The Value of Vigilance
Elisabeth Frausto is a journalist and educator based in La Jolla, California. She currently works as the Senior Editor at lajolla.ca, where she covers a wide range of community topics including civic issues, schools, housing, local arts, public infrastructure, and planning. Her reporting has also appeared in publications such as the La Jolla Light, The San Diego Union-Tribune, and Del Mar Times. Since 2020, she has earned more than two dozen local and state journalism awards, reflecting her strong commitment to community storytelling. Before transitioning into journalism, Elisabeth taught kindergarten for eight years at a low-income school in San Diego, during which she also mentored student teachers, served on school site councils, and co-founded a school foundation. She holds a Master of Education degree and a California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential. Beyond her professional life, she enjoys reading—often finishing two books a week—hiking local trails, and planning adventures with her teenage daughter. Now let’s hear her story!
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Recovery isn’t easy. It’s a hard-won state of being that goes beyond a date of discharge from treatment or reaching a number on the scale. It’s a constant effort that requires around-the-clock vigilance.
For my bright, thoughtful daughter, who was diagnosed more than two years ago, recovery is a relief and a responsibility, a reward she attains daily through reflection and self love, two skills that are easily neglected in the rush of daily activities.
As her mother, I strive to return her focus inward, to empower her for long-term success. My daughter is sixteen and aiming for an adult life of independent happiness, and it’s my role to help her embody the traits that will get her there.
This means that my life, too, is marked by vigilance. It’s a watchfulness that goes beyond wondering if she ate enough or monitoring numbers. It’s asking her to reflect on her activity, to help her decide if she needs more nourishment.
My vigilance extends to helping her talk through her problems, constantly validating her thoughts and actions while emboldening her to look within herself for answers.
It’s not easy. Vigilance is a full-time endeavor woven through my other job, the one that offers a paycheck. Vigilance creeps into my thoughts when I’m with friends or trying to relax at an event or with a quiet activity. It’s the repeated checking of my phone, the quick replies to her texts, the detailed plans for meal times and prompting her to consider … everything.
It’s an exhausting component that edges its way into all moments of my days. And I shoulder this burden with gratitude, helping my daughter build the self trust the anorexia eroded with lies. The disorder stole her possibility, dimmed her bravery and threatened her one precious life.
My daughter expends tremendous effort daily to rebuild and reclaim her excellence from the anorexia who told her she was unworthy. My vigilance blooms large but is so small compared to the battles my daughter wages daily. There is concern and fear in all my sunrises but I know my valiance pales against the thoughts in her head.
If my vigilance falters, the anorexia has a chance to strengthen; a vicious monster that wants nothing more than to once again push her off a cliff into physical and mental danger.
So, I watch. Because the same vigilance that has me perpetually exhausted, is the same attention with which I watch my daughter galvanize her strength, step into her authenticity and illuminate this world.
It’s invigorating to see her regain her confidence and manifest her place in this world, asserting her importance and value to herself.
My girl is a wonder, and she is just beginning to see herself that way, recognizing her inimitability and moving it forward with graceful resilience.
Maintaining vigilance is the strongest expression of my love for my daughter as she defends her recovery. My vigilance is how I cherish her efforts and how I show her she is deserving of her progress and prosperity.
I will always be vigilant against anorexia. Because my daughter will always be worthy.
