Telling Our Kids Not To Be Afraid

It is already a difficult task to explain bombings, tragedy, and death to our children. Coupled with PTSD, keeping our kids feeling safe when we are most likely managing our own trigger, can almost be out of reach. 

Take a deep breath, and read over these ideas.

Make them a part of your parenting toolbox for future events or questions. Better yet, remind the child in you who may not have been told theses things that it's going to be OK. 

I am thankful to the organizations who published this information for us who might not have been taught how to handle traumatizing news. 

"But what I've realized over the past few years is that information may reduce anxiety, but media saturation generates anxiety, fear, blame, and even rage. Many of the news outlets are fighting for ratings as we're fighting to breathe and put one foot in front of the other." 

Resources for Parents by Brene Brown

During disasters and tragedies I often find myself drawn to the news. I want to know exactly what's happening as it's happening. I want to feel connected and informed... continue article

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Lessons for Heroes and Healers

Lessons for Heroes and Healers is a Google plus community that teaches and supports. Learn tips and share ideas on how to heal from combat experiences.

Rebuilding is a community wide event, this platform is appropriate for anyone involved in bringing about recovery from combat experience: veterans, spouses, family members, and community helpers alike. This is not a catch all group collecting everything that is out there, rather a carefully curated source to filter some of the noise, and share what is the most effective. 

We believe in Post-Traumatic Growth.

Some categories include: 

Getting Organized: Foundational tools to help you set up and prepare for the journey of advocacy and recovery.

Read, Watch, Learn: An articles section that will hold a cache of news, scientific research, opinion, and healing method ideas, all which lend toward growth and recovery.

Gather Your Resources: This section will share organizations, companies, and foundations great to get connected with. We are not meant to do this alone, allow support from others in your life. 

...and more. See for yourself today, contribute to the collective voice what has truly helped you. Do join us. 

Gratitude

It's a humbling and equally invigorating experience to have people pour into our lives. I am so grateful. Beginning to feel nourished to grow and pay it forward...
Thank you to the people.

Dance of the Day

Again, early in the morning along with the sunrise.... we danced

Sisters, Oh Sisters

I hope you feel safe in your home with your sweet families every night as you go over your kids work from school. I hope you know that the threat of attack upon your neighborhood is minimal as you sleep soundly at night. I hope your husband greets you gently at the door and delivers flowers to your office by day. 

Your countries' veterans next door paid for you to have that peace. Their wives and kids watch the terror of the war in his eyes each day he comes home, and they wonder if the night will be smooth tonight or not. Or if he kept his job this day. Will it be full of emotional regulation and staving off PTSD triggering upsets, or will they get the very rare gift of one night just being calm inside their homes. These veteran wives absorb constant, extreme levels of anxiety so their children won't feel as much of the shock, they cope with the depression of their spouses hoping if they give him that time he will feel better tomorrow. We carry on, we run everything he can no longer handle, we choose to live a life less than our dreams for your peace. 

Wives of America, don't you understand? Your neighbors need you. Your kindness, your warmth, your understanding, your acceptance, your smile. Even, if it doesn't inconvenience you too much from ballet and soccer schedules...Your help. 

Closing your doors in our faces and ignoring us as we pass, is that how you show your gratefulness for the price we pay for you? Our husbands are not the only ones who experienced an aspect of war, it never leaves the family for the rest of our days here in this world. 

How can we ever heal when our communities turn their backs on one another...the healthy have so much to offer the unhealthy, the rich to the poor, the stable to the unstable, the sound to the confused. Sisters, oh sisters, wake up and see what is going on outside your doors. 

Yoga for Vets

Star Mile

The farther away we get from the war experience, the more I realize what it was. And the more overwhelming it becomes. I suppose eventually it will all even out and not be so intense. I'm consumed with surprise and awe at my husband who has found a way to overcome, the pride I feel for him is all encompassing. Yet, there is so much to clean up in our lives from the darkest hours...and we have only just begun. I only hope I can get through this.

A Heart So Badly Hung, Won

Ma vie a hymnes et il a des bandes sonores, ce serait la bande sonore ...

Endormie

Cheveux mouillés

Bras repliés

Retrouvée fenêtre ouverte

L'air

Par la fenêtre

Pour que l'Amour me quitte

En dormant j'ai rêvé

Des milles lianes

Pagayé,

Pagayé

Pour que l'Amour me quitte

Réveillée

La lumière pâle

Des murs de l'hôpital

Trop aimer c'est pas normal

Un coeur si mal

Accroché,

Décroché

Pour que l'Amour me quitte

Amour  

- Camille

To Feel Home

"I wonder what it's like to grow up in a loving home" I ask him, as we discussed our turbulent childhoods, their similarities and differences, and the resulting outcomes. To which he responded "Let's create one and find out....."

Towards the Sun

Loving summer, it's slow mornings and child filled days. If only these would last always...As we face the warmth of the light, may the dark shadows fall behind us.