Fostering Faith

If you are a parent, just a parent, you feel overwhelmed at times, I'm sure. If you are a parent of a child with mental disorders, trauma-created behaviors, inability to self-regulate, or other special needs...overwhelmed? Unbelievably overwhelmed at times. Sometimes those moments are fleeting, but sometimes they last. For me, at times, they can last for days following the behavior. It's as if I have somehow contracted PTSD. Certain behaviors cause me to relive the past, just as my daughter has recently mentioned reliving hers. When my daughter experiences rage fits that last up to three hours, has sweat dripping from her face from hitting the walls, doors, throwing things, stomping, throwing herself on the floor, hitting herself in the head...I am thrown right back into the first year we were together. I recall Dan asking me one evening early into our parenting journey, "Christie, what happened to your legs? You have bruises all over them!" With tears in my eyes,

What a catchy title, right? I was reminded tonight of a really funny story from years ago. It's a true one. My husband and I were fast asleep, and I suddenly awakened, hearing a hissing sound and feeling as if I was frozen physically.  I did what any loving person would do for the safety of the person next to them at this time of the early morning hours. I whispered, " Don't move , whatever you do , DO NOT move ."  My husband who is the world's heaviest sleeper, didn't budge, until I finally and so very slowly moved my hand over to touch him, while still whispering, " Don't move. Please! Don't move . " He, of course, jolted awake and said, " Huh? What's going on Christie? "  I said, " Daniel, there is a snake on the floor near my side of the bed. Please don't move. Can you hear it? It is poised and ready to strike. " I could not be told otherwise. I believed it and nothing could sway me in that moment.