Honest writing on raising a neurodiverse family, building a life abroad, and finding your own purpose somewhere in the middle of it all.https://www.awordfrommommabird.comen-gb© 2026 A Word From Momma Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/we-moved-to-spain-and-everything-fell-apart-part-1https://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/we-moved-to-spain-and-everything-fell-apart-part-1The part of the move nobody photographs: grief, a bereavement, apartment chaos and gaslighting, and a long battle with depression and anxiety.Thu, 07 May 2026 11:04:39 GMTLife Abroad & Spaindepressiongriefmoving abroadspainAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/expats-in-spainhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/expats-in-spainTwo months into life in Valencia: the restaurants, the bureaucracy, the metro misadventures, the smells, and two rental cars that did not go to plan.Fri, 17 Oct 2025 22:47:23 GMTLife Abroad & Spainculture shockexpatspainvalenciaAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/spain-we-made-ithttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/spain-we-made-itThe family made it to Spain. An honest account of the emotional, financial and physical toll of getting there, and what arrival actually felt like.Tue, 09 Sep 2025 21:10:17 GMTLife Abroad & Spainarrivalmoving abroadspainvalenciaAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/the-birds-take-flight-beginning-our-move-to-spainhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/the-birds-take-flight-beginning-our-move-to-spainWhy the Bird family decided to move to Valencia, how people reacted, and the beginning of documenting a move away from everything they knew.Wed, 30 Jul 2025 16:45:07 GMTLife Abroad & Spainannouncementmoving abroadspainvalenciaAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/depression-i-have-not-missed-youhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/depression-i-have-not-missed-youDepression returns after coming off a medication that had been working, the gnawing thoughts that follow, and the methods that help hold the line.Fri, 17 May 2024 15:33:52 GMTMental Health & Hard SeasonscopingdepressionmedicationAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/have-you-heard-of-pans-pandashttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/have-you-heard-of-pans-pandasA daughter's PANS diagnosis explained: what the condition is, how it surfaced after strep, and what treatment and acceptance have looked like since.Wed, 31 Jan 2024 20:38:47 GMTNeurodiverse ParentingdaughterdiagnosispandaspansAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/fond-memories-of-grandpahttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/fond-memories-of-grandpaWhy a photograph of Grandpa kept in the closet works as a daily mental-health boost, and how to recreate the memories that steady you on hard days.Wed, 07 Oct 2020 21:20:52 GMTMotherhood & Familygrandparentsgriefjust becauselifememorymental healthmomentsrelationshipsstoriesAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/how-are-you-dealing-during-this-crazy-timehttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/how-are-you-dealing-during-this-crazy-timeMental health during a year that upended everything: daily affirmations, gratitude writing, yoga, time in nature, and finding a good counsellor.Tue, 21 Jul 2020 13:50:36 GMTMental Health & Hard SeasonscopingcounsellinggratitudeyogaAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/life-following-my-thyroidectomy-thyroid-cancer-2-years-post-removalhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/life-following-my-thyroidectomy-thyroid-cancer-2-years-post-removalTwo years after a thyroidectomy: what replacing a thyroid with hormone medication actually feels like, and why "the good cancer" is not that simple.Sun, 08 Mar 2020 10:02:21 GMTHealth, Cancer & Recoverycancerchronic illnessdepressionmedicationmental healthrecoverystoriessynthroidthyroid cancerthyroidectomywellnessAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/how-to-mom-dad-with-anxiety-depressionhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/how-to-mom-dad-with-anxiety-depressionPractical ways to keep parenting while anxiety and depression are at their worst: one day at a time, stepping away, and being honest with your kids.Wed, 05 Feb 2020 10:40:52 GMTMental Health & Hard Seasonsanxietydepressionlifemental healthparentingpracticalwellnessAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/mom-myhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/mom-myThe day the oldest stops saying Mommy and starts saying Mom, what that small edit does to a mother, and the connection she is determined to keep.Mon, 09 Dec 2019 11:09:41 GMTMotherhood & Familygrowing upjust becauselifeparentingpreteenrelationshipsAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/let-s-talk-about-it-it-s-okay-to-not-be-okayhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/let-s-talk-about-it-it-s-okay-to-not-be-okayWhat it means to answer honestly when someone asks how you are, and why finding a community changes what a hard mental-health season feels like.Wed, 27 Nov 2019 11:04:43 GMTMental Health & Hard Seasonsadvocacyanxietycommunitydepressionlifemental healthwellnessAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/that-time-we-put-our-child-in-a-php-partial-hospitalization-programhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/that-time-we-put-our-child-in-a-php-partial-hospitalization-programWhy the family chose a Partial Hospitalization Program for their young son, what the programme involved, and where things stood two years later.Mon, 04 Nov 2019 18:59:25 GMTNeurodiverse ParentinghospitalizationphpsontreatmentAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/attempting-to-overcome-this-s-a-d-season-part-iihttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/attempting-to-overcome-this-s-a-d-season-part-iiThe practical things that help through a Seasonal Affective Disorder season: yoga, affirmations, book club, bike rides, volunteering and better mornings.Wed, 09 Oct 2019 12:30:39 GMTMental Health & Hard Seasonscopingroutinesseasonal affective disorderyogaAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/s-a-d-seasonal-affective-disorder-and-me-part-ihttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/s-a-d-seasonal-affective-disorder-and-me-part-iWhy autumn brings dread rather than comfort, the stressors that stack up each year, and an honest account of Seasonal Affective Disorder arriving.Sat, 28 Sep 2019 12:30:26 GMTMental Health & Hard Seasonsa day in the lifedepressiongriefseasonal affective disorderAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/rollercoasterhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/rollercoasterA guest post by Amberleigh Starr on living with an ongoing mental-health battle, and holding on to the belief that broken crayons still colour.Sun, 22 Sep 2019 20:26:09 GMTMental Health & Hard Seasonsguest bloggerguest postmental healthAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/voque-parody-73-questionshttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/voque-parody-73-questionsSeventy-three rapid-fire questions answered candidly, from the coffee order to the tattoos, as a way to get to know the person behind the blog.Fri, 06 Sep 2019 10:29:57 GMTMotherhood & Familyblogginghumourjust becauseq&aAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/fishing-is-fun-and-other-not-so-true-stories-at-our-househttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/fishing-is-fun-and-other-not-so-true-stories-at-our-houseAn ordinary afternoon of tree-cutting and fishing turns into exactly the kind of controlled chaos that passes for a normal day at the Bird house.Fri, 23 Aug 2019 15:27:59 GMTMotherhood & Familya day in the lifeamanda-ismsfamily lifehumourmomentsstoriesAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/suicide-part-2-why-mehttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/suicide-part-2-why-meThe aftermath of a suicide attempt: family dynamics, the weight carried as the oldest of four, and what she wants anyone still there to know.Wed, 07 Aug 2019 12:53:23 GMTMental Health & Hard SeasonschildhoodfamilysuicideAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/suicide-my-story-part-1https://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/suicide-my-story-part-1Amanda's own account of her suicide attempt as a teenager, the friend who intervened, and the semicolon tattoo that reminds her to continue.Wed, 31 Jul 2019 10:17:44 GMTMental Health & Hard Seasonsadvocacychildren s mental healthrecoverystoriessuicideAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/love-letter-to-the-sellers-of-our-current-homehttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/love-letter-to-the-sellers-of-our-current-homeThe letter the Bird family wrote to the sellers of the house they hoped to buy, and everything that home came to mean after a year of cancer.Fri, 05 Jul 2019 13:39:29 GMTMotherhood & Familya day in the lifeamanda-ismsfamilyhomeletterAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/the-little-girl-inside-mehttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/the-little-girl-inside-meWhat a new counsellor helped surface about the little girl still looking for love, and the realisation that what she wanted was already there.Wed, 05 Jun 2019 16:00:37 GMTMental Health & Hard Seasonsbecomingcounsellinginner childrelationshipsself-worthAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/the-bittersweet-diagnosishttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/the-bittersweet-diagnosisThe day the diagnosis finally arrives for a son: relief, vindication after years of being doubted, and grief for the struggles still ahead of him.Wed, 22 May 2019 12:04:32 GMTNeurodiverse Parentingdiagnosislearning disabilityschoolsonAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/blogger-recognition-awardhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/blogger-recognition-awardHow this blog began as an outlet during an aunt’s cancer diagnosis and then her own, plus two pieces of advice for anyone starting to write.Tue, 14 May 2019 10:23:50 GMTMotherhood & Familyawardsblogger awardsbloggingmilestonewriting lifeAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/always-choose-kindnesshttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/always-choose-kindnessHow one unexpected hug from another mom landed during the worst of an anxiety spike, and why small acts of kindness matter more than we realise.Wed, 01 May 2019 21:51:15 GMTMental Health & Hard Seasonsanxietykindnessmomentsrelationshipsself-careAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/life-without-a-dadhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/life-without-a-dadA novel about a father and daughter sets off an honest reckoning with growing up without a dad, and with forgiveness that keeps being tested.Wed, 24 Apr 2019 12:56:41 GMTMotherhood & FamilyestrangementfamilyforgivenessAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/age-is-just-a-number-buthttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/age-is-just-a-number-butA WEEZER concert sets off a candid reflection on getting older, changing in the mirror, and measuring age by living rather than by the number.Thu, 11 Apr 2019 09:42:02 GMTMotherhood & Familyagingidentitymomentsself-imageAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/just-breathe-a-sigh-of-relief-and-a-disclaimerhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/just-breathe-a-sigh-of-relief-and-a-disclaimerAfter a clinical psychological evaluation, a rare moment of being believed as the parent of a child with special needs, and why she writes about it.Fri, 08 Mar 2019 14:06:00 GMTNeurodiverse Parentinga day in the lifeadvocacychildren s mental healthevaluationspecial needsAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/amanda-s-version-of-what-would-you-dohttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/amanda-s-version-of-what-would-you-doParenting a child with Oppositional Defiant Disorder in public, the judgement that follows, and what she wishes she had said in those moments.Thu, 14 Feb 2019 13:50:56 GMTNeurodiverse Parentingadvocacyanxietyoddpublic judgementAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/snow-white-nopehttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/snow-white-nopeA new house, a bird feeder, and the discovery that being surrounded by nature is not quite the Disney scene it looks like from the kitchen window.Thu, 24 Jan 2019 12:44:08 GMTMotherhood & Familyamanda-ismsbirdwatchinghomehumourAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/sunshine-blogger-award-first-award-yayhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/sunshine-blogger-award-first-award-yayAccepting a first blogging award, answering eleven questions candidly, and passing it on to the writers who made that corner of the internet good.Thu, 17 Jan 2019 14:12:00 GMTMotherhood & Familyawardsblogger awardsbloggingmilestoneq&aAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/insignificant-i-am-nothttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/insignificant-i-am-notOn the daily fight with feeling invisible, where that feeling started in childhood, and the decision to keep showing up anyway for three children.Wed, 02 Jan 2019 14:45:12 GMTMental Health & Hard Seasonschildhoodidentityself-worthAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/our-child-and-our-mental-illnesshttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/our-child-and-our-mental-illnessAn honest look at a son's ADHD, anxiety and Oppositional Defiant Disorder, the counselling, and parenting through it while unwell yourself too.Wed, 07 Nov 2018 20:33:44 GMTNeurodiverse ParentingadhdanxietycounsellingoddAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/overthinking-gift-giving-syndrome-it-s-a-thinghttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/overthinking-gift-giving-syndrome-it-s-a-thingWhy choosing a gift can spiral into hours of anxious second-guessing, and the small mercy of admitting the overthinking is part of the gift.Mon, 29 Oct 2018 14:15:33 GMTMental Health & Hard Seasonsamanda-ismsanxietyhumouroverthinkingAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/depression-sucks-but-you-don-t-have-tohttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/depression-sucks-but-you-don-t-have-toWhat it actually takes to get depression and anxiety medication adjusted after a thyroidectomy, and how hard the system is even with good insurance.Fri, 07 Sep 2018 12:07:55 GMTMental Health & Hard Seasonscancerchronic illnessdepressionhealthcare accessthyroidectomyAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/we-are-all-a-bit-crazy-and-that-s-okayhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/we-are-all-a-bit-crazy-and-that-s-okaySome days are fine and some days leaving the house feels impossible. A short, direct piece about anxiety and the masks that people wear over it.Sat, 18 Aug 2018 14:21:17 GMTMental Health & Hard SeasonsanxietymasksmedicationAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/radiation-therapy-suckshttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/radiation-therapy-sucksLearning what radiation treatment really involves as an aunt begins it — the isolation, the side effects, and the statistics behind the decision.Wed, 30 May 2018 20:22:25 GMTHealth, Cancer & Recoverybreast cancercancercaregivingradiationAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/vulnerable-wordshttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/vulnerable-wordsThe moment a grandmother’s phone call revealed that the adults you look up to are frightened too, and a grandfather quietly having a stroke.Fri, 27 Apr 2018 21:27:38 GMTMotherhood & FamilyfamilygrandparentsmemoryAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/get-it-out-papillary-thyroid-cancer-thyroidectomy-surgeryhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/get-it-out-papillary-thyroid-cancer-thyroidectomy-surgeryA day-by-day account of papillary thyroid cancer surgery: the fasting, the nerves in the OR, the recovery, and saying goodbye to a thyroid named Harry.Thu, 29 Mar 2018 20:43:06 GMTHealth, Cancer & Recoverycancerrecoverysurgerythyroid cancerthyroidectomyAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/anxiety-and-thyroid-cancer-combinedhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/anxiety-and-thyroid-cancer-combinedFacing a thyroid cancer diagnosis while living with anxiety, and the spiral of worry that arrives before a surgery you cannot talk yourself out of.Mon, 05 Mar 2018 23:19:05 GMTHealth, Cancer & Recoveryanxietysurgerythyroid cancerAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/a-strong-woman-deserves-a-strong-manhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/a-strong-woman-deserves-a-strong-manA Valentine’s Day reflection on a marriage tested by illness and hard years, and what it looks like to keep choosing each other through the chaos.Wed, 14 Feb 2018 16:08:50 GMTMotherhood & FamilylifemarriagerelationshipsvalentinesAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/let-me-tell-you-a-thing-or-two-about-depressionhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/let-me-tell-you-a-thing-or-two-about-depressionTwenty years of antidepressants, counsellors and cycles, written plainly by someone still in it, with resources for anyone who needs them today.Mon, 15 Jan 2018 21:39:11 GMTMental Health & Hard Seasonsdepressionlifelong-termmedicationAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/what-is-an-amanda-ism-reallyhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/what-is-an-amanda-ism-reallyWhat an Amanda-ism actually is: the clumsy, bumbling moments that started with a best friend and became the running joke of this whole blog.Sat, 06 Jan 2018 23:01:55 GMTMotherhood & Familyamanda-ismsblogginghumourAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/cancer-i-hate-you-part-2https://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/cancer-i-hate-you-part-2Continuing an aunt's breast cancer story: the surgery, the first day of chemotherapy, and what actually helps when you are the support person.Sun, 24 Dec 2017 09:31:18 GMTHealth, Cancer & Recoverybreast cancercaregivingchemotherapylifestoriesAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/autoimmune-diseases-i-thinkhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/autoimmune-diseases-i-thinkYears of fatigue, mono, chronic strep and unexplained symptoms, and the long uncertain road toward an autoimmune answer that has not fully arrived.Thu, 07 Dec 2017 23:15:36 GMTHealth, Cancer & Recoveryautoimmunechronic illnessdiagnosislifestoriesAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/introduction-of-my-very-own-bloghttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/introduction-of-my-very-own-blogThe very first post: why Amanda Bird started writing publicly about her life, and what she hopes these words might do for anyone reading them.Sat, 02 Dec 2017 21:08:21 GMTMotherhood & Familybloggingfirst postintroductionmilestoneAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/new-car-meet-deer-no-jokehttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/new-car-meet-deer-no-jokeOne mile from home in a brand-new car, a deer steps out. A short, funny account of how day one with the new family vehicle actually turned out.Sat, 02 Dec 2017 13:25:49 GMTMotherhood & Familyamanda-ismsfamily lifehumourAmanda Birdhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/cancer-i-hate-youhttps://www.awordfrommommabird.com/blog/cancer-i-hate-youA grandfather lost to cancer weeks before a wedding, and the phone call years later that brought another breast cancer diagnosis into the family.Fri, 01 Dec 2017 10:25:34 GMTHealth, Cancer & Recoverybreast cancerfamilygriefAmanda Bird