Some childhood dreams reside within us until we realize them, while others fade away as life happens. I was quite the dreamer as a child (and still am). My parents helped fulfill some dreams in my younger years. For example, I joined Girl Scouts for several years in elementary school, and I began flute lessons […]
Category: Childhood Trauma
Abandonment Issues: Healing Through Self-Love and Faith
Written by: Kelsey Elizabeth Matthews Looking back on the events and experiences of my childhood, it is easy to see how abandonment issues have shaped me into the woman I am today. There are many themes that I can identify, woven through the tapestry of my life, like the intricate, colorful pattern of a knitted […]
Understanding Childhood Trauma and Resilience: It’s Complicated
Written By: Kristin Oesterle When you grow up experiencing complex childhood trauma, the word resilient becomes a word you hear often. From trusted guidance counselors to neighbors who knew the troubles I was facing at home, they all had something to say about my resiliency. But did they know what childhood resilience actually meant? Was […]
Wired for Resilience: Honoring Who I Am
Written by: Ani Czyczynsky I’ve been asked to tell you who I am. I am someone who does not want to be here in this little box on my cell phone screen championing my own lemonade out of lemons lore. I do so wish that my life had been easier. That I had little to […]
Neglected Bonds: An Ode of Love to The Pets My Mother Killed
I was a little girl, but to be honest, I’m not sure exactly how old I was. The concept of time is complicated for people who have been neglected or experienced trauma and grief since they are not linear. I just remember that I had begged and pleaded with my mother for what felt like […]
Overcome Echoes of Traumatic Holidays Past: Unwrapping Childhood Memories
In the complex tapestry of childhood memories regarding the holidays, joy and trauma often intertwine. This creates a mosaic of experiences, intrusive memories, and timelines that are a little off. This resilient story delves into the realms of festive joy, familial challenges, and the profound impact of trauma on memory. This personal recollection of Christmases […]
My Foster Care Story: Surviving a Horrific Adoption
Written by Lily Mae Foster care stories can be heartwarming, yet sometimes they are tales of resilience and survival. My life’s journey has been a series of tumultuous waves, starting from my birth and ultimately taking me back into the world of foster care as a teenager. Foster care, they say, is easier on the […]