Moms, Interrupted.

  This is about as close to a political post as I'll get; and I'm only doing it in reference to a question that came up at one of the town halls.  A mother asked how this candidate would protect LGBTQ+ rights if he was elected. She was concerned because she has an 8-year-old child who is transgender.  Let that sink in: 8 years old.  What were you doing at 8 years old?  I was probably listening to Rick Springfield and pondering the latest Judy Blume book (yes, I just dated myself). Now before I go on, let me be clear about something. This post is not about shaming any parent who is struggling with these decisions. I've been a part of an online support group for parents of transgender kids and I have read some heart-wrenching posts of parents who just don't know what to do. They have underage kids (mostly teens) who are clearly unhappy and the parents are trying to decide how to help them. There is NO easy path on this journey and I won't judge any parent for decision

So, we've all heard about a certain college admissions scam. The one where parents bribed and lied and actually made up fake profiles to get their kids into desirable colleges. Pretty gross, right? And the worst part is not that my image of Lori Loughlin (Aunt Becky!) has forever been tarnished, but rather how she has hurt her daughters.  Apparently, her daughters didn't even want to go to college (oh the irony), but it was something that their parents wanted desperately.  If the news is to be believed, their parents wanted so badly for them to have that "college experience" that they were apparently willing to risk their careers, not to mention jail time. The expectations they had for them (in this case, anyway) were so far from what the daughters wanted for themselves.  Now, I don't know this family, so I'm playing arm-chair psychologist here. But it seems to me that the parents let their expectations blind them to reality.  Maybe it was too hard for th

Took a big step today. I wrote a letter to my son and it was the first time I used his new name. I guess that's progress in the journey of acceptance, right?

One of the ways I see God walking with me in this journey is by the people He brings around me. Granted, I don't run into many parents in my situation in our local coffee shop, but I did find a social media group full of them. Parents going through the same experience. I read their posts and comments and realize they are feeling the same emotions as me. Struggling with the same conflicts. And it's comforting.  Feeling alone when dealing with a traumatic event is the worst.  But I am not alone. And you are not alone. Here's just a sample of the healing words I get the privilege to read: "I am at a loss. I guess I’m still processing everything and my own emotions as well." "I go back and forth some days, wanting to hide my head." "I don't have any answers, only wishes and prayers." "Sometimes I don't know if I'm doing the right  things . I know it's not about me." ...and then: "I am blessed to h

I had always been excited at the prospect of "launching" my kid into the world (be it college or whatever) to begin his life.  I'd also heard all the stories about how freeing it would be. About how photo credit: creativecommons.org much time I'd have to myself and all the hobbies I would be able to do now that I didn't have school field trips and choir concerts and school plays to attend. It sounded pretty cool... until it wasn't. During the month of his graduation, my kid informed me he would be moving a few hours away to live with his dad; a complete 180 degree turn from the plans we'd made together.  So yes, I was shocked and very disappointed, but as he was turning 18, there wasn't much I could do. So off he went. And there I was. You know, one of the benefits of your kids leaving the nest is that you have more quiet time to reflect. It also happens to be one of the downsides. That summer was rough. My husband also happened to be workin