The Mommy Diaries, A Letter To My Pre-Teen Daughter

The Mommy Diaries, A Letter To My Pre-Teen Daughter

It didn’t seem that long ago that I was right there in her Converses, thinking that life would surely end if “that guy” didn’t like me back, or if I didn’t make the cheerleading squad. It’s amazing that when you are a pre-teen, embarking on those formidable years that I found out later m

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When Your Mother Has Lupus: A Daughter’s Perspective

When Your Mother Has Lupus: A Daughter’s Perspective

Being a daughter of a Lupus patient is a unique way to grow up.  I do not have the disease myself, but experienced many of its effects through my mother.  She was diagnosed when I was a year old, and lived with Lupus until last June when she passed away.  I was twenty-two years old when she died,

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Confessions of an Unapologetic High-Maintenance

Confessions of an Unapologetic High-Maintenance “Spoonie”

I am unapologetically, standing proudly on my perfectly pedicured toes proclaiming that I am high maintenance. Where exactly is it written that just because I have Lupus, I have to accept the life of a bag lady? Over and over I hear the same thing from doctors, friends, strangers, facebook friends,

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Handicap Parking and My Invisible Illness

Handicap Parking and My Invisible Illness

I have an invisible illness. To look at me you would see a short, fat, middle-aged grandmother. Sometimes I walk with a cane, but most of the times I don’t need it. I have a handicapped parking tag hanging on the mirror of my car. I park in handicapped spots. However, I get nasty looks when I get

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A Balancing Act: how I’m managing the daily currency of Spoons

A Balancing Act: how I’m managing the daily currency of Spoons

Living with a chronic illness can be like walking a tightrope. I live with Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome and a depressive disorder. In order to best manage my Fibromyalgia, it’s vital that I carefully pace myself. Too much leads to burn out, but too little activity can also worsen my s

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Many Times Mental Illness Can Carry Stigma

Many Times Mental Illness Can Carry Stigma

If meeting 54-year-old Rita Dinquel in public, you likely would see her as confident, intelligent, and articulate. She would look “normal.” Yet doctors over the years have diagnosed her with major depressive disorder and borderline personality disorder, conditions significantly impairing her abi

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Personal Essay: Wonder Woman, I Am Not!

As a little girl, I always wanted to be Wonder Woman. What little girl wouldn't want to twirl around transforming into her extraordinary alter ego? Like so many girls my age I dreamed about putting on this super heroes golden tiara and cuffs, red boots, snazzy one piece suit and of course her lasso

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Personal Essay: Your Lucky Charm

As St. Patrick’s Day rolls around, I find myself thinking of all the things I cannot do to celebrate this so-called “holiday”. Usually, I would still be here in Santa Barbara studying for a million finals, but I “lucked out”. I will be home this year. Sounds great, right? WRONG. All of my

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Essay: Laughter Really IS the Best Medicine

For as long as I can remember, my parents always had a subscription to Reader’s Digest. I was never a big fan of the articles, but I can tell you this, I always went right for the funny stuff. You remember…Laughter is the Best Medicine, Humor in Uniform, All in a Day’s Work, etc. I often w

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I am Thankful, But I Hate Thanksgiving

I hate Thanksgiving. I know – I’m not supposed to. Family gathering, lots of good food, people you haven’t seen in ages. But, I hate Thanksgiving. In my house we always shared it with another family. Mom cooked Thanksgiving, the other family cooked Christmas dinner – it worked out well. Ea

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