Real Talk about Imaginary Issues

I (Adina) love Brain Stuff. Plain and simple. I started reading psych textbooks when I was 9 or 10. I was fascinated by Neuroscience. I loved books of any kind and read endlessly, trying to make sense of the world.

My family was very poor. My parents were abusive. I lived in at least ten homeless shelters as I grew up. There were 7 of us kids and I was the oldest. We slept on strangers' floors, in a van and once or twice, in cult communities. Our parents beat us, molested us and used us as bargaining chips.

Through it all, we imagined. We imagined we were heroes and heroines, doctors, pioneers, political prisoners. We imagined unicorns, fairies, goblins and gods. We imagined we got out of our sad circumstances.

And we did.

Now that I have children, my greatest hope is not just to protect them, but to NURTURE them. I know the power of imagination in my own life. What if that power was coupled with a loving and nurturing environment? Can you imagine the greatness our kids- yours and mine- could achieve? With loving parents and an unfettered imagination?

The fact is...many of you have experienced traumas in your childhood, too. Maybe you're aware of the effects of trauma on your body and brain. Maybe you're not. Maybe you know how trauma impacts parenting. Maybe you don't. My goal here is to discuss how trauma has affected me. How it impacted my ability to love and nurture my kids. When I became aware, I practiced overcoming those effects. I know my experiences are my own and not necessarily yours. But maybe my thoughts will give clarity to just one other Mom who is struggling with similar issues.

I'm a busy mom and a tired scientist : ) I have a ways to go toward becoming an amazing communicator (I talk too much). But I hope that somewhere in this website, you find hope and encouragement. I hope you begin to imagine yourself and your family with all the Power and Beauty of your boundless Universe.