I did eventually talk to my children about it.

Once I had really, I guess, accepted that I had PTSD

and understood it myself, I did eventually

talk to my children about it.

Initially in just very general terms, that I have nightmares,

and I have a lot of memories, and it's hard for me

to have been where I was.

I think they were much older when I

really let them know that I had PTSD.

They don't know why, we've never talked about

my experiences in Iraq, and I don't know that we will.

My son is now 21 and has spent a year in Afghanistan,

so we may talk someday.

We may get to a place where that's

appropriate and supportive to us.

But yeah, I tried to buffer them from it as much as I could

without leaving them wondering what was going on with Mom.