Layers of the Mind

There’s something powerful about reaching a point in life where pain pushes you to seek answers not just for yourself, but for the people you love. That’s what brought me here, to this blog, and to studying psychology.

I never imagined I’d go back to school at this point in my life, but here I am learning the inner workings of the mind while also trying to make sense of my own world as a parent. Specifically, as a mom to a strong-willed, emotionally intense pre-teen, I’ve been on a rollercoaster of conflict, confusion, and heartbreak. Most days I feel like I’m failing. Some days I feel like I’m barely holding it together.

What I didn’t expect is how much my daughter would become one of my greatest teachers not through ease, but through struggle.

Her defiance, mood swings, and emotional explosions have cracked open something in me: a deep desire to understand, not just react. I wanted to understand what was happening under the surface in her, and in me. Why did everything feel like a power struggle? Why did I feel so helpless? Why did our connection feel so far away even though we lived under the same roof?

I started reading about emotional regulation, brain development, trauma, attachment anything I could get my hands on. What began as desperation slowly turned into curiosity, and eventually into purpose.

That’s when I knew I needed more than just articles and podcasts. I needed to go deeper. Psychology felt like a path forward not just for helping her, but for healing myself, too.

This blog is my attempt to document that journey. I’m not writing as an expert. I’m writing as a mom who’s in the thick of it, a student who’s trying to make sense of what I’m learning, and a human being who believes that healing and understanding often start by saying, “This is hard. And I’m trying.”

If you’re here — whether you’re a parent, student, or someone just trying to make sense of the chaos I hope you feel a little less alone. I believe we’re all just doing our best with the tools we’ve been given. My hope is that, through this space, we can build a few more tools together!

“What if the worst moments of your life are actually invitations to grow into who you were meant to be?” — Unknown