Mental illness is such a tough topic to discuss- so much so that I'm not even exactly sure how to start this post. When people experience a physical ailment like diabetes or ALS, they are encouraged to share about their experiences openly and generally we flood them with support and understanding and encouragement. But struggles with mental illness are typically kept under wraps often because people are scared about how they will be perceived. The problem with the silence surrounding mental health is that it leaves our understanding of mental illness limited to images from dramatic Lifetime movies or news reports of mass shooters. But that's not what most mental illness looks like.
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), 25% of the...
From my five year-old back-seat driver recently:
___________________
Mom?
Mom?
Yes?
Mom?
What time is it?
It’s 5:43.
5:43?
Yes, 5:43.
Um… so, how much longer until we get home?
About an hour.
Why?
Because we can’t go any faster than this.
Why?
Do you see that sign? What’s the number on that sign?
70.
Well, we’re not supposed to go any faster than that number. It’s called the speed limit.
How fast are you going?
About 70.
What’s the number? What number are you going?
75.
75? 75 is more than 70, right?
Yes, it is. Not much more though.
But you’re not supposed to go faster than 70, right?
That’s right. But we’ll be home soon. It’s not that much faster.
70 is the rule though, right? That’s what the sign says, right?
Yes….
So, you don’t have to follow the rules?
…
Mom?
Mom?
Yes?
What time is it?
It’s...
I realize I may be in the minority. Before you click out of this post, hear me out. My relationship with my mother-in-law (MIL) is far from perfect. In fact, when my husband and I were dating and newly married, my relationship with my MIL was a source of anxiety. I wanted to be the perfect daughter in-law, and I desperately wanted her approval. The longing for her approval left me constantly on edge when we were together.
It wasn't until months after my daughter was born that I was finally able to breathe a sigh of relief, and I became more comfortable with our relationship. I realized that my mother-in-law raised two boys, and she would never get to have those traditional mother-daughter...
Motherhood is filled with great joy. But often, especially when you have small children, it also feels a little like the movie Groundhog Day. A little, well, monotonous day after day.
mo not o nous
adjective
tedious and repetitious; lacking in variety and interest.
Sometimes, we need a little inspiration to remind us of the bigger picture. I've recently started listening and watching TED Talks, and I can't get enough! According to the TED website, "TED is a nonprofit devoted to 'ideas worth spreading', usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less). TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers most all topics - from science to business to global issues...
I grew up in a family full of strong, opinionated, southern women of all shapes and sizes. As a family, we all loved to gather together for holidays or special occasions over an abundant feast of deliciously prepared food, and then the next day all the ladies would begin their diets all over again only to avoid getting "fat." As a child, I always questioned the true definition of "fat." Throughout my formative years, I attended my fair share of Weight Watchers meetings with my mother (who has never been "fat" a day in her life) who taught me from a tender age how to count points. Looking back, I'm pretty sure that through every season of my life, there have been times where I...
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The Best Coffee in BR is Actually in Ascension
Like a lot of moms I'm often in need of caffeine on a regular basis and...
