kbois

I'm just that good. 😉

Fresh pineapple. Not canned. NOT on pizza.

I could add the Cheetos on top of the pizza after it was cooked. I mean... wouldn't those pieces get rock hard if they were cooked? It would be like biting into burnt cheddar flavored stone. And yeah... no freaking pineapple.

Weirdo

Where is everybody?

Well, Kyan seems to have something up his sleeve. And...what the hell do they put in the water in Oregon? Cheetos on pizza?

Too many people are too quick to sweep their 'dirty laundry under the rug. NO. I think people need to be aware of these issues. Child abuse should NOT be kept behind locked doors. Abusers need to be called our and held accountable. Dealing with mental illness, or addiction should not be embarrassing or something to be ashamed of. My nephew died of a drug overdose. His obituary said so. My brother would not sugarcoat it.

That's one way to put it.

Secret Author, Anthologies, Theme Challenges... all the opportunities the staff come up with are great ways to stretch an author's literary wings. Go for it.

Avery's issues are the ultimate test to any relationship. All we parents can do at this point is cross our fingers and hope for the best.

There is a crisis in the US. It started in the 1980s when so many states closed their mental hospitals(granted many needed to be closed). There was nothing to replace them. People who needed treatment had nowhere to go. Then insurance companies got more involved in dictating who got coverage, for what, and for how long. How can an insurance company determine whether or not a suicidal teenager needs inpatient treatment? It's screwed up.

I'm glad he did too. It really opened my eyes.

I don't think any parent is capable of helping a child with any type of mental issue without professional guidance. A lot of parents don't or won't recognize the fact that their kid needs help. When they do? Good luck finding the right resources. Our entire healthcare system is broken and mental health is one of the lowest rungs on the ladder. Kudos to you for taking the opportunity given to learn how to help kids who needed it.

Thanks Raven. It is too common of a problem. I wish it wasn't.

I came really close to sending you a private message when I first read this comment. It blew me backwards on my ass. Thank you for straight up giving me a smack in the face wake up call. Avery’s perspective is something I didn't consider when writing this. I couldn't. I wouldn't even know where to begin. You brought up so many valid points and in hindsight, I can now see how they apply to my son as well. So much of what he says and does is a direct result of his mental status. Him being delayed in development.. check. He's 21 and has the maturity level of a 15 or 16 year old. Us not 'magically' understanding his thought process.. check. Him internalizing his feelings of not being good enough, not measuring up to his older brother.... check. Like Maverick, I was completely blindsided by my son. The fight they had in the car? Totally happened. Now I understand why a little bit better. Thank you for reminding me there are always two sides to every story. I'm working on having more patience when my son goes off on one of his tirades hating everything about life including me. Logically, I know it's the mental illness talking. Emotionally it still hurts.

Thanks. It's weird. Our son is back living in our house (I didn't have much choice) and even though things are better than they were a few months ago, we still barely talk to each other. It's possible to go low contact in the same house.

Yeah, Val, you could say I've had some personal experience. It's a struggle, but what else can you do but deal with whatever life throws at you? This was my way of dealing.

We're good, my friend. I know stories like this are really hard for you. Thank you for reading it through.

Thanks. There aren't many people who haven't dealt with mental illness at some point. Everyone knows someone who struggles with depression, anxiety, OCD, or a vast array of other issues. The human mind is incredibly complex and can be incredibly strong or incredibly fragile. You never know what life will throw at you and how you'll handle it.

You know you guessed it right off the bat.

Thanks. We don't actually have a diagnosis of Aspergers for our son, but from talking with a therapist and doing a lot of research, his behavior and behavior history fit the bill perfectly. It explains so much of his childhood. And yes... I truly wish we knew much earlier. He fell into the group of kids who fell under the ADHD umbrella but it was more than that and we didn’t know.

Thanks. I think all families who have someone with mental illness go through a roller coaster ride on a daily basis. Not knowing what mood someone will be in can have you walking on eggshells all day. Yet, when things are good it tends to balance it out. It's one day at a time.

Nope. Love isn't always enough. Thanks for being there. ❤️

Yep... firsthand experience. It's so hard as a parent to see your child struggle and not be able to do anything because they are an "adult". I can't just take him to the doctor anymore. It's even more difficult when their mental illness tells them there's nothing wrong with their behavior and they refuse to do anything.

Thanks. When it's right up in your face, there's no way of denying the reality of how mental illness can affect people. It sneaks up on you.