FEAR NO CHILD
BECAUSE EVERY KID NEEDS A CHANCE
PARENTHOOD IS A LEARNING EXPERIENCE AND THE GREATEST TEACHERS ARE YOUR CHILDREN
Marks perspective on life as a dad:
I was brought up believing that discipline was the most important thing for a child to have. Unfortunately, there are no real day to day guidebooks for all situations. Once you've said it or done it, you can't take it back, and I don't care how old the kid is, they remember. Some of the mental stress and physical pain that I put my first child through, was more severe than I remember when I was brought up.
I thought I knew everything!
My first marriage went south, as many do. And I moved in with my present wife and her 2 year old baby. Since then we have had two of our own children.
Boy did I learn a lot from my kids!
From Mark Jr. I learned just how rotten you can be to a kid, and they'll still love you.
From William I learned tolerance, patience, and the right way to bring up a child.
From Jim I learned how to tolerate a genius.
From David I'm still learning how to deal with the sensitive, poet type.
And along the way, I will still make mistakes, however I have learned that it's ok to say "I'm sorry", only if you really mean it. They get that stuff, the I said it but didn't really mean it stuff. My first son probably got the brunt of it, cause I didn't realize how perfect he was (don't tell him!!). Will has done everything from putting nails under my tires to breaking my car windows to turning my tools into a science project and has caused me some great physical pain. However, by first understanding that Williams mind works differently than most people, I was then able to realize that he was trying to explain to me in the only way he could that he didn't like something we did.
Jim in general has been pretty even keeled except when he decides to show me just how much smarter he is than me. And in some instances, it's actually true! Yet he still cannot understand some day to day things.
David is cuddly, loving, pretty smart..... and he didn't mean to do it!
Miseasas take on being a mom:
My boys are 17, 15 and 9. They all have mental illness, and they are the most wonderful boys in the world. Each one has brought me a new version of what normal could become. Each boy has given me special challenges and special joys.
I'm the mom who has had kids get kicked out of boy scouts. I've experienced the “no-show” birthday party, and my children are ostracized by their peers. And still, I will say, they are the most wonderful boys in the world.
They are just different.
Normal takes on a new concept when you deal with mentally illness. We have a most interesting home life, and we are excited to share our experiences with you!! Our stories are funny and sad; full of excitement and frustration, disappointment and victory. And they are all true!
When you tell someone that you have a child with special needs, they go into sympathy mode; they embrace your pain and express their desire to do whatever they can for you. You tell them that you have a child with severe mental illness, they run for the hills!! Iam hopeful that with education, we can empower others to use the term mental illness without fear, and teach others to not fear mental illness.
I have stories that will make you blush, make your hair curl, make you cry and FINALLY make you feel like you are living a life like the classic TV family!!
Our family is sort of like "Roseanne" meets "Malcom in the Middle".
I hope to offer support to families who are struggling with mental illness and don’t know where to turn for help. I also want to entertain those of you who wish read our silly, scary, strange and sad stories.
So welcome to my page, welcome to my life, now that you’ve read my little blurb, your one of the family!
