 | When we begin to speak openly in a way that shatters the facade of a perfect life, our tribe quickly grows into a home base of camaraderie. |
My parents are divorced. When I was in high school, sitting at a table filled with seven of my classmates, I took an informal poll to satisfy my curiosity. "How many of you are living with both of your biological parents?" Maybe one or two out of all of us sitting at that table. I remember feeling a bit shocked, and not quite so odd as a child from a broken family.
A few weekends ago I attended a small Christian conference with about 60 attendees. I decided to do a book giveaway of Toppling the Idol of Ideal: Raising Children with Hidden Disabilities. First I asked for those who have children or grandchildren with autism. A number of hands shot up. Then I asked for hands for those in the group with a family member with mental illness, a hidden disability. Multiple hands shot up.
We don't realize just how common hidden disabilities really are, how many of those we come into contact with daily who must navigate the same challenges that cause us to feel misunderstood or isolated. When we begin to speak openly in a way that shatters the facade of a perfect life, our tribe quickly grows into a home base of camaraderie.
A few weekends ago I attended a small Christian conference with about 60 attendees. I decided to do a book giveaway of Toppling the Idol of Ideal: Raising Children with Hidden Disabilities. First I asked for those who have children or grandchildren with autism. A number of hands shot up. Then I asked for hands for those in the group with a family member with mental illness, a hidden disability. Multiple hands shot up.
We don't realize just how common hidden disabilities really are, how many of those we come into contact with daily who must navigate the same challenges that cause us to feel misunderstood or isolated. When we begin to speak openly in a way that shatters the facade of a perfect life, our tribe quickly grows into a home base of camaraderie.
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