Ever read Maria Shriver's book Ten Things I Wish I Knew Before I Went Out into the Real World?
 
Aside from being a really great book on life lessons, I read it at a time during which daily life with my son was particularly horrid. With each chapter, I found myself saying, "Man, there are ten things I wish I knew before this hurricane hit my family!" It was then that I became compiling my own Top Ten list of things that all parents should know as they step into this unexpected journey.
 
In the coming entries, I will offer my insights into truths (as I see them) that, in hindsight, I wish I knew.

1. This is not a stage. So often we want to believe that any bumps our kids hit are just that, temporary phases that will even out on their own. Boys will be boys. A tough time at home. Changing schools is upsetting. While these are all possibilities, when we look deeper at kids, in our gut we know it's something else.
2. The first symptoms of bipolar disorder can appear at any age, whether it is as a toddler (as was the case with my son), college years (the prime age of onset) or somewhere in between. Knowing the difference between a stage of growth & development and long-term management of a medical condition is KEY!
3. Understanding that treatment options need to be viewed in the long-term to effectively manage wellness over time, and not a quick fix to a short-term dilemma.

While this is not the news any one of us wanted, knowing where we stand and what's ahead makes the bumpy road a little less bumpy.