In this episode of The EMBER Project Podcast, Susan is joined again by Meghan D. Gregory for a powerful conversation about ACEs and PACEs. Together, they talk about adverse childhood experiences, protective factors, trauma, resilience, and the people who help change the direction of a life. Meghan brings both lived experience as an early mother and years of knowledge from her work in mental health and nonprofit leadership.This conversation is honest, but deeply hopeful. Susan and Meghan talk about how childhood trauma can affect us well into adulthood, but also how healing, therapy, safe relationships, faith, mentors, grandparents, teachers, coaches, and supportive communities can help cushion the blow. They also discuss what young mothers can do when they are afraid of repeating cycles, including getting healthy, asking for help, creating emotional safety for their children, and learning that perfection was never the goal.At the heart of this episode is a reminder that trauma matters, but it is not the whole story. We can heal. We can build new patterns. We can become protective factors in someone else’s life. And for the early mother listening, your past may have shaped you, but it does not have to define the future you are building for yourself or your children.