Wynnewood’s Rebecca Fox Starr recently released a new book on her story of post-partum depression, writes Kim Douglas for Main Line Today.

Starr began to cope with a blog entitled Mommy Ever After, which led to her books Beyond the Baby Blues, Baby Ever After, and Mommy Ever After.

In her books and her blog, Starr focuses on normalizing mental health issues inside the family dynamic, and especially resiliency.

“I wanted to express to my kids that I may not always be happy, but I’m always your mommy. We have negative feelings. We have names for some of them and not for others. But there’s a light on the other side. Parents can learn to validate their kids’ emotions—to empower their kids,” she points out.

During her pregnancy, Starr knew she didn’t feel right, and it was about to lead to post-partum depression.

My husband, Kenny, texted me at a week postpartum, “Are you OK? I see the light going out in your eyes.” I cried, because his text gave me permission to admit I wasn’t OK. I started therapy and medication, and slowly the color returned to life.

She says it would have helped to know she was susceptible to this, and set up a support system. “I could’ve proactively gone on safe medication and started therapy so I was prepared. There were lots of physical and lifestyle things I could’ve put in place. I could’ve taken control.”

Read more about Wynnewood author Rebecca Fox Starr in Main Line Today.