#ren

I vowed that I would never tell anyone of my shame. They say that when you kept a secret, it eats you up inside, but I felt it was better that way. I wanted to appear strong in front of my children and my family. I didn't want anybody to know. And I would maintain my persona as Jenni, the Rivera Rebel who had never lost a fight. But deep down inside I knew I had lost a piece of myself that I would never recover. My soul had been shattered, but to the outside world I did just as I had been taught since I was a little girl; I kept my head up and continued forward. It is, after all, the Rivera way. ↗

— Jenni Rivera

#rape #shame #strength #survivor #family

He showed the words “chocolate cake” to a group of Americans and recorded their word associations. “Guilt” was the top response. If that strikes you as unexceptional, consider the response of French eaters to the same prompt: “celebration. ↗

— Michael Pollan

#chocolate #chocolate-cake #connotations #food #french

I am a teacher. Pay close attention - this will be on the test. You don't wreck buildings. You don't take children hostage. And you don't threaten people with violence. Okay class dismissed. Looks like you fail! ↗

— yoko

#gurren-lagann #yoko #funny

It's really not that hard to put food on the table if that's what you decide to do. ↗

— Jeannette Walls

#life #parents #providing #food

Life may be miraculous in its unlikelihood in the universe, but it would be a fallacy to suggest that its rareness makes it inextinguishable. ↗

— John Hodgman

#rareness #life

The married man and the mother of a Christian family, if they are faithful to their obligations, will fulfill a mission that is as great as it is consoling: that of bringing into the world and forming young souls capable of happiness and love, souls capable of sanctification and transformation in Christ. ↗

— Thomas Merton

#marriage #parenthood #faith

Children needed love, a reliable source of comfort, and an adult willing to take responsibility for them. ↗

— Deborah Harkness

#wisdom #love

Though much is taken, much abides; and though we are not now that strength which in old days moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are – unyielding. ↗

— Paullina Simons

#invincible #love #strength #tatiana-and-alexander #the-bridge-to-holy-cross

You see how it is godlike to love the being of someone. Your existence is a delight to us. I hope you never have to long for a child as I did, but oh, what a splendid thing it has been that you came finally, and what a blessing to enjoy you now for almost seven years. ↗

— Marilynne Robinson

#longing #love #parenthood #love

The sages advise us to study Torah lishma-"for its own sake" rather than to impress others with our scholarship. A paradox of parenting is that if we love our children for their own sake rather than for their achievements, it's more likely that they will reach their true potential. ↗

— Wendy Mogel

#jewish #parenting #torah #love