Continuing our #FanGals Mental Health Matters series during this Mental Health Awareness Month, Kelly Kix welcomes Heather Petri to discuss parenting children through mental health crisis / dx / challenges / illnesses. Mental Health isn't something we generally find in parenting books. Many parents are suffering and struggling in silence while trying to parent children through their mental health journey. It can be a very exhausting and lonely space for parents as there continues to be so much shame and stigma associated with mental health. Heather shares her very raw and real experiences in navigating her sons mental health crisis and parenting in all the stages of his growth. What she did right, what she may have done differently, what she learned from her experiences, etc. Heather also shares information about organizations who can help those who are also navigating this path. 

Kelly and Heather also dive into the problematic "Good Vibes Only" narrative and why it's important to focus on "Real Vibes Only". Good Vibes Only, Toxic Positivity, tend to eliminate the real shit we go through in life. "Hustle" and "Fake it 'til You Make it" pushes this Go Go Go mentality, not allowing us to pause and appreciate where you're at and who you are in the moments. When you're real, you honor yourself. When trying to live in the good vibes only space, you aren't honoring yourself and your health. Hustle can be good, but not at the cost of living in the moment, not at the cost of our mental health, not at the cost of our relationships, not at the cost of looking around to see what's precious in the moments.