Walking Away
I have spent the majority of my life in various states of anger. For the first thirty years, this anger was mainly turned inward. I didn’t have permission to express anger in my home. The...
Three Little Words
I have always been a talker. I am an extrovert by nature. In my family, that made me a problem child. They couldn’t get me to shut up. I was threatened with my life and physically assaulted...
Into Me See
I write about parenting often. I write about it because I have experience with parenting. It is important to note that my definition of “experience” is several small victories and a series of...
That Can’t Happen to Me
This week has been a big week for the anti-human trafficking movement. I am thrilled with the media attention related to the sting operation. I am also excited that so many of my friends have...
“No Thanks”
Janet Lansbury published a great article on her website, Elevating Child Care. I was particularly moved by her observations about personal limits. As a trauma survivor, I struggle with setting...
Darkness and Light
I don't think this will come as a shock, but I could not trust my parents. My mother used to act friendly until she got whatever she wanted from me. My father only wanted one thing....
The Third Option
I had the privilege of participating in a panel for HuffPost Live yesterday, which focused on parenting methods. It was prompted by a viral blog post about a new parenting "method" called CTFD...
Have Trauma, Will Hover (Chapter 2)
We went to the dentist yesterday. This isn’t the kind of dentist appointment with a cleaning and a sticker. This is the kind of dentist appointment with sedatives and drills. Unfortunately, my...
Maybe In A House …
I have been in recovery for a while now. Most days, I feel pretty good. Most days, I can keep my anxiety from paralyzing me. Most days, I function well. However, I don’t have to look far to see...
Mirror Mirror In My House
Life is a mirror. I have always believed that. To be more exact, the external life always represents your internal state of being, which is largely unconscious. This may sound like spiritual...
