Hello friends! Welcome to my brand new blog!
This blog is part of my brand new website, Where the Heart Is. If you followed my previous blog, you’ll recognize the title. It’s the same! This site is quite a bit different, though, so stick with me a moment while I explain.
I might occasionally share posts from my old blog for a couple of reasons. First, they are hilarious and I don’t want to lose them. And second, some of them will fit here.
I created this website for two main purposes. First, I wanted to showcase my writing. As you know, I am a professional freelance writer, and I frequently publish my work in magazines, newspapers, and blogs. Therefore, I need a space where future clients can go to see samples of my writing.
Second, and equally important, I want to share stories of my experiences in parenting children with mental health diagnoses. Our culture is making a lot of progress toward reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness. But we still have work to do. I hope that by sharing my experiences, I can normalize mental health care for others.
I am a former child therapist with an MSW and years of experience, but I still felt utterly unprepared to parent my mentally ill kids. And when I look around at a world of parenting advice that was built for parents of neurotypical children, I feel frustrated and alone. If you’re interested in learning more, I hope you’ll follow me.
And if you are parenting a child with a mental illness, I really hope you’ll follow and get in touch! Love and peace!
Nicole Roder