In this solo episode, I talk about Awareness Months, or Days, when a particular disorder is acknowledged. October is Rett Syndrome Awareness Month, and as a mom of a young woman with Rett syndrome I support many activities this month to raise awareness about Rett.  Many other disorders are acknowledged in a similar way, with specially designated months of days. There can be two sides to how parents of children with disabilities handle these months/days. First, with pride and enthusiasm, sharing stories and facts to educate others. Many parents host fundraisers to support research efforts. In contrast, there can be a deep feeling of what has been lost due to the disorder. I find myself feeling Bittersweet about this - holding two contrasting feelings simultaneously.  We all feel heartache at times and it's important to share the stories of loss and longing to help lift us all collectively.  In this episode I talk about the need to share openly and not apologize for our sadness.

I reference a terrific book, "Bittersweet" by Susan Cain. Here's an Amazon affiliate link if you'd like to learn more about this topic: https://amzn.to/3T9y3ER

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