Taryn Zweygardt, LMSW | Executive Director, The Village ICT My entire life I wanted to be a mother. I remember telling many people growing up that I honestly felt as though I was put on this earth to be a mom. I dreamed of the day when I could tote around my precious little bundle of…
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Recently, I bought a shelf for my bathroom. It was one of those shelves to be placed above your toilet, contained 3 shelves, and what felt like hundreds of random pieces. Immediately upon opening the box, I was overwhelmed. There were poles, shelves, screws, bolts, and several other parts I don’t know the name of.…
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Waking up in the morning for me consists of no less than 3 alarms, all set to go off in 10-15 minute increments. Three is my safe number. The first alarm is for when I am feeling ambitious. This alarm is the least utilized but still in the running just in case I decide to…
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Though this story is fictitious, domestic violence comes in all forms. The media focuses on cases that concern marriage or those that are dating. What often is overlooked is the emotional, psychological, economic, verbal, isolation, and male privilege components of domestic violence.
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My grand a-ha, this-is-why-my-parents-make-my-life-miserable moment happened one summer when I was almost 17. All of my friends were going to the lake for a camp-out. There were about 30 people in total. I begged and pleaded with my parents to let me stay out, they said no. Didn’t even entertain the idea, it was a…
Read moreDella Gill/Joyce H. Williams Center helps domestic violence survivors by providing safe shelter, hot meals, essential personal care items, and emotional support in addition to programs and advocacy services.
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I get lost, a lot! I can go to the same place a thousand times, know exactly how to get there, and still manage to end up on the other side of town. Once, I even ended up in a different state. For over 30 years, I have traveled back and forth from my dad’s…
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Warning! I am not a perfect driver. My infractions are few and I’m grateful no one has landed in the hospital because I was behind the wheel. Years ago, I backed into a truck parked in the center of my cul de sac. I saw it earlier that morning, but when backing out of the…
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Support groups are essentially what one can assume from the name: a congregation of people in mutual understanding of a common problem and goal. In essence, a support group is a fellowship of people performing story telling of the manifestations of their heart-level vulnerabilities. Not much about either the technical definition nor the profound crux…
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There are times when we all need help–encouragement, support, a friend, coworker, or solution to a problem. The hope of making good decisions and doing things well are commendable goals, but that process often includes someone else because life is lived out with others, together. As I look back over my life, there has always…
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