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<v ->If there was one way, I would reach other mothers.</v>

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I would say be honest with your children.

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I have a son 36, I have a son 33, and a daughter, 30,

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who's in the healthcare field.

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I would say to them, be honest with your children.

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Let them know that life happens to all of us.

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Don't shield them from the knowledge

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of knowing your status.

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Trust them to be a part of your support system.

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And don't expect that when you disclose it's

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gonna be full smooth sailing.

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It won't be.

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Because first of all, the one thing

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that they're going to hear, is that if you're positive,

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they're gonna think death.

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It's normal.

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And no child wants to think about losing a parent.

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I would say to educate that child, when you disclose,

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have information to share with that person,

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with your son, with your daughter,

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or with your husband, with your mother,

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like with me, when I disclosed to my mother,

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and to my sisters.

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And I would say the sooner you disclose,

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the stronger you become, because you let an elephant

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out of the closet, that someone else can't whip you with.

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I would say, if there's something out there

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that's gonna hurt you, nad it's gonna hurt

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those that you love, I would say, disclose.

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I disclosed the same day, within hours

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of being diagnosed, and I haven't stopped since.

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And I would say to any mother, how empowering it is,

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to have a son or a daughter say I love you anyway,

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and wrap their arms around you, and give you a sense

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of belonging, instead of a sense of isolation.

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I would say, mothers, trust your children.

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The love, and the education, and the nurturing

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that you have given, accept some of that back.

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And know that it's okay to be vulnerable,

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because then you teach them how to truly love,

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and how to truly give, and how to truly

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stay positive mentally,

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because you're positive with HIV.