It's Thanksgiving week, thus a perfect time to tell you what I'm thankful for. I have an inordinate amount of things to be thankful for, so here goes.
I'm thankful for you. I thank you for reading this, for coming back and for supporting Postpartum Progress.
I'm ESPECIALLY thankful to:
Those of you who have written to me, sharing how Postpartum Progress has helped you. You have NO IDEA how much your letters mean to me. I keep every single one. Seriously.
The people who comment on the posts here, and share their input. Your thoughts are invaluable and make this blog SO MUCH BETTER.
The wonderful writers who joined Postpartum Progress this year as contributors, Alexis Lesa and Kate Kripke. So glad to have you.
The specialist healthcare providers who give me guidance (Pec Indman, Susan Stone, Marlene Freeman, Karen Kleiman and others) so that I can ensure what is said here is medically correct. If I do blow it, it's not their fault by the way, but probably because I didn't consult them about something in the first place.
The community of mom bloggers who have written openly about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders throughout this year, including Alexis, Amber, Lauren, "Blair", Suzanne, Lisa, Kimberly, Miranda, Ivy, Grace, Pamela, Becky, Casey, Lori, Allison, Katie, Stephanie, Emily, Morgan, Amy and so many others that I'm truly sorry I can't name every single one of you.
The amazing people who joined the first ever board of directors of Postpartum Progress Inc., the non-profit: Susan Dowd Stone LCSW, Morra Aarons-Mele, Catherine Connors, Deborah Rimmler, Dr. Marlene Freeman, Dr. Brian Stafford, Jenifer Zeigler. I feel so lucky.
The people who joined the Warrior Moms Task Force of Postpartum Progress Inc. Several have already begun work on project teams, and I hope to get others started soon. I was blown away by how many of you are willing to graciously give of your time to try and make real and lasting change for the women who will one day surely suffer postpartum depression and related illnesses. These women – who have children, jobs inside and outside of the home, and lots of other responsibilities – are willing to walk the walk and talk the talk to get things done. They include: Sara, Ninotchka, Kimberly, Kathy, Brandy, Amber, Elizabeth, Carol Ann, Jean Marie, Kinda, Candace, Jayne, Deb, Judy, Chauntelle, Ivy, Anne, Linda, Erin, Stephanie, Diane, Kristen, Heather, Karen, Andrea, Tricia, Laura, Susan, Janna, Jade, Mary, Stephanie, Katrina, Sarah, Amy, Dana, Heidi, Michelle, Pamela, Catherine, Tammy, Tamara, Ami, Samantha, Holly, Meghan, Rebekah, Jill, Rachel, Kristina, Adrienne and others.
Jenny's Light, for believing so strongly in Postpartum Progress that they "put their money where their mouth is". 😉 I am so very thankful for your sponsorship of this blog this year – the first ever (and still only) sponsor I've ever had. You help keep Postpartum Progress going.
The individuals who donated to Postpartum Progress this year. Especially in this time of economic difficulty, I am blessed by your support.
The Postpartum Progress Facebook Fans. Thanks for being there, for reading, for communicating with each other! And everyone who follows @postpartumprogr on Twitter – your retweets and lists make a difference because they let your own followers know that there is help and support out there for PPD.
The wonderful women who contributed to the 2010 Mother's Day Rally for Moms' Mental Health.
ParentDish, for giving me an awesome outlet at which to write about the importance of family emotional health. I still can't believe I'm now a "columnist". In particular I want to thank Amy Hatch and Susan Avery for believing in me.
BlogHer, for allowing me the honor of contributing stories about postpartum depression to your wonderful site. I cherish the partnership I have with you. Thanks Rita, for putting up with so many confusing emails from me! Oh, and y'all helped me get onto the Today Show's Today Moms site this year, which was a major squee!
Media outlets, organizations and blogs like Fit Pregnancy, Babble, Scholastic Parent & Child, Parenting.com, Pregnancy 360, Bloganthropy, Her Bad Mother, PhDinParenting, the Motherhood, ShareWIK, PBS' This Emotional Life and others that have helped me spread the word, and recognized the work that is done here. You have enormous reach and influence, and I thank you so much.
All the amazing women in the blogosphere that I've gotten to meet in person this year. You inspire me, make me proud to be a blogger and make me want to work harder: Catherine, Megan, Heather, Allison, Maggie, Sharon, Janice, Angela, Danielle, Cecily, Laurie, Sarah, Victoria, Ann, Chrysula, Jennifer, Meagan, Kim, Ria, Jen, Liz, Annie, Maria, Kristine, Arianne, Kelby, Julie, Hollee and Becky, Laura, Casey, Valerie and so many more that if I try to list you all I'd never get to cooking for Thanksgiving. (Oh, and I'd be remiss if I didn't send a special shout-out to Tiaras & Tantrums and CafeKel, who escorted my sorry drunk ass to my hotel room after Sparklecorn at BlogHer. If it hadn't been for them, God knows where I would have ended up.)
Most of all, my husband and children, who put up with, and even support, all the money and time I spend on this work that I could be spending on them. Love you.
I just can't believe what an amazing year it has been.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
(Isn't Thanksgiving great?)
So thankful for you and amazed at all the link/love your poured into this.
You've created something beautiful here on this website.
Happy Thanksgiving. Hope we run into each other in another pee line in '11.
xo
Oh Katherine… I am thankful for YOU! Your advice, your posts, your guidance… You have gotten me so very far in my life. I'll never be able to thank you enough. I'm on the mend of this horrendous PPD relapse. You are a big part of that. xoxox
Katherine, you are a dynamo – meeting you was definitely a highlight of my year, and I am so thankful for that! And, I love our small world story :-). I am so touched to be included in this post. Thank you for making my week.
I am thankful for you and what you do.. Janna
Thank you and happy holidays, my friend!!!
Giving thanks for you and your enormous contribution to maternal mental and emotional health. You are a beacon of light for so many, and a true inspiration.
Katherine!!! I am so thankful for YOU and all the resources! I don't think I would be where I am today without you and all that the internet has to offer in ways of support and knowledge about PPD! You are LITERALLY a lifesaver to me!
I'm thankful for you and the amazing resources you provide! You gave me hope when I had none and I honestly don't know what I would do without easy access to the wealth of information you provide. You are such a blessing to so many women.
YOU are awesome. And the PPD community thanks you every single day.
thank YOU Katherine 🙂 Post partum progress's stories and information helped me so much when I needed it most. It's also introduced me to some wonderful women on facebook currently going threw this page of thier life. I am greatful for so much..and your vision here is on that list!
Kinda of teary here… amazed by all you do, and very happy that I have played (a very small role) in it. As someone living with chronic pain/illness I so often wish I could do "more", and I am ever inspired by your work. Additionally, your work reminds of the point that every effort we make, to support an important cause, is valuable and worthwhile!
I am thankful for you and the amazing resource you provide!
You know I didn't even know I had PPD with my first until I started reading blogs like yours. I just thought I was crazy, sleep deprived, stressed etc etc. So great to have community in these areas!
Katherine,
I am so very thankful that I have gotten to know you and even more thankful that it continues! I am also thankful for every single person I have met in the PPD community, my mentors, colleagues and friends. What an amazing universe!
Cathy Dore'
Katherine, we are truly so very lucky to have you. All the best to you and yours this Thanksgiving, and here's to many more years!
Thank you for this and THANK YOU for all that you do and inspire. You and this site have helped me process, embrace and transcend my postpartum experience and, by doing so, you have allowed me to use it for good. I do not know if my thoughts and feelings about postpartum would be as focused without this platform. Hugs to you, my friend! Happy Thanksgiving!
Thank YOU for being such an inspiration for me and for so many moms out there. We are lucky to have YOU.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I am thankful that I found this blog when postpartum OCD set in. I am thankful put into words all of the scary thoughts that were tap dancing through my brain and let me know that I am not alone. I truly thought that I would never be myself again until I found postpartum progress.
I am also thankful that you answered my email when I wrote. As much as my family and friends tried to empathize I really needed to connect to someone who knew the hell I was going through. You gave me hope when I had none left.
Thank you Katherine for being a steady, consistent and inspirational support to all of us. It is an honor to work with you, for you and to be among the strong community of women who face, struggle, overcome and work with this issue.
Katherine thank you for all you do! Without your words of wisdom and courage I am not sure where I would be!
I'm thankful for you too, friend. (and kind of sorry I missed meeting the drunk version of you at Sparklecorn. heh heh.)
You have a beautiful gift from your beautiful heart and I'm so glad you use it in this space.
xo
happy thanksgiving katherine! i, too, am very thankful for you and this wonderful blog!
I am thankful for you and the women like you out there who keep fighting for awareness when it comes to all sorts of postpartum information and then some! I am so glad you have the support of so many, because in turn you can (and are absolutely!) helping so many more!
Know what I'm thankful for?
That 2 years ago, when I brought myself to type the words I feared into the google search engine, that YOU were the first site that reached out to me. That early Sunday morning, before the sun had risen, with my newborn swaddled tightly, I sat there for the first time in 6 weeks crying tears…of hope…
Thank you for being there for me always. Even when you don't know it. You are a hero in this little corner of the universe of mine. Me and my family thank you.
You? Rock mah socks.
Thank you for what you're doing for all of us, Katherine. I don't know if you'll ever know how far your reach is in this community. Thank you for giving each of us a voice and for constantly speaking out when we ourselves seem unable. Thank you.
you are most welcome my lovely fellow redheaded friend! (I hope you can do the same for me someday!!)
Katherine – thank YOU – what a treasure to FINALLY meet you – for that I am grateful. I am grateful for the support you give and the love that you pour into this site. There are many, many women who are better, stronger versions of themselves BECAUSE of you…. xoxo
you are most welcome my lovely fellow redheaded friend! (I hope you can do the same for me someday!!)
Hi Katherine – So thankful for this forum, for you and your tireless work, helping give voice to women!
Love Kathy
You are amazing. This is a lovely thing here, just like you. xo
Thank you, my friend. For everything. You give a voice to women and shine a light in the darkness. I'm so proud to be your friend.
Katherine I am so incredibly thankful for you and the amazing work you do putting a beautiful face to horrible illness. I'm thankful for your strength and compassion when I had none for myself. I honestly have no idea what I would have done if I hadn't found you. Thank you, thank you, thank you. Smooches! xoxo