He is the most amazing kid! What I didn’t realize was that he wasn’t all that aware I was having problems, but he learned a few things anyway.

• He tells me “When you get stressed, you need a lot of naps.” Yup.
• He’s been learning to read my body language, which supports development of empathy, which is a crucial part of who we are.
• He’s been sharing with people that I have my fridays off for “emotional mental health” with PRIDE. That’s right, pride, not shame. He either has no idea the stigma attached to depression, or has chosen to think positively about my illness.
• He’s been learning what a marriage looks like in tough times. He has seen his dad pick up some of the slack and has been hearing about how I did the same for my husband.
• He’s learning that honesty and truth about tough things makes him feel respected. I tell him a lot, maybe more than most parents, but answering his questions and explaining things is so much healthier for him than keeping him in the dark.
• He’s learned that being emotionally authentic and open requires strength (and sometimes a nap).
• He’s learned that seeing a therapist is helpful, and he recognizes it as a support measure, unlike his mom who resisted seeking help because I got it stuck in my head that it meant that I was weak. I have since changed my opinion.