Fall was always my moms favorite season. She loved the changing colors of the trees, the falling leaves, the chilly sweater weather, all of it. After she passed away, fall always brought her back to me a little. Her memory seems more alive during this season. So as the years pass (this is the 6th fall without my momma) I look forward to and embrace the season that I once hated.
It seems so fitting that Domestic Violence Awareness month is in October. I feel like it was made especially for her. If only she were the only victim of domestic violence. Unlike so many other women who have died at the hands of their abusers, my mom escaped my dads grasp, she survived. At least physically, she survived. The trauma that years of abuse caused my mom, stayed with her until she died of a drug and alcohol overdose in February 2010, just 2.5 years after my dad passed away.
It is our honor to be hosting our 2nd annual Parenting Fair to kick off Domestic Violence Awareness Month. All proceeds from the parenting fair will be donated to this program, to help families in Joliet and surrounding areas get out of abusive situations, overcome, and not just survive, but thrive! I hope that many of you reading this can come out and help us support this amazing, life changing program!
Warmly,
Andrea
