Originally featured on the Kosair Charities Face It Movement blog. By Jessie Whitish Traveling with my son—now nearly three years old—requires an extra suitcase. Is it full of snacks, extra clothes, or enriching toys? No. It’s packed with all the things he loves to sleep with in his bed at night! His sleep sack, two light blankets, a stuffed Pete the Cat, three Disney princess dolls, an elephant lovey…you get the idea. Nowadays his toddler bed is [...]

Traumatic experiences can happen to any of us, whether it’s growing up in an abusive or dysfunctional home or surviving a natural disaster. And, while everyone who has experienced trauma wants to move beyond it, the part of our brain tasked with ensuring our survival can complicate the process, even when we don’t remember the event. In highly stressful or potentially life-threatening situations, our brains activate a fight or flight response. Without even realizing it, [...]