This is officially the longest we have lived in one place. Actually, when we hit 1.5 years, that was the longest I have lived in one place since I went to college. As an active duty military spouse, I have gotten used to moving around a lot, but even this is a little unusual for the military. Typically, we would be on 2-3 year orders in one location. Our family has just taken a bit of a different path because of my partner’s career, and that is okay. At the end of the day, it brought us to Naples and I can honestly say that this has been one of the best places for our family - for me and my individual growth, for my relationship with my partner, and for my son.

I have never been able to find the middle ground with drinking - it is all or nothing. So here I am, trying the nothing. And enjoying as many mocktails (or posed photos with my partner’s wine) as I can.

I thought I knew everything about her story - the daughter of Demeter and Zeus who was spirited away to the Underworld by Hades himself. Little did I know how reductive I was in my view of the woman whose presence was to become my most constant guide through not only motherhood but the cycles of life itself.

Giving my postpartum depression a name has helped me separate the depression from myself and my identity…this is my letter to her as I work towards being able to say goodbye once and for all.

By taking care of myself before I did anything else, I spoke my son’s language. I showed him that I loved him, even before I was able to say or even feel it. Taking medication doesn’t make me a failure.

My goal is to be a safe place for new families, where their concerns, fears, goals, and needs are considered just as important as those of their baby.