Welcome to Weakness to Strength!

 Hi! I'm Monica. My husband and I have been married for almost 25 years and we have four children--two girls and two boys. They are all big (our baby is 16). I always thought being a mom would get easier as our children got older. Haha! That has not been the case. The teen years are tough!! When children are young they need a lot of physical help. When they get older, they need a lot of mental, emotional, and spiritual help. Hormones, puberty, school, friend issues, bullies, etc. are all difficult to navigate. The teen years have also brought mental health issues for our children. Over the past six years, I have spent hours scouring the internet to learn about anxiety, depression, conversion disorder, and anorexia. My husband, along with three of our children, were recently diagnosed with ADHD, so we've also spent a lot of time learning about that as well. 

As I've combed the internet looking for answers and help, I've become very frustrated. Good information and resources on mental health are difficult to find. I'd find a good article here, and a good resource there, but it took time because information is so spread out. And, once you find a resource, how do you know if the information you find is trustworthy and from an actual expert? 

 I am not a doctor or mental health professional. I am a mom--A mom who cares about my children's mental health and wants to help them cope, heal, and live their best lives. 

I also care about other moms (and dads) and their children's mental health.

Long ago, I decided that there had to be a better way. I know there is help out there, but it needs to be easier to find. So, I decided to make this site as a place where parents can see all the information posted in one place. When you come to this site with a weakness, I hope you will leave with a strength. This is a place where we can all collaborate and share the information we have found online, or in working with our trusted medical professionals--Links, articles, blogs, websites, tips, pamphlets, research, etc. I am not here to diagnose or give medical advice (I'll leave that for the professionals). I just hope to provide one landing place where parents can begin their research into improving their child's (or their own) mental health. 

This site is a work in progress! I tried to start with a good amount of information. I know that not all mental health issues are addressed right now, and that is because I started with the things I have already researched for my own family. I will be adding more resources continuously, so please check back often! If you have a great resource to share, please email it to Monica at monica@thereadathon.com. 

Click HERE to read my son's full story on my other website: www.thereadathon.com.

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