(Then and Now on Chapter 19: Just a Mama)

I guess this still stings because it was the beginning of my letting go of a lot my expectations for myself and for Rose. Neurologist #1 had warned us about this. I did not want to hear it. She let us know that the path for Rose would no longer be straight. It felt like a slap at the time. Her words echoed in my mind many times through the years. I ended up appreciating these “mean” words.

I want to be clear here, Other Mothers, that this was not a lowering of my expectations for us, it was a morphing. We all have plans and aspirations. It was necessary to let go of these remote dreams and reach for goals that were near-by and doable. Flexibility became absolutely essential. Raising Rose required careful, slower steps to get where she is…

“Oh, what a tangled web we weave…when first we practice to deceive.” – Walter Scott

One of the most challenging questions to consider – when we learn we’ve been betrayed by our partner or spouse – is “Should I tell the children, or should it stay a secret?”

There is no easy answer to this very troubling question. It is something you must think through, and weigh up, for yourself. Also, it is better to be cautious than to make a rushed a decision; so here are a few factors to bear in mind …

1. Once the story has been shared it cannot be ‘unshared’. If you and your partner recover from this, and manage to build a completely different life, other people won’t forget. For years, it might influence how they see both of you.

2. Although you can choose to turn your back and walk away, the…

Image: Giver of Rainbow Diamond Light

“We walk by faith, not by sight.” -- Paul the Apostle 


The Origin  There is a sacred divinity within us all, a still, small voice of tenderness; calls. It’s in our ‘hearts, soul and understanding, our spiritual desires, evermore entrancing. It’s a longing, we are all yearning to find, with devout prayer and meditative mind. It’s in the psyche, the magic, the mystery, an insightful zone, uplifting to perceive. The truth is, ‘In’ there, it is not with out, a silence, you will hear, as it may shout. In ancient times, it was known as a gift, whereas today, that seems to contradict? Originally, known as, sacred and divine, now known as evil, distorted over time. What, why, when, where did this change, into the demonic and dread fully strange. Hidden in plain sight, the truth is ‘in’ there, It’s been written in the…

Trauma causes us to question our beliefs. Now there’s sand beneath our feet, not the solid ground we thought. When this happens in our life, we can feel destabilized. Everything’s been stripped away, nothing’s certain any more.

It’s at desperate times like these when the scales fall from our eyes … that we learn important truths … that we see what matters most.

These include:

1. At the end of the day there isn’t much that really matters: but those few basic things really matter a lot.

2. How we treat other people, and how they treat us, is what really matter the most.

3. Life itself is a blessing and gift.

4. There are always a few things that renew our sense of hope. Even if it’s as simple as a beautiful sunset.

5. There are sparks of hidden beauty all over the place. And often these show up…

Explaining epilepsy to a friend is no easy matter. Sometimes they may be scared. Some may be curious. Some may want to help. Some may want to flee.

But, obviously, those who care will want to understand you. For those friends, here are some brief epilepsy facts:

What is epilepsy?

It’s like a storm in the brain. Seizures happen when there is unusual electrical activity. Your brain cells are constantly sending out electrical signals that travel along nerves to the rest of the body.

These signals tell the muscles to move. During a seizure, a person’s muscles tighten and relax rapidly or stop moving completely. Seizures come on suddenly, and people who have them can’t control their muscles while they’re having a seizure.

If too many brain cells are sending signals at the same time, it causes an overload, and a person may pass out and shake all over. People…

“Journal writing is a voyage to the interior.” – Christina Baldwin

Writing is an outlet which can help us process trauma. It helps us sort out feelings, and gives the pain a voice. It’s a way of bearing witness to the messiness, and chaos. It also reveals progress, and ways in which we’ve changed.

Instructions for Journaling

We are going to journal for the next 7 days. Find a quiet place where you feel comfortable, and won’t be disturbed.

Each day, take one of the listed prompts and try to write honestly and freely.

Note: Some of the prompts relate specifically to processing trauma. Others, are focused more on self-care.

Prompt 1: Write down the things you are willing to share about your trauma. Also, think about the things you don’t want to share – or talk about – right now. This might include specific facts and…