Vegan orange stir fry

1 cup tofu

flour

bean threads

broccoli, carrots, squash (or any vegetable mix you like)

vegetable oil

1 T orange juice

1 T Teriyaki

Cut up tofu in small squares and dredge in flour. Brown in oil.

Boil water; after water is boiling turn off heat and drop in bean threads. Let set for 8 minutes.

Add vegetables to browned tofu and stir fry until vegetables are soft.

Remove oil from tofu and vegetables and add orange juice and teriyaki. Cook until warm. Stir in bean threads. Serve.

Understanding

When my son was 3 years old he was doing simple math and sounding out words.  He loved to learn and by 6 he was watching the history channel, playing chess, and playing any kind of card game as well as teaching other kids the games.  It's hard to believe this same sweet child is now having trouble organizing himself for the simplest task.  We had to pull him out of high school because he wouldn't stay and the truancy would end us up in court.

Today we've had a day of disorganized speech, psychosis, voices, delusions....  It's hard to tell people you have someone you love with mental illness because people don't know what to say or do.  When you have someone in the hospital with a physical ailment, people bring you a casserole.  When you have someone in a mental hospital, people stay away.

I wish there was more understanding for mental illness.  My son has schizophrenia so we never know what to expect.  The right medicine has not been found.  Mental illness is not rare, people just don't talk about it.

Reach out to someone today.  Smile, give a hug...  I know that I am always so stressed that I would appreciate someone bringing over food.

I don't know if mental illness will ever be on the same level as other illnesses.  I hope that the people reading this will have kindness toward someone even if they don't understand.