Hi all! I recently did an interview with a fellow blogger! She interviewed me! Yay! This blogger is Pooja G! She writes about mental illness and travel. She has lived in different places, so she has experience with travel! She also often posts inspiring quotes. Pooja recently put out a post asking if fellow bloggers would like to be interviewed in order to help them grow their platform. Pooja was very engaging and such a patient and kind interviewer! I had fun talking with her!Definitely head over to her blog and give my interview a listen, and while you’re there, checkout other posts by Pooja! Also follow her socials!
My father recently introduced me to Netflix’s Anne with an E. It’s a show inspired by novel series Anne of Green Gables by Canadian author Lucy Maud “L.M.” Montgomery. For those who are unfamiliar with Anne of Green Gables or Anne with an E, it is a story that follows the life of a very bright and curious red haired young girl named Anne. The story begins with her meeting an elderly brother and sister named Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert.
My Dad loves Anne with an E. We watched it together several times recently. He just adores Anne and finds her so endearing. I love Anne too. There is no way you can watch the show and not fall for her charm. When the Cuthberts met Anne, they immediately loved her, especially Matthew. She changed their lives for the better. Matthew is shy and reserved, and is a man of few words. Meeting Anne helps him to come out of his shell a little. For her, he would do anything. It got to the point where Marilla often teased that Matthew spoiled Anne.
Matthew did not expect this change in his life. It reminds me of me of how my father wasn’t expecting his life to take the turn it did. My father was still in school, and expecting to continue school, when he met and fell in love with my mother. They got married and started a family. My father vowed when he had a his first child that he would do anything to make sure he was the best father he could be. Over the years, his children wanted for nothing. He was the ultimate provider. It was a struggle to provide everything his children needed and wanted, but his children never felt the struggle. Their father simply made being a parent look effortless. To my father, life was hard, but to his children, life was perfect.
I really enjoyed spending time watching Anne with an E with my Dad. It was lots of fun. As I mentioned before, Dad really loved Anne. I loved Matthew and his relationship with Anne. He showered her with love in his own special, quiet way, and Anne appreciated him for it, just like I appreciate my Dad for the sacrifices he made for me. I wish my father a very happy Father’s Day. He deserves my appreciation and so much more.
Last time, Arlene and I talked about self love. You can view our first collaboration post here. This time around, the focus is on trying to move on mistakes or traumas. We decided to write letters to ourselves, and post the letters on each other’s blogs. Below, you will find Arlene’s letter to herself:
Dear Angie,
Your life has been about overcoming challenges, breaking through barriers, and moving
forward. Ironically, I know you’ve never asked for much, yet the love and support you’ve longed for seem out of reach. I want you
to realize how proud I am of your resilience and how far you’ve come. I can’t think of anyone else who has faced the trials you have and decided to rise above them. You’ve had the perfect excuse to give up if you wanted to.
I understand how exhausting and draining it can be a
t times. Seeing how much of a journey still lies ahead can be disheartening. It’s like swirling the entire ocean, only to find that the shore is still
far away.
Now that you have the incredible tools and knowledge you wish you had from the beginning, it brings up an inevitable question: If you know what you have left to do, why don’t you do it?
We both know you know better, so What’s holding you back from moving on, dear?
I know you’ve been trying to take care of your mom for as long as you can remember.
Despite your efforts to detach, surrender, accept, honor, and support her, it seems there’s still a small yet big step to take.
Acceptance and
resistance both have many layers. You might think you’ve moved past something until it catches you off guard.
Spending each day by your mother’s side causes you sorrow and drains your energy. It’s challenging to accept that there’s nothing more you can do for her
, and both of you need to move on. With numerous changes and challenges, you need to continue with your life, while she needs to follow the natural course of life as well. The days seem long and unbearable for her.
Facing the inevitable, especially knowing she wants to move out of your home
, feels like you’re pulling a trigger in a way. It’s like a one-way ticket.
The thought of a care facility is burdensome and unpleasant to you. Ironically, your mother would be better cared for there than at home, and it would also give you a break from the
the constant stress of dealing with nurses, medicines, and everything else.
Maybe deep down, you know it’s not just
about her; it’s about your whole life
changing. The uncertainty of what’s to come is
both exhilarating and terrifying. Perhaps you’re using the situation with your mom as a shield, almost a symbol.
She is the last link you have with your known life of origin. Everything else seems to be spiraling. It’s a positive spiral, yes, but a dizzying one. Your whole life is new.
I understand you may feel alone in the world
.I encourage you to continue your spiritual journey, filling the void, and moving on with love and purpose.
Keep moving forward, Angie.
About Arlene
Arlene is a blogger, Systemic & Family Constellation Practitioner, Energy Healer, and Trauma Specialization student. You can click here to visit her blog. You can also visit Arlene on social media and say hello!
I’ve talked a lot about dealing with mental illness on here. I’ve been dealing with mental illness since early childhood. I was a very happy and talkative child. I can’t fully remember when that started to change, but I do know that I got bullied a lot in school. I’ve always been small for my age, so I stood out like a sore thumb.
This did not change when I reached to high school. When I was in primary school and secondary school I had the same classmates. I had different classmates when I went to high school, but the bullying still continued. My self esteem took a deep dive due to the bullying and only made my depression worsen. By my senior year, my depression took a tool on me and I stayed home from school a lot. I just didn’t like being in school. Then I saw my grades. The moment I took a look at them I went in to a bathroom and started crying. I was failing. If I didn’t shape up, I was in jeopardy of having to repeat my senior year. I started going back to school regularly.
Fortunately, I had very understanding teachers. One teacher in particularly was very helpful. I talked with her about my situation and that I was dealing with a lot. She decided to give me an open book test and to help boost my grade. She gave me a 75 for her class. I was grateful, but I don’t think I showed enough gratitude at the time. Looking back, I don’t remember even saying Thankyou. If I had a chance to see her again, I would give her the gratitude I didn’t at the time. I would tell her Thankyou. Thankyou for giving me a chance to explain myself. Thankyou for being understanding. Thanks to you, I graduated on time.
Hi all! Welcome back to my blog! How many of you heard about the concept of the angel and the demon on your shoulders? I am playing the role of the demon on the shoulder and will be talking about my insecurities. Fellow blogger Arlene De Angelis will be playing the role of the angel and will be responding to my post. Arlene has a beautiful blog that focuses on helping her readers learn to love themselves. Her posts are in both English and Spanish! Arlene’s posts come from her experience as a Systemic & Family Constellation Practitioner, Energy Healer, and Trauma Specialization student. I had a great time collaborating with her and talking with her! She is honestly so sweet, and you’d definitely feel uplifted by her posts! So visit her blog and check it out!
Without further ado my half of the post is below:
I’ve been bullied since I was small. I can’t help but feel there are too many things wrong with me, and people notice them right away. I don’t like my back, because I have scoliosis. My posture is horrible. I also don’t like that I’ve gained a lot of weight recently. Maybe I need to really need to lower the amount of food I’m eating. I should skip breakfast or lunch from now on. I also don’t like my feet. I’m never wearing sandals! Sometimes I wish I were someone else. I don’t know what to do.
If I had to pick a word to describe mothers, it would be “strong”. Giving birth is no easy feat. Some woman die giving birth. Still, woman continue to use their bodies to bring life into the world. Some women even give birth several times. This includes my own mother (yes I have siblings, but I won’t say how many). My mother is not just strong physically though. She is strong personality wise as well. She has always been a very confident woman, not letting anyone’s negative opinions bring her down. That confidence shines through whenever I need a pep talk to boost my confidence. When whenever I would feel down about my looks she would say she has no ugly children. It would always make me laugh and I would feel better about myself in that moment. She also uses her strong personality to advocate for me. I am a person with a disability. When I was a small child, my school wanted put me in a special education class. My mother was sure that I could learn with other children, so she fought for me to be in a general class. I just needed a little extra attention to keep up with my peers. My mother never took excuses from me. She knew I had limitations and understood them, but she also understood my strengths and had high expectations of me. I am truly grateful for my mother’s strength. If I am blessed to be a mother myself one day, I hope to be a rock to my child like she has been for me. On Mother’s Day and everyday, I celebrate my wonderful mother.
Here is what a few others hva to say about their mothers:
Hi! It’s been a while since posted! For those who are not familiar with me, my name is Charli! I have a condition called Turner Syndrome. It is when I girl is born with one of her X chromosomes missing. Turner syndrome can lead to a lot of complications. Some of those complications include heart defects, hearing loss, and weak bones. I have been seeing my endocrinologist every six months to make sure that my health is ok. I’ve had to have surgery on my thyroid gland. Recently, however, my doctor told me that I can now see her once every year. My health is looking really good. As long as I continue taking my medication as prescribed, and continue making decent life choices, I will continue to be in good health. I consider myself to be very fortunate, especially since, like I said previously, Turner syndrome can lead to a lot of complications. There is so much I am thankful for. Being alive in the first place is something to be grateful for, because 99 percent of pregnancies involving a fetus with Turner syndrome end in miscarriage. Life sometimes throws us curveballs and challenges, but always remember that you are a fighter.
I was born with a genetic disorder, and this disorder can lead to learning difficulties. Growing up, my parents worked very hard to make sure I was in a classroom with general education children. They noticed most of the children in special education classrooms in the schools I was attending had behavioral problems, and were very disrespectful to the teachers. My parents were afraid I wouldn’t learn in that kind of environment, and that I would probably even get bullied. It wasn’t until I got older when I realized that the behavior of the other students with disabilities was unacceptable, even if they were special needs students. The same goes for people with mental illness.
I suffered from mental illness for a long time. Since childhood, but it wasn’t until 2019 when I finally decided to see a specialist for my depression. I was diagnosed with depression immediately. A few months later, I was also diagnosed with Borderline Personalty Disorder. I’d never heard of borderline personality disorder until I was diagnosed, so I didn’t waste any time googling it. It didn’t take long for me to find out how stigmatized the condition is.
But what is borderline personality disorder or BPD? According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), BPD is Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) “is a condition characterized by difficulties regulating emotion. This means that people who experience BPD feel emotions intensely and for extended periods of time, and it is harder for them to return to a stable baseline after an emotionally triggering event”. Symptoms of BPD, according to NAMI, include “frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment by friends and family; unstable personal relationships that alternate between idealization (“I’m so in love!”) and devaluation (“I hate her”)…sometimes known as ‘splitting’; impulsive behaviors that can have dangerous outcomes, such as excessive spending, unsafe sex, reckless driving, or misuse or overuse of substances; self-harming behavior including suicidal threats or attempts; periods of intense depressed mood, irritability or anxiety lasting a few hours to a few days; and inappropriate, intense or uncontrollable anger—often followed by shame and guilt”.
The symptoms show that forming and maintaining relationships is one of the biggest struggles for people with BPD. This includes relationships in the work place and with the medical team. This has made BPD gain the reputation in the medical field as a very difficult condition to deal with, and even mental health professionals sometimes refuse to work with people who have the condition. All over the Internet, one can find books, blog posts, and videos about surviving an experience with people who have BPD. Whenever someone commits a crime, people would often assume the person has a mental illness. In the films “Fatal Attraction” and “Acrimony”, a in the movies are so bitter and their behaviors so destructive that their stories end tragically. The characters in both movies were considered to have Borderline Personality disorder. People with BPD can not seem to live normal lives according to these movies. The well known court case between American actors Johnny Depp and Amber Heard, with Heard being diagnosed with BPD, did not help with the stigma on the condition.
It was because of the stigma on mental illness that it took me so long to see a specialist for my own mental illness. In fact, I didn’t want to accept the fact that I had a mental illness in the first place. After all, people with mental illnesses are violent, and I am not a violent person. At least that was my belief. I don’t know for sure whether Amber Heard has BPD or not, but I do know that she was accused by her husband of domestic abuse. Having a mental illness does not make a person violent or abusive, and if a person has a mental illness, it should not be used as an excuse. Evil people are just that, evil people.
Even though I was a student with special needs, I worked very hard to get good grades. I didn’t use my special needs status as an excuse to to do poorly in my classes. I also did not use my status as an excuse to mistreat my teachers. In the same way I, and many other people with mental illnesses, live normal lives and are not using the fact that we are mentally ill to be violent people.
My last post was a guest post by fellow blogger Antoinette [aka Tonie] Tardive Bryant from Learn and Laugh with Tonie. She is a former teacher and is dedicated to the education of young children. She is working on selling some children’s books and toys with a company called Paper Pie. There is a nice selection of books and toys for children of various ages. If you have children and you are interested in purchasing a book or toy, click this link: https://b8486.paperpie.com/shop. And please comment below if you purchase anything!
Our family understood what supporting a kid with a disability feels like because I came into the world that way and it wasn’t easy.
Born breach the doctor thought it was my bottom, but it was my shoulders and he crushed them with the forceps.
Support Children with Disabilities and Tips for Parents and Teachers
I not only was in the hospital for over 3 months, but my parents took me to PT 4 days a week till I was 7 when they transplanted muscle out of my shoulder to my lower arm.
So I understand, but some kids don’t understand and can just be curious. Heck I’ve had adults ask me what’s wrong with my arm, therefore in the hospital for over 3 months, but my parents took me to PT 4 days a week till I was 7 when they transplanted muscle out of my shoulder to my lower arm.
Interested in reading so My mom bought me a book 📖 called, “ LITTLE WOMEN .” I was hooked. To this day, over 65 years later it’s still my favorite book. As an adult I now collect any edition of “ Little Women” and my library has grown.
In this blog post, we will explore some practical tips and helpful resources that parents and teachers can use but before that I wonder if you know how many disabilities kids deal with!
Cerebral palsy ,Learning disability, Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, Autism spectrum disorder, Hearing loss< Deafblindness< Down syndrome, Spina bifida, and so many more.
Have you ever heard of Angelman Syndrome ?
Angelman Syndrome is a disorder that is caused by the loss of function of a specific gene. This gene is located on the chromosome 15, and it is responsible for providing instructions for making a protein called UBE3A. This protein is essential for normal brain development.
Angelman Syndrome results in characteristic features, such as severe intellectual disability, developmental delays, speech impairment, and problems with movement and balance.
In addition to these physical symptoms, people with Angelman Syndrome often have a happy demeanor and frequently laugh and smile. They may also be attracted to water and have a fascination with lights and movement.
While there is no cure for Angelman Syndrome, early intervention and support can help improve the quality of life for affected individuals and their families.
I have a friend whose second child has Angelman Syndrome. They have the most loving family, 3 beautiful children, Colti is their middle child who has this syndrome. They are amazing!
Below are several excerpts from her posts on Facebook.
With her permission I’d like to share with you.
“ In our house we read books about Chromosomes. We talk about our bodies & our brains, how they came to be, how different everyone is, & all of the reasons that those differences are wonderful.
Realistically, we have children’s books about chromosomes because we have a child/sibling that is missing a piece of one of them.
Having a son/brother with Angelman Syndrome has opened our eyes to the big world of children with special needs & just how common it actually is! There is a whoooole lotta “Rare” out there!
Wanting her children to know that different is not scary they bought a book about chromosomes.It’s not weird, or stupid, or messed up, or crazy.
Our brains simply work differently. These are our genes & as long as everyone’s doing the best they can, it is good enough & they are valuable.”
Colti is the cutest little boy and smiles all the time!
This dynamic and joyous exploration of difference helps young children learn to respond in a kind and equal way to everyone ,
regardless of shape, size, age, physical and mental ability, gender, race, beliefs, language, culture, national identity, background, and so on.
With topics ranging from clothes, hair, music, and food to homes, festivals, and families, there is plenty for children to talk about as they find out about diversity and see how differences relate to them.
Having a different brain is as normal as having a different face. We’re all made a little different & a little the same.
This is a really cute book:
Sid spends most of his time at home. He is upside down, so it’s easier that way. Until, one day, a basketball lands in his breakfast and changes everything.
A book about accepting our differences and the positive ripple effect of including others.
Education is the key to inclusion for all that are considered rare! Whether your born rare or became rare.
So, please! Educate your babies, so babies like mine don’t need to battle anything more than what the universe has handed them.
Another condition is having Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is a congenital heart defect that affects the aortic valve, which is responsible for regulating blood flow from the heart to the rest of the body.
BAV occurs when the aortic valve only has two cusps instead of the normal three, which can cause blood to leak backward into the heart.
While some people with BAV live without any symptoms, others may experience a range of heart problems that require careful monitoring and treatment. If you’re a parent or teacher of a child with BAV, here’s what you need to know.
Bicuspid aortic valve is a serious heart condition that requires careful monitoring and management, but with the right treatment and lifestyle choices, many children with BAV can live healthy, fulfilling lives.
As a parent or teacher, it’s important to be informed about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for BAV,
and to provide support and encouragement to children with this condition as they navigate the challenges of growing up with a heart condition.
With the right care and support, children with BAV can thrive and reach their full potential.
His parents do a yearly fundraiser called
TEAM SUPER COOPER
“ Cooper McGee was born on 2/12/21, he was diagnosed at 6 weeks old with a CHD. After a murmur was heard in the doctors office we went and had an echo at Chop Cardiology.
It was then that Cooper was diagnosed with a bicuspid aortic valve with a moderate stenosis. Cooper is seen by cardiology every 4 months since birth, his stenosis numbers have stayed the same, therefore requiring no cardiac intervention at this point.
He will eventually need undergo a cardiac cath and open heart surgery (we hope that is far down the road). “
“ Our Super Cooper is full of energy and lives everyday to the fullest. You can always count on Cooper to make you smile or give you a hug.
This event is important for us as we walk for Cooper, our heart warrior, in hopes that the funds raised will help in future research to make sure he and all other CHD warriors, gets the best care an outcomes in their care.
“ We participate in the Congenital Heart Walk to support the mission of The Children’s Heart Foundation: to advance the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of congenital heart defects by funding the most promising research.
As you can see his brother adores little Cooper!”
As you can see this isn’t a physical disability because you don’t look at Cooper and know he has disability!
Just look at the way big brother Jack’s looking at Cooper !!!
Education Awareness
The first step in supporting children with disabilities is to educate yourself on the specific disability that the child is facing.
There are many types of disabilities, each with unique challenges and strengths. Understanding the specific diagnosis can help you better understand how to approach and support the child and their family.
Resources like the National Center for Learning Disabilities and the National Institute of Mental Health have comprehensive information on different types of disabilities. https://www.ncld.org/
Create an Inclusive Environment:
One of the most important things that parents and educators can do is to create an inclusive environment that welcomes children with disabilities.
This includes providing physical accommodations like wheelchair ramps and Braille signage, as well as social accommodations like allowing extra time for assignments or providing a quiet space for children who are easily overwhelmed.
Inclusive classrooms and social situations help children with disabilities feel accepted and valued, which can help them thrive both academically and socially.
And most classrooms have an abundance of books to read to kids and some will let parents borrow them.
Promote Self-Advocacy:
Children with disabilities can benefit from learning how to self-advocate for their own needs and accommodations.
Parents and educators can empower children with disabilities by teaching them to ask for help when they need it, to articulate their needs and preferences, and to advocate for themselves in social situations.
Self-advocacy helps children with disabilities build confidence and become more independent.
Offer Emotional Support:
Children with disabilities may face additional emotional and social challenges that can be difficult to manage.
Parents and educators can offer emotional support by actively listening to the child, providing emotional validation, and connecting the child with resources like supportive counseling or peer support groups.
Emotional support can help children with disabilities cope with the unique challenges they face and develop resilience.
Partner with Parents and Caregivers:
Parents and caregivers are essential partners in supporting children with disabilities.
Regular communication and collaboration between parents, caregivers, and educators can help ensure that the child’s needs are being met and that everyone is working towards the same goals.
Working together can also build trust and strengthen relationships between parents and educators, enhancing the child’s experience and outcomes.
Supporting children with disabilities is an ongoing process that requires ongoing effort, communication, and collaboration.
By educating ourselves, creating inclusive environments, promoting self-advocacy, offering emotional support, and partnering with parents and caregivers, we can make a significant difference in the lives of children with disabilities.
With patience, compassion, and persistence, we can help children with disabilities thrive and reach their full potential.
Buy those books above to start educating your child to various disabilities!
Also check out the above post on why it’s so important to read to your kids!
Buy those books above to start educating your child to various disabilities!
About the Author
My name’s Antoinette [aka Tonie] Tardive Bryant. I’ve been married 43 years and still so in love, 3 adult kids, 2 gorgeous “ daughter in loves” as I refer to them, 2 adorable grandchildren, and my dog, Mokie.
In 2020 I joined PaperPie because I think that reading is important for children to grow and develop. Originally to make some xtra money and get my grandchildren free books, and it took off.As part of PaperPie we do book drives and fundraisers. I am trying to do my part and give back to the community and charities.
Life with Charli 