“Building Him a Bigger World”

I'm a mother to a son with schizophrenia, diagnosed at 15. We live in two parallel worlds — the one where I'm a working professional, composed and capable, and the one where I'm his whole world. Strangers don't meet us with compassion, so we've learned to keep his world small. But I dream of building him something bigger — purpose, community, belonging. I find joy in the little things. I keep moving because if I sit still, I'm afraid I won't get back up. This is fierce love. This is our life.