Step Right Up!
Motherhood has often been described as the hardest job in the world—and one of the most rewarding.
Every mother begins her journey hoping to love well, guide wisely, and give her children the very best of herself. Yet none of us does it perfectly. We all make mistakes, learn difficult lessons, and sometimes discover our greatest teachers are the very children we are raising.
Looking back, we often wish we had known then what we know now. But motherhood was never meant to be about perfection. It is about showing up with love, extending grace to ourselves, and remaining willing to learn and grow every step of the way.
Motherhood is one of life’s most noble callings. Every hug, every bedtime story, every difficult conversation, every sacrifice, and every act of unconditional love helps shape the little people who will become tomorrow’s parents, leaders, neighbors, teachers, and friends.
Encouragement For The Weary Ringmaster
In this charming, encouraging, and often laugh-out-loud book about being a mom, sixteen colorful circus performers illustrate the unexpected ways God uses motherhood to shape a woman’s heart.
Through the characters of the circus, mothers discover timeless truths about humility, patience, contentment, flexibility, goodness, faithfulness, and unconditional love.
Judee Southern, mother of five, shares heartwarming—and sometimes unbelievable—stories from every season of raising her children, from the baby and toddler years to homeschooling adventures, preteen and teenage challenges, and the bittersweet transition into adulthood.
Filled with humor, honesty, and practical encouragement, Motherhood Is a Circus reminds moms that while the journey is often messy and unpredictable, it is also one of God’s greatest classrooms, and one of life’s most sacred callings.
Life Under the Big Top!
Find fellow circus moms in the Invisible Hurts community!
The Fierce Love of a Mother, Helping Her Children Heal
“A mother's love for her child is like nothing else in the world. It knows no law, no pity. It dares all things and crushes down remorselessly all that stands in its path. ~Agatha Christie
Helping Children Heal
When a child grows up in an unsafe or emotionally unpredictable environment, the effects often extend far beyond childhood. The good news is that children are remarkably resilient when they have at least one safe, loving adult who believes them, protects them, and walks beside them through the healing process.
The following resources will help you better understand the impact of trauma, recognize warning signs, and learn practical ways to support your child’s emotional well-being.
When your children are not safe. . .
A Dangerous Environment
Child abuse is far more common than most people realize, yet it often remains hidden behind the doors of ordinary-looking homes. Families may appear happy from the outside while children quietly endure physical abuse, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, neglect, intimidation, or chronic fear.
According to the federal government, child abuse includes acts—or failures to act—that result in serious physical or emotional harm, sexual abuse or exploitation, neglect, or situations that place a child at significant risk of harm.
What makes child abuse especially heartbreaking is that children depend on the very adults who are supposed to protect them. They often cannot leave. They may believe the abuse is normal, think they somehow caused it, or become too frightened to tell anyone.
Many mothers who are also victims of abuse desperately want to protect their children but feel trapped. They may have no financial resources, no family support, no safe place to go, or may fear that leaving will make the danger even worse. These are impossible situations, and no woman should have to face them alone.
If you and your children are living in a violent or abusive home, your first priority is safety. Although leaving can be frightening and complicated, remaining in a dangerous environment often allows the abuse to continue and the emotional wounds to deepen.
You don’t have to figure this out by yourself. A trauma-informed counselor, domestic violence advocate, or life coach who understands coercive control can help you create a plan, connect you with resources, and walk beside you through each step of the process.
Below you’ll also find trusted resources that explain the signs of child abuse, where to find help, and how to protect your children.
If Your Child Tells You They Have Been Abused
If a child trusts you enough to tell you they have been abused, your response can shape their healing for years to come.
Here’s what you can do:
- Stay calm. Your child needs to know they are safe talking with you.
- Believe them. False reports from children are uncommon. Take what they say seriously.
- Listen more than you speak. Allow your child to tell the story in their own words without interrupting or asking leading questions.
- Reassure them repeatedly: “This was not your fault.”
- Thank them for telling you. Let them know you’re proud of their courage.
- Offer comfort and reassurance. Tell them you’ll do everything you can to keep them safe.
- Report the abuse to the appropriate authorities so trained professionals can investigate.
- Seek trauma-informed counseling as soon as possible for both your child—and yourself.
Most importantly…
A child who has experienced abuse doesn’t need perfection.
They need one safe adult.
One adult who believes them.
One adult who protects them.
One adult who listens.
One adult who keeps showing up.
That one person can change the course of a child’s life.
Children See Everything
One of the greatest misconceptions about domestic violence is that children are unharmed if they aren’t the ones being physically abused.
Nothing could be further from the truth.
Children don’t have to be hit to be deeply wounded. Simply living in a home filled with fear, intimidation, screaming, threats, manipulation, or violence can profoundly affect their developing minds and bodies.
Researchers sometimes refer to this as vicarious trauma or secondary traumatic stress. In simple terms, it means that children can experience trauma simply by witnessing someone they love being abused—or by living in constant fear that violence could happen again.
A child may not actually see every incident. Hearing shouting from another room, seeing broken furniture, noticing bruises on a parent, or constantly sensing tension in the home can be enough to create lasting emotional wounds.
“They Were Too Young to Remember…”
People often say,
“She was only two.”
“He was just a baby.”
“They won’t even remember it.”
While children are remarkably resilient, they are also incredibly vulnerable. Even very young children absorb stress from their environment. Trauma doesn’t simply disappear because a child is too young to describe it with words.
Early experiences help shape a child’s developing brain, nervous system, sense of safety, and ability to trust others.
The wonderful news is this: children are also capable of tremendous healing when they are surrounded by safety, stability, love, and appropriate support.
Signs Your Child May Be Struggling
Every child responds differently, but trauma can sometimes appear as:
- Anxiety or excessive worry
- Anger or increased irritability
- Aggressive behavior
- Sadness or withdrawal
- Difficulty trusting others
- Trouble concentrating at school
- Sleep problems or nightmares
- Changes in appetite
- New fears or clinginess
- Physical complaints such as headaches or stomachaches
- Low self-esteem
- Avoiding activities they once enjoyed
- School refusal
- Talking about death or worrying excessively about safety
Not every child will experience all of these symptoms, and not every child who experiences trauma will develop PTSD. However, if these changes continue for weeks or begin interfering with everyday life, it’s important to seek professional support.
Healing Is Possible
One of the greatest gifts you can give your child is a home where they finally feel safe.
Children are incredibly resilient—but resilience isn’t something they’re born with. It’s something that grows when even one safe, loving adult consistently shows up for them.
The earlier children receive trauma-informed support, the greater the opportunity for healing. Therapy, Brainspotting, trauma-informed coaching, and healthy relationships can all help children rebuild trust, regulate their emotions, and develop lifelong resilience.
Never underestimate what your child experiences when they witness abuse—whether the abuse is verbal, emotional, psychological, spiritual, physical, financial, or sexual.
Just as important, never underestimate their capacity to heal.
With safety…
With love…
With truth…
With time…
Healing is possible.
For Moms With Children On The Spectrum, Introducing..
Carrie Cariello
In her moving memoirs, What Color Is Monday? and Someone I'm With Has Autism, Carrie Cariello invites us to take a peek into exactly what it takes to get through each day juggling the needs of her family. Through hilarious mishaps and honest insights, she gives us a validating peek inside the complex world of Autism.