By Ann Toscano
You see me laughing and playing with my children, niece and nephews whom I love with all that I have, but what you don’t see is the effort. That effort soon became mastered, mastering pushing past my pain because the importance of creating memories for the amazing children in my life once I am gone [...]
This week I watched my first born Rikki walk away as he embarked on a school-camp adventure & I smiled. Not because he did something right but because I realised he was okay saying goodbye, & because he was okay, I finally felt like I did something right with this parenting gig! For the first [...]
Shit storm / shit show - Those two words put together can mean so many things. A few years ago it would have meant that my daughter has vomited on my top and shit through her nappy and on my legs. Years before it would have meant I was anxious and had a “crappy” day [...]
“I’m so sorry this has happened to you” is what the surgeon said. “Your body has been taken advantage of” thoughts are racing in my head. • We need to fix the damage caused by previous surgeons mistakes. What do you mean I have internal nerve damage? I asked as my fragile heart slowly breaks. [...]
Sometimes mum life sucks, and before you get all judgy on me, don’t mistake what I’m saying as ungratefulness. This is coming from a mum who had to have hysterectomy at the age of 27, a mother who would jump at the chance to have one more baby. I am so thankful to be a [...]
Following up from my last post on Instagram about calling out our own bullshit. Yesterday afternoon I met Kat John and Steve Buchler! I was thinking about a conversation I had with Steve when he asked “What do you do”. You know what I said? F*cking nothing! Literally! I said “nothing at the moment”. That [...]
My scars are a reminder of the times when obstacles in life tried to break me, but failed. I like to think of my bodily scars as a reminder of growth and my highest form of strength. They weren’t always though and sometimes they still aren't. I use to look at my scars and feel [...]
You told me that I wasn’t good enough. No one would love me and that I’m lucky that I have you. I would be dead without you and even my mother agreed. You were thirty-three, I was seventeen. I was naive, I was vulnerable. I was a child who was unwell. I was only recently [...]
I can’t do all the good that the world needs, but the world needs all the good that I can do. As you all know, I have been working my butt off to do what I can for our community, and during this process I have learned one very important lesson. We can’t help [...]
Dear Daniel Andrews, I speak on behalf of our city, our people and our children/youth. I speak from a place of concern and a place that GENUINELY means it when I say “we are in this together”Have you been out speaking to real people in our community about their real struggles? Not politicians, not your [...]
This is what happens when you don’t teach your kids the importance of the power that our words and actions hold. These are the side effects of trauma and bullying. This is what happens when you project your hate and insecurities onto others. This is what happens when you can’t comprehend the the fact that [...]
Who is actually defining you by your tag and weight? Because the raw and blunt answer is more than likely... you. This is not only about fighting old stigmas, limited beliefs, and societies advertised unrealistic standards. This is also about taking ownership of our lives and holding ourselves accountable. It’s about acknowledging, accepting, being open [...]
When I started to truly feel my worth, that's when I found it harder to stay around people who didn't. I am at a point in my life where if you’re the slightest bit rude to me, if you make me feel bad about myself, if you don’t uplift me, don’t add value in my [...]
Diet culture can keep us facing a mirror instead of facing the world. Be healthy! Drink water! Exercise! Eat well! Nourish your body! These are all important. But there is a big difference between health and obsession. Our mindset and thought process based around diet/exercise matters. Ask yourself, are you pushing yourself too hard? Are [...]
“Positive Vibes Only” is toxic, end of story. New age spiritualism is a mental health crisis waiting to happen and before you bite my head off, hear me out. I was recently discharged from hospital (not Covid19 related) During my stay I was feeling a sense of defeat, frustration, loneliness, and fear. I also had [...]
Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world. Love over fear guys, love over fear. If you have the ability to help someone or to make someone smile, DO IT! Yesterday my son and I yet again did a “drop & run”. [...]
March has always been a month of pain yet reflection for me. Over the course of my life, it seems that all traumas have occurred at different times and different years but all in the month of March. March is a month that I look back and remember that this is the month that I [...]
Just a few comments I have removed over the last two weeks, but I don’t take it personally. In fact, I feel sad for you. Your hateful comments towards someone you don’t know is a clear projection of your unresolved insecurities, you’re in pain, you’re hurting and you’re unhappy where you are in your life [...]
It’s been a hard week. Truthfully, it’s been a hard year for me and it’s only February! I’m not doing great right now and that’s okay. My physical health has recently gone downhill, which of course naturally leads to emotional health effects. This too, is okay. I am only human. I recently wrote an article [...]
The day a restaurant/cafe served more than just food or drink Last week I had a horrible morning. I dropped my kids off at school & had a long moment of ugly, hysterical crying in the car on my way home. I was so busy crying & distracted by the deep lyrics to the song [...]
To my husband on our anniversary The vows I never read out on our wedding day. They were far too long, and anyone who knows me knows that I could go on for hours writing, rambling and repeating myself when deep in thought. The original vows below prove my point! Although the vows that I [...]
Stop what you're doing and show your support to a movement worth moving for! We recently came across a page that had absolutely blown us away! I have tried to write about this for a while now but I haven't been able to find the right words to best describe what this movement is or [...]
My ultimate goal is to be at peace with myself, to eliminate toxic feelings and elements from my life. To unlearn negative and harmful practices and thought patterns, stop checking for people that do not check for me. To create a space for myself that is nurturing for growth so that I may generate loving [...]
I saw an article the other day by Laura Mazza and a line in that article said "depression is a messy house, anxiety is a clean one". That line struck a cord for me because it perfectly summed up where I am at this point in my life. I didn’t realise how quickly I was [...]
This post was written by Laura Mazza also known as the blogger named "the mum on the run" you can find Laura on her social media pages at Facebook or her website If you want to help someone with depression when they are in one of their lows or bad depressive episodes - you can. [...]
I have made so many mistakes in my life. I have been unkind to people & I have done things that I regret and am not proud of. I own that completely. For the most part I have tried to make amends and apologize for my actions. I have felt guilt over situations that were [...]
Rikki had been hurt both physically and emotionally on school property and during school hours. YouTube videos circling the internet threatening to harm him at school, restrained and kicked down, changes of behavior, sudden onset of anxiety attacks and many other experiences and side effects that I have chosen to keep private and leave for [...]
I sat my son at the table and we did a back to school task that I was inspired to do after seeing a similar method circling around on social media. I gave my son a tube of toothpaste and asked him to squirt it out onto a plate. He looked at me like I was crazy but [...]
All I needed was milk.. okay I lied, I was actually here to do my grocery shopping but I only left with milk. You see, I have a 10 year old son and a 2 year old daughter. My son was easy and still is easy. At my daughters aged my son listened, in-fact, he [...]
El Marie, a mother of three from Indiana is doing the best she can to raise her children. As a single mother El Marie adopted Gabriel as an infant. Although two of her children are older and this article is about her youngest, I have no doubt that all three of her children are respectful [...]
I was told I was exaggerating, twelve-years-old and I am staying home from school due to what they called "bad period pain". I was told it was normal and part of being a woman. They were wrong.... I was sixteen when I had my first operation for this particular issue and it was then that [...]
If you are struggling mentally or physically, if someone you love is struggling, if you have a chronic illness, mental illness, a disability or you would like to better understand what self care means.... The best thing you will have done today is read this analogy My best friend and I were in the diner, talking. [...]
The woman who has been to hell and back is not easy to love. Many have tried. Most have failed. The weak need not attempt, for it will take more strength than you even know you possess; more patience, more resilience, more tenacity, more resolve. It requires a relentless love, one that is determined and [...]
A clever analogy that is too good not to share. Enjoy!! " I love this analogy! You are holding a cup of coffee when someone comes along and bumps into you or shakes your arm, making you spill your coffee everywhere. Why did you spill the coffee? "Well because someone bumped into me, of course!" WRONG ANSWER [...]
I have made so many mistakes in my life. I have been unkind to people & I have done things that I regret and am not proud of. I own that completely. For the most part I have tried to make amends and apologize for my actions. I have felt guilt over situations that were [...]
Bent But Not Breaking came across a post on social media that had us in fits of laughter. We couldn't resist the chance to reach out to her to find out the story behind these viral notes that she left for her partner to find. unfortunately, in a social media world full of haters, Ofelia has [...]
I stand before you and tell you that I am not trying to be a bother, I am not exaggerating my pain. I am tired and I am sore. But like a person who stands on trial, I feel as though I need to sit here and plea my case in order to convince you [...]
Dear husband, I am sorry. I’m sorry that you’ve been neglected for the last four-and-a-half years. I’m sorry that your needs are secondary. I assure you, you are still one of my top priorities – you just aren’t on the top of the list anymore. I know that you have needs, wants, dreams, and [...]