I became a member of the National Family Caregivers Association recently. It was free. Didn't cost a cent -- just supplied them with my contact information. It's something you may want to consider doing as well, if you're not a member already.

Anyway, they mailed me a whole bunch of pamphlets including one labeled "10 Tips for Family Caregivers." One of the tips reads: "Watch out for signs of depression, and don't delay in getting professional help when you need it."

I wish the tip read "watch out for signs of depression and/or anxiety." My layperson's understanding is that anxiety and depression are considered the "common colds" of mental health, and that people are prone to one or the other. Though, I guess it is possible to have both simultaneously.

What I'm trying to get at here is to ask you to stop.

Please, stop and think about your life and your world.

Do you feel anxious? Or depressed? Is it something that's chronic? Do you do anything to take care of it? Is it working? Is it enough? Do you know what makes you feel better? How often do you do that activity?

Please take a moment, right now -- if you've got the down time to read this post, then you've got nothing better to do at this moment than to go within yourself and take stock. I'll wait.

Did you come up with anything?

If you did, please find help for yourself right now -- be it scheduling the activity that makes you feel better or finding some professional help if you need it.

We're all here wanting the best for our kids, and the only way that's going to happen is by taking good care of ourselves.