I’ve had this conversation more times than I ever care to have. It never gets easier and frankly, its sucks, every single time. You may not be, “mine”, so questioning why I feel this obligation to address the situation with you immediately, is valid. The simple answer is, I’m a seasoned veteran on the topic. I've been through the thick of it within my own household, so I feel a sense of responsibility to help where I can by taking on these tough situations to shield others from having to feel the anguish that comes along with helping someone who struggles with self-harm. 

Years back, my youngest had his tonsils and adenoids removed. Since I had no personal experience with this procedure, I sought advice from parents who had, in hopes of learning from them. Just about every person I asked, had the same story and advice. Sure enough, what they said would happen, did. The simple concept of knowing that what we were experiencing with his recovery, was the same for the majority, somehow made it easier and less scary to deal with.

July 6th, 2021. My oldest child and only daughter’s 13th birthday. My mom heart was filled with normal emotions of nostalgia and bittersweet love at the thought of my baby becoming a teenager. We started the day as I start both my baby’s birthdays, blasting them out of their beds with our Amazon Echo speakers at the highest volume, playing the always appropriate, “Birthday Song” by the Beatles. The day was filled with all her favorite things; donuts for breakfast, Hungry Hobo (a famous local deli) for lunch, followed by an impromptu stop at a public spray ground to cool off from the hot summer day. The day was completed at her favorite birthday dinner spot, Olive Garden. The entire day was filled with smiles and laughter from us all and gratitude from the birthday girl for a day of being spoiled and a haul of presents. July 6th, 2021.