Damaged, but Not Broken

By Lakeisha Fears-Perez

Damaged, But Not Broken
A Memoir by LaKeisha Fears-Perez

Damaged But Not Broken is a collection of memoirs as told by young people who are heartbroken and who have failed or in some way been affected by negativity. Their recollections are of abandonment, abuse, addictions, and neglect. Their stories prove that the effects of tolerance and how we hold fast to what we see and what we are exposed to varies from individual to individual. The theory of what is perceived early in childhood before the age of five is rooted and embedded in a childs psyche.

We set our children up for failure when we subject them to unstable conditions. The environment and what we expose our children to affects how they view themselves and the world around them. A well-rounded balance is essential in a childs life and until they are introduced to religious training, they tend to see us as their god from the moment of birth. Whatever we expose them to is indelibly written in their brains. Children are like little sponges soaking up everything until they come to the age of reasoning at which they begin to understand right from wrong.

Unacceptable lifestyles are damaging,an accident waiting to happen for children as well as adults. The emphasis is not so much on where we are in life as it is on what we are doing where we are. What we are doing to our children can cause them to struggle with the worries of this world and not be able to adapt very well.

Getting it out of ones system has proven to be liberating, and the number of broken adults who pass hurt onto their children and continue the ongoing destructive dysfunctional cycle is unfortunate. The stories you are about to read are therapeutic. They are a way to get it out for some and just simple acknowledgement for others.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 11, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477136423

Lakeisha Fears-Perez

ABOUT THE AUTHOR LaKeisha Fears-Perez is the founder of Utterly Terrific Tots and Teens, Licensed Child Care Provider and Therapeutic Life Skills Coach for children and families in Tennessee. She’s a Retired Navy Veteran and prime mover of the Hands-On Independent Living Skills (HILS) program designed to help teens learn how to fend for themselves. LaKeisha has numerous professional military and civilian achievements such as Honorable Discharge after serving in Desert Storm, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (Gold Star in lieu of Second Award), Keeping Kids Safe training, Security Concepts of Risk Management, and Stress Management, EEO/Prevention of Stress and Sexual Harassment, Positive Assertiveness. LaKeisha has five children: Natasha, Damaree, Taino, T’Zion and Bryan. Her community education and training program” Stay FOCUS” highlights:

Book preview

Copyright © 2012 by LaKeisha Fears-Perez.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris Corporation

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

117631

CONTENTS

1 Afraid to Be Great

2 The Spirit of Love

3 Greater in Me

4 Heartfelt Stories Unforeseen

5 What If?

6 Heartfelt Stories Bewildering

7 Prenatal Privilege

8 Heartfelt Stories Baffling

9 Body Able Strength

10 Heartfelt Stories Incomprehensible

11 Be Kind

12 Heartfelt Stories Crossroads

13 Precious Gift

14 Heartfelt Stories Unexpected

15 Reality Check

16 Heartfelt Stories Lessons of Loss

17 Being Great

To my children, Natasha, Damaree, Taino, and T’Zion, thank you for staying focused, forever overcoming challenges under the Son with me, as I loved others in life!

I am forever thankful to my mother, Glenda, for loving me and giving me life.

To my parents, Lloyd and Juanita, thank you for laughter, unconditional love, and a strong faith foundation. Much love to all the children and adults with stories to tell and obstacles to overcome. Very special thanks to family members, child care providers, case workers, foster care agencies, the Department of Children’s Services, and teachers for relentless support and hard work.

Introduction

D amaged, but Not Broken is a collection of memoirs as told by young people who are heartbroken, who have failed, or who have, in some way, been affected by negativity. Their recollections are of abandonment, abuse, addictions, and neglect. Their stories prove the effects of tolerance—and how we hold fast to what we see and what we are exposed to—varies from individual to individual. The theory of what is perceived early in childhood, before the age of five, is rooted and embedded in a child’s psyche.

We set our children up for failure when we subject them to unstable conditions. The environment and what we expose our children to affects how they view themselves and the world around them. A well-rounded balance is essential in a child’s life, and until they are introduced to religious training, they tend to see us as their god from the moment of birth. Whatever we expose them to is indelibly written in their brains. Children are like little sponges soaking up everything until they come to the age of reasoning at which they begin to understand right from wrong.

Unacceptable lifestyles are damaging, an accident waiting to happen for children as well as adults. The emphasis is not so much on where we are in life as it is on what we are doing where we are. What we are doing to our children can cause them to struggle with the worries of this world and not be able to adapt very well. Getting it out of one’s system has proven to