Our Journey towards Parenting!

 Selective Mutism and Trichotillomania....two words I had never heard of but man, have they rocked our world. Selective Mutism should really be called Situational Mutism, as selective makes it seem like a child is being selective and choosing when and when not to talk. Situational means it really depends on the people, place and surroundings. S.M (Selective Mutism) is an anxiety disorder that renders a person unable to speak. For Elliana, the signs were always there. She'd talk freely to mom, dad, siblings and grandma. Everybody and every where else, she would not speak. We always thought she was just shy. In 4k, same thing. Hardly said a word to a soul, even children. Picture days were hell in a handbasket for her. Again, just thought she was shy and she'd come out of it. Kindergarten...that was difficult. She wouldn't speak at all but would communicate with head nods and point to pictures. Thought the changes with covid and having to wear a mask were part of it. Half way

 This post has been floating around in my head for a few days but I can never find the time to sit and write. Here we are. Jeremiah It feels just like yesterday that I was a nervous wreck sending Jeremiah off to 4k for a couple hours each day. How vividly all my thoughts and fears are when he started 4k and into kindergarten. Wondering if he'd make friends, how he'd be treated by teachers and other students. If he'd eat school lunch. 4k went in a flash...man did he test his teachers. Ms.Renae looked at Matt and I at one conference and said "I've had a lot of children through these doors over the years and there's only been one children more stubborn than him." We kind of all chuckled but I had a lump in my throat. He tested them greatly, but he made it through. Kindergarten also brought new challenges. Little Jeremiah was afraid of the bathroom in Mr.Kok's room and was afraid of the big kid bathrooms so he had quite a few potty accidents. Mr.Kok was so