Mental illness starts so young. I learned this first hand.
The day started out relatively normal...
Everyone went to school except my then eight year old son who had a doctor's appointment. That wasn't uncommon. He was having a lot of behavioral issues at that point which we had been dealing with for a while.
For whatever reason, he didn't want to go to the doctor that day. He was angry and frustrated and couldn't seem to pull himself together no matter what we tried.
Suddenly, as I was driving down a major road of our town, he opens the back door and tries to jump out.
Fortunately, I was able to pull over and quickly flip the child-lock switch so we could continue where we were going safely. But it began a hard conversation.
I started asking questions about why he tried to jump out of the car and did he really want to die or was he just mad. The more we talked, the more it became clear there was a big problem. He hadn't just tried to jump out of the car. He had a plan on how he could kill himself when we got home, and had a plan for when.
I have never been so scared in my life, y'all. My sweet eight year old son was struggling so much in his mind, he didn't want to live anymore.
In that moment, I called his doctor who sent us straight to the psychiatric hospital for admission. It took six hours, a lot of tears, and a bed finally opening to get him admitted on the pediatric ward.
That was just the beginning of a myriad of diagnoses and hospital stays. But it's been worth it.
He's 16 now. He's no longer suicidal. He struggles, and he always will, but we stay on top of his meds. On top of his therapies. On top of his behaviors. He has case workers and therapists and tons of support staff at school. We've surrounded him as much as we can to make life as normal as possible for him.
I tell you this difficult story for two reasons. One, because I know I'm not the only parent out there who has gone through this. I have a good friend who is walking through the trenches with her kiddo right now. And there are others. You may be the other.
You need to know you aren't alone. You are in the thick of it which is so hard, but it also means you aren't at the beginning. You are in the middle so there is an end coming. You have to keep your head down and keep pushing, even when you're so exhausted everything else falls apart. That's okay. You were made for your kiddo and you will get through this.
The other reason is because I'm so honored to be part of the Mental Health Awareness Month Book Fundraiser. That means for the month of May, a portion of the proceeds from the purchase of any of my Hart books (any book on any retailer) will be donated to the Keith Milano Memorial Fund. And my books aren't the only ones. Dozens of authors are also participating in this truly worthy case.
Please go check out their website for more information. It's too important for all of us.
And if you're that mom who is struggling, feel free to reach out. I've been there and I know you can make it through.
The Hart Series Box Set: Books 1-3
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2YP1LoE
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2MAuuLe
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3aBIfS2
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/39RAnNa
AppleBooks: http://apple.co/38e3okZ
Nook: http://bit.ly/36LoYMO
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2YQig3D
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/3jkdOnn
Change of Hart
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2tG3OKN
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2Hmacid
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2YvJgn9
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2HfFLuU
Apple Books: http://apple.co/3qtE2G5
Nook: http://bit.ly/CoHNook
Kobo: http://bit.ly/KoboChangeofHart
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/CoHGoogle
Audible: https://amzn.to/2WCKA7p
iTunes: http://apple.co/3sRJsfj
Hart to Heart
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2tG6YOy
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2LEZbhb
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2WHe3Ng
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/30dPauG
AppleBooks: http://apple.co/3sU6YIU
Nook: http://bit.ly/H2HNook
Kobo: http://bit.ly/H2HKobo
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/H2HGP
Audible: https://amzn.to/2qDA2WP
iTunes: http://apple.co/3eeMypU
Matters of the Hart
Apple Books: http://apple.co/3c7vcsa
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2pfbFP7
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2Vxq6Qt
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2VirYaT
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2Jg6o5l
Kobo: http://bit.ly/KoboMotH
Nook: http://bit.ly/NookMatters
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/MothGP
Audible: https://amzn.to/2FW7oaQ
iTunes: http://apple.co/2PCyVGK
Matters to Me
Apple books: http://apple.co/38dDldI
Nook: http://bit.ly/BNM2M
Kobo: http://bit.ly/39AFlM9
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2QrIkyZ
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/37BHaq9
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/36p76VR
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2tt9vjO
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3j9mDQd
Matters to You
Apple Books: http://apple.co/3sL2Ria
Nook: https://bit.ly/2ZQSfBy
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3ecFtCi
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2W0k3lQ
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2VWFPHe
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3eexcxM
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2ZaDKth
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/3p1pv4e
Matter of Time
Apple Books: http://apple.co/3qlP1AY
Nook: http://bit.ly/3nMwIUn
Kobo: http://bit.ly/3suIXIM
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/39BofhE
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3nHFGlJ
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/38JVgcE
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2XT7dqd
SURPRISE!
If you read FriendTrip by myself and the fabulous Sara Ney, you are going to love WeddedBliss!
This novella gives you an update on Becky and Janine, and all things wedding!
It's the perfect quick read for your beach vaca or just because you need a laugh. Grab it today!
https://books2read.com/WeddedBlissFT
ARE YOU JOINING ME FOR HOLIDAYS WITH THE BELLES?
I am fully vaccinated and will be in Dallas on September 25th for my very first event since lockdown began!! Are you coming?
The preorder form is open so if there is anything in particular you are hoping to get, make sure you fill it out so I can guarantee your paperback!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...
BECAUSE I'M RIDICULOUS....
Me: Kindergarten graduation is unnecessary and just a way for them to try and sell me more pictures.
Also me: OMG My baby is so cute we should have a party to celebrate all he's accomplished how many pictures can I buy??
To all the other ridiculous moms out there, get ready... summer break is around the corner!
💜M.E. Carter
Everyone went to school except my then eight year old son who had a doctor's appointment. That wasn't uncommon. He was having a lot of behavioral issues at that point which we had been dealing with for a while.
For whatever reason, he didn't want to go to the doctor that day. He was angry and frustrated and couldn't seem to pull himself together no matter what we tried.
Suddenly, as I was driving down a major road of our town, he opens the back door and tries to jump out.
Fortunately, I was able to pull over and quickly flip the child-lock switch so we could continue where we were going safely. But it began a hard conversation.
I started asking questions about why he tried to jump out of the car and did he really want to die or was he just mad. The more we talked, the more it became clear there was a big problem. He hadn't just tried to jump out of the car. He had a plan on how he could kill himself when we got home, and had a plan for when.
I have never been so scared in my life, y'all. My sweet eight year old son was struggling so much in his mind, he didn't want to live anymore.
In that moment, I called his doctor who sent us straight to the psychiatric hospital for admission. It took six hours, a lot of tears, and a bed finally opening to get him admitted on the pediatric ward.
That was just the beginning of a myriad of diagnoses and hospital stays. But it's been worth it.
He's 16 now. He's no longer suicidal. He struggles, and he always will, but we stay on top of his meds. On top of his therapies. On top of his behaviors. He has case workers and therapists and tons of support staff at school. We've surrounded him as much as we can to make life as normal as possible for him.
I tell you this difficult story for two reasons. One, because I know I'm not the only parent out there who has gone through this. I have a good friend who is walking through the trenches with her kiddo right now. And there are others. You may be the other.
You need to know you aren't alone. You are in the thick of it which is so hard, but it also means you aren't at the beginning. You are in the middle so there is an end coming. You have to keep your head down and keep pushing, even when you're so exhausted everything else falls apart. That's okay. You were made for your kiddo and you will get through this.
The other reason is because I'm so honored to be part of the Mental Health Awareness Month Book Fundraiser. That means for the month of May, a portion of the proceeds from the purchase of any of my Hart books (any book on any retailer) will be donated to the Keith Milano Memorial Fund. And my books aren't the only ones. Dozens of authors are also participating in this truly worthy case.
Please go check out their website for more information. It's too important for all of us.
And if you're that mom who is struggling, feel free to reach out. I've been there and I know you can make it through.
The Hart Series Box Set: Books 1-3
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2YP1LoE
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2MAuuLe
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3aBIfS2
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/39RAnNa
AppleBooks: http://apple.co/38e3okZ
Nook: http://bit.ly/36LoYMO
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2YQig3D
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/3jkdOnn
Change of Hart
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2tG3OKN
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2Hmacid
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2YvJgn9
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2HfFLuU
Apple Books: http://apple.co/3qtE2G5
Nook: http://bit.ly/CoHNook
Kobo: http://bit.ly/KoboChangeofHart
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/CoHGoogle
Audible: https://amzn.to/2WCKA7p
iTunes: http://apple.co/3sRJsfj
Hart to Heart
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2tG6YOy
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2LEZbhb
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2WHe3Ng
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/30dPauG
AppleBooks: http://apple.co/3sU6YIU
Nook: http://bit.ly/H2HNook
Kobo: http://bit.ly/H2HKobo
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/H2HGP
Audible: https://amzn.to/2qDA2WP
iTunes: http://apple.co/3eeMypU
Matters of the Hart
Apple Books: http://apple.co/3c7vcsa
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2pfbFP7
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2Vxq6Qt
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2VirYaT
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2Jg6o5l
Kobo: http://bit.ly/KoboMotH
Nook: http://bit.ly/NookMatters
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/MothGP
Audible: https://amzn.to/2FW7oaQ
iTunes: http://apple.co/2PCyVGK
Matters to Me
Apple books: http://apple.co/38dDldI
Nook: http://bit.ly/BNM2M
Kobo: http://bit.ly/39AFlM9
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2QrIkyZ
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/37BHaq9
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/36p76VR
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2tt9vjO
Google Play: https://bit.ly/3j9mDQd
Matters to You
Apple Books: http://apple.co/3sL2Ria
Nook: https://bit.ly/2ZQSfBy
Kobo: https://bit.ly/3ecFtCi
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2W0k3lQ
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2VWFPHe
Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/3eexcxM
Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2ZaDKth
GooglePlay: http://bit.ly/3p1pv4e
Matter of Time
Apple Books: http://apple.co/3qlP1AY
Nook: http://bit.ly/3nMwIUn
Kobo: http://bit.ly/3suIXIM
Amazon US: https://amzn.to/39BofhE
Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3nHFGlJ
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/38JVgcE
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2XT7dqd
SURPRISE!
If you read FriendTrip by myself and the fabulous Sara Ney, you are going to love WeddedBliss!
This novella gives you an update on Becky and Janine, and all things wedding!
It's the perfect quick read for your beach vaca or just because you need a laugh. Grab it today!
https://books2read.com/WeddedBlissFT
ARE YOU JOINING ME FOR HOLIDAYS WITH THE BELLES?
I am fully vaccinated and will be in Dallas on September 25th for my very first event since lockdown began!! Are you coming?
The preorder form is open so if there is anything in particular you are hoping to get, make sure you fill it out so I can guarantee your paperback!
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...
BECAUSE I'M RIDICULOUS....
Me: Kindergarten graduation is unnecessary and just a way for them to try and sell me more pictures.
Also me: OMG My baby is so cute we should have a party to celebrate all he's accomplished how many pictures can I buy??
To all the other ridiculous moms out there, get ready... summer break is around the corner!
💜M.E. Carter
date
newest »
newest »
Jeanine wrote: "I’m deeply moved by your bravery, compassion and generosity. Thank our for shedding the light on childhood mental illness and giving hope to those facing similar challenges. You’re a star!
Than..."
Thank you Jeanine! So many moms feel like it's all their fault, and they hold it all inside. I hope moms read this and know they aren't alone.
You’re a star!
Thank you.