09/05/2020
Hello and welcome everyone!
With the birth of our son, Ethan, last October, the excitement that I initially felt when my husband brought him over to me for the first time was quickly overshadowed by nervousness and sheer panic. In approximately three days, we would be sent home, WITHOUT a manual, to raise a child.. another human being! Gone were the days when we were only responsible for our own lives and future; now, we were entrusted with the life and future of another. The evil in the world became magnified and I was finding myself assuming the worst of humanity and being fearful of the future that was being laid out in front of our innocent, baby. I had successfully programmed my mind to exclusively believe the worst and my eyes to only spot the worst. Logically speaking, I was fully aware that it was unhealthy, as well as, unfair to generalize in this manner, but I was unable to pry myself from the toxicity I was surrounded by. After many failed attempts on my own, I chose to seek professional assistance to manage my anxiety. At first, I was embarrassed to admit that I was accepting help, but I feel it has truly shaped my perspective and rationale for the better. **I don’t know who needs to hear this, but do not be afraid or ashamed to entertain the idea of professional support. It does not make you weak. Taking care of your mental health is a necessity and I can guarantee you, you are not alone.**
2020 has been a true test for each and every person, whether that be physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually, etc. It is nearly an impossibility to think of anything, but the horrors happening around the world if you turn the news on, hop on social media for a minute or even catch a glimpse of a random newspaper. It is crucial for our well-being to attempt to focus on the light through the darkness. Choose tolerance and understanding when faced with a difference of opinions. Choose acceptance for different races, genders, cultures, religions, and sexual-orientation. Choose equality for all forms of life. Choose inclusivity for those with special needs. Choose compassion and empathy for those you’ve never walked in the shoes of. Choose to encourage rather than being the source of judgement and criticism. Above all, choose kindness. It takes little effort and could potentially provide a lasting impact on those you interact with.
Merrilly Ever After & Co. came to fruition with our son in mind. Several months back, we learned that Ethan was profoundly deaf. Shortly thereafter, my husband and I put together a video of us sharing this news with our family and friends. Little did we know that video would reach thousands of people from all over the world! People of different races, cultures, nationalities, and walks of life all brought together because they chose to extend their support to perfect strangers. It was due to that video that I had the opportunity to learn about other deaf individuals and their personal experiences that I otherwise, would not have had access to. Upon further research, I was astounded to learn that 90-95% of deaf children are born to hearing parents and of those parents, about 80% never learn sign language. Each person deserves access to language and we want to be advocates for that change. It is clear from the personal experiences that were shared with us and from how we were treated by doctors throughout the process of tests and obtaining a diagnosis, that most parents are devastated when they receive the news that their child is deaf. If you have no experience around deaf people, it can understandably be overwhelming to process the news and the realization that you may have to learn a new language. We are determined to spread awareness and be a motivational resource where parents with deaf children can go to embrace sign language rather than feel intimidated by the thought. It was only fitting that we launch in September during Deaf Awareness Month.
Let’s build a community centered around spreading positivity. Not only embrace each other’s differences, but celebrate them as well. Choose kindness and let’s live Merrilly Ever After! (you knew I had to do it and I know.. super cheesy, but the world could use a little cheese right now.. (that was cheesy too.. I’ll stop now🧀)) “Choose kindness” car magnets will be available soon for those that want to share this message and inspire others to do the same.
Pay it forward… Do something kind for someone and tag us.. we want to hear about it!! Your good deeds will certainly encourage others to pay it forward as well!
🤟🤟🤟🤟🤟
The Merrills
