Naked and afraid. No, I'm not writing a blog about that hit reality TV show...Naked and afraid is actually how I'm feeling as I start this journey with you. I guess in a way our reality is similar to the hit on the Discovery Channel. The Discovery Channel takes complete strangers and strips them down so they are totally exposed and vulnerable and then drops them in dangerous and desolate territory as the world watches their attempt to survive. I am sharing our family's reality of raising a child with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), in which just 5 short years ago, made us feel like we were in a dangerous and desolate place, with no real support, just trying to survive.
Sharing our stories and our reality of day to day life makes us exposed and vulnerable, but fortunately for you, not literally naked. Well... most of us aren't. I can't always say that about our 5 year old Tornado, Tiva. She's the main focus of this blog and she is often found streaking down the hall or running with the bulls (or in our case, goats, emus, geese and dogs) in our back pasture, wearing nothing but her birthday suit. Let me tell you, life with this one is quite a ride and we have learned many tools of survival on our journey. Unlike the contestants on Naked and Afraid, our journey of survival goes beyond the 21 days they endure. It will go on for the rest of our lives, but it's okay! We have found many tools of survival, happiness and real hope! We are living our fairy-tale - as unconventional and demented as it may be. And the naked one isn't afraid at all - she is running through life with a smile on her face and joy in her heart!
If you feel stuck in the trenches of raising a special needs child or if you have been affected by FASD, or even if you just want to follow our family's unconventional fairy-tale, we welcome you! This is a place for family and friends to keep up with our story, a place for new friends to be entertained, a place of support for those touched by FASD or other special needs, and lastly a place for our family to reflect on memories - the good, bad and ugly. It is a place for me to express my thoughts and feelings and it's cheaper than therapy! So come on, buckle up, and join us as we chart our path - we are happy to have you!
Love,
Stacey
~ Matthew 6:25-34
