October: A Month of Shadows, Strength & Stories

Tiffany | Mermaid Kove
Oct 13
4 min read

October always hits a little different for me. It’s a mix of everything from pumpkins and costumes, Filipino pride, the babies I never got to hold, and the reminder to take care of my mind and heart.

It’s not just fall… it’s a season that makes me feel everything.

I’ll be honest... fall isn’t really my favorite. I’m super allergic to cinnamon (like, throat-closing, eyes-watering, hives on touch allergic), so walking into stores this time of year is basically torture. And don’t even get me started on the cold. I’m cold all the time. So, yeah… not my season.

But then there are moments that make me forget all that, like late night walks with a peppermint mocha in hand, or watching the kids play in a pile of crunchy leaves. Those are the moments that remind me there’s still magic in the parts of the year I don’t love. And honestly? Seeing all the neighborhood kids dressed up for Halloween, running around just being kids, that’s the kind of joy you can’t help but smile at.

🎃 Halloween Magic

Halloween is huge in our house.Costumes, candy, school parties, Trunk or Treats, the whole deal. The kids get so excited, and I can’t help but get into it too. I love adding little touches to make it extra fun, which is why I started designing Halloween digital files this year. A shirt for school, something to match with your littles, or just a cute spooky vibe. 🛍️ Shop the collection here

This year, my son decided he wants to be a zombie. I didn’t even question it, I just said, “Let’s do it.” And let me tell you, he’s the cutest little zombie you’ll ever see. 🧟‍♂️

One thing I’ve really loved lately is seeing more local Trunk or Treats supporting small businesses. It makes my heart happy to see our community lifting each other up. It’s what this time of year should be about connection, creativity, and just enjoying the moment.

🇵🇭 My Filipino American Story

October is also Filipino American Heritage Month, and that one’s close to my heart.

My mom came to the U.S. as a baby, and when she met my dad, they decided to raise us “American.” I didn’t grow up speaking Tagalog, and for a while, I felt like I missed out on a part of who I was.

But as I got older, I started to find my way back. I got involved in Fil-Am, Lions Club, and Key Club, if you grew up around Filipino communities, you know what that means. We ate, we danced, we sang karaoke. Those moments built something in me.

After high school, I went to the Philippines for the first time as an adult, and it felt like home. I fell in love with everything, the people, the food, the music, even the chaos of it all. This past summer, I went back with my kids, and watching them fall in love with it too was everything. They learned the Tinikling dance, ate all the food, and started using Tagalog words here and there. Seeing them embrace our roots makes me emotional in the best way.

And honestly, I get it now. I understand why our elders retire there. It’s peaceful. It’s home. I can see myself doing that one day too.

💜 1 in 4

October also carries something heavier.... it’s Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.

The number “1 in 4” is one I’ll never forget, because I’m part of that statistic. I carry eight angels in my heart.

The words “there is no heartbeat” are something you never forget. That kind of pain doesn’t disappear, it just becomes something you learn to live with. I share it because someone else might need to hear it. Maybe you’re that 1 in 4 too.

And if you are — I see you. I honor your babies with mine.

🧠 Mental Health Matters

And then there’s World Mental Health Day!

This one hits deep. I’ve lived with anxiety and depression since I was sixteen. Some days, I’m good. Other days, I’m barely holding it together. My first panic attack landed me in the hospital. I had no clue what was happening to me.

Over the years, I’ve learned what helps, therapy, medication, breathing, gardening, quiet. I’ve also learned that healing isn’t a straight line.

Postpartum depression was one of the darkest things I’ve faced. Out of my eleven pregnancies, there were two times where I almost didn’t make it through.

The only thing that kept me here was my kids, they needed me more than my mind wanted me to believe.

Moving to California changed everything. The beach became my safe place. It gave me peace, a reset, and the chance to rebuild myself after being “mom” for so long that I forgot who Tiffany was.

Now, when I say “you are enough,” I mean it because I’ve had to remind myself of that over and over again. And if you’re reading this and struggling, please know: you are enough too.