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When the doctor in the emergency room told Amelia that it was time to say goodbye, she was in disbelief. "How do you even do that?"

Photo by Julia Caesar on Unsplash

A grieving widow shares lessons on how to live after loss.

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This article originally appeared on 02.14.17

Amelia and Manny made clear plans when they got married.

They planned to travel around the world. They planned what they’d want their family and their futures to look like. It was all so normal and real.

And then something they couldn't have planned for happened: Manny unexpectedly passed away soon after they'd tied the knot.

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Family

7 secrets to raising awesome, functional teenagers.

Step 1: Ditch the myth that all teens are sullen, angry creatures.

All photos used here are mine, used with permission.

My beautiful teens.

This article originally appeared on 08.20.19

I occasionally get asked by mothers of young children what the secret is to raising great teenagers.

My initial response is that I have absolutely no clue. My kids are who they are IN SPITE of having me as a mother. (The young moms don't find that answer too helpful.)

Really, the first thing that I will tell you is to disbelieve the myth that teenagers are sullen, angry creatures who slam doors and hate their parents. Some do that, but the overwhelming majority do not. Every one of my kids' friends are just as happy and fun as my kids are, so I know it's not just us.

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Health

6 too-real comics show what happens when work gets too heavy

Finding a good balance between working and relaxing can be difficult, but it doesn't have to be.

Image courtesy of College Humor

A reason to be late... tasty treats.

This article originally appeared on 10.25.16

Everyone gets antsy about their jobs sometimes.

Maybe you notice you're less motivated than usual. Maybe you acknowledge that you're no longer going the extra mile, and you're not quite sure why. Maybe professionalism is a term you've long since forgotten.

For many of us, the struggle can be so, so real. That's why Willie Muse wrote these all-too-relatable comics for College Humor, illustrated by Karina Farek.

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Joy

27-year-old who died of cancer left behind final advice that left the internet in tears

"Don't feel pressured to do what other people might think is a fulfilling life. You might want a mediocre life and that is so OK."

Photo courtesy of Remembering Holly Butcher/Facebook used with permission.

Holly Butcher left behind her best life advice before she passed away at 27.

This article originally appeared on 01.08.18

The world said goodbye to Holly Butcher, a 27-year-old woman from Grafton, Australia.

Butcher had been battling Ewing's sarcoma, a rare bone cancer that predominantly affects young people. In a statement posted on Butcher's memorialized Facebook account, her brother, Dean, and partner, Luke, confirmed the heartbreaking news to friends.

"It is with great sadness that we announce Holly's passing in the early hours of this morning," they wrote on Jan. 4, 2018. "After enduring so much, it was finally time for her to say goodbye to us all. The end was short and peaceful; she looked serene when we kissed her forehead and said our final farewells. As you would expect, Holly prepared a short message for you all, which will be posted above."

Butcher's message, which Dean and Luke did, in fact, post publicly shortly thereafter, has brought the internet to tears.

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advice

'You date people you think you deserve. You deserve better.'

When the doctor in the emergency room told Amelia that it was time to say goodbye, she was in disbelief. "How do you even do that?"

Amelia and Manny made clear plans when they got married.

Instead of being a young, happy newlywed, Amelia became a young, grieving widow.

In hopes of helping others, Amelia wrote down eight things she learned about living after loss:

1. "Moving on" is a fallacy. Amelia prefers to call it "moving forward."

2. "Try to remain open to life."

3. Hers is not a "success story."

4. This is a big one: "Release any hostility or jealousy."

5. "It will take longer than you expect."

6. "Only you know what you're really going through."

7. "The right partner will actively keep the memory alive with you."

8. And finally: "You can do this."

As many of us know, life often doesn't go according to plan.

You can't please everyone!

Like most parents, I didn't know what I was doing when I first became a mom — because I'd never done it before.

My husband and I made some mistakes, and we did some things brilliantly.

So less than a year and a half later, I became a second-time mom when we adopted our daughter, Molley.

All of that parenting experience I'd gained with my son did. not. apply. to. this. child.

You know the thing about "good parents?" There's not just one type.

After hearing the highest of praises and the lowest of insults when my daughter was younger, that's the mental space I had to get myself to.

I parented her the way I felt would work best, adjusting as we went.

I learned a few things very quickly: First, a lot of people want you to know exactly what they think of your parenting skills and style.

It didn't take me long to tune out the negative, focus on my children and myself, and put my energy into being the best parent I could be, the opinions of strangers notwithstanding.

Step 1: Ditch the myth that all teens are sullen, angry creatures.

I occasionally get asked by mothers of young children what the secret is to raising great teenagers.

1. Love them fiercely.

2. Listen and pay attention.

3. Say yes more than you say no.

4. Say no often.

5. Feed them. A lot.

6. Don't sweat the small stuff.

7. Stand back and watch the magic happen.

Finding a good balance between working and relaxing can be difficult, but it doesn't have to be.

Everyone gets antsy about their jobs sometimes.

1. Who doesn't look at at least one viral video a day?

2. You suddenly find the time to fit in a breakfast sandwich.

3. You go from wanting your boss's approval to hating his or her guts.

4. All the details that were once so important become nuisances.

5. Your (lack of) motivation can take you from hero to zero — quick!

6. And you most certainly DO NOT want to end up like this.

The most overlooked advice for maintaining a healthy work-life balance is to actually take time off.

"Don't feel pressured to do what other people might think is a fulfilling life. You might want a mediocre life and that is so OK."

We reached out to experts to see what advice they'd have for parents who think their kids might be struggling with stress or anxiety. Here is what they had to say.

School can be a ton of fun, but for many kids, it can also be a pretty big source of stress and anxiety as well.

1. Be specific about what you've noticed about your child's stress level.

2. Don't just reassure: problem-solve.

3. Plan and practice!

4. Repeat the serenity prayer.

5. Don't ignore the bright side.

6. Try to stay calm and collected yourself.

7. Remember that you're not alone.

8. Finally, don't forget about happiness.