Hello, I’m Erika and I’m a wife and mother of four. I created this blog to share pieces of my personal journey with the world and those who might be searching for someone they can relate to. Raising four children takes a lot of dedication, love, patience and endurance. What you read here in my articles, might not be your truth, but it is indeed mine. My lived experiences are what makes me an expert in my own right. You may find some of my articles brutally honest, and others inspirational, educational or unheard of.
I hope my own personal life experiences can bring a glimpse of hope and some inspiration. My goal is to enlighten and bring awareness to others who have been “untouched” by mental illness or other special healthcare challenges.
It is become my purpose to break my own silence and speak out with hope to eradicate stigma that is often attached to individuals living with a variety of healthcare challenges. I want to produce change in this world, and it can only happen if others join in this movement as well. Others need to discover hope, love, compassion, kindness, gentleness and acceptance.
While watching my own children battle throughout their younger days, it opened my awareness to the areas and things they had to endure and suffer through. My oldest son was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. My youngest has developmental & intellectual disabilities. My youngest daughter has lived with a rare form of epilepsy called Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy. My oldest daughter has suffered from severe depression and anxiety. They each battle individually every day. It is because of their experiences that I have decided to share pieces of my parenting journey. With my lived experience I’m choosing to share my knowledge with others who may be experiencing something unexpected for their first time. Afterall, no one chose to go down this path of significant health challenges, but we are forced to make a choice of how we handle life and how we respond to others who are ignorant around us.
I am using my experiences from 2 very different sides of the world to tell those who are uninformed and bring inspiration to some who have lost hope. I am here to enlighten other parents, caregivers, public educators and maybe even first responders about my truths and the continual challenges that I am facing daily. Some days are extremely difficult to navigate through while others are much quieter and more peaceful.
Thank you for choosing to be here and sharing my articles with others. I hope to encourage and not discourage.
Please feel free to contact me here privately rather than posting a long comment.
Or you can also email me directly at parentsofwashington@gmail.com. If there is anything I can do to help others locate resources or support services, please reach out.
You can also follow me on Facebook to see all of my public posts.
LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT THE LINKS FOUND ON MY SITE ARE LISTED AS HELPFUL RESOURCES OR INFORMATION AND IT IS AT YOUR DISCRETION TO DO FURTHER RESEARCH FOR YOURSELF. I ONLY LISTED A FEW NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, BUT IF YOU WANT TO CONTACT ME FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE REACH OUT.