Welcome

My name is Erica Shoemake. I am a Christian, a mom, a wife, a daughter, an interior decorator, a party planner, a small business owner, a dot-it-yourselfer, and a softball coach.  I also have ADHD and Anxiety.   

My husband and I are raising our beautiful 10-year old daughter, who we adopted at birth. Like all first-time parents, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into. Since our daughter's birth, we have learned that our sweet baby girl has ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, Anxiety, Sleep Apnea, Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Mold Exposure, as well as symptoms of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome Disorder. I also am the primary caregiver for my 76-year old mother who lives with chronic pain and significant physical limitations.

The majority of my existence revolves around the needs of two other people. Most days I feel too physically and mentally exhausted to do anything right. Unfortunately, after 10 years of parenting, I find myself living a rather isolated existence.  I have a handful of women I call friends and some acquaintances, but I purposely keep everyone at arm's length. I simply cannot explain my life to yet another person who just doesn't get it.  I am so tired of the judgement, the gossip and all of the questioning (not questions, questioning).  I was even ghosted by a couple of former friends because it all became too much for them. I became too much! However, it seems I have hit a stage in my daughter's life when it would be helpful to share some of our challenges and why I handle things with her the way that I do.  I hate this really, but if it helps make even one little part of my daughter's life easier, then I will suck it up and put it all out there. So here I go...