Relax and Feel Luxurious with Luxe

     We all need "me time." For me, it's 20 minutes or more in the tub. I either grab a book, or my phone to watch something that I WANT TO WATCH. I draw a bath, and lock myself in for peace and quiet. Now I not only relax, but I feel luxurious too. All thanks to Luxe.

Relax and Feel Luxurious with Luxe

    Guess what?? Mr. Bubble isn't just for kids! I'll admit, I've always used Mr. Bubble. From the time I was a kid, to adulthood. I use it with my kids, and myself. However, the folks at Village Company know that we all love their products. So they made some just for us! Enter their Luxe line! 

    Moms and dad alike can enjoy some relaxation at home, in the tub with Luxe. However, you don't need to be a parent to enjoy Luxe. Anyone can take pleasure in their amazing products! Their line of bath bombs, bubble bath, bath candies, sugar scrubs, salt soaks, and so much more. 

The Bomb!

    In my house, bath bombs are the bomb. However, I keep my Luxe ones to myself. After all, I deserve my own bath goodies! I love their Glam & Beauty bath bombs. I've used a lot of bath bombs in my time, but I have NEVER had one last so long in the tub. It took about forty five minutes for it to completely dissolve. 

    I used Sweet & Clean last night, and it turned my bath water into the most beautiful turquoise blue. I felt like I was bathing is Caribbean waters! They also have it in their Original Bubble scent. Glow gorgeous with Luxe's Glam and Beauty bath bombs. (They even have a gift set, aptly named, You're the Bomb. It comes with four gorgeous bath bombs.)

Melt Away Stress and Dry Skin!

     Luxe also makes these amazing bath candies. Meltaways are enriched with Vitamins A and C, as well as Shea and Cocoa butter, to give you an ultra moisturizing bath experience. Toss a couple into your water and relax as the butter soften and hydrate your skin. These are perfect for summer since our skin sees much more sun than any other season. 

I'll Take it on the Rocks!

    My salt soak, and a martini! ;) Luxe's On the Rocks Sea Salt Soaks are great anytime of the year but especially for summer. Mix up a martini, draw a bath, and pour in some of their salt soak. Then sit back and relax, while enjoying some time to yourself. Let your skin drink in the Jojoba and Shea Butter in the salt. 

Bubble Baths Aren't Just for Kids!

    I love a good bubble bath as much as my son. So I was stoked when I saw that Mr. Bubble had created a line of products geared towards adults. I adore their Milk & Cookies gift set. It's cookies and milk bath style! You get two cookie bath bombs, and a bottle of Splish Splash Milk Bubble Bath. 

Where to Buy

    I know you're going to love Luxe as much as we do. To get yours, click here, choose your products, and enter your zip code. The Village Company will let you know the store nearest you so that you too, can get your relaxation on!

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Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop

    If you or someone you love lives with mental illness, then I'm sure you know this feeling. When a cycle is creeping upon you or your loved one, you know it's coming. Any day, they or you, will spiral into Hell. The signs are there....but there's nothing you or anyone else can do....

My boy on an even keel, spinning, stimming, and smiling. <3

Waiting for the Other Shoe to Drop

    That's what it's like for us. As his parents, we sit back, and we wait. Because we know, that any day it's coming. The deep, dark, depressive cycle. The one that steals the glimmer from his eyes, the smile from his face, and the hope from his heart.

    He powers through the little cycles every month, but in the spring and fall, the big ones come. It never fails. It's always waiting. Lurking. Taking it's time. Ready to pounce. To leech into his life. Each time, stealing a little more innocence from my beloved boy.

The Signs

    I've noticed he's been slowly coming down for the last week. More apt to cry for no apparent reason. Commercials and songs on tv making him shed tears. We're back to muting the tv again. (Especially the damn tiger commercial!) Sleeping ALL.THE.TIME. This child rarely sleeps. But in the past week, we have to make him get up. Literally fight him to get up, and play or do art, or anything other than sleep.

Snuggling with his fur cousin Velvet <3

    Video gaming is usually a reprieve for him. But not now. A simple loss sends him spiraling into sobs. He's head banging again too, and not to our beloved rock music either. I mean, he's getting so upset that he bangs his head for "relief from the thoughts." 

    These little signs are how I know the big one is coming. He does too. He can sense it. He feels it. He asks me, "How bad do you think it will be mama? Do you think it will be over fast? I don't want to lose a month of my life again."

    Thoughts from an ELEVEN year old boy

     A boy that struggles to make sense of life as it because he lives on the autism spectrum. He also fights this demon we call mental illness. More specifically he fights Pediatric Bipolar Disorder. 

    My son really is a superhero. Sans cape of course (except for the days when he dons his Batman one.) But he won't. Not until this cycle subsides. 

    You see, people on the spectrum perseverate. That means they have one thought, repeatedly. Day in and day out. Now add in the horrible thoughts of wanting to die from mental illness. Those fleeting thoughts don't leave. Now they are all he can think of. They play on repeat in his little mind, all day, all night. I can't imagine how that must be for him.

A Plan

    For now we live each day in waiting. Making mental notes of every sign, so we know when to jump into action.

    We have to have a plan. Up until now if he became too suicidal, it would mean a four hour ride in an ambulance to the closet mental unit that takes peds. Now however, he's "old enough" for the local behavioral science unit. I'm not really sure if that should make me feel better. Because my eleven year old boy would be in a ward with adults fighting the same battle. My baby. My world.

Suicide Watch

    Suicide watch is coming. We make sure all scissors or kitchen knives are hidden. He isn't left alone for more than a few moments. And yes, that means even in the bathroom. Because all it takes is a moment. It also means that I will now be sleeping in the living room with him. Someone has to be by his side at all times. No comfy bed. No good night's sleep. Not now. Not for awhile. This is our life. This is autism and mental illness. 

    This life isn't easy. For him, it's even harder. So on a bad day, take a moment and remember it could always be worse. 

    And if you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, please ask for help. I know, it's not always easy. Most often, my son doesn't ask either. But there are people who want to help. You can even message me if you need it ( alegionforliam@gmail.com ). But please, reach out.

You're raising a bully.....

    If you follow our page or my blog, you know that where we live sucks. No bones about it. We are surrounded by children who bully our child, and parents who could care less.

    Matter of fact, here's a great example. Last fall Liam was outside playing with his old bike. It's beat up, it's too small for him, and it needs to be junked. You know as well as I do, that our kiddos don't part easily with certain things.  Anyway, he was playing with his bike, his father was in the yard preparing it for winter.

    Out of nowhere Pita heard, "Hey Liam! The baby called, he wants his bike back!" You see, two neighbor kids were outside, but they didn't know Liam's dad was too. So there they were in the road, behind our car, taunting my son.

    Pita came out from around the car. The kid who said that almost peed his pants. Hubby yelled, "I'm sick of you bullying my kid! Who do you think you are?" The other kid that was there (who has bullied Liam several times himself) quickly spoke up. "I didn't say nothing Pat! He told me to get Liam's attention. But I didn't say nothing, I swear!"

    The kid who did, hung his head. He knew he had been caught. He also knew that he blew it. He used to play here a lot with Liam. As time went on, he would beat on him, or pick on him when other kids were around. He would knock on our house and run away, and Liam would sit inside crying because all he wanted was a friend to play with.

    Now before you say anything, we did go to the parents. MANY times. We all know that kids are often a product of their parents, and this time was no different. The father will just scream and cuss and the mother will swear her child does no wrong.

    So, long story short, Pat told this kid he was never welcome here again. He told him Liam needed REAL friends, not bullies. Kid never came back around.  Until yesterday. My friend's son whom lives out of town with his dad, came to spend the night with Liam. Bully kid saw him here. He stayed on the outskirts of our yard and told N, "I can't come there, because Liam and I had a fight."

    N told me, and I quickly corrected his info and told him what really happened. He just shook his head. Not long after that, bully kid's mom messages Pita. "***** wants to come apologize to Liam, but he's afraid to come over to your house." (name omitted for privacy)

    Pita was pissed. He quickly informed the mother of why he had words with her son. He told her he doesn't need to be afraid to come over here. That he is only saying that because he was caught being a bully and was called out on it. Pita informed her of all the other times he bullied Liam and told her that we are done. We don't want Liam to be around kids like that.  Her reply.....

                                    "Kids will be kids!"

Really? So because he's a "kid" it's okay for him to verbally harass my child? When he is playing in my yard, minding his own business, it's okay for your child to tease him? It was okay when your son called me a "fat b word," when I reprimanded him for punching Liam in the stomach. It was okay for your son to steal from mine, and blame it on someone else. When you were given proof, you denied it and said, "my son would never steal."

   Do you realize you're raising a bully? Let me define that for you, because I have heard you say, "my kid isn't a bully!"

bully

 noun

1

a person who teases, threatens, or hurts smaller or weaker persons <officials were warned that if they wished to avoid a school shooting, they had to deal with the local bullies>

Synonyms bullyboy, hector, intimidator

Related Words antagonist, enemy; abuser, baiter, giber (orjiber), harasser, harrier, heckler, mocker, needler,oppressor, persecutor, ridiculer, taunter, tease, teaser,torturer; goon, hood, hoodlum, hooligan, mug, punk, rough,roughneck, rowdy, ruffian, thug, tough, toughie 

(definition from Merriam Webster)

   So, by saying, "kids will be kids," you're making an excuse for your child's behavior. You're making it OKAY in his eyes, because it's okay in your eyes. Your husband was quoted as calling my son an "autistic retard," and in turn, your son has called him that many times. You see nothing wrong with that. You make me sad.

   I feel terribly that I have to keep children away from my child. After all, in one sense, you're right. They are just kids. BUT, as a parent it's YOUR job to tell you child when they have done wrong. It's YOUR job to raise them to respect adults. To treat others how they want to be treated. To be kind to those who are different.

    Please, for the rest of us, don't raise a bully. Raise a kind, caring, loving child. Leave the world with a good person, not someone who will bring others down.