Caring for a child with a traumatic brain injury since infancy was definitely not the future I envisioned for myself nor my sons. The absolute heartbreak at finding out your son has permanent brain damage at the hands of the man who was supposed to love and care for him. The years watching every little thing we take for granted be a struggle for him to learn or accomplish. Sitting up, walking, eating on his own, picking up toys, reading writing...
.
.
Then as he gets older watching him understand that he isn't "the same" as other kids his age. The frustration because he can't do so many things like other kids can. The isolation he felt because of that.
.
.
And now as an adult knowing that on some levels he still isn't 'quite' an adult. Not being able to drive, finding it really hard to get and keep a job. Knowing that he may not ever be able to live on his own...
.
.
The emotional toll is huge for both me and my son. There are days where I am so angry that this happened to him I can't see straight. Knowing that this didn't HAVE to be his life, he shouldn't have had these struggles. .
.
But more than that I am grateful EVERY SINGLE DAY that he is still with me. That he survived his injuries and that he has been so blessed to be where he is now when the doctors weren't even sure he would survive. My son is a reminder to me every day to never give up and be thankful for my blessings.
.
#traumaticbraininjury #tbisurvivor #nevershakeababy ...

The first few months of 2020 have been a whirlwind of blah! From having a double mastectomy in January, to some BS and drama on the family front a mere week after my surgery, emotional turmoil, work stresses...it all culminated into an emotional breaking point last night.
.
.
I woke up today still feeling the effects of that. I really dislike having so much negative energy hanging around so I went to the gym for the first time since my surgery and I sweated it out in the steam room.
.
.
I have been allowing negative people, negative situations and negative energy into my space and I am done. I dictate my happiness and how I let people effects me. So I will be over here on my unicorn sipping espresso while Wednesday and the other nonsense that has been hanging around passes me by. ...

She is strong, but she is exhausted ⁣
.⁣
.⁣
Been working hard, fighting hard, no breaks... fierce as hell but definitely exhausted. The journey is hard but the destination is so damn worth it! ...

I would love this...or a new TikTok trend showing kids cleaning their rooms or dancing while doing laundry...⁣
.⁣
.⁣
Can someone get on that please? ...

...

Several weeks ago I went in for my very first mammogram ever. Two weeks after that I was diagnosed with breast cancer. .
.
Thankfully it was caught early and I have options. But the options I have are scary too. Facing the likelihood of a mastectomy and possible double mastectomy is a bit traumatic to be honest. .
.
I have been spending the past couple weeks going through all the things that I am going to need to worry about. As a single mom how do I get my kids to appointments when I can't drive, how will I take care of all the things that I take care of.
.
.
The hardest part is knowing that I will have to do the thing that I am the absolute worst at doing..... asking for help. And ACCEPTING help. The next few months will be hard, but I know I will get through it. .
.
I know I will be fine. Scared and tired, but fine.
.
.
#thissinglemomrocks #singlemom #singlemomsrock #parentingblogger #cancer #cancersucks #breastcancer #thesinglemomblog #parenting #warrior #singleparent #mom #mompreneur #momingishard #momlife #momblogger #parentingblogger #momistired #scared #surgery #screwcancer ...

A little kindness can go a long way. We don't know other people struggles or situations. .
.
I remember being judged once in the grocery store because I was paying with food stamps. A woman talking to her counterpart about how I was getting so much food for free while other people actually worked for a living.
.
.
She had no way of knowing that I did have a full time job but as a single mom of twins with no child support I was barely getting by.
.
.
She obviously had no idea that the cost of my child care for me to work that full time job was double my rent. That after my son was almost killed, his special needs made it hard to even keep him in a daycare. And she had no idea that I had little support to help me. .
.
I was doing the best I could with my circumstances. Some kindness from her instead would have gone a long way. So remember that the next time you find yourself making snap judgments about someone. .
.
Kindness costs you nothing but can be worth so much to someone else. ...

I dream about this. Just leaving for some time for myself. Being able to just go without having to worry about anything. Time to just ... be.
.
.
.
Someday soon. .
.
.
#thissinglemomrocks #singleparent #thesinglemomblog #singlemomsrock #singlemommylife #singlemoms #selflove #selfcare #travel #tranquility #timeforme #timeaway #nature #roadtrip #mom #momblogger #parentingblogger #time #feedyoursoul ...