The night that almost broke me

One year ago today, I published Mission: Motherhood. But the inspiration for the book started on one of the worst nights of my life.

It was the night before my custody hearing.

My estranged husband was filing last-minute legal maneuvers.

And the court-appointed amicus attorney who was supposed to safeguard my 4-year-old’s best interests just recommended that my ex be named my son’s father.

😲 Even though I had used an anonymous sperm donor during our legal separation.
😲 Even though he wasn’t the biological father.
😲 Even though he never lived with him and had never acted like a father to my son.

I was devastated.

That night, as tears streamed down my face, I asked God why this was happening.

And in a moment I’ll never forget, the answer came clearly:

“𝘠𝘰𝘶’𝘳𝘦 𝘨𝘰𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘨𝘩 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘴𝘰 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘱 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘸𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘯 𝘣𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘮𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘴.”

That’s when I realized my pain had a purpose.

I ultimately won my case.

Our judge followed the law and denied his bid for parentage, despite the system’s bias for two parents.

And I started writing.

One year ago today, that journey became a book.

And this year has shown me something I couldn’t fully see back then.

Sometimes what feels like the darkest moments of our lives are the beginning of a much bigger mission.

Today, I don’t just have the family I always wanted. I get to help other women create theirs.

Women who, after hearing my story:

♥️ find hope in their own fertility journey
♥️ feel less alone in their struggle
♥️ realize that with knowledge, courage, and determination, their dream of motherhood is possible.

That’s what makes every tear I cried worth the pain.

I am so grateful that I get to do this work with women every day.

On this one-year anniversary of the book’s release, I spoke with Kelly Schuknecht on the Beyond the Bestseller podcast.

Here’s what I’ve learned: Sometimes the very thing that almost breaks you is the one that brings the most meaning.

Has something ever happened in your life that initially felt like a curse, but it became your greatest blessing?