Mom of 4 kids and 2 frenchies, partner to Walter, mentor, professional, and survivor of AFE. I believe in kindness and compassion. I'm strong, determined and anxious. I'm afraid of showing my weaknesses to my children. I want them to always feel safe and secure when they are with me. My parents were strict and I honestly think they didn't know how to deal with me most of the time. I was a rebellious and often times defiant child. It's hard for me to accept that my relationship with my mom has never been normal and that there is nothing I can do to fix it. I've struggled with many forms of addiction since I was 14. I was sexually assaulted by 4 older boys the summer before my freshman year and for many years I suffered from anorexia and bulimia. My brother passed away in a tragic car accident at 16. We were very close and I still haven't figured out how to fill that huge hole in my heart. I used drugs and alcohol to numb the pain. I felt worthless and hopeless but I managed to get my life together when I found out I was expecting my oldest daughter. I went back to school and I never gave up. I worked through all the challenges. I was 36 when my son Jackson was born - he was our rainbow baby. I woke up 3 days after giving birth in the ICU. I had suffered from an Amniotic Fluid Embolism, a stroke and multiple blood clots in my lung. Despite this I walked out of the hospital a week after Jackie was born. It’s tough to wrap my head around that experience but it has made me understand how precious life is. I'm excited about my new blog about surviving motherhood in a modern world and my own struggles with anxiety and postpartum depression. I used to live by the story that I'm the addicted, anxiety driven girl that is broken from years of emotional and physical abuse but now my story is that I'm a proud mom working hard to live my best life. I'm proud of my constant and unwavering determination. My perseverance is what’s gotten me through my worst days and I think it's why my girls have grown into smart, strong, resilient young women. I'm Aimee - I’m a survivor. Sharing my story helps me heal and I hope it helps others that need to be heard and validated.