Author: Dena Abramson Babb
-
Pardon My Language
A few days back I had an epiphany of sorts…. You guys – it’s flat out brutal around here. The man child is an absolute wreck. The girl child is alternately hiding from the chaos in the house and inserting herself right into the middle. My husband has traveled for work more in the past…
-
Don’t Burst My Bubble!
“I’m not supposed to be here,” I whispered to myself at least 9 times today….once upon waking in my own bed, once as I soothed an anxiety induced spiral in my 13 year old son on our way to school, at least twice sitting in my office at church, once waiting in line to pick…
-
Season of Survival – Thoughts From a Parent During Mental Health Month
Have you ever experienced something from the past through the fresh lens of the present? It could be a place, or a movie, or a book, or a song – something that holds a memory, but when you experience it with the perspective gained through more trips around the sun new meaning shines through. I…
-
No Regrets
My husband and I went out to dinner last night. Knowing we would both likely have a couple of adult beverages, we did the responsible adult thing and scheduled a ride through Lyft. The driver was a young 20-something guy who apparently has no filter and must not have been concerned about his tip or…
-
A Moment of Truth
A moment of truth. Parenting a teen with mental health challenges is exhausting and often isolating. And right now I am more tired than I ever even knew was possible. So a word of thanks for those who “hold my umbrella” for me when I need to rest my weary heart, body and mind. I…
-
Holding Space in a Season of Holy Saturdays
Holy Saturday 2019 In the Christian tradition, Holy Saturday is the space between the pain of Jesus being nailed to the cross and the joy that will come with resurrection on Easter. On Holy Saturday we acknowledge that we don’t always know what hope will look like tomorrow. We hold space and we wait. In…
-
Me & My Shadow 2.0
Both of my kids are in a youth theater production of Peter Pan this week. Being a devoted mom, sucker, I volunteered to help as an usher at two days of preview shows for local schools and then sat in the audience on opening night. It was a ton of Neverland in a small window of time!…
-
Beyond the Label
What I know to be true is that my son wants to be fully and genuinely seen and accepted for who he is – and ASD is a piece of what makes him whole. So for him, and for every other child and adult on the spectrum (and for the people who love them) I…
-
Hard Choices and the Space Between
It’s been almost 3 years since we made the decision to use medication as a tool to help my son manage his mental health. 3 years of the trial and error that is inherent to the delicate balance between brain chemistry and drug efficacy. 3 years of weighing potential and actual side effects against positive…
-
Anybody Have a Map?
March 8. International Women’s Day. My social media feeds are full of inspirational and aspirational posts celebrating women. That’s nice. It’s nice to have a “day” to celebrate the achievements – both big and small – of women. It’s nice to have an opportunity to celebrate women leaving their lasting fingerprints and legacy. There’s no…
We're All A Little Broken 