hey Cam1960:

welcome to our blogworld, I think as my blogworld is best kept secret on the message board, I am highly active here, I too stroked at very young age at 34 with left side paralysed and loosing all controls of my life, before my stroke I was working busy mom raising my 7 year old, though it took me close to 2 years to accept my new normal, though I went through severe depression and kid acting up in the begining, and so on, but things did turn around once I accepted my new self, though it did take me year of blogging and keeping very positive attitude towards my situation, what helped me immensely, and I think which is must for all of us to start counting our blessings.

I won't lie it was tough journey, but things I learnt from is priceless, I found for me blogging on these site and support I got from people here were lifesavers, if you follow my blog journey you will see how i have emerged from my rollercoaster ride.

BTW I would love to know your name. hoping to learn more about you throu your blogs

Asha

Hi Cam,

I'm so happy you joined us! We all have our ups and downs and we really do understand each other here, so no need to worry about blogging when you feel down or need to vent, etc.

I don't have any kids so I'll leave it to the parents on the site to share their experiences.

Jean

Welcome Carol,

I don't blog often but I read many of them. I'm working so time is limited on the board these days. Glad it was like therapy for you to blog, remember we all are riding in the same old boat. We all want to get back much of what we lost to our strokes.

To answer Asha's question about your name, I'll bet it's Carol!! (smile) hope to see you in chat soon, take your time, we'll be here for time to come! :scooter:

dear Cam1960,

Teenagers take time to come around, but they will be ok too. I was 46 when I stroked and my youngest was 14, she just turned 18 yesterday. She was pretty weird for a long time after my stroke. I recently found out that she had no one to talk to about what happened to me. Her father was a basket case and her friends just didn't understand. Everyone thinks that you will be better in a few months , only survivors really know that this is the new normal. There will be improvements, but they are few and far between. Keep trying to be her Mom and eventuallly she will let you in again. I think therapy is a good idea if you are both receptive. Just keep being her Mom. Love will find a way.

Marden

Hi and welcome to blog world! I didn't have a stroke and raising my daughter through her teen years was very difficult. Yes, they have a way of making you think everything is your fault, after all like you said, we are the MOMS! I think I spent a big part of my daughter's 15th year in my closet telling myself, "This is not about me!" She is married now and expecting her first child. We have learned how to be friends again.

Stroke or not, it is hard to be a parent. I once told my daughter that I was sorry I wasn't the mother she expected, but since she was my first, I was learning as I go and a little slack on her part would go a long way.

Is there a stroke support group in your area? Maybe it would be good to see if there are other teenagers or children of stroke survivors? I bet they need someone to talk too also.

Keep coming to the site - we are hear to listen.

Hi Cam welcome to the Blog community.

Recovery is HARD and SLOW, but keep on... my walking and balance didn't improve until the 2 nd year. I still walk with a limp and much slower, but do not quite so much resemble a drunken sailor on high seas..

I know what you mean about back sliding.. I'm not sure maybe I was so focused on physical recovery first. Then I TRIED so hard to be like the "old me" or what others "expected" once I gained acceptance that

some of these changes are permenant.. not that I cant improve, but that their are changes and quit trying to "hide" my deficits..then accepting and liking of me came.

Looking for a local support group and maybe finding some other teens of survivors is a good idea.

Don't be afraid of chat we love meeting new people..Ihad never been on a message board or into a chat room until I found this site. It is a good way to interact and socialize with others. Chats are every weekday evening from 8 to 9 pm and Mon, Wed & Friday afternoons from 2 to 3 pm Hope to see you there.