Living With

  • loss of parent

    Living With – The Loss of a Parent

    You can’t ask people that. You just can’t. It’s way overstepping personal boundaries. You’re trying to take a peek into their emotional vault. If people really wanted to talk about what it feels like to lose a loved one, they’d already be doing it, right? This is what ran through my head when I first…

  • child with epilepsy

    Living With – A Child With Epilepsy

    In elementary school there was a kid that was a grade or two above who had epilepsy. I remember so clearly a group gathered around him one day on the playground, then slowly dispersing with horrified looks on their faces. He was being helped off of the ground by a teacher. The kids who saw…

  • Living with migraines

    Living With – Migraines – While Raising A Family

    Have you ever had a really bad headache? Like really, really bad? I think everyone has at one time or another. Chances are, though, unless you have been diagnosed with migraines, what you felt was just the tip of the iceberg compared to what someone who suffers from chronic migraines endures. Or, maybe that’s why…

  • Living with, and owning, your mental illness

    Living With – (And Owning) Mental Illness

    May is Mental Health Awareness Month. I haven’t been shy about bringing up my struggles in former posts, but I wanted to reach out to someone who has been truly outspoken about their own battle. While I received so much positive feedback and support after I talked a little about my depression, I know using…

  • Living with a child with FPIES

    Living With – A Child With FPIES

    An empty plate. That’s all I could think about as I read Joy’s story. Her child has FPIES, a condition that must affect every moment of every day in her family’s life, never knowing what might set it off. I thought that I would have a fear every time I set a plate of food…

  • Living with deployment

    Living With – Deployment

    Another Veterans Day has passed. We recognize and celebrate the men and women who have defended our country, and all of our freedoms. We recognize their sacrifice, and that of their families. Wait. I don’t think we ever recognize the families. At least, not like we should. I actually don’t hear it mentioned much at…

  • raising grandchildren

    Living With – Raising Grandchildren

       I am an old mom. I started having my kids later in life. I think all the time about what age I’ll be when they hit certain milestones in their lives, wondering if they wait to have children as long as I did, will I even know my grandchildren? I see younger parents doing…

  • Living with a child with a speech delay

    Living With – a Child with a Speech Delay

     My little Sunshine said “fart” tonight. This was a big moment for our family. Because our child has a speech delay.   If you read my About Me page, you know that Viggo is 2. He just turned 2 this month. I’ve called him Sunshine from almost day 1. He just always has this beautiful light…