E10: Comparison is the thief of joy

Confession: In those early years, I often looked at other families and thought, “It must be nice to have a kid who…” (dot, dot, dot, fill in the blank).  I still catch myself doing it sometimes, even now.  But comparison is the thief of joy.  I’m learning to let that shit go!I share how comparisons with other families caused me suffering,  as well as the ways I learned to combat that with strategies to keep me grounded in joy and gratitude.  Additionally, an excerpt from another Sarah Naish book helped me to empathize with my son during difficult times.  Included in this episode:*blog entry written on 5/18/15: I regret not putting my son on medication*examples of thoughts of, "Must be nice to have a kid who..."*Welcome to Holland poem*how I combat feelings of envy: gratitude journal, focus on strengths, breaks from social media, knowledge is power*what helped me be empathetic with Lane*"penguins don't fly" analogy from Sarah NaishMy audacious intent for this podcast is to be a beacon of hope for parents and guardians like me, who are raising wounded children and doing their best to stay afloat.  I have found my way from surviving to thriving and you can, too!SHOWNOTESThe Quick Guide to Therapeutic Parenting A Visual Introduction by Sarah NaishThe A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting Strategies and Solutions by Sarah NaishTalk to me! Click here to provide feedbackThanks for listening, Beloveds.  Please take care of yourselves; if you don’t do it, who will?   Keep advocating for your child.  And, most importantly, stay tenacious!PODCAST RECOMMENDATION:The TBRI PodcastQUICK VIDEOS TO WATCH:Karyn Purvis Institute of Child DevelopmentBOOK RECOMMENDATION:The A-Z of Therapeutic Parenting Strategies and Solutions by Sarah NaishResources on suicide prevention:Contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline if you are experiencing mental health-related distress or are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support.- Call or text 988- Chat at 988lifeline.org Connect with a trained crisis counselor...