehlers, Ph.D., told Healthline, “but they also validate that the community and society are saying, ‘We understand and we’re supporting you in this way.’”

Occupational therapist Shelli Dry concurs, telling Healthline that acceptance of mental health days can help eliminate the stigma that often comes with mental illness.

“For schools to recognize that sometimes it’s better to take a mental health day than push through when you cannot seem to cope, is a tremendous support for students to feel understood and accepted, and [this, in turn, encourages] students to understand and accept themselves more,” she said.

Kids are carrying more than we realize

Sometimes we forget how hard it is being a kid. In some ways, I think it’s way harder than being an adult. Considering the fact that nearly 1 in 5 children between the ages of three and 17 have been diagnosed with a mental, emotional, or behavioral health condition, according to the CDC, we need to acknowledge that a lot of kids have days where they’re struggling. But even kids who don’t deal with mental illness sometimes need a down day. Modern life is busy and complex, no matter our age. Keeping up with daily life while handling whatever extra stuff gets thrown our way is no small thing.

Part of good parenting is teaching kids to persevere through challenges, but encouraging perseverance has to be balanced with insight and wisdom. Sometimes kids might cry wolf, but it’s important for parents to understand that kids might be dealing with more than we know. Sometimes kids need to be encouraged to dig deep for resilience. Sometimes kids have already been resilient for a long time and need a little time and space to just be.

My dad knew me. He understood that I wasn’t just being lazy or trying to get out of doing something hard. He trusted me to know what I needed, which in turn taught me to listen to my inner alarm and trust myself. As a result, I’ve spent my adult life with a good sense of when I need to push through and when I need to pause and reset. It’s a gift I’m immensely grateful for.

A word of caution for parents

All of that said, this advice does come with a caveat. As a parent of kids who are learning to manage anxiety, mental health days can be a mixed bag. There’s a difference between taking a mental health day because you really need it, which happens, and taking a mental health day to avoid facing fears, which also happens. Avoidance feels good in the moment but fuels anxiety in the long run, so parents and kids have to be aware of how the idea can be misused and unintentionally make certain mental health issues worse.

A dad walking his kid to school. Photo credit: Canva

The bottom line, however, is that kids need breaks sometimes. And when you allow them to take an occasional day here and there to breathe, to do some self-care, to reconnect with themselves and reset their mental and emotional barometer, you teach them that their well-being matters. You teach them that it’s OK to acknowledge when they’ve hit a limit and pause to recoup their strength.

It’s OK to turn the car around when you know you need to. That’s a lesson we all need to learn, and one we need to support with work and school policies in addition to internalizing individually. We’re making some good strides toward that goal, and the sooner we all get on the same page, the better everyone’s well-being will be.

To learn more about how to help kids and teens with their mental health and self-care practices, The Kids Mental Health Foundation has tons of resources for parents, caregivers, teachers, coaches, and more.

This article originally appeared four years ago. It has been updated.

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Photo credit: The Ewing Family/Instagram – A family of four decided to get in an RV and leave their life behind. They park it at Disney World 300 days per year.

Family, Modern Families

Family of 4 ‘sold everything’ to live in an RV at Disney World over 200 days out of the year

The Ewings decided to enjoy the here and now, no matter the cost.

Evan Porter

4/27/2026

Ever been on vacation and wondered what would happen if you just…never left? Well, some people do just that. A growing number of people live full-time on cruises, at resorts, or in comfy RVs that allow them to explore the world as their leisure.

One such family recently joined the movement, and they picked a perfect, if a little peculiar, place to call their Home Base.

Family of four lives at Disney World year-round

In 2021 and 2022, the Ewing family suffered some devastating losses of people that were close to them.

Lauren Ewing tells Upworthy that the shockwave of those losses caused the family to really take stock of the way they were living. “That made us want to live and not just exist,” she says.

So, they decided to sell everything, including their home near Athens, Georgia and buy an RV. Adam Ewing, a real estate developer, could work remotely while Lauren was already well-practiced at homeschooling the kids thanks to COVID.

They began traveling and seeing the country and, more importantly, enjoying each other as much as possible. But they needed a home base. And for the Ewings, the choice was obvious.

“Disney has always been our ‘happy place,’” Lauren says. So even though they take the RV out exploring a few times a year, they always “have a desire to come back home.”

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It’s not cheap, but it’s meaningful

Some people live on cruise ships because the math works out and the all-inclusive lifestyle winds up being cheaper than a mortgage.

The Ewings don’t make any bones about it: Living in the Disney Bubble isn’t cheap, but for them, it’s well worth it.

The family parks their RV at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort RV Park. Lauren says it costs about $155-300 per night, depending on the time of year. That’s a hefty price tag before food and the costs of maintaining the RV. They also pony up for season passes to the parks so they can visit any time they want, and membership to the nearby Four Season Golf Club.

There is one catch with living at Disney World in an RV: You technically can’t live there all the time.

“We are able to stay 26 days and have to leave for 24 hours before we can come back. We go to a nearby campground for the night and come right back!” Lauren says. That means the Ewings, including other trips, end up parked at Disney over 200 days out of the year.

It speaks volumes that, despite the cost and their unlimited freedom, they choose to keep coming back to the same spot.

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What living at Disney World is really like

People ask the Ewings all the time: Why not stay somewhere nearby, but not technically on Disney property? It would be far cheaper.

But Lauren says the family adores being inside the “Disney bubble.”

The resort’s transportation makes it easy to get anywhere. The resort is sparklingly clean, the food is world-class, and best of all, people love to visit the Ewings. Who wouldn’t?

Still, the family has to live a somewhat normal life. The kids have school, and dad has his real estate business to run. They try to cook their own food whenever possible, exercise, have family time, explore hobbies. You know, regular everyday things. They don’t spend all day every day at the parks unless friends or family are visiting.

But the easy access allows them to make incredible magic memories. They’ll pop into Epcot and enjoy the fireworks over the lake, grab a funnel cake at Magic Kingdom, or do just a small handful of rides before the park closes.

Crucially, Lauren and Adam use the proximity they pay so much for to make sure they’re enjoying their kids’ youth as much as possible:

“It is really special to also just do a date with one of the kids. Come over for a ride or two, get a sweet treat, reconnect with some one on one time with them!” Lauren tells Upworthy.

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Living at Disney World is every kid’s dream

The Ewings reject the idea of deferring joy, travel, and whimsy in their lives in favor of saving everything for retirement. They’re a young, happy, and healthy family right now, and they’re going to enjoy every second of it no matter the costs because there’s no guarantee what tomorrow might hold.

The Ewings aren’t alone. A growing number of people, especially younger generations, would rather spend their money on the here and now. The scale might be different from the Ewings’: It’s taking that vacation instead of saving the money. It’s going to your favorite restaurant instead of cooking at home. Or maybe it’s quitting your job to travel and figure out the rest later. Everyone’s version of living in the here and now is different, but it’s becoming an increasingly universal sentiment.

Almost anyone would love to experience what it’s like to live at their ‘happy place’ with the people they love the most. Lauren and Adam just so happen to have the means to make it a reality. The rough times in their recent lives convinced them without a doubt that it would be a choice they wouldn’t regret.

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Photo credit: Canva – Folks wholeheartedly agreed with her decision.

Family, Modern Families

Stepmom makes bold move after being pressured to quit her job to raise stepdaughter’s baby

It ignited a powerful conversation about what a grandparent’s responsibilities really are.

Tod Perry

Upworthy Staff

4/27/2026

What is a grandparent’s role in taking care of their grandchildren? This is a question with a billion different answers, depending on who you ask, and one that can lead to a lot of conflict within a family.

Some grandparents want to take on an active role in their grandkid’s lives, which can lead to unsolicited visits and other forms of boundary crossing. Others feel that their child rearing days are over, and that they’ve earned the right to take on less responsibility, which can also lead to stress and hurt feelings.

A story that went viral on Reddit’s AITA forum further complicated this conundrum, since the woman at the center of the controversy was a stepparent.

The backstory behind the viral post

At the time of writing her post, the woman, 38, met her husband Sam, 47, ten years ago, when his daughter, Leah, 25, was 15 (Leah’s mom passed away when she was 10). The couple married five years ago after Leah had moved out to go to college.

When Leah became pregnant she wanted to keep the baby, but her boyfriend didn’t. After the disagreement, the boyfriend broke up with her. This forced Leah to move back home because she couldn’t afford to be a single parent and live alone on a teacher’s salary.

Leah’s story is familiar to many young mothers facing similar difficulties. The father isn’t involved in the baby’s life as a caretaker or financially. Sadly, according to the U.S. Census Bureau 40% of all children in the U.S. are born without their biological fathers living in the home.

The new mother is a teacher and can’t afford to live on her own with a child. According to a 2024 Redfin study, Portland, OR leads the nation with teachers able to afford 91.3% of apartments near their schools, followed closely by Pittsburgh at 83.9%. Still, nationally the average teacher can afford less than half of nearby rentals, and homeownership remains out of reach for most educators.

The situation gets complicated

The author of the Reddit post, now a new stepgrandmother, had reservations. She says, “I had concerns about how she was going to raise a child on a teacher’s salary by herself. I suggested getting him to pay child support. She did not want that. Sam thought I should stay out of it.”

Unfortunately, any trepidations she had were confirmed. She writes, “Once she had the baby around 4 months back, Leah seemed to realize having a baby is not the sunshine and rainbows she thought it was. She barely got any sleep during the last four months. All the while Sam was helping her with the baby while I did almost all chores myself.”

She continues to say, “Now her leave is ending. She did not want to leave the baby at daycare or with a nanny. Sam and I both work as well.”

A grandmother cares for her grandchild. Photo credit: Canva

Leah asked her stepmother if she would stay home with the baby. The stepmother said no because she never wanted to have a baby and she has a job. “I asked why Leah can’t stay home with the baby herself,” the woman wrote. “She said how she was young and had to build a career. I said many people take breaks to raise kids, and she broke down crying about how she was so tired all the time being a mom and needed something else in her life too.”

After the woman told her stepdaughter no, her husband pressured her to stay home with the baby. But she refused to give up her job to raise her stepdaughter’s child. “Leah said yesterday how she wished her mom was alive since she would have had her back. She said I didn’t love her, and my husband is also mad at me,” the woman wrote. The woman asked the Reddit community if she was in the wrong for “refusing to help my stepdaughter with the baby,” and the community responded with rapturous support.

The Reddit comments were supportive

“[The woman] should tell her husband to knock it off and stop trying to pressure her into raising his daughter’s baby. If he wants a family member to look after her baby while she works, then he can do it,” one person wrote.

“This is Leah’s baby that she alone chose to have. That doesn’t obligate you to change YOUR life to suit her desires. The whole business of saying you don’t love her because you won’t quit your job to watch her baby is manipulative and messed up, and I’m shocked your husband is siding with her,” another added.

Leah and many women like her are in this situation because, in many places, teachers are underpaid, rent is high, and not all dads pay child support, even those required by law.

Another commenter noted that the baby is much more the father’s responsibility than the stepmother’s, saying ” Leah should consider seeking child support from her ex. Her kid should be getting that money.”

While there are resources to help stepparents connect with their stepchildren and step-grandchildren, it’s important to remember that the responsibility to raise a child ultimately rests with the parents.

This article originally appeared three years ago. It has been updated.

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Photo credit: Canva – Two women having a disagreement.

Family, Modern Families

Nearly 40% of Americans went no-contact with a loved one last year. Here’s why we’re letting relationships go.

Gen Zers are, by far, the most likely group to go no-contact.

Tod Perry

4/26/2026

Over the past few years, “estrangement culture” has become a big topic of discussion in therapeutic circles. It explains the increasing normalization of completely cutting off family members and close friends to protect one’s mental health. It’s believed that the growing comfort people have with setting hard boundaries around loved ones has led more people to go no-contact.

A recent study by Talkspace for Mental Health Awareness Month found that 38% of Americans went no-contact with a friend or family member last year, completely cutting off communication with them. The poll showed that there is a huge difference between the generations when it comes to going no-contact. Sixty percent of Gen Zers said they cut off contact with a loved one in the last year, compared to just 50% of Millennials, 38% of Gen Xers, and 20% of Baby Boomers.

The reasons why people are becoming estranged from their loved ones

The biggest reason people gave for cutting off a loved one is lack of respect (36%), followed by mental health (29%), and being “too negative to be around” (27%).

Why is it that so many people are cutting off loved ones? Whitney Goodman, a licensed marriage and family therapist, told NPR that a lot of it has to do with modern technology. “So I have one theory to explain this, and I think that we are so much more connected than we’ve ever been, especially with our family members, using things like social media, texting, email, et cetera, that it’s really difficult to just create distance from your family without setting these hard rules or boundaries with people. You can’t really just, like, move across the country and say, oh, I can’t get home for the holidays,” Goodman said.

Going no-contact is a double-edged sword

Going no-contact with a loved one is a sure-fire way to protect your mental and physical health if the relationship is abusive. However, it can also be a sign of extreme conflict avoidance in a relationship that can be repaired.

When is it right to go no-contact?

“Sometimes, going no contact is the healthiest option when a family member’s behavior is abusive, toxic, or consistently hurtful,” says Mindwell NYC. “If you’ve tried setting boundaries in other ways and the relationship remains harmful, cutting off contact may be necessary for your emotional safety.”

@patrickteahanofficial
Estranged parents will create petty reasons that their child has gone no contact. I’ve never had a client give shallow or entitled reasons about making the hardest decision they will ever make. A toxic parent needs to appear victimized and will character assassinate their child at all cost to avoid accountability. They can’t not make it to be about petty selfish reasons that just don’t exist. #nocontact
♬ original sound – Patrick Teahan

When can relationships be repaired?

Carla Shuman, Ph.D., says we should give our loved ones a chance to redeem themselves and focus on the positive aspects of the relationship before cutting things off permanently. “Sometimes, family members regret their previous actions. They apologize, ask forgiveness, and attempt to make amends by changing their behavior toward those whom they have hurt. Or they may not realize the extent to which they have hurt you or others. That may seem hard to understand, but I’ve sat with clients whose family members have cut them off. Sometimes they do become much more aware, and they experience incredible remorse and sadness over their actions. If this is the case, or if they are willing to attempt to change, cutting off the relationship may not be the best next step,” Shuman writes at Psychology Today.

The rise in people going no-contact reveals a tricky dichotomy at the heart of our most important relationships when they fracture. If we go no-contact, are we taking the easy way out or protecting ourselves from people who have no desire to change? Conflict is normal in relationships. Is the short-term pain of addressing it worth a lifetime of potential regret?

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Photo credit: Canva – Desperate mom gives herself an emergency C-section, saving both of their lives

Family, Heroes, Joy, Moms, Popular

Desperate mom of 9 gives herself an emergency C-section, saving both of their lives

She told her kids to get help before passing out.

Jacalyn Wetzel

Upworthy Staff

4/25/2026

Bringing life into the world isn’t always as joyous as the media portrays. Several parents come through childbirth with physical, mental, and emotional trauma. But even among the most traumatic deliveries, the birth story of Inés Ramíez, a mother of nine in Mexico, likely catapults to the top of the list of the world’s most traumatic births.

The International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics reveals in a case report originally published in December 2003, that a 40-year-old mother of nine gave herself an emergency cesarean section and lived to tell the tale. This wasn’t a self-inflicted operation to test her fortitude and pain tolerance. This was an act of desperation, utilizing different areas of personal experience to guide her actions.

The mother lived in Oaxaca, a remote mountain town in Mexico without access to a local hospital. After delivering eight previous children, she’s an expert on how childbirth is supposed to go, but during her eighth pregnancy, something went wrong. Labor didn’t progress as it should’ve, and the baby couldn’t descend through the birth canal properly, resulting in a stillbirth.

Newborn’s first cry marks a fresh beginning. Photo credit: Canva

Living in an extremely rural area with little access to everyday necessities, Ramíez was accustomed to seeing goats slaughtered for food. This knowledge came in handy when she went into labor with her ninth child at home with no other adult around to assist. When her labor stalled, showing the same signs as her previous pregnancy that ended in a stillbirth, the mom became desperate. According to the report she gave the hospital, she knew she had to get the baby out quickly, so she took three shots of hard liquor and cut into her belly. Ramíez’s husband was away deer hunting with no idea what was going on at home.

OBGYN Shannon M. Clark shares the story on her Instagram page explaining how the mother was able to successfully perform her own C-section without dying from blood loss.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Shannon M. Clark, MD, FACOG (@babiesafter35)

“She did a right paramedian incision vertically to gain access to her abdomen, so likely she entered somewhere near the midline between the rectus muscles, and then she cut her uterus in the same direction and delivered the male fetus. She didn’t report a lot of bleeding, but having done these a gajillion times, incisions that are up and down, either right to the side of the belly button, or above it, or below it, actually do not bleed very much because you get right in between those rectus muscles, and you avoid a lot of vessels that way,” Clark explains.

It took her about an hour to complete the emergency surgery. Before passing out, likely from pain and shock, she directed one of her children to get her cousin, who is a local health assistant. The cousin arrived to find the mother still passed out with a gaping wound. Being that the community is so rural, her cousin didn’t have proper sutures, so she used a regular sewing needle and cotton thread to close the mother’s abdomen. The cousin then transported Ramíez in her car to the nearest clinic, 2.5 hours away, to stabilize her before continuing the drive to the hospital, which is eight hours away.

After making it to the hospital, the doctors there were able to perform surgery to make sure nothing was amiss. They repaired her uterus and abdomen 16 hours after she performed her own C-section with a butcher’s knife. The mother healed well, leaving what appears to be a thin scar about six inches long next to her belly button.

People who watched Clark’s video can’t fathom having the strength to do the same thing, with one woman writing, “I’m a nurse and I don’t think I could do this to myself. To someone else, maaaaaybe, but I’m not sure. The nurse who came out and used a needle and thread to sew this lady up was also incredible.”

Newborn baby. Photo credit: Canva

Another says, “Well, when you’re on pregnancy number 9 you’re pretty much a professional. Whatever brand of liquor she drank should hire her to advertise. Never underestimate the power of love, adrenaline and survival instinct.”

Even doctors are impressed: “I have to say, as an OB I am extremely impressed at how straight and nicely done her abdominal incision was.”

This article originally appeared last year. It has been updated.

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Photo credit: Canva – Man strokes strange woman's hair as she slept in hilariously embarrassing mixup

Dads, Family

Man strokes strange woman’s hair as she slept in hilariously embarrassing mixup

“I legitimately did not see that ending coming.”

Jacalyn Wetzel

4/25/2026

After a stressful day, it can be soothing for a loved one to stroke your hair as you relax. It’s a sweet gesture that can make the one on the receiving end feel cared for, which is exactly what this dad was attempting to do. But as he finished comforting his wife, he got the shock of a lifetime when another man walked in—her husband.

Tyson Popplestone is a father of three, but he says he’s lucky to have escaped the birth of his last child. The dad recently took to social media to do the popular “put a finger down” challenge about the birth of his youngest. No one could’ve predicted the wild ride the tired dad was going to take everyone on.

Man kissing woman’s head in hospital bed
Photo credit: Canva

The video starts normally enough, with Popplestone explaining that his wife had just given birth to their third child. Giving birth requires a lot of energy, so she asks him to go home and cook up her favorite meal. Everything seems normal up until this point in the challenge. He goes home, cooks the meal, packs it up, and heads back to provide his wife sustenance and support.

Popplestone returns to find his wife asleep in the bed. Instead of waking her, he sets the food down, sits next to her, picks up the fussy baby, and begins stroking his wife’s hair. Clearly, the woman is exhausted because she doesn’t stir, but this is to be expected after such a big event. Plus, the room is completely dark. Perfect conditions for napping.

Man and woman sleeping in hospital bed
Photo credit: Canva

“You know she’s not going to get much sleep in the next few weeks, so you just let her sleep,” Popplestone says. “But then, your brand-new baby starts to cry, so you pick it up, and then you go over and just sit down next to your wife and stroke her hair for 40 minutes. And then, after 40 minutes, a strange man walks into the room and says, ‘What the hell is going on here?’”

The strange man flips on the light to find Popplestone holding his child and stroking his wife’s hair. When Popplestone realized that he was indeed stroking the hair of someone else’s wife while holding someone else’s baby, all he could do was apologize. He handed the strange baby to the strange man while trying to explain that the hospital must have forgotten to inform him of the room change.

View this post on Instagram

“No one wants to hear what you’re saying because everyone just assumes you’re a massive psycho,” Popplestone laments.

Viewers of his “put a finger down challenge” cannot get over the wild turn the story took. One person writes, “I was NOT ready for the plot twist.”

Someone else says, “I legitimately did not see that ending coming.”

Another jokes, “Meanwhile your wife is hungry and you’re out there stroking some other lady’s hair.”

Man rubbing woman’s head in hospital bed
Photo credit: Canva

“Tell the part where you explained this to your wife as she has to eat her favorite meal cold. I would be EMOTIONAL haha,” this person laughs.

“This video is impressive because it’s been a pretty long time since I’ve felt such strong secondhand stress from a reel,” another person says.

“I hope that stranger mama, whose hair you stroked, gets to see this and finally believes the wacky “story” her husband has been telling everyone for years and is finally believed! Too good,” someone else adds.

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Photo credit: Canva – Students in a middle school classroom.

Family, Moms

A middle school Greek history simulation asked girls to act subservient to boys for weeks. One mom asked a simple question: was this necessary?

“How would you feel if your 13-year-old daughter came home with a paper saying she couldn’t enter a classroom without a boy escort and would be required to pick up after them every day?”

Adam Albright-Hanna

Upworthy Staff

4/24/2026

A seventh-grade class at a middle school was assigned a simulation of ancient Greek society. Students got Greek names, learned to wear Greek clothes, built temples, represented city-states, staged short dramas, and participated in Olympic events. By most measures, an unusually creative history project.

It also required the girls to demonstrate their “secondary position.” They couldn’t enter the classroom without a male escort. They were expected to clean up after the boys each day.

Nico, who goes by @nicorette on TikTok, found out about it when her 13-year-old daughter came home from school and told her it had made her uncomfortable. Nico posted about it, and the video spread.

@nicoxrette
I will be talking to the school, the office was closed by the time my child got home from school. I’m honestly appalled. Who okayed this? #parents #middleschool #middleschoolers #socialstudies #classroom #teachers #ancientgreece #feminist #feminism #sexist #sexism #fyp #fypシ #fypviralシ #wwyd #thoughts
♬ original sound – nico 🪐

“How would you feel if your 13-year-old daughter came home with a paper that said they wouldn’t be able to enter a classroom without a boy escort and would be required to pick up after them every day?” she asked. She was clear that she liked a lot of what the project was trying to do, like the Greek names, the costumes, and the intellectual discussions so that just made the subservience requirement harder to explain away. “So why was this even necessary?” she asked.

Middle school students working quietly. Photo credit: Canva

The comments split in predictable directions but a few stood out. One viewer defended the assignment, arguing it could help female students understand how far women’s rights have come and how quickly they can erode. A commenter who identified as a teacher pushed back harder: “I wrote my master’s thesis about classroom simulations. They only work if the power dynamics stay equal among students.” Another drew a sharper comparison: requiring girls to perform submission to boys isn’t meaningfully different from asking Black students to perform submission to white ones.

That last analogy tends to clarify things pretty quickly. The goal of a history simulation is to understand the past, not to rehearse it on the bodies of kids who are still figuring out who they are.

Nico said the school office was closed by the time her daughter got home. She was planning to raise it with administrators the next day.

You can follow Nico at @nicorette on TikTok for more parenting content.

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