We say, “Kids say the darndest things,” but often we neglect the things they say when they really need us SHUT UP AND LISTEN.

As adults, we have a tendency to view ourselves superior to children. As parents, we think we know better than our children. In both cases, we are wrong.

Yes, it’s true that we may have more education and be more knowledgeable in certain aspects of life, but to disregard children and ignore the many lessons they have to offer us is ignorant. Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way.

When my child was diagnosed with severe…

One of the most common responses I receive when people learn my child suffers from anxiety disorders is, “Really? She looks so normal.” I usually want to reply with the sarcastic, “No duh,” but I realize that it is not the person’s fault. It is how we as a society have identified what mental illness looks like or acts like.

Generally speaking, many do not realize that any of the Anxiety Disorders are considered mental illnesses. Others do not even recognize Anxiety Disorders as being different from the common anxiety attack or panic attack. …

“You’re a whore. I know you are cheating with him.” The accusation was absurd. Not only was the guy his close friend, but his girlfriend was my friend. He was drunk, so I laughed off his ridiculous statement. That is when I felt it. He backhanded me in the face. To this day, I remember the feeling. I was in pain. I was in shock. I was confused. My face started throbbing, but before I could process what happened, he hit me again. This time harder. This time with better contact. Tears instantly ran down my face.

I parked the…

Most of us have suffered the wrath of an anxiety attack at one point in our lives. I definitely had my share of unwanted attacks throughout my lifetime. I am the typical Type A personality, so most things in life give me anxiety as I am programmed to aim at perfection. If you would have asked me eight years ago if I am familiar with anxiety, I would have responded with the obnoxious, “Duh! Of course.” However, my perspective and everything I thought I knew about anxiety was thrown out the window around the time my oldest child turned four.

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