bayla

Yes. My experience growing up in the Bronx and witnessing the change from safe sanctuary to broken
glass, muggings, heavy drug use, brought my focus to escaping potential danger and fear. My mantra became, "Watch your back!"
I recently retired as a literacy specialist at a state adult psychiatric hospital. Conversations with the kids, when they weren't too depressed or angry to use their words included: hope, hopelessness, broken, abandonment, love, longing, loneliness, healing and more. I encouraged them to put their keen senses of how they viewed themselves within the world into writing pieces. Many became totally engaged.
I am married to the best adolescent therapist, employed for 37 years at the same facility as I. He was a favored role model who helped even the most empty acquire empathy.
My two adult children are bright, good looking, creative, spontaneous, but most importantly, kind. My two year old and seven month old daughters are warm, and the older of the two has amazing receptive and expressive language. We all smile a lot and get silly.